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Don’t forget….

by Cinda Baxter on November 21, 2008

in Business, Economy, Independent Retailers, Teleseminars

There are still a few spaces available; once we max out, though…that’s it.

For: Retailers who want to stay upright and breathing through this economic melt down
When: Monday, November 24, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. E / 7:00 C / 6:00 M / 5:00 P
Duration: 1 hour
Presenter: Cinda Baxter, Always Upward Consulting and founder of RetailSpeaks

Description:
Retail has never been harder, nor the risks greater. Learn the five vital things you need to do right now to protect you and your investment as the consumer market twists and turns. The goal of this session is to assure that you’ve stacked the deck in your favor, prepared and protected-—regardless of how the game plays out.

Cost:
$37.00 per enrollment
Space is limited; feel free to have multiple people listen in on a speaker phone. (Note: This seminar is structured for retail business owners; some information may be more sensitive than what you typically share with employees.)

To subscribe to this session:
Click here to be taken to the Always Upward home page, then click on the event link. Major credit cards and PayPal credit accounts are welcome.

Not a retailer?
Feel free to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested in protecting their investment; the more stores who protect themselves now, the more that will still be around tomorrow.

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The GHTA conference

by Cinda Baxter on November 20, 2008

in Business, Economy, GHTA, Independent Retailers, Speaking

Today’s the big day–the start of the Gift and Home Trade Association national conference, in Sanibel, Florida (yeah, tough gig, I know). For those of you not familiar with the GHTA, this is a collection of CEOs, Presidents, owners, and upper management representing the most influential vendors, manufacturers, sales agencies, and trade magazines in the gift and home accessory industries.

On Saturday, I’m presenting two seminars called “Here and Now…and Tomorrow,” detailing the realities that concern retailers today, what concerns them about the next year, and how those concerns are going to impact the way they continue to do business. Thanks to the contributions of an advisory group of independent retailers representing a cross section of stores nationwide, the data is as “of the moment” as it gets.

Thanks to those of you who answered the call, sharing your wisdom and suggestions for the sessions. This is one of those cases where you’ve got a captive audience of real decision makers; together, we can help them decide what will help independents most in this unprecedented economic climate.

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Don’t write that check

by Cinda Baxter on November 13, 2008

in Business, Retail, Stationery

check-pen-bOnce again, I see a familiar name making the rounds in the stationery industry, coaxing retailers to join their “guild” and, by extension, their website, with promises of better Google results, more visibility, and heightened customer awareness. They’ve been trying to get this concept off the ground for two years, but only recently were able to actually produce the site itself. I do not endorse their program, and for that reason, will not mention them by name here. Rest assured, this is not a vendor. [click here to continue…]

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Taking control of your future

by Cinda Baxter on November 10, 2008

in Business, Economy, Independent Retailers, Teleseminars

At the request of several retailers, I’m presenting the following teleseminar in two weeks. Please forward this to any store owner you think might benefit from the information….

Audience: Retailers who want to stay upright and breathing
When: Monday, November 24, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. E / 7:00 C / 6:00 M / 5:00 P
Duration: 1 hour

Description:
Retail has never been harder, nor the risks greater. As a store owner, you have a lot on the line-—from inventory to your home mortgage, odds are just about everything in front of you is tied up in what happens the next few months…or few weeks.

This teleseminar boils the “What do I do now?” list down to five vital actions that need to be taken to protect you and your investment as the consumer market twists and turns. The goal of this session is to assure that you’ve stacked the deck in your favor, prepared and protected-—regardless of how the game plays out.

Cost:
$37.00 per enrollment
Space is limited; feel free to have multiple people listen in on a speaker phone. (Note: This seminar is structured for retail business owners; some information may be more sensitive than what you typically share with employees.)

To subscribe to this session:
Click here to be taken to the Always Upward home page, then click on the event link. Major credit cards and PayPal credit accounts are welcome.

Not a retailer?
Odds are you know someone who is. And odds are, they need all the help they can get. Feel free to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested. I hope to see as many of you as possible; there’s no time to waste.

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That’s one way to put it….

by Cinda Baxter on November 5, 2008

in Business, Economy, Marketing

Nine hours in a car gives you a lot of time to sample local radio stations, most of which offered pretty predictable fare over the weekend. From Minnesota to Nebraska, contemporary to country, very little surprised me-—with the exception of two spots on KRGI FM in Grand Island:

Ingenuity Award
A 30-second spot paid for by the local Chamber of Commerce touts the many ways Grand Island is not being negatively impacted by the current economic slow down. From a rock-bottom foreclosure rate to a growing employment rate, this statistic-loaded PSA serves as an impressive way to bolster continued cash flow while comforting nervous concerns.

