Busy summer

How do you do it?

I am rounding the corner on my first summer as the editor of Home Accents Today and by later this month, I will have spent six out of 10 weekends (plus a whole lot of weekdays) on the road.

I know, I know, no sympathy from all of you because that's been a way of life in the home accents business for years, but still — wow!

It was a fun June and July, though, because all these shows have provided me with the opportunity to meet so many of you. So my swollen feet and bags under my eyes are worth it.

Remember those long, relaxing summers as a kid? Those days are certainly long gone, but in such a challenging business climate, perhaps it is more important than ever to be everywhere. It does make you wonder, though, how the marketplace can sustain so many shows through tough times such as these. This subject was certainly the No. 1 topic of discussion at all the shows I've attended this summer. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to be had. Retailers and vendors are trying to juggle the costs (both in time and money) of markets, while still staying ahead of the competition, and some are already making difficult choices about where (and where not) to be.

So my travels continue. This month I will be in New York (and giving a presentation on our newest consumer research), then attending the Accessories Resource Team conference in Pasadena, Calif. You can check out our product preview of the New York event in this issue, and we'll cover the ART conference in September.

And as always, I am looking forward to seeing many of you on the road this month as I continue my 'round the marketplace tour. Everyone I've talked to has been so gracious and welcoming and willing to share their ideas about how we as a magazine can do better. Keep those suggestions coming.