Just a reminder that I’m doing a seminar about The 3/50 Project in New York this Sunday, during the New York International Gift Fair. Here’s the scoop:
Title: The 3/50 Project: Turning the Tide for Brick and Mortars
Date: Sunday, August 16,2009
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Javits Convention Center, Room 1A02-03 (lower level, south end)
Hosted by: George Little Management, New York International Gift Fair
Open to: NYIGF attendees -and- area business owners*
Admission: Free
RSVP: Click here to respond online
To those of you in the New York area or planning to attend the show, you have big shoes to fill. The crowd in Chicago was standing room only, and wildly enthusiastic. Now, tell me…are you going to let this session slip by quietly?
I think not.
I’ll be sharing ideas for how to promote your business using The 3/50 Project as the centerpiece, so bring the other business owners in your neighborhood along, then head out for a brainstorming lunch afterward. As one Chicago attendee, Cindy Crawford (owner, Saraboo Creek) put it:
“I enjoyed your presentation and came away from the weekend re-charged and ready to take on what remains of this recession.”
* If you’re interested in walking the gift show but don’t have a badge, please visit nyigf.com for qualification requirements. Apply for your badge ahead of the show for free or apply on site for $50.00.
The Buyers Market of American Craft is an amazing show to visit if you haven’t already. From extraordinary jewelry lines to fine hand blown glass, you’ll see it all. Pretty impressive stuff, as well as a pretty impressive venue (the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia).
The mood on the show floor was positive, and reminiscent of what I recall from NSS in May. Not surprisingly, because they’re both niche shows, vendors and buyers are pretty passionate about the wares, often enjoying long term relationships they’ve known for years. [click here to continue…]
Heads up to those of you traveling to Philadelphia this weekend for the Buyers Market of American Craft (or are already in the area to begin with)-—I’ll be speaking about The 3/50 Project on Friday as part of the BMAC Boot Camp, a day of sessions created to support the handmade crafts industry.
My session wraps up the day, and is open to all business owners in the area (thanks to our gracious hosts!). Here’s the scoop:
Title: Turning ‘Buy Local’ into ‘Buy YOU’
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009
Time: 4:45 p.m.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch Street)
Host: Buyers Market of American Craft
Tickets: $15 at the door (or call in advance 800.432.7238, ext 218)
………….(Or $50 for full Retail Boot Camp series)
Attire: Business casual
For more info: Click here
Would love to see you there!
A few weeks ago, when it became apparent many retailers were scaling back on big market trips to opt for shows closer to home, I suspected Chicago might be one of the winners. Sure enough, instincts were correct.
There were buyers in the aisles, ready to do business, with positive attitudes and determination to survive the frustrations of 2009 (sound familiar? much like what I saw in Atlanta). Those who I spoke with had a plan…a budget…and an appreciation for vendors who wanted to work with them.
Thankfully, the vendors I spoke to echoed that appreciation for buyers who attended. Everyone recognized the head count was down, but were just as quick to note the missing bodies represented the “lookie loos” and less viable buyers. The quantity may have gone down, but the quality of buyers was most definitely up.
Which brings me to a pet peeve that began gnawing at me in Atlanta, then switched to full blown frustration in Chicago. [click here to continue…]
Well, here we go…off to the Big Show, the summer gift show at AmericasMart in Atlanta. Admittedly, I’m a bit curious about the next few days and how they’ll play out. In January, we were all looking each other in the eye for the first time since the market nose dived into oblivion. It only took 24 hours for the collective :::sigh::: to be heard across the three block campus as everyone recognized they were in this thing together.
Now, six months later-—to the day-—everyone’s had time to adjust to doing business differently. [click here to continue…]
Planning to attend the Atlanta Gift Show this weekend? Stop by Building 1 for a free seminar I’m conducting about The 3/50 Project, where it is today, and what you can do with it to help promote your business.
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009
Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Location: Building 1, 14th floor (room 14-D-9)
Admission: Free to show attendees
As an added bonus, Supporters of The 3/50 Project are being provided a private room, courtesy of AmericasMart. Stop in, have a seat, spread out your paperwork, relax, and meet fellow fans of the Project while you’re at it.
Supporters room: Building 1, 10th floor (room 1004)
Open: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
See you there!
To no one’s great surprise, yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article about The 3/50 Project has a few a lot a truckload of folks enthusiastically asking how they can spread the word. Well, since you asked….
On the Resources page of our website, you’ll find a plethora of items that can be downloaded for free, including that snazzy little flyer that started this whole lovefest. Am big on making it easy, you know.
Speaking of making things easy, there was apparently some silly misconception floating around the Dallas show about costly new licensing restrictions pertaining to items created for independents’ use…? Ahhh, not so, Grasshopper. As long as you don’t tinker with the content (think: stuff inside the four edges), odds are, you’re good to go.
Still not sure? Check out our very-not-complex-or-costly FAQ page for the skinny.
Maybe someone confused licensing (third parties wanting to charge independents for goods and services) with the much simpler copyright/TM stuff..? That’s my guess. Both are addressed on the FAQ page to avoid mix ups.
Happy to clear up the confusion. Even happier to be a part of something all of you have made such a success. Well done!
As you know from my previous blog post, the final buzz from the National Stationery Show was unquestionably positive, with vendors and retailers alike returning home happier than expected.
Thankfully, BookExpo-—the book industry equivalent of NSS that just wrapped up at the Javits last weekend-—mirrored much of the same. Vendors agreed while buyer headcount was down, the quality was up. Buyers felt that while exhibitors were fewer, they were more willing to work with them in partnership.
Which proves a point I’ve made with a number of industry folks the past six months. [click here to continue…]
