Yep, I'm b-a-a-a-ck.
And one of the most exciting things I found at the National Stationery Show in New York (in between book signings and presentations, of course!) is the brand new, hot-off-the-press Retailer eProfits.
It will help you harness the power of online marketing --a subject near and dear to my heart. By using frugal (often free) online methods to promote, you can stay ahead of the competition! Please know you can subscribe now at a discount of $149 and receive 3 FREE bonus gifts (worth $228). Visit www.retailereprofits.com today to download your first issue free and subscribe!
I met the editor of this newsletter, Melissa Kellogg, at the show. I saw the initial issue. Trust me. This is a woman who will work for your success. This is a newsletter that can make a difference to any retail operation with its down-to-earth advice. Specific advice! I love the first letter's article on list building, one of the keyes to great marketing of any kind.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Retail Books from Experts at Bargain Prices at National Stationery Show
Five Veteran Industry Authorities to Debut Books at the 2010 National Stationery Show!
Meet the Authors" Book Signing Events
Media Resource Lounge, 3600 aisle
Book Signing on Monday
Here’s a terrific opportunity to meet and chat with industry-esteemed experts, all of whom will debut helpful business-building books at the Show this year.
Rob Fortier, president of Paper Words and Meryl Hooker, manufacturer’s representative have jointly authored Pushing the Envelope: The Small Greeting Card Manufacturer’s Guide to Working with Sales Reps. This book will convey to small greeting card manufacturers how to find, recruit and retain a winning sales. Written from both the manufacturer and sales rep perspectives, this nuts and bolts guide is full of industry information, sales tips, and guidance for building successful and profitable rep relationships.
Enjoy meeting Meryl and Rob!
Monday, 4pm – 5pm and get your copy hot off the press!
Book Signing on Sunday
Long-time retailer and best-selling author Carolyn Howard- Johnson will launch two new books in her award-winning "How To Do It Frugally" series:
Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer’s Mini Guide to Garnering Customer Loyalty and Sales Online and In Store.
Carolyn is a 30-year veteran of the retail industry, founding and operating a successful chain of stores from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Carolyn is also the author of A Retailer's Guide To Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrify Events and Sales Techniques.
Carolyn will be available to meet, greet and sign her books on
Sunday, 2pm – 3pm.
Book Signing Monday
Linda Cahan is internationally known for her visual merchandising and store design expertise developed over three decades of working with retail stores.
Get a first run, signed copy of her book 100 Display Ideas Under $100. and chat with Linda on Monday, 10am – 11am.
Linda is also the author of Feng Shui for Retailers.
And as a special exclusively for NSS attendees, Carolyn’s book will be offered at one half the retail price and Linda’s book will be available at a significant discount during these signing events!
Book Signing Tuesday
Wanda Wen, a devoted paper arts enthusiast and founder of Los Angeles stationer Soolip -- the preferred artisanal paper supplier and letterpress correspondence purveyor for L.A.’s trendsetters and Hollywood A-Listers -- has long been a champion of creating simplicity-infused beauty using the ingenuity of the human hand and heart. Wanda's new book "The Art of Gift Wrapping" (Potter Craft/Random House), an inspiring, visually tantalizing and resourceful how-to on the art of gift wrapping, inspires others to join in the fun with 50 innovative design ideas using organic, unique and uncommon materials.
Enjoy the opportunity to visit with Wanda Tuesday, May 18, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Many of these celebrated authors are among the 2010 National Stationery Show’s educational Faculty, and will be presenting seminars throughout the show.
All signings will take place in the Media Resource Lounge, 3600 aisle
----- Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
Monday, May 10, 2010
Borders, Book Competition and Your Pricing Policy
Borders Australia announces it a new pricing policy in direct competition to Amazon at http://mhpbooks.com/mobylives/?p=15017.
For authors and publishers, this only means a reduced net profit. It means a reduced net profit for Borders as well. For a few customers it sounds like good competition, but most will never follow up on a refund (or merely buy from Amazon). Those who understand this retail ploy will see it as manipulative, rather than a straight-forward "better price for all" policy.
A lesson here for retailers in general is that those TV beat-the-price ads for mattresses and other items--including this Borders policy--appeal to the few. They may feel like an assurance that the retail outlet will do its best to price low, but most know a gimmick when they see it. Most know that the expensive ads must be paid for, that the retailer must make a profit just as their competitors must.
Further, a gimmick like this sends some prospective customers to the competitor to check for prices. He or she may well stay there and buy if the price is the same. If the price is the same too often, the entire process will start to look like a game if not collusion. If the price is only a few pennies less (as it probably will be with something as low-priced as a book), it will look like trickery.
The most important reason that this is a poor policy is that, surprise! Customers want service. They want fast shipping. They want ease of checkout. Yes, they want low prices, too. But to focus on price like this seems a very, very bad move. And a dangerous one. Bookstores (like the rest of us) can ill afford a downward spiral in in our profit margins even considering high volume.
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
For authors and publishers, this only means a reduced net profit. It means a reduced net profit for Borders as well. For a few customers it sounds like good competition, but most will never follow up on a refund (or merely buy from Amazon). Those who understand this retail ploy will see it as manipulative, rather than a straight-forward "better price for all" policy.
A lesson here for retailers in general is that those TV beat-the-price ads for mattresses and other items--including this Borders policy--appeal to the few. They may feel like an assurance that the retail outlet will do its best to price low, but most know a gimmick when they see it. Most know that the expensive ads must be paid for, that the retailer must make a profit just as their competitors must.
