Press release
Easton, Maryland – Decorating Den Interiors, (DDI), the largest interior decorating franchise company in North America, announced that it will be an official exhibitor at this year’s Spring High Point Market (April 2-7).
Over the course of market week, Decorating Den’s Carol Donayre Bugg, ASID, and her team at DDI will be hosting a series of special events and promotional activities, including a press event on Sunday, April 3 at their new space in the Suites at Market Square (# M-1021). In DDI's new location, market-goers, press and other industry professionals will have the opportunity to meet Decorating Den’s owners, Carol and husband Jim Bugg, and see what it is that makes this family owned company so unique.
In addition, for the first time in 25 years, editors and industry pros alike can participate in DDI’s Annual “Dream Room Contest” in an allocated space at High Point that is fully dedicated to showcasing and casting votes for these amazing rooms.
“As part of our 2011 aggressive growth strategy, there couldn’t be a better time to showcase the latest designs from our talented decorators and suppliers than at the hub of where everything is taking place: High Point Market,” said Carol Bugg. “It is very exciting to know we will be able to share the amazing work and inspirational stories behind our decorators’ ‘Dream Rooms to so many of the home furnishing industry’s decision makers.”
Today, Decorating Den Interiors has evolved into the largest home decorating business of its kind, with more than 500 franchise owners and interior decorators throughout North America.
For more information about Decorating Den Interiors, visit us at www.decoratingden.com.
Showing posts with label business issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business issues. Show all posts
Webinar for retailers this Friday
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press release
The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), whose mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry, ensuring its long term health and viability, has announced a new educational benefit for its members: "First Friday" webinars. The monthly webinars will feature industry veterans and experts speaking to a variety of industry-relevant issues and content.
The inaugural "First Friday" will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011, at 12:00 PM EST. Betsy Harrington, Senior Vice President of Sales at Woodstock Chimes, and John Keiser, CEO of OneCoast and GHTA board member, will present "How to Conduct Effective Business Reviews Between Sales Agencies and Vendors." The content covered in the webinar includes the importance of doing a monthly review, components of a monthly review, and what sales agencies and vendors can do to contribute to the review. This webinar will be offered to non-GHTA members this month only at no additional cost.
"This new membership benefit allows companies to start and continue significant conversations regarding relevant topics to our industry," says Cindy Henry, Executive Vice President of Wellspring and GHTA board member. "One of the greatest benefits of GHTA membership is the opportunity the Association provides to network and talk with other industry participants, sharing knowledge and best practices. This benefit provides an excellent platform for this type of interaction."
"First Friday" webinars are designed to enhance GHTA membership by offering a platform to share content and concepts relevant to the gift and home industry, as well as share thoughtful and meaningful discussion. "First Friday" is named for many of the industry's retail communities, which offer special events and opportunities on the first Friday of the month.
May's "First Friday" will address issues related to doing business in China. The presentation, "China – A 'State of the State' and Implications for the Industry," will be led by David Moses, with Next Step Strategies, Inc., Rick Contino, President of Midwest-CBK, and George Kacic, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ganz.
To learn more about the Gift and Home Trade Association, its membership opportunities and programs, visit www.giftandhome.org.
About the Gift and Home Trade Association
GHTA is the gift and home industry's non-profit professional trade association comprised of vendors, sales agencies, retailers and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. The GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. The GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), whose mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry, ensuring its long term health and viability, has announced a new educational benefit for its members: "First Friday" webinars. The monthly webinars will feature industry veterans and experts speaking to a variety of industry-relevant issues and content.
The inaugural "First Friday" will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011, at 12:00 PM EST. Betsy Harrington, Senior Vice President of Sales at Woodstock Chimes, and John Keiser, CEO of OneCoast and GHTA board member, will present "How to Conduct Effective Business Reviews Between Sales Agencies and Vendors." The content covered in the webinar includes the importance of doing a monthly review, components of a monthly review, and what sales agencies and vendors can do to contribute to the review. This webinar will be offered to non-GHTA members this month only at no additional cost.
"This new membership benefit allows companies to start and continue significant conversations regarding relevant topics to our industry," says Cindy Henry, Executive Vice President of Wellspring and GHTA board member. "One of the greatest benefits of GHTA membership is the opportunity the Association provides to network and talk with other industry participants, sharing knowledge and best practices. This benefit provides an excellent platform for this type of interaction."
"First Friday" webinars are designed to enhance GHTA membership by offering a platform to share content and concepts relevant to the gift and home industry, as well as share thoughtful and meaningful discussion. "First Friday" is named for many of the industry's retail communities, which offer special events and opportunities on the first Friday of the month.
May's "First Friday" will address issues related to doing business in China. The presentation, "China – A 'State of the State' and Implications for the Industry," will be led by David Moses, with Next Step Strategies, Inc., Rick Contino, President of Midwest-CBK, and George Kacic, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ganz.
To learn more about the Gift and Home Trade Association, its membership opportunities and programs, visit www.giftandhome.org.
About the Gift and Home Trade Association
GHTA is the gift and home industry's non-profit professional trade association comprised of vendors, sales agencies, retailers and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. The GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. The GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
New Retailer Members Can Receive $150 Discount
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Press Release
Throughout the month of April, (HFIA) Home Furnishings Independents Association will offer a $150 discount to retailers who register as new members of the organization.
