Looking ahead in 2012

With the New Year upon us there are many predictions about what customers will be looking for this year in terms of home décor and giftware. Some things will change, but it appears that much will stay the same or at least remain similar to last year.

First up are the new colors for 2012. Pantone has named Tangerine Tango as its color of the year, a sort of reddish orange color, and the Color Marketing Group has listed Boyz-n-Berry, a rich purple with red undertones, as the next hue to watch for this year. What both predictions have in common though is the warming trend that is moving into the color pallet of consumers. The richer colors tend to give a feeling of wealth which many people feel they are lacking at this time. Of course neutrals are holding steady as go to colors such as browns, beige, and gray, but tend to be relegated to more expensive items. People are willing to spend more for quality items but want that item to last and fit in with any décor changes they may have in upcoming years. It appears that in the next year colors that are a little warmer and richer will pop up mainly as accents to balance with the safe neutrals of larger furniture pieces.

Next are styles that are trending up for the New Year. Two styles, popular last year that are growing this year, are vintage items and décor made almost entirely of metal, sometimes referred to as steam punk. Though the two styles may appear to be on opposite ends of the home décor world they are actually both based on ideas relating to the Victorian era. Each make reference to the 19^th century, but steam punk adds a science fiction element to the mix by replacing modern materials with things like metal gears and rivets. Again this style reflects on the idea that people are looking for items with a richer perhaps more extravagant look to appeal to a sense of simplicity and prosperity in a time of economic downturns. Another trend that will remain for this year is the growing desire for eco-friendly items and products made in America. People are still conscious of the environment and the need for jobs in the US which is something that will remain in their thoughts through the rest of the year. Plus don’t forget about Americana and political themed merchandise. With this year being a presidential election year, politics and the American spirit are going to be front and center as the months move forward.

Moving on there are still price points to consider when buying merchandise. In a slower economy the general rule is to avoid the middle ground. Typically people will either shop for inexpensive items, usually $15 or under, or go for the high end purchase at $200 or more. The higher the price the more the piece is associated with quality and meant to last, while on the other hand cheaper items are bought to update décor and bring in new looks into the home, but not create a sentimental attachment. Cheaper merchandise can be re-sold or thrown away after years of wear and tear without the guilt of expense coming into play.

Overall the next year is going to be one of balance. With the economy looking to stabilize itself and unemployment slowly creeping down, people are going to be looking to maintain their way of life and keep on moving ahead. The trends tend to reveal this with the richer tones regarding accent items and more extravagant looks of the Victorian era mixed with the safer toned down feel of larger furniture pieces. Still it looks like the upcoming year is going to be better than the last so we can all hope for better sales and a brighter future.

Small Business Saturday

Are you aware of the American Express promotion of Small Business Saturday? American Express is giving card holders $25 to spend at local small businesses on Saturday, Nov 26th, the day after Black Friday. If you’d like to join in the promotion you can do so on the American Express Facebook page. Just click on “For Your Biz” in the sidebar. They’ll provide some great promotional material to help you. It’s a simple way to help our economy grow and support your business as well!

Small Business Advice

Owning a small business is full of rewards, such as being your own boss and doing what you love, but it also comes with questions and complications that might be unexpected. There is advice, however, for small businesses online. One great site that is full of info on how to market your business, handle employees, and deal with everyday problems is Small Business Trends. The site features tons of great ideas and advice. Check it out here.

