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Feb. 2010
Jan 30-Feb 1, Miami
Jan 30-Feb 3, New York
Jan 31-Feb 4, Toronto
1-5, Las Vegas
4-6, Salt Lake City
6-7, Oaks, PA
6-8, Biloxi
6-8, Memphis
7-9, Bangor, ME
7-9, Edison, NJ
20-22, Rochester, NY
21-23, Lansing
21-23, Columbus
21-24, Edmonton, AB
22-24, Verona, NY
27-Mar 1, Portland
27-Mar 1, Monroeville, PA
27-Mar 2, Denver
28-Mar 1, Louisville
28-Mar 2, New York
28-Mar 3, Las Vegas

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Men's Gifts Present Unique Challenges

Selecting a gift for a man can be a challenge. The old saw "for the man who has everything" may apply to most men, since men tend to buy what they want. An online poll conducted by MenScience revealed some interesting things about men's preferences when receiving gifts:

• 75% prefer useful gifts, as opposed to unique or funny ones.
• Only 8% found every gift they received in the past five years to be useful.
• 50% believe they are difficult to get gifts for, but 40% agree that the most difficult person they must buy a gift for is their spouse or significant other (male friends follow next, beating out parents, female friends and siblings).
• 97% of men polled would enjoy receiving high-end men's grooming products as a gift.

That last point is perhaps the most surprising. Based on these results, MenScience projects that skincare and grooming items will continue to rise in popularity as men's gift options. Of course the results could be skewed by the fact that it was an online poll and MenScience is a mens skincare product company. (source)

But according to Dermatologist James Fairfield, men are catching on to the idea that it's a part of good grooming to take care of their skin. "Maybe you've seen a bottle or tube of 'product' lurking around the bathroom!" suggests Fairfield. But, a man's skin is different from a woman's, so it's very important to make sure he gets the right skin care products. "Extra care must be taken when choosing skin care products for men," Fairfield notes. "Harsh bar soaps and alcohol-based colognes and aftershaves are just too drying." (source)

So what do men want? The website SixWise.Com has a list of simple steps to giving gifts to men (source).

1. Think function, not sentiment
While a woman may be completely impressed by a house filled with roses, a man would probably prefer an item that he can hold on to and use. Think a gift for him like a Swiss Army Knife with 30 different implements versus naming a star after him, for example.

2. Listen to what he wants
While women may offer hints as to what the "perfect" gift would be, men tend to be less subtle and may come right out and say what they want.

3. Center it around his interests
When looking for a functional gift for men, be sure it centers around something he likes, perhaps with a unique edge.

4. Avoid generic "token" gifts
Token gifts for men, like socks and underwear, are regarded as "low cost and low effort".

A Fresh New Start

January marks a fresh new start. It's the perfect time to restrategize and RE-imagine a bold and exciting new year. As is evident at the 2010 winter trades shows, there's a renewed enthusiasm and energy in the marketplace. Retail is alive and well! As a retailer, you wear many hats. No wonder it's easy to lose sight of your New Year goals. Several years ago I began naming each year. This simple idea helps me focus on an area of my life and/or business that needs improvement. The Year of Gratitude and the Year of Listening not only made me a more effective leader and shopkeeper, it made me a much better person--habits I continue to use today in nearly every professional and personal interaction. Interested in naming your year? Here are some ideas:

• Year of Heroic Customer Service: More than anyone else, your customers deserve your gratitude. Show them how much you appreciate their business with every single exchange: in person, on the phone or online.
• Year of Social Media: If you haven’t already, create a Facebook fan page and start Tweeting! The best thing that comes from these mediums is increased contact with customers. Plus, it’s a fun way to brag about new products or promotions in your own unique voice.
• Year of Internet Marketing: Try bi-monthly e-blasts or newsletters using a service like www.constantcontact.com. In addition to social media, newsletters are an effective way to communicate and inspire. Vow to wow your customers with timely product updates, trend forecasts, and news about upcoming events. Include a coupon.
• Year of Product Knowledge: So often, we pick up great sales tips from vendors or reps but fail to pass that knowledge along to the people who are on the front lines every day. Educate! As one retailer recently told me, "In the new economy, you need to take every opportunity you can to validate your product."

Whatever you name 2010, be sure to discuss it with and share it with your associates. Implement an internal Name Your Year campaign. Post signs in the backroom and on the cash register. Live your year and see amazing results. Here's to a fabulous 2010!