Mary Frye, president of HFIA, will welcome prospective and current members to the association’s booth in the atrium of the Furniture Plaza building, 210 South Main Street, High Point, NC, during the High Point Market. Frye will be available to answer questions and provide details regarding the organization’s many benefits Saturday, April 2 through Thursday, April 7.
HFIA offers a comprehensive range of business services dedicated to providing solutions to meet retail back office needs. Acting as an extension of store staff, HFIA manages the behind the scenes store services that allow owners to focus on their top priority, customers.
“We’re not able to sell furniture on your floor,” notes Frye, “but we offer personalized business services to make sure you can.”
Member services include discounted bank card processing, consumer financing, low-cost freight programs, competitively-priced business insurance, on-line furniture sales training and sales aids.
“In nearly forty years spent as an independent furniture retailer, we have been members of many organizations and associations,” states Louis S. Casey, CEO and President, Casey's Furniture, Inc., Temple, Texas. “The one we appreciate the most is HFIA. Teamwork is vital to our business, and as a member of HFIA we have even more teammates working on our behalf. Check out the benefits, join HFIA, and put their team to work for you.”
To print an application or for more information about HFIA, visit the association’s website at www.hfia.com.
Throughout the month of April, (HFIA) Home Furnishings Independents Association will offer a $150 discount to retailers who register as new members of the organization.
Mary Frye, president of HFIA, will welcome prospective and current members to the association’s booth in the atrium of the Furniture Plaza building, 210 South Main Street, High Point, NC, during the High Point Market. Frye will be available to answer questions and provide details regarding the organization’s many benefits Saturday, April 2 through Thursday, April 7.
HFIA offers a comprehensive range of business services dedicated to providing solutions to meet retail back office needs. Acting as an extension of store staff, HFIA manages the behind the scenes store services that allow owners to focus on their top priority, customers.
“We’re not able to sell furniture on your floor,” notes Frye, “but we offer personalized business services to make sure you can.”
Member services include discounted bank card processing, consumer financing, low-cost freight programs, competitively-priced business insurance, on-line furniture sales training and sales aids.
“In nearly forty years spent as an independent furniture retailer, we have been members of many organizations and associations,” states Louis S. Casey, CEO and President, Casey's Furniture, Inc., Temple, Texas. “The one we appreciate the most is HFIA. Teamwork is vital to our business, and as a member of HFIA we have even more teammates working on our behalf. Check out the benefits, join HFIA, and put their team to work for you.”
To print an application or for more information about HFIA, visit the association’s website at www.hfia.com.
Saturday special: social media
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"Tweeting Your Way To Business Success" is the title of a blog post at Jola Interactive. The author writes: "social media marketing is well worth the investment because, when executed properly, your organization will excel."
Read the entire article here.
Read the entire article here.
A new marketing tool for indepdendent retailers
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press release
February 21, 2011, Pittsburgh, PA -- SnapRetail, a company that makes it easy for independent retailers to use email, Facebook and Twitter to market products and increase sales, has unveiled new enhancements to its TrafficBuilder product. SnapRetail’sTrafficBuilder is a virtually automatic marketing system that gives independent retailers all of the materials needed to create compelling marketing communications in minutes, with branded content from leading vendors including Vera Bradley, Mud Pie, Yankee Candle, Midwest-CBK, Evergreen and more.
“We listen carefully to our customers,” said SnapRetail CEO Ted Teele. “The enhancements we have announced today came directly from our retailers’ suggestions and continue to help us shape TrafficBuilder into a product that will most help them in marketing their stores.” TrafficBuilder was launched in November of 2010.
“It’s the little things in SnapRetail’s TrafficBuilder that make the product so great,” said Kym Priest, owner of St. John’s Gift Shop in Springfield, Mo. “I love the ability it gives me to post every single campaign to Facebook with just a click of the mouse or the ease of finding vendor images within my content library. And, what's even better is that the features keep rolling out. Every time I log into TrafficBuilder there's something new that's making marketing my store easier and faster.”
Major Addition: Customizable Photo Albums
One of the most exciting new enhancements to the system is the release of customizable photo albums. Retailers love the vendor-created photo albums that are a popular feature of TrafficBuilder, but many asked for the ability to create their own albums. This new feature allows retailers to drag-and-drop product images into an album, create custom captions, and send to their customers via email, Facebook, and Twitter.
“The online albums are a great way to let customers see what new products the retailer is stocking in their store. And, it even gives customers the ability to reserve a product right from within the album. This means retailers will be able to create buzz, track demand for products, and let their customers reserve products all online – without the cost or time of maintaining a full commerce website,” explained Teele.
Additional updates to the system include the addition of new seasonal templates, expanded reporting capabilities, and an enhanced text editor to help retailers create more attractive marketing messages. Retailers can take a 30 day test drive of the software to quickly build great marketing to their customers and to experience the new features by clicking here.
About SnapRetail
SnapRetail makes it easy for independent retailers to market products, increase sales and compete with larger retailers. The Pittsburgh-based company provides the industry’s only digital marketing & content aggregation system designed to improve the unique marketing and selling needs of independent retailers. The company created TrafficBuilder, a virtually automatic marketing system that gives independent retailers all of the materials needed to create compelling marketing materials in minutes. More information is available on www.snapretail.com and SnapRetail’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/snapretail.
