 |
                |
Creative Leisure News
2677 Ashley Ct.
Tremont, IL 61568
Phone: 309-925-5593
Fax: 309-925-9068
Email: mike@clnonline.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 21, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTSCOMMENTARY: NEW PRODUCTSThis is our first issue with our latest ongoing feature, "Online Product Preview", and we're very gratified with the response. We've designed the program so that this issue can still be downloaded quickly, the items remain online for six months, and links are provided so readers have immediate access to the manufacturer.The speed of the Internet still amazes me. Some of the new product info and photos were emailed to me on Friday, and today it's online for the world to see. We live in a fast world. Vendors: We will add new products every issue; if you want your products to be included, please contact me first and I'll send you guidelines. 309-925-5593 or mike@clnonline.com.
[ top ]
SNIPER ATTACKS AND MICHAELSAs if operating a retail store wasn't hard enough. Three of the Washington, DC area sniper shootings occurred very near Michaels stores, and a fourth store may have been the scene of the first sniper attack -- a bullet was shot through the front window, but no one was hurt. All in all, nine of the sniper incidents occurred within three miles of Michaels stores, and six of them were within one mile, reported the Washington Post.The Post said experts were divided about the significance. Some said the possibility of a connection should not be overlooked, while others thought it was a coincidence. (For example, Radio Shack has stores near many of the shootings, too.) Michaels has 24 stores in the area. The Post quoted Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist at the New York University School of Medicine, who thought there might be a connection, because the first attack may have occurred at a Michaels store. "Characteristically, people who are multiple shooters carry out their first shooting at a place that is closest to whatever emotional issue they have." CNN broadcast a report last week that some people were wondering if the sniper had a grudge against Michaels or its customers, but said there was NO evidence of that. The Post reported investigators have interviewed some employees and the company is cooperating fully. CNN interviewed two consumers who said they were nervous about shopping at Michaels -- but were shopping there anyway. The network also said the widespread fear of sniper attacks were having a negative effect on all sorts of retailers and estimated business was hurt by as much as 25% in Montgomery County, the scene of some of the shootings. Because the affected Michaels stores comprise such a small portion of the company, there should be little effect on the company's overall sales. Another mysterious shooting occurred Saturday night, but there was no verification that it was connected to the sniper shootings or if a craft store was nearby.
[ top ]
THE MEDIA TRIES TO DESCRIBE SCRAPBOOKS, AND FAILSScrapbooking was the subject of a page-long article in the Oct. 21 issue of Newsweek and was typical of the results when the national media tries to report on our industry.There were a few inaccuracies. It called Creating Keepsakes "the leading scrapbook trade magazine," and said scrapbooking was "sweeping the nation." (Hasn't it already swept the nation?) It also said the paper and adhesives sold by Creative Memories will preserve scrapbooks "forever," and implied that scrapbooking is done only in groups at parties. Newsweek was mildly condescending, emphasizing the truly hard-core enthusiasts. The article cited a woman who spent $10,000+ on scrapbooking in less than two years -- "a sum she was not eager to share with her husband." The article also told of a woman who included in a scrapbook her daughter's DNA taken from amniocentesis, and another who won't have another child until "she's caught up on her scrapbook." Nowhere in the article was there any mention of the true benefits of scrapbooking -- the satisfaction of making a beautiful family heirloom.
[ top ]
A.C. MOORE: PROFITS SKYROCKETNet income for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 was $857,000 ($0.04/fully-diluted share), versus $255,000 ($0.02) a year ago. Net income/share in the current period reflects 3.5 million post-split shares issued in an equity offering during the first quarter of 2002. Net income for the third quarter increased 236% over the comparable prior period.Sales for the quarter grew 18% to $89.7 million, and same-store sales rose 4% -- at the upper end of the company's previously announced forecast. Sales for the first three quarters are up 23% and same-store sales growth is 9%. Net income for the nine months is $2.32 million ($0.12), versus a net loss of $40,000 a year ago. CEO Jack Parker said, "Our results this year reflect execution of our merchandising and marketing strategy. We are very pleased to have shown significant improvement over a strong quarter last year. We are well positioned for the fourth quarter, traditionally our strongest ...." The current store count is 71, including 11 opened this year, and another store is expected to open next month. Execs expect sales for the year to grow 20%-22%, with fourth quarter sales increasing 18%-21%. Same-stores sales growth is still expected in the 3% - 4% range. Earnings/share are expected to increase 47%-50% to $0.74-$0.76 for the year.
