At first glance, this post is going to look like it’s geared solely to stationers. Gift and home accessory retailers, stick with me here…this applies to you too, albeit in a slightly different way.
The world knows my opinion regarding home studios (definition: individuals who purchase the same wholesale lines offered through retail stores then sell them out of their house)-—the bane of every brick and mortar’s existence. This isn’t the only “under the radar” competition you need to consider, though. How up to speed are you regarding Etsy? [click here to continue…]
Just when you think you’ve seen it all….
Those of you with websites need to keep an eye out for a misleading fax or email attachment that looks a lot like a legal document titled “Final Notice,” claiming you need to re-register your domain name or lose it. Typically, the document shows an expiration date of the day it’s sent, leading to a moment of terror in the hearts of unknowing recipients. A toll free phone number will appear at the bottom.
The one I received via fax (first clue this was a scam, since my web host communicates via email) came from the so-called “Domain Registry Rights” company, but these guys also fly under the name “Domain Notification Central.”
Tear it up. Shred it. Burn it. Done.
William Arthur dealers have known for a couple of months the vendor they relied on to support them was joining the ranks of those who compete against them. Obviously, this did not win over fans in the storefront crowd.
Three different sources have now confirmed that representatives of the William Arthur web division were browsing through booths at the New York International Gift Fair, apparently in search of product to fill the company’s upcoming online store. [click here to continue…]
I’m strapped to the desk today, which means it’s going to be a Pandora afternoon.
If you haven’t heard of Pandora, you’re really missing something. Simply put, it’s a free online service that plays music based on the songs you like. Today, I’m listening to Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong and the like singing Christmas songs, simply because I typed in “Santa Baby,” then selected the Eartha Kit version from the menu that automatically appeared.
This is crazy easy to use (and free): [click here to continue…]
It’s been a little quiet on the AU blog this past week, in part because my schedule’s been upside down, and in part because I’m working on a move from Blogger to the Always Upward website. This is no small undertaking-—especially for someone who doesn’t live, eat, and breathe code.
Until the new digs are ready, I’ll continue posting here. As soon as I think the floor is solid and the roof won’t leak, you’ll be the first to know it’s time to move over to the new address.
Think good thoughts. This is turning out to be a much more complex experience than building my own websites has been. Much more complex.
Well, I can’t say I wasn’t warned.
Obviously, my posts were already running a few days behind—chalk that up to the combination of 6:00 a.m. wake ups and midnight returns to the hotel. Just wasn’t time to sit down at the computer.
After frantically trying to catch up on Hong Kong posts while en route to Beijing, then managing to get a few uploaded from the Westin immediately upon arrival, I woke up to a new reality the next morning. I was blocked. Not mentally—internet-ally (yup, just made that word up). While most of my bookmarked sites will open just fine, Blogspot now appears to be off limits. Try as I may several times, there’s no getting past the screen that says “access unavailable.” I was locked out of my own blog…
…and out of RetailSpeaks. I don’t just mean the site—I mean the entire URL, i.e., no email access either. According to the host company (emailed them using an unrelated account), the server is just fine and all systems are functional, so the problem is limited soley to my laptop here in Beijing. My apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced by the lack of timely responses (especially since from your side, everything appeared functional).
Bummer. On both counts.
Editor’s note: Since access was blocked, the remaining China posts have been added from the States, still in chronological order, dated correctly.
