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Social Media Leader Erik Qualman Answers FAQs

Social Media Leader Erik Qualman Answers FAQs...

Social media is still in the early stages of development, and with that comes many questions. I’ve picked some of the most often asked questions by companies and individuals and have responded with my thoughts.  Q: Are there things that should always or never be done in social media, things to consider or options to weigh when deciding which one to join (or stop using!)? A: Fun and common sense — have plenty of both. Q:...
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Holiday Must-Haves From Kurt S. Adler

Holiday Must-Haves From Kurt S. Adler...

Every holiday season brings new surprises. Since 1946, Kurt S. Adler http://bit.ly/6P92XZ has come up with ways to bring unique, interesting decorations to customers’ Christmas celebrations. For the coming season, here are some of our favorites that we think will be favorites of your customers too. Hollywood Nutcrackers™- Hollywood Nutcrackers™ is a collection of whimsical nutcrackers that are designed by renowned...
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Guest Blogger Alison Ilg Talks Social Networking

Guest Blogger Alison Ilg Talks Social Networking...

I enjoyed speaking with buyers at the October Atlanta Apparel Market about how social media can help their businesses.  Social Media tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube can help store owners engage and build relationships with customers.   Good social media success stories include Zappos, Will it Blend and Fabrik Atlanta.  Remember the rules you learned in kindergarten… listen first, be polite, be...
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Bethany Lowe Talks Halloween

Bethany Lowe Talks Halloween...

  Halloween was an especially magical time for my family and has been one of my favorite holidays since I was a child.  In the small farming community where I grew up, children dressed in homemade Halloween costumes and went trick-or-treating door to door. Every year our community hosted a Halloween party for the children where we carved pumpkins, bobbed for apples, played Halloween games, and had costume contests. When...
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What Women Want – For Spring 2010

What Women Want – For Spring 2010...

Olsen Europe When you hit the Atlanta Apparel Market in October, there are several key items you should look for to ensure your customers look great for Spring 2010.  Ethnic pieces featuring natural fabrics, snake and animal prints with Indian and African inspirations are still hot. Green – the concept, not just the color – are still popular. Look for dip-dyed effects, organic cottons and crushed fabrics....
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An Inside Look at The 2009 Atlanta Gourmet Market...

I was privileged to serve as one of the judges for the 2009 Atlanta Gourmet Market’s Best of Atlanta competition.  For those unfamiliar, The Atlanta Gourmet Market is an annual trade show that highlights a range of wholesale and retail food items from around the country at AmericasMart in downtown Atlanta.  In the “Best of Atlanta” awards, 10 gourmet categories are evaluated by an independent panel of judges,....
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Guest Blogger Lynn Rogers Dishes About ‘Packaging for Profit’

Guest Blogger Lynn Rogers Dishes About ‘Packagin...

I know it’s hard to believe but the holiday season is just around the corner.  That means gearing up for those all important holiday sales dollars.  With consumer confidence still on shaky ground; what can gift professionals do to stay ahead of the competition?  I offer one crucial word: packaging.  Raising the perceived value of your holiday gifts is much easier when you offer creative and affordable packaging...
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Guest blogger Emilie Whitaker talks about “fitting every size”

Guest blogger Emilie Whitaker talks about “fitti...

When I tell women that I own a designer jeans company, countless women respond with the same statement.  “I bet you don’t have jeans that will fit me!”  And I love to respond with, “Oh yes we do.”   I am always confident in responding this way because I have fit so many women in our jeans and I know that our jeans are designed for real women.  But I am also always somewhat troubled by...
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Guest Blogger Sal Macaluso asks: Should a Full Service Specialty Boutique Have a Website?

Guest Blogger Sal Macaluso asks: Should a Full Ser...

There is no question that the Internet is a place where you can find great prices if you are willing to give up personalized customer service. So why does a Full Service Specialty Boutique need a website? Many would argue that having a website works against the whole concept of “Full Service.” Why is that? Is it the Internet or is it the attitude of most retailers that are on the Internet that has perpetuated...
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Guest Blogger Cinda Baxter Talks about the 3/50 Project

Guest Blogger Cinda Baxter Talks about the 3/50 Pr...

No one sees an economic downturn earlier than a retailer. Even though the rest of the world acknowledged it last fall, the reality is that most of you felt the first tremors as early as eighteen months ago. By July gift shows last summer, many buyers were reporting the worst June they’d seen…ever. Retailers were also the first to cry “foul!” when mass media leaned heavily on the most negative adjectives...
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