February 21, 2011, Pittsburgh, PA -- SnapRetail, a company that makes it easy for independent retailers to use email, Facebook and Twitter to market products and increase sales, has unveiled new enhancements to its TrafficBuilder product. SnapRetail’sTrafficBuilder is a virtually automatic marketing system that gives independent retailers all of the materials needed to create compelling marketing communications in minutes, with branded content from leading vendors including Vera Bradley, Mud Pie, Yankee Candle, Midwest-CBK, Evergreen and more.
“We listen carefully to our customers,” said SnapRetail CEO Ted Teele. “The enhancements we have announced today came directly from our retailers’ suggestions and continue to help us shape TrafficBuilder into a product that will most help them in marketing their stores.” TrafficBuilder was launched in November of 2010.
“It’s the little things in SnapRetail’s TrafficBuilder that make the product so great,” said Kym Priest, owner of St. John’s Gift Shop in Springfield, Mo. “I love the ability it gives me to post every single campaign to Facebook with just a click of the mouse or the ease of finding vendor images within my content library. And, what's even better is that the features keep rolling out. Every time I log into TrafficBuilder there's something new that's making marketing my store easier and faster.”
Major Addition: Customizable Photo Albums
One of the most exciting new enhancements to the system is the release of customizable photo albums. Retailers love the vendor-created photo albums that are a popular feature of TrafficBuilder, but many asked for the ability to create their own albums. This new feature allows retailers to drag-and-drop product images into an album, create custom captions, and send to their customers via email, Facebook, and Twitter.
“The online albums are a great way to let customers see what new products the retailer is stocking in their store. And, it even gives customers the ability to reserve a product right from within the album. This means retailers will be able to create buzz, track demand for products, and let their customers reserve products all online – without the cost or time of maintaining a full commerce website,” explained Teele.
Additional updates to the system include the addition of new seasonal templates, expanded reporting capabilities, and an enhanced text editor to help retailers create more attractive marketing messages. Retailers can take a 30 day test drive of the software to quickly build great marketing to their customers and to experience the new features by clicking here.
About SnapRetail
SnapRetail makes it easy for independent retailers to market products, increase sales and compete with larger retailers. The Pittsburgh-based company provides the industry’s only digital marketing & content aggregation system designed to improve the unique marketing and selling needs of independent retailers. The company created TrafficBuilder, a virtually automatic marketing system that gives independent retailers all of the materials needed to create compelling marketing materials in minutes. More information is available on www.snapretail.com and SnapRetail’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/snapretail.
Saturday special: emails
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marketing,
retailer
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Here are examples of four Thanksgiving- and holiday-themed emails from home furnishings retailers.
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| Williams Company Store |
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| Kirkland's |
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| Crescent Moon |
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| local home + gifts |
How e-tailers hurt local stores
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This column by Chicago Tribune writer Eric Zorn, "Internet sales-tax dodge darkens the future of bricks-and-mortar businesses," looks at the damage caused to local brick-and-mortar retailers when shoppers take their purchases online to avoid paying sales tax.
A reader named "Blahedo" left this comment: "We're effectively charging the local retailers a penalty for contributing directly to the local economy, and rewarding Amazon and other Internet retailers for having no local presence," Blahedo wrote. "Aside from being unfair, it's unwise; as any economist will tell you, people (and companies) respond to incentives, and here the incentive rewards closing up (physical) shop and stopping paying rent or property tax and stopping being around to donate to local charities and events and stopping contributing to a vibrant local economy."
Click the link above to read the entire column.
Trade Association Announces Health Insurance for Members
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Press release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry's leading non-profit trade association, has partnered with Association Health Programs (AHP) to offer its members a wide range of savings on health insurance, long-term care, disability income, critical illness, dental, vision and life insurance. This new membership benefit is a result of an exhaustive search to find the best company to provide health insurance to the GHTA membership.
"Over the past few years, during various trade shows and industry events, our members have continually expressed their concern regarding health benefits," says Beth Lang, president of the GHTA. "Health insurance has been, and continues to be, a tension issue for all industry members --- regardless of company type or size or income. We hope that this partnership will ease that tension by providing substantial savings to our members."
Through AHP, a niche player in association and employee health programs, GHTA members provide their current company or individual health insurance plan along with their health history for review. AHP then advises the company as to whether or not they're adequately insured and works to get the company the best possible insurance with an "A" rated carrier.
"Finally, the independent rep, small vendor, and small retailer who are GHTA members have the same health insurance buying power as a big company, thanks to our partnership with AHP," says Denny King, an ex-officio board member who has worked on acquiring health insurance for GHTA for the last two years. "With our partnership with AHP, we now offer health insurance to our members but maybe even more important, we offer them a Health Care Advocate."
For more information about this new partnership or to receive a health insurance quote for GHTA members, please visit http://www.associationpros.com/assoc/ghta/ or call AHP direct at 888.450.3040.
For more information about the GHTA, please visit www.giftandhome.org or email info@giftandhome.org.
About the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association
GHTA is the gift and home industry's non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry's independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry's leading non-profit trade association, has partnered with Association Health Programs (AHP) to offer its members a wide range of savings on health insurance, long-term care, disability income, critical illness, dental, vision and life insurance. This new membership benefit is a result of an exhaustive search to find the best company to provide health insurance to the GHTA membership.
"Over the past few years, during various trade shows and industry events, our members have continually expressed their concern regarding health benefits," says Beth Lang, president of the GHTA. "Health insurance has been, and continues to be, a tension issue for all industry members --- regardless of company type or size or income. We hope that this partnership will ease that tension by providing substantial savings to our members."