[ top ]
SEPTEMBER SALES: CRAFTS KEEP ROLLINGOverall retail sales were miserable in September, but don't tell that to our public retailers. National same-store sales rose only 1.5%, and disappointing sales caused such retailers as Target, Talbots, TJX, and Federated Department Stores to reduce their earnings outlook."The numbers reflect deep concern, almost to the point of fear, on the part of the American consumer," said Kurt Barnard, publisher of Barnard's Retail Trend Report to Reuters. "With Iraq, the tremendous collapse in the stock market, and the fact that autos and homes have been selling like hotcakes -- that has cut into discretionary spending." Yet Michaels' same-store sales rose a whopping 10%, four percentage points higher than expected. Total sales rose 25% to $296.1 million. CEO Michael Rouleau said, "... we believe that the significant improvements we continue to make in our operations will continue to propel our same-store sales and profit growth. We expect same-stores sales for October to increase between 4% to 6%, and third quarter same-store sales to increase 6% to 7%." Execs raised earnings estimates $0.40 for the third quarter and $2.10 for the year. Hancock's same-store sales rose 6.1% and overall sales rose 9.9%. Jo-Ann's same-store sales rose 5.0% and overall sales increased 2.6%. The company said the Halloween season had started slowly. Wal-Mart's same-store sales rose 3.5%, but that was lower than usual, and lower than expected. Overall sales rose 10.4%. Duckwall-ALCO's same-store sales fell 2.9%. Officials blamed the economy, and, for the first time recently, did not cite crafts as a strong seller; they did cite fabrics, however.
[ top ]
EMAIL: APPRECIATING DESIGNS, NOT STEALING THEMSome buyers are very professional, very fair and good to work with. Some of them are on the ego trip of a lifetime, and there are companies that buy them expensive gifts and vacations.Our industry is going to suffer in the long run from this unethical behavior. I am not against taking someone to dinner, sending them a bouquet of flowers for a birthday, or a gift basket for the holidays; those are common ways to show appreciation. On the other hand, it is hard for smaller companies to compete in this area, and it is the smaller companies that bring the creative, fresh ideas to our industry. Believe me, I know. I have very large, medium-size, and small companies as clients. The small companies with the capital to produce the product can implement a concept much quicker than big guys who have to evaluate, reevaluate, focus group, and then reevaluate again. By the time all of that happens, you usually have had some personnel changes, and you are back to square one. It is very hard for a new company to have a fresh idea, come into our industry, be well received, but before the next show rolls around they are knocked off. I think it all boils down to a lack of appreciation of design. I know there are a handful of designers who are a pain, whiney, or just want free product. But I work with several designers and product developers who are talented, innovative, professional, and most importantly they understand crafts and the craft consumer. I am talking about the value of a good design. For instance, a good design was those bead animals that made the sale of pony beads go through the roof a few years ago. Pony beads had been around for a long time, but a good design/product concept using them made them fly out the doors at craft stores. I had a company contact me about developing lines for them. We met and walked a trade show. I discovered all they wanted was to see what everyone else is doing so they can have me knock it off. I told them I was not interested. I have watched chain buyers walk into a trade show booth, hand someone a sample they'd picked up from a new, small exhibitor, and say, "Have this made for me." At the same time, sitting in the new exhibitor section is a person who gave the sample to the chain buyer and is now thinking, "Wow! Buyer X is interested in my new product!" Little do they know. Here are just a few instances that have happened to me recently: Chain #1. My client had a product set in the chain's program room. The buyer promised to place an order He strung us along for months. Next thing I know, I see the product in stores; he had an importer knock it off. Chain #2. Sold the chain a few SKU's which sold at a medium rate -- not poorly, not blow-out-the-door. So we found a new source for the basic material and returned to the buyer and said we wanted to lower the price. Then we heard through the grapevine my product was sent "out to bid" to other vendors, regardless of the fact that we'd supplied multiple project sheets at $2,400 a pop, magazine articles, and free items for storyboards. This product was drawn by me in my studio, sourced in the Orient, and sold by me. Now a buyer thinks it is HIS to give to just anyone. This buyer is lazy and he doesn't want to deal