Combining Work and Pleasure

Retail can be a tough business! No matter what, though, if you own a retail store you have to find new and exciting things to sell to your customers. It’s no secret that tradeshows have become more than an important part of business to business relationships, over the last few years they have actually become essential. Tradeshows allow retailers to find new vendors and products, examine quality for existing vendors, and write orders on the spot! Seems pretty wonderful but what is sometimes overlooked is LOCATION! Too often, retailers focus only on local tradeshows, which can be great, but if you’re a disciplined buyer for a retail store there’s no reason you can’t combine work with pleasure!
Enter – Destination Locations! There are tradeshows all over the world, Frankfurt, Toronto, Hong Kong, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, LAS VEGAS, etc! Las Vegas, for example, has been the epicenter for entertainment for decades and being the destination location that Las Vegas is it has also become a central location for all kinds of conventions, not the least of which is for Giftware and Home Décor! In 2005 a new building complex was opened away from the Strip and right next to Interstate 15. Proudly known as the World Market Center Las Vegas, this unique complex is actually made up of 3 buildings. Building A, B, and C house an array of permanent and temporary exhibitors some of which are open year round and all of which are open for at least 2 major markets each year. Over 100,000 retailers from all over the world visit the World Market Center Las Vegas to seek out the newest products for their retail stores.
If tradeshows are a part of your yearly business routine, why not consider a ‘destination location’ and make it a working vacation! With no casino lobby in the World Market Center it’s actually easier to do business without distractions during the day, unlike some of the other conventions that are held on the strip. The World Market Center has shuttles going to and from the hotels on the Strip and Downtown so of course, you can still do the ‘What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas’ things after work! If casinos and gambling isn’t your scene there’s tons of other entertainment from comedians, concerts, and Broadway shows, to sightseeing, hiking, or boating! Like I said before, retail can be a tough business… so why not plan some fun around it?

Image Editing

If your business currently has an online presence or you are still thinking about it, you may need to find ways to edit the images of the products you sell. For instance if you need to resize an image for use on your website, or a product sold as an assortment shows all items in one picture, you may want to create separate images of each item to sell individually online. Luckily there is no need to buy expensive software to do this, because there are a number of free image editing programs available on the internet. Simply do a search and quite a few will be listed. One such editor that is particularly useful is from Pixlr. It is an online only tool so there are no programs to download and it can be accessed by any computer with an internet connection.  It also allows you to open images from online sources such as Facebook , Flickr, or any online source, letting you edit photos that you have uploaded, plus it can save directly to those sites as well.

Below is a simple tutorial to show some of the basics of Pixlr.

1. Go to Pixlr.com and click on the “Open photo editor” link. Since the image we are using is on our computer we will choose “Open image from computer”. Other images can be opened from a website or photo sharing site if that is where they are located.

2. Once our ornament image is opened we will use the marquee tool to make a selection of one ornament.

3. By clicking and dragging the mouse we will select one of the ornaments.

4. Next we will copy the selection by clicking on Edit -> Copy

5. The area of the image that is selected will now be copied to the computer’s clipboard. From here we will go to File -> New image and a new window will appear.

6. First we will name the new image. Then click on the Preset dropdown and choose “clipboard” and finally select the “Create image from clipboard” option. Then click OK.

7. With the new image made it can now be resized to fit our needs. First we click on Image -> Image size, then change the height of the image to 560 pixels. Note: be sure that the “Constrain Proportions” box is checked when resizing the image so it doesn’t become distorted.

8. Then we click on File -> Save…

9. Next the save window appears allowing us to choose where to save the image and in what format. JPEG images are a standard for the web and the image quality slider specifies the amount of compression applied to the image. The higher the number, the clearer the image is, however the file size will also be larger and the lower the number, the smaller the image size but the picture will not be as clear.

Now the process can be repeated with the other ornaments in the image so they can be each listed and bought separately online. Obviously Pixlr isn’t the only free photo editing program out there so be sure to look around at all of the options to find one that fits you the best.

Finding Inspiration

For this month we got together with Linda McCormick, our in-house artist, on what inspires her when coming up with new products and what she thinks will be trending for the giftware industry this year.

 “As I look for inspiration, I am inspired by what God gives me. With the world in these trying times, more people are turning to the comfort of inspirational items for their home and to give as gifts. Often these items can provide comfort and peace with the words or the image. I know in my walk through life, I am comforted by God’s words from the bible.” 