Through AHP, a niche player in association and employee health programs, GHTA members provide their current company or individual health insurance plan along with their health history for review. AHP then advises the company as to whether or not they're adequately insured and works to get the company the best possible insurance with an "A" rated carrier.
"Finally, the independent rep, small vendor, and small retailer who are GHTA members have the same health insurance buying power as a big company, thanks to our partnership with AHP," says Denny King, an ex-officio board member who has worked on acquiring health insurance for GHTA for the last two years. "With our partnership with AHP, we now offer health insurance to our members but maybe even more important, we offer them a Health Care Advocate."
For more information about this new partnership or to receive a health insurance quote for GHTA members, please visit http://www.associationpros.com/assoc/ghta/ or call AHP direct at 888.450.3040.
For more information about the GHTA, please visit www.giftandhome.org or email info@giftandhome.org.
About the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association
GHTA is the gift and home industry's non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry's independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.
Pent-Up Demand for Custom and Ready-Made Picture Frames
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New Unity Marketing report on the picture framing market finds customers have between 6 and 7 items waiting to be framed -- the makings of a framing boom!
Stevens, PA October 20, 2010 -- Although the art market has been hit hard by the one-two punch of the recession and a product category that has become increasingly irrelevant to consumers, there is one bright spot on the horizon: Consumers love to frame photos and personal mementos, and they have a number of items waiting in the wings for just the right frame.
"The increase in demand for framing, both custom and ready-made, is being driven by a boom in digital photography," says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and lead researcher on the latest Art, Wall Decor, Custom Framing, and Picture Frame Report. A new survey among 1,300+ category buyers showed that nearly everyone has a digital camera, and almost two-thirds of them printed and framed a photo in the past year, likely to go on a photo wall or in-home gallery.
"Digital photos are prime examples of the types of items consumers want to frame -- items that have a significant emotional value, as well as perhaps a monetary value. In our recent survey, we found that consumers are collecting items to frame faster than they can frame them, creating a backlog of pent-up demand."
For example, the survey found that people had an average of 6.3 items waiting to be framed. This number was even higher for those who had purchased framing in the past. Those who had purchased ready-made picture frames in the past reported an average of 6.6 items waiting to be framed, while those who purchased custom framing in the past had 6.9 items in the queue.
"This backlog of items waiting to be framed is a golden opportunity for makers and marketers of ready-made frames and custom framing services," says Danziger. "Marketers can entice consumers to frame some of these items waiting for attention by offering sales and specials on ready-made frames, perhaps giving a buy-two-get-one special on purchases of frames in a certain style. This will play in nicely to the trend of consumers having an in-house gallery or photo wall displaying their prized memories."
"Custom framers can do likewise, but our survey also found that these marketers have an opportunity to attract customers by creating an atmosphere of respect for a customer's cherished item. Simply keeping the store neat and clean and taking great care in handling the item are ways of reassuring the consumer that they can trust their treasure with the framer. Whether it is a vintage baseball card worth thousands of dollars or a son's Little League photo, these are irreplaceable items. The framer who treats them as such will get the business.
Register for New Orleans conference
Monday, October 25 is the last date to get the special room rate at the Ritz Carlton hotel for the Gift and Home Trade Association conference in New Orleans. The conference runs Nov. 18 to 20. See the program and registration details here.
Earlier this month, Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced it will be a beneficiary of the charity golf tournament to be held at English Turn in New Orleans on Thursday, November 18, during the 8th annual Gift and Home Trade Association conference.
This year’s GHTA conference, Jazz Up Your Business in the Big Easy, will be held from November 18-20 at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans and will feature several keynote speeches, breakout sessions, workshops, and a special presentation by NFL legend Archie Manning.
“We invite everyone to enjoy golf in the Big Easy while helping our industry’s leading charity,” said Diane Carnevale Jones, executive director. “We encourage everyone—no matter what skill level—to come out and have fun for a great cause.” Proceeds from the GHTA Golf Outing will be split equally between Gift For Life and GHTA.
“We are honored to work with GHTA and to be the beneficiary from this event,” said Jenny Hammons, chair of the Gift For Life board. “GHTA’s continuing commitment to the industry and supporting social causes are deeply appreciated.”
The Gift and Home Trade Association is the gift and home industry’s only non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, industry affiliates and retailers work together to improve the industry. GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA hosts an annual conference and distributes monthly newsletters to inform and educate its members.
The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports an increased incidence of HIV infections in the United States in 2008. Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs.
Call for entries in retail display contest
Press release
Midwest-CBK, leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle in home décor, gifts, holiday and candles, announces a call for entries in its fourth annual “Design Style Sparkle” in-store retail holiday display contest for independent retailers.
Independent retailers are invited to submit up to two photos of their holiday displays, a 150-word description and if possible, impact in terms of increased traffic, sales and customer feedback. Criteria for judging include creativity and impact. Prizes include Midwest-CBK product credits and award plaques, and will be presented for first, second and third places.
“Now in our fourth year of hosting this popular retail awards program, Midwest-CBK is sponsoring the 2010 ‘Design Style Sparkle’ contest to celebrate, recognize and share the creative display ideas that are helping to drive traffic and sales for independent retail business,” says Frederic Contino, president of Midwest-CBK.
The deadline for contest entries is December 13, 2010. All digital photo entries and descriptions should be emailed to your local Midwest-CBK account manager, or directly to contest@mwcbk.com. To find your local Midwest-CBK account manager, please call 800-394-4225.
