Retail Update
Susan Dickenson, Retail Editor, Home Accents Today, Twitter: @susandickenson
The need to touch, sniff and taste, before buying
I recently read an article in USA Today about the future of retail, called "Why shopping will never be the same," by Jon Swartz. As interesting as some of the futuristic concepts sound - digital dressing room mirrors, augmented reality, products delivered via 3-D printers, embedded computer chips, digital shopping menus set in store windows and signage - what I found more interesting wer... Read More
Comments (0)Friday and Saturday parties, events at High Point Market
Every High Point Market, our editorial staff builds a schedule of events, photo ops, parties and seminars from all the press releases, invitations and emails we receive weeks, days and, sometimes, hours in advance of opening day.You can learn about most of these in our at-market daily issues that are distributed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in High Point. Some of them will have made it in time fo... Read More
Comments (0)ASID report sheds light on interior designers' billings, wages, buying power
In 2011, there were about 58,000 interior designers working in the United States. Of that number, about 15,460 (38%) individuals are employed by interior design firms, 17,100 (29%) are self-employed, and 8,710 (21%) work in architecture firms. The remaining 12% are employed by building materials and supply dealers, and furniture and home furnishings stores. The 12,100 interior design firms operati... Read More
Comments (0)Melissa Haberstroh advises retailers to plan for the unplanned
On Jan. 27, 2012, Texas retailer Melissa Haberstroh was en route to Seattle, her third market that month, to buy for her three stores: Burlap Horse, opened in 2001; Melissa Jeffrey Home, opened in January of 2011; and her latest project, EnVie, opened two months earlier. Melissa's cell phone rang as she handed her boarding pass to the Southwest Airlines ticket agent at the gate in Phoenix. It was... Read More
Comments (1)Try a little TENDENCE!
FRANKFURT, Germany -- I had the great pleasure of visiting and covering Tendence 2012, Messe Frankfurt's annual fall consumer-goods trade fair, August 24-28. The last time I visited Messe Frankfurt was in 2007, for Collectione, the home goods fair for high-volume buyers, where everything was exhibited in one hall and could be walked over the course of about a day and a half. At that time, there wa... Read More
Comments (0)HW Home cyclists seek donations to fund Colo. Children's Hospital endowment
Colorado-based retailer HW Home's cycling team, the "HW Home Girls," has raised more than $20,000 for this year's Courage Classic, benefitting the Children's Hospital of Colorado. The team is accepting donations through August 31, 2012, in pursuit of their goal to raise enough funds to establish a $50,000 endowment for the hospital.This marks the fourth year that HW Home, owned by Ron We... Read More
Comments (2)Dillard's, Red Clay launch crowdsourcing program
Dillard's Department Stores has launched a unique crowdsourcing design project with Red Clay to identify and develop home décor products. Red Clay, founded in 2011, is a community of designers, makers and users who congregate and collaborate to turn good ideas into compelling objects for the home.I'm familiar with Red Clay's products as HAT's senior product editor, Tracy Bulla, has featured some o... Read More
Comments (0)Don't forget the basics
I RECENTLY READ an interesting article about how retailers are fighting their online competition with new services and products - things like pampering, virtual concierges, dogsitters, men's sections, food, entertainment. "People are trying to think up stuff you can't download," Morningstar analyst Paul Swinand said in the Reuters article.While I love to read and write about all the fanc... Read More
Comments (1)'The Welcomer Edge' revisits the front line of customer service
The Welcomer Edge (Vantage Press, 2012) is a new book about customer service, especially the kind provided by sales and service associates in front line positions - those employees that come in direct contact with customers and often form a customer's first impression. The author, Richard Shapiro, is the founder of The Center for Client Retention, which provides research and consulting services to... Read More
Comments (1)Main Street USA is well represented on this year's Retail Stars list
I've just finished emailing the 50 outstanding independent retailers that were named to this year's Retail Stars list. The store names and cities can be found HERE. The complete list, along with descriptions of the stores, is in this month's (May) issue, and it can be purchased online in our Research Store. In congratulating this year's retailers, AmericasMart President Jeff Portman credits their... Read More
Comments (4)Uncovering a cover-up for cord conundrums
Our monthly Illuminations feature, now in its second year, has given me opportunities to examine how home furnishings retailers and lighting showrooms sell lamps and lighting to consumers. One of my favorite talks on the subject was delivered by lighting showroom designer/merchandiser Denis Caldora, at last September's ALA Conference in Palm Beach. One of Denis's tips was to differentiate, as in &... Read More
Comments (1)2012 Spring High Point Market, in print and on Pinterest
This week, we're busy wrapping up the May issue, which includes our Best of Market coverage as well as our annual 50 Retail Stars feature. Regarding the Retail Stars, this year's stellar honorees already know who they are, but the entire list - perhaps our best yet - won't be revealed for a few more days. As for the Best of Market, you can look forward to a wrap-up of a High Point Market that buye... Read More
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