And it seems like the inspirational trend is growing. Currently many people are making their homes a haven. As Linda states, “People want a cozy little corner of the world they can call their own. In my home I accomplish this with neutral, soothing colors and then add pops of color to brighten an area for different seasons of the year.” 

Linda feels that in order to survive the winter months people will lean toward adding warm colors to their homes such as reds, oranges, and yellows to achieve a cozy feel to their space, because these colors help to invigorate people during the cold weather. She also adds that adding a positive message in places around the house such as words of love, faith, and scripture on items like placemats, framed art, or small signs will provide people those little reminders of the blessings of life. 

 As winter begins to wear on people, Linda says that, “little changes around homes can make a big difference.” For example suggesting to customers that adding a pegged shelf to hang coats, or a wicker basket for shoes and gloves and a vintage tin to toss keys into near a door will help bring warmth to a home and add a bit of organization as well. 

“As I go thru another winter season of my life, I look around at the beauty of the snow that glistens like diamonds and the clear blue sky,” Linda mentions. “ I take a walk in the woods behind my home and marvel at the endurance of the trees and plants in this winter blast and  the chattering squirrels and the small birds puffed up to keep warm while looking for food… and I feel blessed and loved and I am inspired. For I know if God cares for the sparrow He will care for me…” (Matthew 6:26).

In the artist’s own words – Eileen

Where do all of your ideas come from? A question we asked one of our artists, Eileen, about her work at Ohio Wholesale.

 “That has to be the number one question asked of any artist. As an Ohio Wholesale artist, I am continuously looking for new and fresh ideas for our product lines in an ever changing and evolving industry. It is important to be open and flexible as well as experimental in my design work simply because of the variety of media and styles that Ohio Wholesale offers its customers. Because life and work can become busy, though, it can be difficult sometimes to get into that “creative zone”, so I like to step out of my daily life and take a creative exploration trip to renew and inspire myself.”

A creative exploration trip? What does that mean exactly?

“Well, recently I had the pleasure of traveling to New York City to visit my daughter for a few days. We always have a wonderful time exploring the city with its rich diversity of cultures, art venues, foods, music, museums, iconic landmarks and, of course, all of the local shops. As an artist, it is not difficult to become immersed in the creativity and inspiration around every corner of a city or area I’m visiting. While travelling, I’m always sure to capture insights and ideas by taking pictures, plus I bring along a journal for sketching and note taking so I can remember everything I saw.”

So with the trip to New York, what trends did you see that people will be looking for in 2011?

“Elements of nature have become popular, like the use of bold silhouettes of branches, leaves, birds and trees on a variety of different items. Plus textures of natural wood, fabrics, metal, and stone can create organic shapes and have a sculptural feel. There are the earth conscious items that follow the nature trend as well. Products made from recycled materials, such as glass, wood, or metal become both functional and decorative, and are good for the environment.

“Vintage items continue to remain popular too. Used in a multitude of variations, vintage images can be paired with a contemporary look, or have a retro “kitschy” style to add humor. European Farmhouse Chic is another form of the vintage look. Items such as old farm advertisements and packaging, European antiques and farm motifs with a bit more sophistication all fall under the category. Vintage Industrial is also a look that has become popular where industrial elements, possibly salvaged from factories, are being reclaimed and utilized as accessory pieces in home decoration. Old gears, storage boxes, glass containers, trunks, and shelving are just some examples.

“Furthermore there is a growing desire to see multicultural elements included with today’s décor. Mixing colors and patterns from various cultures then including them in fabrics, artwork and tableware create an eclectic style. Plus, bold black and white images used as a focal point can be paired nicely with the bright colors. Black and white is a classic look that fits in with both modern and traditional settings. Metal items are also growing in popularity with a mix of shiny and matte finishes on different types of metal. All of these can be blended together to create an upscale style that doesn’t feel stuffy or cold.”

And as for when she’s going to take her next trip, Eileen stated, “The examples I gleaned from my trip serve as inspiration for now, but I’m always looking forward to another trip to renew and recharge.”