Winners will be announced on Saturday, January 15, 2011, during Midwest-CBK’s “Design Style Sparkle” party in the company’s Atlanta showroom located in Building 1, Suite 16A7. Photos of the award winners will be on display in major Midwest-CBK showrooms during the winter markets.
Midwest-CBK, leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle in home décor, gifts, holiday and candles, announces a call for entries in its fourth annual “Design Style Sparkle” in-store retail holiday display contest for independent retailers.
Independent retailers are invited to submit up to two photos of their holiday displays, a 150-word description and if possible, impact in terms of increased traffic, sales and customer feedback. Criteria for judging include creativity and impact. Prizes include Midwest-CBK product credits and award plaques, and will be presented for first, second and third places.
“Now in our fourth year of hosting this popular retail awards program, Midwest-CBK is sponsoring the 2010 ‘Design Style Sparkle’ contest to celebrate, recognize and share the creative display ideas that are helping to drive traffic and sales for independent retail business,” says Frederic Contino, president of Midwest-CBK.
The deadline for contest entries is December 13, 2010. All digital photo entries and descriptions should be emailed to your local Midwest-CBK account manager, or directly to contest@mwcbk.com. To find your local Midwest-CBK account manager, please call 800-394-4225.
Winners will be announced on Saturday, January 15, 2011, during Midwest-CBK’s “Design Style Sparkle” party in the company’s Atlanta showroom located in Building 1, Suite 16A7. Photos of the award winners will be on display in major Midwest-CBK showrooms during the winter markets.
Foursquare vs. Shopkick
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By Nikki Baird, Managing Partner, RSR, Retail Systems Research
I like my phone. A lot. Okay, admittedly I am an Apple fan, not quite the level of my husband, but Antenna-Gate was not a big deal for me, and I do very much love my new iPhone 4. However, that does not mean I am maxing out my use of the device.
I occasionally remember to price-compare. I sometimes remember to use my Flixter app to find a movie show time rather than just Google it. I definitely love my new favorite app, Keyring, which lets me enter all of my barcode-based loyalty cards into a virtual wallet, and pull them up and scan them at the register straight from my phone.
But what about all the hype around the two "kings of location" that are often spoken in the same breath... foursquare and Shopkick? Here's why I think in the game of retail, apps like shopkick will win - but the business model is by no means refined quite yet.
Read the rest of the post here, at the RSR website.
I like my phone. A lot. Okay, admittedly I am an Apple fan, not quite the level of my husband, but Antenna-Gate was not a big deal for me, and I do very much love my new iPhone 4. However, that does not mean I am maxing out my use of the device.
I occasionally remember to price-compare. I sometimes remember to use my Flixter app to find a movie show time rather than just Google it. I definitely love my new favorite app, Keyring, which lets me enter all of my barcode-based loyalty cards into a virtual wallet, and pull them up and scan them at the register straight from my phone.
But what about all the hype around the two "kings of location" that are often spoken in the same breath... foursquare and Shopkick? Here's why I think in the game of retail, apps like shopkick will win - but the business model is by no means refined quite yet.
Read the rest of the post here, at the RSR website.
The 3/50 Project on Tour in Midwest
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Locations: Appleton WI, Rockford IL, Sycamore IL, Long Grove IL, Bourbonnais IL, Carmel IN, Warsaw IN
This tour schedule has been finalized. As specific details become available,
they'll be posted under the Events tab above.
Great Plains Tour
Mid-November 2010
Locations: Newport AR, Waldron AR, Leavenworth KS, Atchison KS, Broken Bow NE
This tour schedule has been finalized. As specific details become available,
they'll be posted under the Events tab above.
See the 3/50 Project Facebook page for more details.
Read more about The 3/50 Project on its website.
Midwest-CBK name director of product design, development
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press release
MOLLY KINNEY JOINS MIDWEST-CBK TO LEAD HOME DÉCOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN
(Cannon Falls, MN – September 13, 2010) – Midwest-CBK, leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle, welcomes industry veteran Molly Kinney to lead the company’s new home décor product development and design.
Kinney will lead Midwest-CBK’s home décor product design evolution to meet changing customer needs and tastes, including managing all aspects of the company’s product development for home décor and garden.
Kinney has more than 20 years of international marketing and business experience, including extensive work in design and product development and founding Cole River Co., a boutique wholesale brand dedicated to the design, manufacture, import and distribution of unique home décor, tabletop and gift products serving specialty retail and hospitality markets. She has also served as a China-based product design and development consultant for Target, and director of Asia-Pacific marketing for Mary Kay. Kinney is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
“We welcome Molly and look forward to her innovative, experienced and trend-driven approach to design and product development in the reinvention of our home décor lines,” says Frederic Contino, president of Midwest-CBK. “Her depth of experience and knowledge of marrying today’s trends with specialty retailers’ changing needs will play a critical role in Midwest-CBK’s new home décor approach, helping our customers to achieve even more success and increased sales and growth.”
MOLLY KINNEY JOINS MIDWEST-CBK TO LEAD HOME DÉCOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN
(Cannon Falls, MN – September 13, 2010) – Midwest-CBK, leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle, welcomes industry veteran Molly Kinney to lead the company’s new home décor product development and design.
Kinney will lead Midwest-CBK’s home décor product design evolution to meet changing customer needs and tastes, including managing all aspects of the company’s product development for home décor and garden.