Further, a gimmick like this sends some prospective customers to the competitor to check for prices. He or she may well stay there and buy if the price is the same. If the price is the same too often, the entire process will start to look like a game if not collusion. If the price is only a few pennies less (as it probably will be with something as low-priced as a book), it will look like trickery.
The most important reason that this is a poor policy is that, surprise! Customers want service. They want fast shipping. They want ease of checkout. Yes, they want low prices, too. But to focus on price like this seems a very, very bad move. And a dangerous one. Bookstores (like the rest of us) can ill afford a downward spiral in in our profit margins even considering high volume.
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Think an E-Mail Can Replace a Hand-Written Note?
Note: This post is from guest blogger Maria Murnane of Honey Pot and author of Perfect on Paper: the (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson. These products are available at wholesale and because this is a newbie line, it's your chance to shine with something new, something cute! Something no one in your area has seen! Reach Maria at info@waverlyshoneyshop.com .
Honey, nice try, but think again.
Yes, we are all busy, and yes, it is much easier to send an e-mail than it is to send a real letter or card. But the truth is that nothing says “I care” like taking the time to pick up a real pen and use it. Think about it. When was the last time you received a thank-you note in the mail after having friends over for dinner? Or sent a note to a friend after her boyfriend broke up with her? Or opened a funny “just because” card from a friend who sent it to you … just because?
Remember how nice it felt to receive a card like that? Or to send one?
Honey, you are not alone!
I’ve always loved sending cards to my friends, and even before e-mail came along I used to lament the lack of witty options out there, especially for women. I never in a million years thought I’d design a line of my own, but then one day I quit my job and decided to write a novel, a romantic comedy about a single woman called Perfect on Paper. In the book the main character, Waverly Bryson, comes up with a line of greeting cards for women called Honey Notes. Here are some examples:
Front: Is it worse to be fake or bitchy?
Inside: Honey, just face it. If you're asking, you're probably both.
Front: Ever feel like you don't know anything at all?
Inside: Honey, just face if. If you're asking, you're probably both.
Front: Can’t face the dating scene after a breakup?
Inside: Honey, hit the bar, and hit it hard. Beer goggles are the lonely girl’s Cupid.
Front: They say laughter is the best medicine?
Inside: Honey, toss it in with girlfriends and wine, and you’ve found the fountain of youth.
Front: Afraid to show your vulnerable side?
Inside: Honey, that’s better than showing your cellulite side.
Front: Life has its ups and downs, right?
Inside: Honey, if you’re talking about my weight and my bank account, the unfortunate answer is yes, in that order.
After Perfect on Paper came out, so many readers asked me to make the Honey Notes for real that I decided to do it! And I didn't stop there. I launched a website called Waverly's Honey Shop that includes Honey Notes, Honey Tees and Honey Totes, all featuring quotes from Waverly Bryson. Right now the products are only available at http://www.waverlyshoneyshop.com/, but I hope to get the line into brick and mortar stores. So all you Honeys out there, please take a look and help spread the word! You can also buy my book on the site and/or read the first chapter. If you do, I hope you enjoy it!
------
Learn more about Maria at http://www.mariamurnane.com/.
----- Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
Honey, nice try, but think again.
Yes, we are all busy, and yes, it is much easier to send an e-mail than it is to send a real letter or card. But the truth is that nothing says “I care” like taking the time to pick up a real pen and use it. Think about it. When was the last time you received a thank-you note in the mail after having friends over for dinner? Or sent a note to a friend after her boyfriend broke up with her? Or opened a funny “just because” card from a friend who sent it to you … just because?
Remember how nice it felt to receive a card like that? Or to send one?
Honey, you are not alone!
I’ve always loved sending cards to my friends, and even before e-mail came along I used to lament the lack of witty options out there, especially for women. I never in a million years thought I’d design a line of my own, but then one day I quit my job and decided to write a novel, a romantic comedy about a single woman called Perfect on Paper. In the book the main character, Waverly Bryson, comes up with a line of greeting cards for women called Honey Notes. Here are some examples:
Front: Is it worse to be fake or bitchy?
Inside: Honey, just face it. If you're asking, you're probably both.
Front: Ever feel like you don't know anything at all?
Inside: Honey, just face if. If you're asking, you're probably both.
Front: Can’t face the dating scene after a breakup?
Inside: Honey, hit the bar, and hit it hard. Beer goggles are the lonely girl’s Cupid.
Front: They say laughter is the best medicine?
Inside: Honey, toss it in with girlfriends and wine, and you’ve found the fountain of youth.
Front: Afraid to show your vulnerable side?
Inside: Honey, that’s better than showing your cellulite side.
Front: Life has its ups and downs, right?
Inside: Honey, if you’re talking about my weight and my bank account, the unfortunate answer is yes, in that order.
After Perfect on Paper came out, so many readers asked me to make the Honey Notes for real that I decided to do it! And I didn't stop there. I launched a website called Waverly's Honey Shop that includes Honey Notes, Honey Tees and Honey Totes, all featuring quotes from Waverly Bryson. Right now the products are only available at http://www.waverlyshoneyshop.com/, but I hope to get the line into brick and mortar stores. So all you Honeys out there, please take a look and help spread the word! You can also buy my book on the site and/or read the first chapter. If you do, I hope you enjoy it!
------
Learn more about Maria at http://www.mariamurnane.com/.
----- Carolyn Howard-Johnson's FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques launched at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center. Because she is the author of the multi award-winning how-to books for writers,The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, retailers will also find essentials of writing for blogs, Web sites, and newsletters on this blog. She is the author of an award-winning novel, This Is the Place; and other fiction and poetry. She blogs on better writing at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog. Find her tweeting for retailers at @frugalretailing . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use this little green widget to let them know about it:
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