with a few SKU's from another company. He wants the entire section consolidated to one vendor. I tell you these things, not because I am discouraged and in need of clients or more business. I don't expect everything to always go my way. And as far as the craft industry itself, it has been very, very good to me. I make a very good living doing something I truly enjoy and there are people in it whom are now my "family." I tell you this because I am concerned about this lack of respect of design. We have major companies in our industry that use the comptroller and the CEO to evaluate if a line should go to market -- people who have never crafted a day in their lives and only think an idea is a "good product idea" once some other company creates it. Or better yet, they have someone who used to market salad dressing placed in charge of new product development -- and they wonder why they aren't making money when across the board sales numbers are WAY UP for craft departments and craft chains. This lack of appreciation of design is going to eventually come back to REALLY hurt our industry. We need people with these fresh ideas coming into our industry and thriving.... Competition is good for everyone, but it must be fair competition. -- Name Withheld (Note: Any comments on this email or the "Solutions" below? Email them to mike@clnonline.com. Please mention if you want your name withheld.
[ top ]
COMMENT: A BETTER SOLUTION THAN RIPOFFSSometimes a buyer has a dilemma: A very small company has a very good product, but does not have the resources to deliver and support it, whereas a current vendor has the relationship and the resources, but not the product.Telling the current vendor to rip off the product and/or the design is flat out illegal, immoral, and short-sighted. One of these days the result will be a massive lawsuit. The buyer will be fired and the retailer and the vendor will face fines, enormous legal bills, and a huge embarrassment. Here's a better solution: The buyer should take the small company to the existing vendor and tell them to work out a deal. The retailer gets a reliable supplier, the large vendor gets another good seller and more shelf space, and the small company receives the income to create more innovative products.
[ top ]
WEST COAST PORTS REOPEN, BUT....The docks are open, but the effects of the lockout will linger for another month, the International Mass Retail Assn. reported, estimating it will take six weeks from the reopening to handle the backlog of ships to unload and then reload.Now the owners are claiming the back-at-work longshoremen are staging a slowdown, working about 25% slower than usual to clean up the backlog. The union claims it's merely following work rules established in the last contract. The effect may not be as severe with the industry's major chains as it might with retailers in other industries. Michaels CEO Michael Rouleau said, "We receive shipments of seasonal merchandise through ports on both the East and West Coasts. All of our East Coast shipments have either been received already or will arrive on time. Most of our seasonal merchandise shipped to the West Coast has been received while a small quantity of merchandise is currently hung up on those docks. "Now that the work stoppage has come to an end," Rouleau continued, "we expect all of our merchandise to reach its destination within a four- or five-week time frame. Although we are likely to experience a few problems in service as the backlog of merchandise is untangled, we believe this will have a minimal effect on our fourth quarter sales and earnings." Jo-Ann's also said it had already received 90% of its seasonal merchandise. The effects are being felt around the world, too. Peter Dyne of Golding Handcrafts in New Zealand wrote just before the lockout ended, "The port lockout is certainly having world-wide ramifications. From our point of view, we have goods pre-paid and ready to sail sitting in Los Angeles, as well as manufacturers wanting Christmas products which we will probably have to fly at horrendous expense. "In addition," Dyne added, "I understand there are shiploads of chilled meat from New Zealand for Thanksgiving Day which will spoil if not delivered promptly -- not only will you people not get your lamb for dinner, but our farmers won't get paid -- which will have severe repercussions on our trade at Christmas." Also emailing us just before the lockout ended was Terry Lee Capps of Designs With TLC: "My husband and I stayed at a hotel on the waterfront at Puget Sound. The container ships are stacked out in the sound like a string of dominoes. In all of the years that we have lived in the area, we have never seen anything like this before. Just looking at all of the ships sitting there, you know it will take a while to clean up the mess. "It makes you think, doesn't it," Capps continued, "about the dependency we have on any one group of people to supply us with what we need."
