The Landfair Retail Focus    

In June Congress passed the "Cash for Clunkers" law. The GM site states in part

Recently, an important new law was passed to provide U.S. Government vouchers valued from $3,500 to $4,500 when you trade-in a vehicle and purchase a new one that meets or exceeds higher MPG standards. The Car Allowance Rebate System (or CARS -- commonly referred to as Cash for Clunkers or Customer Assistance to Recycle and Save) will be available to new car shoppers at registered, participating dealers later this summer.

I thi...Read More

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Cynthia Aiken Interiors

There's hope for us'ns!  Cynthia Aiken, prominent Atlanta interior designer and owner of Cynthia Aiken Interiors says she's seeing a pickup in business from clients seeking design help to upgrade their homes rather than trade up.  Even though interest rates are low and it's a buyers market for homes, Aiken says people are deciding to stay put.  They are staying because of required larger down payments required by banks and the difficulty of selling their existing home.

"In today's market, where people are staying put, I am being asked for help in complementing existing furnishings or to "fill in" where there are gaps in the

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My wife and I have had this discussion.  Have you had the same? 

I came across a high-end furniture manufacturer that is not represented in Oregon or in the design center in Seattle.  I asked her to take a look.  She liked it, but wonders if the high end luxury furniture will sell in this climate.  Later, she is visited by another furniture manufacturer that wants her tocarry a line with a lower price point than we normally have on the floor.  She wonders if she should add the line.  I can only pitch her on exclusivity!

A recent study in eMarketer, When the Going Gets Tough, the Rich Get Online, may offer a clue.  The article says
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Business slow?  You know it is!  You rack your brain to generate ideas to get more buzz going about your store.  Here are three guaranteed ways to change your momentum:

• Call customers who did business with you this month last year.  Bev keeps all her purchase orders for each month in a file.  All she has to do is go to the file cabinet and select June, 2008.  Inside is a stack of pink sheets, records of business done a year ago and with whom.  The first day Bev called Shannon who said, "Thanks for calling.  Your store had slipped my mind, but I have a new project and I need to come see you."

Here's the rule: People want to do bu

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Hi, I'm Mike and I'm addicted to gadgets and thingamabobs!  I'm the person who rushes to the phone while viewing an informercial. 

I bought some rechargable candles that I use on the desk in the evening.  (Everyone who sees them raves.) I have some of those battery operated lights that fit in the drawers and behind cupboard doors that light up when the drawer or door is opened.  (They're sitting on the stairs gathering dust waiting for me to install them.)  This week Beverly held me back from buying the upside down tomato plant growers I saw advertised in an infomercial.

Today, I took a look at my Delight.com email and I saw more things that I have to have!.  Look at these candles that double as a chalkboard.  Only $19.50 for the pair.
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One of my new followers on Twitter is Cord and Pleat Design owned by Marilie Smock.  "Her specialty is creating hand-crafted & professional quality draperies, curtains, bedding, decorative pillows, custom fit slipcovers, and other unique accents for your home and office." Smock is not only a member of Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA). but a member of the Custom Home Furnishing  Magazine Advisory Board.

I didn't know there was a magazine called Custom Home Furnishing.  I discovered the magazine is published by the Custom Home Furnishings Academy owned by Margie Nance.  The site has design blogs with some very worthy sites:

• Drapery Design Blog - View

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Old Buggy Whip & Stag Grip Riding Crop

I can tell you flat out, the internet is one of the most disruptive inventions that's come along.  Yes, there will be many who don't like the change it's bringing us.  It's eliminating jobs, eliminating or sharply harming whole industries and killing profit margins.  But, there were probably many who bemoaned the demise of the buggy whip, and carriages and the horse as transportation.  Think of the blacksmiths that lost their jobs!

The internet is killing the newspaper industry.  Many newspapers have gone bankrupt.  It's killing many in the furniture industry.  It's killed many of the shelter and design magazines, including House & Garden, Domino, O at Home and Western Interior...Read More

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A recent post at Elements of Style highlighted a bachelor pad.  Shown were pictures of  the home of Francisco Costa, head designer for Calvin Klein. It featured "grey grasscloth, leather, modern lines and menswear inspired details."  It was masculine without being cold.

One of the items that created the most response was this item from CB2, a concrete coffee table:



Sensing a trend, I took a look at other concrete styles.  Amazing designs are being done in...Read More

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The recently released National Retail Security Survey (NRSS) reveals the tough economy has put stress on individual financial security and the result is an increase in retail shoplifting.

The NRSS, conducted by the University of Florida with funding from ADT Security Services, found that the rate of retail theft increased for the first time in six years in 2008. The results were reported June 15.

The survey reported that theft ate up 1.52 percent of the nation's total retail sales, an increase from 1.44 percent of revenue in 2007. Losses in 2008 totaled $36.5 billion, the survey said.

Fewer retail employees may hurt the retailer in that there are fewer eyes out for sticky-fingered shoppers.  Here in Oregon, ...Read More

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Specialty home retailer Pier 1 Imports (PIR) reported a net income of $29 million for the first quarter, compared to a $33 million net loss posted for the first quarter of last year.  "Total sales for the quarter declined to $281 million from $310 million in the year-ago quarter."

In December, I wrote

If PIR survives, and there's plenty of doubt looking at the chart, 33 cents a share might prove to be a bargain.  The stock has a Price to Sales ratio, very cheap, at 0.03 and a Price to Book Value of&n

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June 21st will be here next week; Father's Day!  A day to honor all the fathers and father figures in your ife.  My girls called and invited Bev and me to breakfast on Sunday morning.  They wanted to know what I wanted for a present.  Before I answered, I internally asked, "What's My budget and how's your year been because that Mini Cooper S Convertible in British Racing Green is looking mighty sweet?  (I'll bet come Monday I'll have to be responsible for its purchase.)

I answered, "Something golf-y."  I've been playing at least once a week and last Sunday was my best game ever.  I hit ny longest drives ever, right down the pipe.  I attribute my showing to Miles, who on the last day of school, gave my a sleeve of Nike Ignites for being a "great school bus driver" and getting him to school safely.  (Han...Read More

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Are you familiar with Practical eCommerce Insights for Online Merchants?  If not, I recommend you get acquainted.


Drawing - The Corner Grocery 2 Linda Braucht (20th C American) Computer Graphics
1574R-019103 PureStock Royalty Free Photograph

The Home page has a list of articles including this one: Four Sure-Fire Ways to Capture More Consumers.  One of the first suggestions is to Employ Social Media.  If you liked the information, there are links to other great articles:

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