“Aren’t I Special” Award
KRGI’s own 15 or 20-second spot, boasting (and I’m quoting as closely as possible here) they’re “ranked number one among listeners who said they like this station best.” Hmm. One would certainly hope so. Being ranked number two by that crowd would be pretty depressing.

I certainly don’t suggest mimicking the second option, but the first…? Why not roll out a campaign of your own, listing ten ways life continues to be stable, happy, and secure in your store in spite of the real world willies? Use them as bag stuffers…create a big window banner…send out an email newsletter with them…just get the good word out.

Better yet, turn it into a top ten list (a la Letterman style) building up to the number one reason life is good at Anderson’s Card Shop: We like it here…and you will too.

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Just DO IT

by Cinda Baxter on November 4, 2008

in Business, Economy, News

A little reminder aimed at those for whom subtlety has no meaning:

If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch. Period.

Sorry ‘bout the language, but having seen Canada clock in at a dismal 59.1% voter turnout, I’m pretty fired up about pushing folks out the door and into the booth.

Now….GO.

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The upside to price fixing

by Cinda Baxter on October 29, 2008

in Business, Crane’s, Discounting, Economy, Independent Retailers, Law, Stationery

Back in August, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that, while not favored by discounters and online retailers, protects independent stationers in ways they’ve dreamed of for years. With the blessings of the high court, manufacturers are able to not only set MSRP, but are also allowed to set a minimum threshold for prices on their products and enforce them.

Translated? There’s finally a way to stop discounters and home studios from eating your invitations business alive (assuming your vendors step up and do the right thing).

This summer’s Supreme Court ruling, based on a lawsuit between a discount store and a purse manufacturer, reverses a 1911 precedent that made price guarantees illegal. According to the modern court, such assurances aren’t automatically breaks in anti-trust law, but ways to protect manufacturers (and, by extension, full service retailers) from predatory pricing schemes that devalue their products and business. To see the full Wall Street Journal article explaining the decision, click here.

How does this protect you, as a full service stationer? Simple. It pulls the plug from vendors’ protests that they can’t force home studios and discounters to charge full price. With the exception of Crane’s (who wisely prints “Property of Crane and Co.” on the cover of every album), endless vendors have chanted that anti-trust logic while continuing to enjoy income from discounters, to the fiscal dismay of their full price, brick and mortar retailers.

With the new ruling, however, vendors are allowed to set firm minimum prices, then close the accounts of discounters who continue to price below them. Period.

Imagine the reaction of home studios who rely on discounts to lure customers to their basements and kitchens, or internet invitation discounters, who have been riding the coattails of traditional retail stores for years, essentially using them as free showrooms to make their own online sales.

Paper-related discounters aren’t the only ones crying foul; operators like Brian Okin, owner of an online home improvement store, claim minimum price policies are responsible for him losing sales and substantial revenue. In Mr. Okin’s words, “It just makes it so difficult to compete.”

Huh. Kind of like when online discounters undercut full price storefronts…?

Now…whaddaya say we get those books out of Suzie Smith’s basement studio once and for all?

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Start with your head….

by Cinda Baxter on October 28, 2008

in Business, Economy, GHTA, Retail, Vendors

In a few weeks, I’ll be traveling to Sanibel for this year’s Gift and Home Trade Association national conference where I’ll be speaking about the current state of independent retail. Admittedly, it’s a tough year for many members—predominantly vendors, reps, marts, and media-—to justify the expense of attending, which begs the question “Will it really make a difference if I skip?”

Yes, it will.

Following is an email I wrote, later forwarded to the GHTA membership, explaining why it’s important they keep pushing ahead. To any reps, vendors, manufacturers who think curling up in a ball and waiting this thing out is a good strategy, well…buck up and get in gear. It’s time to be proactive about turning this industry around.

Times are tough for everyone in the gift industry, especially at the grass roots level. Now, more than ever, retailers need vendors, reps, sales agencies, and manufacturers to be plugged into resources that will help shore up our industry, from the top of the supply chain down to the stores and boutiques that rely on them.

And that’s what the GHTA Sanibel conference is all about — opportunities to connect as an industry, learn from one another, and forge new paths that lead us out of economic uncertainty and into productive partnership.

True, the world can’t be reinvented in a three day conference, but groundwork can be laid for a year’s worth of progress. Networking brings peers together who have never met before. Companies are exposed to fresh ideas and out-of-the-box thinking they can implement on home turf. And creative brainstorming opens channels to new ways of thinking, of doing, and of succeeding.

All of us on the retail side know the expense and time away may be a tough sell in such frustrating financial times. But the return on investment for those who attend with open minds, enthusiasm, and determination to learn will find that investment a sound one.

Please join us as we write the next chapter of this industry’s history. Together, we can prosper.

Cinda Baxter


It’s not too late to sign up; click here to get the ball rolling.

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