Kinney has more than 20 years of international marketing and business experience, including extensive work in design and product development and founding Cole River Co., a boutique wholesale brand dedicated to the design, manufacture, import and distribution of unique home décor, tabletop and gift products serving specialty retail and hospitality markets. She has also served as a China-based product design and development consultant for Target, and director of Asia-Pacific marketing for Mary Kay. Kinney is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
“We welcome Molly and look forward to her innovative, experienced and trend-driven approach to design and product development in the reinvention of our home décor lines,” says Frederic Contino, president of Midwest-CBK. “Her depth of experience and knowledge of marrying today’s trends with specialty retailers’ changing needs will play a critical role in Midwest-CBK’s new home décor approach, helping our customers to achieve even more success and increased sales and growth.”
SnapRetail Releases TrafficBuilder Marketing System
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Easy email & social marketing system drives store traffic for independent retailers
August 2, 2010 (PITTSBURGH) – SnapRetail, a company dedicated to helping independent retailers drive store traffic and increase profits, has announced the release of its revolutionary software product: TrafficBuilder. TrafficBuilder is an easy-to-use email and social media marketing system that helps retailers connect with their customers, driving higher store traffic and profits.
“TrafficBuilder is a virtually automatic marketing tool that makes it a ‘snap’ for independent retailers to effectively market to their customers using customizable marketing materials that come directly from the vendors they love,” said Ted Teele, CEO of SnapRetail. “TrafficBuilder also offers retailers the ability to entice consumers by posting online photo albums on Facebook, Twitter and via email of fresh products that are about to arrive in stores.”
Over 90 leading vendors have signed up to provide their marketing materials to the 100,000 retailers in the gift, home décor, furniture and garden industries including Mud Pie, Midwest-CBK, Yankee Candle, Lindsay Phillips, Beatriz Ball, Bailey Street, IMAX, and Evergreen. “TrafficBuilder is an effort to support our independent retailers,” said John Toler, Evergreen Enterprises. “We believe this will help them thrive in the retail marketplace.”
More than 1500 retailers have signed up for TrafficBuilder’s Trial Edition which gives store owners a 3 month free subscription period to use the software. “We are delighted to have so many retailers helping us fine tune our system,” said Ted Teele, CEO of SnapRetail. “All software systems benefit from having large numbers of users, and the feedback from participating retailers during the free trial will undoubtedly strengthen our software.”
Retailers are enthusiastic about the release. “We are thrilled about TrafficBuilder. We are especially excited about the online photo albums of incoming merchandise so we can share the newest products with our loyal customers via e-mail and Facebook,” said Marsha Fleming, Something Special, Vincennes, Indiana.
Retailers can still sign up for the free trial which runs through October 31st at www.snapretail.com/trafficbuilder. “The earlier a retailer signs up for the free trial,” said Mr. Teele, “the more time a retailer can use the system to market to their retailers without charge.”
SnapRetail will celebrate its launch with retailers in its Las Vegas showroom C-0637 on Tuesday, August 3rd at 4pm.
Interested retailers can learn more at: www.snapretail.com/trafficbuilder.
# # #
About SnapRetail
SnapRetail is dedicated to helping independent retailers drive traffic and increase profits by making it a “snap” for them to market to their customers using the new marketing, including social media, email marketing, and ecommerce. Our revolutionary software “TrafficBuilder” will help independents compete effectively with larger retailers. Also, with the largest online wholesale MarketPlace in the industry, we help vendors and sales agencies with the “sell to” of products to retailers. In other words, SnapRetail provides the complete solution for making retail a snap! More information is available on www.snapretail.com and SnapRetail’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/snapretail.
Easy email & social marketing system drives store traffic for independent retailers
August 2, 2010 (PITTSBURGH) – SnapRetail, a company dedicated to helping independent retailers drive store traffic and increase profits, has announced the release of its revolutionary software product: TrafficBuilder. TrafficBuilder is an easy-to-use email and social media marketing system that helps retailers connect with their customers, driving higher store traffic and profits.
“TrafficBuilder is a virtually automatic marketing tool that makes it a ‘snap’ for independent retailers to effectively market to their customers using customizable marketing materials that come directly from the vendors they love,” said Ted Teele, CEO of SnapRetail. “TrafficBuilder also offers retailers the ability to entice consumers by posting online photo albums on Facebook, Twitter and via email of fresh products that are about to arrive in stores.”
Over 90 leading vendors have signed up to provide their marketing materials to the 100,000 retailers in the gift, home décor, furniture and garden industries including Mud Pie, Midwest-CBK, Yankee Candle, Lindsay Phillips, Beatriz Ball, Bailey Street, IMAX, and Evergreen. “TrafficBuilder is an effort to support our independent retailers,” said John Toler, Evergreen Enterprises. “We believe this will help them thrive in the retail marketplace.”
More than 1500 retailers have signed up for TrafficBuilder’s Trial Edition which gives store owners a 3 month free subscription period to use the software. “We are delighted to have so many retailers helping us fine tune our system,” said Ted Teele, CEO of SnapRetail. “All software systems benefit from having large numbers of users, and the feedback from participating retailers during the free trial will undoubtedly strengthen our software.”
Retailers are enthusiastic about the release. “We are thrilled about TrafficBuilder. We are especially excited about the online photo albums of incoming merchandise so we can share the newest products with our loyal customers via e-mail and Facebook,” said Marsha Fleming, Something Special, Vincennes, Indiana.
