August 2011 Issue

Oh my gosh, I should be working on my blog right now. Or at least coming up with a theme for the next newsletter. Or redesigning the cooking class program.

Or figuring out if my dog actually ran away or if he is in the backyard somewhere.

Sound familiar?

Boy, that is the conversation I have had with myself for the past two months and I don't even have a full-time retail store with staff and inventory and customers and classes and ... you get the drift.

But what I want to remind you of right now is that it is August. Yes, August. Which means you and I need to both sit back (okay, except for the NYIGF) and relax for a minute or 10. Fourth quarter is right around the corner and you know what that means ... no rest until February.

God willing.

If you look at stuff such as The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in May and decreased again in June, well, you aren't stuffing stockings anytime soon.

But, if you are like me and you actually work 24/7 to understand and communicate with your customer, well, things are looking pretty good.

Now, I am not one to count my chickens (literally) before they hatch. But this year (literally with the chickens at least), I have had pretty good luck. And I believe my luck will continue. And while I do not agree with the pundits that there is pent-up demand, I do believe there is demand from smart, ecologically minded, earth-friendly, local-loving consumers. It's a mouthful, I know, but these consumers also encompass a generational approach beyond what marketers have been jamming down our throats since the baby boomers were born.

So, the time has come. Think OUTSIDE THE BOX ... man, I hate that phrase, but really think about things in a new way. Get your kid to design some displays. Have your mom select her favorite tools that she deems comfortable and necessary.

Pick out some items you and your spouse might like to share on the back porch when the kids are at soccer or in bed or at the baby-sitter.

Whatever you can think of, make an excuse and use your inventory - and then explain to your customers why they need it, too. I am already craving a great cheese knife and some grapes and a fabulously cool glass of wine ...

Peel me a grape, anyone?