Truly,
Cheryl Karpen

~ Cheryl Karpen is president of Gently Spoken. A retailer and a manufacturer, Cheryl is best known for authoring the Eat Your Peas Collection, a series of 21 gift books that begin with a promise. Visit Cheryl at gentlyspoken.com and cherylkarpen@aol.com.

Quick Industry News

"Candy Cane" and "Peppermint" are the names of these table pieces pictured with the award from AmericasMart

Atlanta, GA -- At the January Show in Atlanta, December Diamonds won the "Best of Floor" award for outsanding visual display for 2010. The company, which originates 75% of its own designs, makes ornaments and table pieces in it's new red, white and silver color scheme which it displayed against white walls in its showroom. The "Peppermint" and "Candy Cane" themed items filled the first showroom.

Atlanta, GA -- The award-wining international gift company, Mud Pie, was recently awarded a 2009 Earnie Award for "Best Gift Item." The coveted Earnie Award represents design excellence in kids' products and is the industry's only comprehensive award program that recognizes essential brands that offer high style and consistent value. This year's Earnie Award was presented in 20 categories, including the infant and toddler market, girls' wear, boys' wear, sleepwear, swimwear and accessories. Nationwide retailers from all market channels selected the winning companies.

The Earnie Awards is hosted by Earnshaw's magazine. Earnshaw's is the premier media resource serving the children's market, including apparel, juvenile products and gifts. With more than 90 years of experience, the magazine is the established voice of the industry. Mud Pie was also recognized with an Earnie Award in 2006 for its creativity and innovation when in the "Best Gift-able Items" category. Mud Pie gift products are sold at fine gift and department stores across the country.

LOS ANGELES, CA - L.A. Mart® Design Center (LAMDC) is announced four new tenant-partners with significant regional/national import.

Complementing an impressive roster of current home furnishings showrooms, LAMDC welcomes AGA John Oriental Rugs, Provasi, Loft Appeal Marketplace and a new chapter office for ASID Los Angeles, adding nearly 20,000-square-feet of new designer offerings to serve the Southern California design industry.

"We are thrilled to present such an extraordinary selection of new design center showrooms," said Mark Furlet, vice president and general manager, L.A. Mart Design Center. "Each of these well-established companies delivers the highest caliber of product along with strong brand value among the design community. Their desire for an L.A. Mart Design Center presence reinforces our position as a pivotal marketplace to create commerce within the industry."

Aga John Oriental Rugs (Suite 157) features an international selection of hand-made carpets and tapestries, fine art, antiques and furnishings. The LAMDC showroom is the company’s fifth California showroom and illustrates Aga John’s commitment to serving the design community in the region.

Provasi (Suite 110), designers and manufacturers of classical Italian furniture, offers the design trade access to eight exclusive lines of case goods, upholstery and draperies, lighting and decorative accessories.

Loft Appeal Marketplace (Suite LL-50) started as a furniture retailer serving, for the past seven years, L.A.’s burgeoning downtown lifestyle market. Providing a combination of new contemporary furniture and furnishings alongside a massive inventory of props from three major Hollywood studios, the new showroom offers designers an eclectic mix of chic styles to satisfy many different project aesthetics.

American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Los Angeles, the leading organization for interior design professionals, chose LAMDC as its newest location for a variety of reasons, most importantly due to the key role the facility plays advancing the needs of the region’s design community.

Introducing new delightful Dena designs to debut at 2010 winter markets

(San Francisco, Calif.) -- Peking Handicraft, Inc., a global manufacturer and wholesaler of high quality home decor, tabletop and giftware items, introduces new everyday textile designs by Dena™. Dena's whimsical everyday patterns blend vibrant color, elegant florals and polka dot designs on new kitchen towels and aprons offered exclusively by Peking Handicraft. The company's new Rachel, Happi Floral, Happi Monogram and Happi Cupcakes designs are both fun and functional, and feature exceptional quality at value prices.

Dena Designs has offered delightful home goods for nearly 20 years. One of the most sought-after and influential designers in America, Dena's unique artwork combines a finely tuned sense of market trends with a creative flair. Dena's latest designs for Peking Handicraft can be viewed at the company's 2010 winter market locations in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

Die-cut cards create an element of surprise.

Gina B. Designs releases 80 new Greeting Cards in everyday occasions, including these fun and colorful Birthday Cards for kids.  The company's Greeting Cards feature unique and colorful art with simply stated messages - at a great price-point.  Printed with soy-based inks on FSC certified paper and made in the USA.  MSRP $2.25-$2.50.