Retailers can still sign up for the free trial which runs through October 31st at www.snapretail.com/trafficbuilder. “The earlier a retailer signs up for the free trial,” said Mr. Teele, “the more time a retailer can use the system to market to their retailers without charge.”
SnapRetail will celebrate its launch with retailers in its Las Vegas showroom C-0637 on Tuesday, August 3rd at 4pm.
Interested retailers can learn more at: www.snapretail.com/trafficbuilder.
# # #
About SnapRetail
SnapRetail is dedicated to helping independent retailers drive traffic and increase profits by making it a “snap” for them to market to their customers using the new marketing, including social media, email marketing, and ecommerce. Our revolutionary software “TrafficBuilder” will help independents compete effectively with larger retailers. Also, with the largest online wholesale MarketPlace in the industry, we help vendors and sales agencies with the “sell to” of products to retailers. In other words, SnapRetail provides the complete solution for making retail a snap! More information is available on www.snapretail.com and SnapRetail’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/snapretail.
Saturday special: marketing with Foursquare
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Hubspot interviews restaurateur Joe Sorge of AJ Bombers about a marketing event he ran through Foursquare, the social media application. Read more.
Watch an interview with Joe Sorge.
Mashable wrote last year why Foursquare could be the next Twitter.
Learn more about Foursquare at the company's website.
Watch an interview with Joe Sorge.
Mashable wrote last year why Foursquare could be the next Twitter.
Learn more about Foursquare at the company's website.
A Facebook guide for small business marketing
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Wiley Publishing, Inc. is releasing a brand new series of books to help users get more out of it: The Facebook Guides.
"THE FACEBOOK GUIDE TO SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING" offers small and local business ideas on how to attract customers through Facebook. It guides readers through creating a business profile, presenting information in the most appealing and useful way possible, and taking advantage of all of Facebook's marketing features. Packed with insider tips and proven best practices, this book will help any small business harness the worldwide marketing potential of Facebook. It will be available December 2010.
Other titles in the series are "THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 (ISBN: 9780470875179; November 2010)" and THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PARENTS (ISBN: 9780470875193; January 2011).
"THE FACEBOOK GUIDE TO SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING" offers small and local business ideas on how to attract customers through Facebook. It guides readers through creating a business profile, presenting information in the most appealing and useful way possible, and taking advantage of all of Facebook's marketing features. Packed with insider tips and proven best practices, this book will help any small business harness the worldwide marketing potential of Facebook. It will be available December 2010.
Other titles in the series are "THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 (ISBN: 9780470875179; November 2010)" and THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PARENTS (ISBN: 9780470875193; January 2011).
HFIA, UFA announce partnership
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HFIA and UFA Put Finishing Touches on Partnership
Dallas, TX and Spofford, NH for immediate release: The Home Furnishings Independents Association (HFIA) and the Unfurnished Furniture Association (UFA) proudly announce a new partnership that will bring many benefits to both associations’ members.
In the new partnership, UFA members can join HFIA at a discounted rate as branch members. All branch members will have access to the HFIA benefits such as bank card processing, consumer finance, email marketing, freight discounts, gift cards, insurance, lighting supplies, office supply discounts, online furniture sales training, promotional tools, retail operating software, room planning kits and warehouse supplies.
“HFIA is the voice of independent-thinking home furnishings professionals,” said HFIA President Mary Frye. “It offers business tools and solutions to help members operate more efficiently and, in return, more profitably.”
“Further, HFIA has a long history of helping its members save money, streamline operations and stay better informed about the industry,” said Frye. “We are looking forward to meeting many new members through our alliance with UFA.”
UFA is a not-for-profit membership trade organization representing over 600 retailers, manufacturers and sales organizations in their unique market niche. UFA supports their industry brand “Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®” with a consumer oriented web site www.realwoodfurniture.org and through a retailer certification program which licenses qualifying member retailers and manufacturers to use the “Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®” logo. The organization advocates education and awareness to promote the unique qualities and availability of Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way® to consumers across North America. These goals are also accomplished through UFA’s annual trade shows which give retailers and manufacturers opportunities to come together and exchange ideas and information. In addition UFA publishes a bi-monthly industry email newsletter.
“This is a great opportunity for UFA members” said UFA Executive Director Fred Moriarty. “UFA’s focus is on our trade shows and promotion of the ‘Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®’ brand. This partnership with HFIA will now allow UFA members to also have access to quality programs that will help them improve their operations while realizing meaningful cost savings in the process.”
HFIA and UFA Put Finishing Touches on Partnership
Dallas, TX and Spofford, NH for immediate release: The Home Furnishings Independents Association (HFIA) and the Unfurnished Furniture Association (UFA) proudly announce a new partnership that will bring many benefits to both associations’ members.
In the new partnership, UFA members can join HFIA at a discounted rate as branch members. All branch members will have access to the HFIA benefits such as bank card processing, consumer finance, email marketing, freight discounts, gift cards, insurance, lighting supplies, office supply discounts, online furniture sales training, promotional tools, retail operating software, room planning kits and warehouse supplies.
“HFIA is the voice of independent-thinking home furnishings professionals,” said HFIA President Mary Frye. “It offers business tools and solutions to help members operate more efficiently and, in return, more profitably.”
“Further, HFIA has a long history of helping its members save money, streamline operations and stay better informed about the industry,” said Frye. “We are looking forward to meeting many new members through our alliance with UFA.”