Holiday Buying

With summer in full swing, fall and the holidays are not far behind. It’s time to start thinking and planning on what to do for your store as the year winds down because, just like every year it seems, it will be here before you know it.

With Halloween, the home decorating scene is looking a little more spooky as opposed to years past of cute pumpkins and ghosts with happy smiley faces on them. It doesn’t have to be the out and out blood and guts type of Halloween decorations, but more people are having parties specifically for their adult friends meaning they will tend to lean for a more adult oriented style of décor.

General Fall décor is going to be awash with gold, copper, and warm color tones as is traditional, but added to the scheme will be accents of worn metal and antique finishes. Many will be looking to emulate the style and feeling of the traditional holiday spirit of family and togetherness. The charm and warmth of times past will meld with items that have a hand crafted quality to them and a vintage look.

The Christmas holiday is going to bring about all things shiny and bright. Metallics in every color, not just gold and silver, will be prevalent, again with traditional styles that convey the sense of holiday seasons of the past. Victorian inspiration will also become a major part of this year’s Christmas, accented with rich colors in reds, purples, and royal blues.

And since summer will be over all too soon, be sure to be ready. Visit your local trade shows and check out what is new from your vendors in time for the bustling days of the holiday season.

Summer Season Selling

Officially summer is only a week away, but many have already emerged from their homes to enjoy the warmer weather and that means they are going to need supplies. With the Fourth of July headed our way, all things Americana are going to be an attraction to customers as well as blankets, to sit on as they watch the fireworks, outdoor utensils and grilling items, plus hats, gardening gloves and all around outdoor items.

And as the warmer months continue people are going to be looking to update and decorate their outdoor spaces. Birds, butterflies, fairies, and angels or “Things with Wings” is a trend that seems to stand the test of time not only for outdoor space, but inside as well. Though styles or colors may change, the iconic imagery of these uplifting items will always be a draw to customers no matter what the world around us is doing. People see such product as a representation of freedom, hope, or comfort and who doesn’t need a bit of that in their everyday life.

Sell Yourself Cheap

What good is a business if no one knows you exist? Marketing yourself is an important part of getting business to your store and there are quite a few ways to do it for little to no money.

Write a press release: If you’re having an event or opening a new store you can send an article to your local newspaper. Most newspapers will even be able to tell you what to send and how to send it if you contact the editor directly. You may even be able to send a picture along with the article. One word of caution though is to not write about just anything. You may have a wonderfully written press release, but the newspaper is in no way required to publish what you wrote. Including info on special sales or seasonal events, or if you team up with a charity is more likely to get published than something mundane like your most recent haircut.

Team up with your neighbors: If your store is located in a shopping plaza many times it can be beneficial to team up with other stores around you to share the cost of advertising. Working with other stores to hold a special event can draw a greater crowd than just going it alone. You can even print out coupons to put in another store and in return get coupons from their store to hand out to your customers.

Donate to a community theater: If there is a community theater in your area you may be able to donate props to one of their productions in return for a free ad in their program. Community theaters are always trying to put on productions as cheaply as possible and you may be able to provide set dressings like art work, books, and even furniture. Plus after the run of the play has ended you can usually get the donated props back.

Go online: There are many places online to help you promote your business. YellowPages.com is one of them and putting your company info on their site is free for the most basic listing. Yahoo Local and Google Places are both sites that can list your company info for free and will display your information based on geographical location.

Get it printed: Printing out business cards and simple coupons or flyers can be relatively inexpensive from your local print shop or office supply store. You can even go online to find companies that will professionally print out flyers or postcards for you. Vistaprint.com is just one of the companies out there that can help out with your printing needs and they even offer some free services to help small businesses, you just pay the shipping fee.

Get a graphic designer: You may have a great idea or a great sale coming up, but not necessarily the time to put it together or are looking for a more professional look. Contact your local university or community college and see if they will be willing to offer your job to one of their graphic design students. Many times you can offer your design job to a student for little money and the student has an additional project to add to their portfolio.