Create Your Own Economy
As home furnishings retailers and suppliers, many of us have learned how to weather the storms; we know the keys to capitalizing in a downturn; and we get the secret to succeeding where others will fail.
But to capitalize on our knowledge, there are a few do’s and dont’s:
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Birdcage: An Individual Statement
Caroline Reyes-Dorson has a clear vision of what her store should be to her customers and she does not veer from that concept.
Birdcage, a San Diego-area store, is a magical mixture of home furnishings, accessories, personal care and fragrances created by Caroline nearly four years ago.
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IMAX Worldwide Imports will be holding 25th Anniversary celebrations at the upcoming Dallas and Atlanta Markets.
The Dallas event will be held at the IMAX showroom, WTC #6250, on Saturday, June 27th at 3:00pm. The Atlanta event will be held at the IMAX showroom, AGM building two #1100, on Saturday, July 11th at 3:00pm. Cake and champagne will be provided. Food and drinks will be offered daily at both markets.
“Our customers have made these first 25 years possible,” said IMAX President Al Bulak. “This is our way of saying ‘Thank You’. We look forward to serving our customers for many years to come.”
Sneak Preview
We all work in a creative industry, so I know you understand how exciting it is when your ideas come together. I would like to share a few items with you that I am really proud of; our soon-to-be-released Nostalgic Camera Boxes and Bookends and Nostalgic Microphone.
Nostalgic Camera Bookends
Nostalgic Camera Boxes
The cameras are a lot of fun. The bookends even have a secret compartment! I wanted to give them a glammy, silver finish with a bit of an antiqued blackened patina to reflect the nostalgic perspective. I think what I like most about these is that they are functional, but will still make a great gift for anyone.
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IMAX Corporation announced today that Bill Carpenter has been named Vice President of New Business Development.
“We are very excited about Bill Carpenter joining us,” said IMAX President Al Bulak. “Bill is extremely qualified and will make a great addition to the IMAX team.”
Bill has been a part of the furniture industry for the past 40 years. He was Senior Vice President of Sales at Kincaid Furniture from 1980 to 2002. He worked most recently at World Market Center in Las Vegas in the key accounts department.
Carpenter said he’s happy to be with a company enjoying double-digit sales increases in this economy. He joked that “it’s a miracle” to be working for a company located three miles from his house “because my office has always been 1,000 miles away.”
IMAX provides home and garden accessories from 12 countries around the globe and is a leader in the home accessory industry. The corporate headquarters and 500,000 square foot distribution center encompasses 4 state-of-the-art fulfillment facilities and houses nearly 200 full-time employees. Additional sourcing, product development and showroom facilities in the USA, India and China truly make IMAX a global source. Dedicated design and product development teams strive for creativity, taste and fashion trends – layering styles, periods, textures, and regions of the world – to create a visually delightful and meaningful environment.
IMAX Celebrates 25 Years with Special Promotion
IMAX is celebrating 25 years in business this year and part of the celebration is a present for you – a special promotion of 25 best-selling products for under $25.
“We are very proud of our 25 years,” said IMAX president Al Bulak, “and we know our customers have made it all possible. Everyone is facing challenging economic conditions right now and we think this 25 under $25 promotion is an excellent way to say thank you to our loyal customers.”
As part of the anniversary, IMAX has adopted a new slogan: Old Enough to Know Better! – Better Products Better Prices Better Service. During the summer market season, IMAX will celebrate with special activities in their showrooms.
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China Buying Trip: Jinhan and Canton Fairs
M.J. Norblade
This is the second part of a two part post. If you did not read, China Buying Trip: Hong Kong Gift Fair, you might want to go back and read it first.
After a long day on our feet, we pile into a couple of vans and head to Guangzhou, China for the Jinhan and Canton Fairs. We make the most of the three hour trip by napping to help recover from the jet lag, grateful for the comfortable seats.
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China Buying Trip: Hong Kong Gift Fair
M.J. Norblade
The thrill of the market season is upon me as I land in the Hong Kong airport the evening before the start of the Hong Kong Gift fair. It has been 21 hours since my plane left Tulsa. Each fair season I get very excited to find new and interesting products and allow my creativity free reign as I look for the next great trends for home décor. This trip I am focusing on spring color for our January introductions; vivid and vibrant colors in wall décor, glass and ceramic accents, accent furniture and planters.
After the long trip to Hong Kong the hotel is a welcome sight. A hot shower, good night’s sleep and quick cup of coffee have me ready to go! Hong Kong is a beautiful city to explore and I only wish I had more time to visit. With only one day planned at the show, we have a lot of ground to cover. With my companion buyers, I board the shuttle bus to the fair with my notebook and camera.
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Expanding a Good Idea
Fast on the heels of my column last month about a small-town newspaper’s efforts to help retailers comes news of a bigger effort.
It’s called 3/50 Project and it was created by Cinda Baxter, a gift and home retail consultant. News has spread rapidly throughout the industry.
The concept is simple: choose three local businesses you would miss if they closed, visit them and spend some money with them.
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