UFA is a not-for-profit membership trade organization representing over 600 retailers, manufacturers and sales organizations in their unique market niche. UFA supports their industry brand “Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®” with a consumer oriented web site www.realwoodfurniture.org and through a retailer certification program which licenses qualifying member retailers and manufacturers to use the “Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®” logo. The organization advocates education and awareness to promote the unique qualities and availability of Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way® to consumers across North America. These goals are also accomplished through UFA’s annual trade shows which give retailers and manufacturers opportunities to come together and exchange ideas and information. In addition UFA publishes a bi-monthly industry email newsletter.
“This is a great opportunity for UFA members” said UFA Executive Director Fred Moriarty. “UFA’s focus is on our trade shows and promotion of the ‘Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®’ brand. This partnership with HFIA will now allow UFA members to also have access to quality programs that will help them improve their operations while realizing meaningful cost savings in the process.”
BoConcept expands in San Francisco
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Danish design leader BoConcept has opened a second San Francisco store, this one in Pacific Heights.
Read more at SFGate.com
Read more at SFGate.com
HFIA wins on sprinkler issue
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Mandatory Sprinklers a Wash
Dallas, TX June 9, 2010: The Home Furnishings Independents Association (HFIA) and its members recently achieved a major victory that will save retailers and their consumers a vast amount of money. Numerous HFIA members from Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Indiana, along with a consultant from the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), testified in person and in writing against a proposed code recommendation that would have mandated that retail buildings, showing or warehousing upholstery/mattresses, would have to add sprinkler systems even if they had been grandfathered by their local code agencies. The hearings lasted two days and HFIA’s compelling testimony was vital in preventing the potential code change.
HFIA President Mary Frye knows the additional expense would have been a harsh burden on retailers. "Several members I spoke to said that having to add a sprinkler system to their buildings would potentially put them out of business," Frye said.
“This is outstanding news and a huge accomplishment for all retailers, especially those of us in historic buildings,” said Carol Johnson of Johnson Furniture Co.
Andy Counts, CEO of the AHFA, said although he believes the safety of these properties a top priority, installing sprinkler systems retroactively is an expensive investment.
“Part of our successful argument [against sprinkler systems] was that retailers have a tremendously vested interest in their buildings, contents and communities being safe and so there are policies and procedures to ensure that they are,” Counts said. To ensure the community's safety, retailers currently implement effective practices such as inspections by fire officials so they know about the layout of buildings, no smoking policies, proper trash disposal and building inspections by store personnel to spot potential problems. In addition, the industry supported a recent code change that requires sprinklers in all future retail establishments. “Nonetheless, with these effective safety measures in play, we will likely see this effort again next year and the year after that,” Counts said in regards to the effort to require sprinkler systems in existing retail stores.
AFHA is the world's largest and most influential trade organization serving the home furnishings industry. It promotes industry unity and access capable of impacting consumers while also working to influence important issues, such as fire code legislation. Its purpose is to deliver targeted programs and services addressing the three broad common interests of unity, access and influence shared by all member companies.
The HFIA is the voice for independent-thinking home furnishing professionals. It strives to offer business solutions to its members to operate more efficiently, and in return, more profitably. As demonstrated in this recent achievement, monitoring potential code changes is one way the HFIA constantly strives to save its members money.
Mandatory Sprinklers a Wash
Dallas, TX June 9, 2010: The Home Furnishings Independents Association (HFIA) and its members recently achieved a major victory that will save retailers and their consumers a vast amount of money. Numerous HFIA members from Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Indiana, along with a consultant from the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), testified in person and in writing against a proposed code recommendation that would have mandated that retail buildings, showing or warehousing upholstery/mattresses, would have to add sprinkler systems even if they had been grandfathered by their local code agencies. The hearings lasted two days and HFIA’s compelling testimony was vital in preventing the potential code change.
HFIA President Mary Frye knows the additional expense would have been a harsh burden on retailers. "Several members I spoke to said that having to add a sprinkler system to their buildings would potentially put them out of business," Frye said.
“This is outstanding news and a huge accomplishment for all retailers, especially those of us in historic buildings,” said Carol Johnson of Johnson Furniture Co.
Andy Counts, CEO of the AHFA, said although he believes the safety of these properties a top priority, installing sprinkler systems retroactively is an expensive investment.
“Part of our successful argument [against sprinkler systems] was that retailers have a tremendously vested interest in their buildings, contents and communities being safe and so there are policies and procedures to ensure that they are,” Counts said. To ensure the community's safety, retailers currently implement effective practices such as inspections by fire officials so they know about the layout of buildings, no smoking policies, proper trash disposal and building inspections by store personnel to spot potential problems. In addition, the industry supported a recent code change that requires sprinklers in all future retail establishments. “Nonetheless, with these effective safety measures in play, we will likely see this effort again next year and the year after that,” Counts said in regards to the effort to require sprinkler systems in existing retail stores.
AFHA is the world's largest and most influential trade organization serving the home furnishings industry. It promotes industry unity and access capable of impacting consumers while also working to influence important issues, such as fire code legislation. Its purpose is to deliver targeted programs and services addressing the three broad common interests of unity, access and influence shared by all member companies.
The HFIA is the voice for independent-thinking home furnishing professionals. It strives to offer business solutions to its members to operate more efficiently, and in return, more profitably. As demonstrated in this recent achievement, monitoring potential code changes is one way the HFIA constantly strives to save its members money.
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