[ top ]
TREND REPORT: INDUSTRY-RELATED MAGAZINESCONSOLIDATION, I. The number of magazine wholesalers (the companies that place the magazines on newsstands) has shrunk from hundreds to a handful. The survivors are larger and more powerful than ever; there's a strong analogy with a handful of large retailers exerting pressure on vendors. Magazine titles have to produce strong sales or they're out.CONSOLIDATION, II. Wholesaler consolidation has resulted in publisher consolidation. It is getting increasingly difficult for a small, one-title publisher to survive; often they are sold to publishers who, because they produce numerous titles, have more clout with wholesalers. Large publishers can also demand better prices from printers because they're purchasing larger quantities of paper. ADVERTISING. The lackluster economy has hurt almost all consumer magazines. Plus, when vendors give money to retailers for merchandising and ad programs, the money is taken from the marketing budget, leaving less for magazine advertising. Companies have more choices, too, on where to spend their marketing dollars -- the Internet, television, etc. LARGEST PLAYERS. Primedia and Meredith are public companies (the stock symbols are PRM and MDP) with multiple industry-related titles. Private companies are Clapper Communications (still owned by the Clapper family); F&W/Krause(both purchased in recent months by Bill Reilly, former president of Primedia); Dynamic Resource Group (which recently purchased ASN Publishing); and All American Crafts. All of them publish general craft and/or specialty titles in quilting, sewing, scrapbooking, etc. (Note: We rarely report on the stock prices of Primedia and Meredith because their craft publications comprise only a small percentage of the companies' sales and earnings.) RESEARCH. Standard Rate & Data Service (SRDS) provides ad rates, circulation info, editorial contacts, etc., for almost all magazines. The website is www.srds.com and hard copies are available at most public libraries. COMMENT. Companies who reduce their ad budgets because of belt-tightening or payments to retailers are saying, in effect, that they don't need any more customers. Furthermore, there have been numerous studies showing that if a company can increase its market share during tough times, it will maintain that market share when the economy improves. And when market studies sponsored by the Hobby Industry Assn. and others ask our consumers where they get their crafting ideas, magazines consistently score very high.
[ top ]
ONLINE PRODUCT PREVIEW STARTS NOW!CLN's latest feature, our "Online Product Preview," is now online. Our first entries:Joy, S.A. Stick On Me is a "Hook and Loop" lettering system which allows consumers to change words and symbols on strips ironed onto clothing. GridArt. A unique kit which allows novices to paint successfully and quickly. Wild Pony Baskets. The Little Country Basket Weaving Kit for beginners and kids. MagEyes. HatEyes is a clip-on, flip-down magnifier, and the popular Body Pleaser is now manufactured and marketed by MagEyes. McCall Pattern. Glowing Stars are glow-in-the-dark wallpaper cutouts. DMC. Introducing StitchBow, an organizing and storage system for embroidery floss. Walnut Hollow. The new Versa-Tool can be used for a wide variety of crafts and on a multitude of surfaces. Adhesive Tech. Two new glue guns, the Detailer and the Ultimate, and a new light box. Dimensions. The Stone Path Studio collection of Country French and Tuscan stamped and cross stitch kits. Dimensions. The MetalArt line of copper embossing kits. Mountain Mist. White Rose and Cream Rose 100% cotton needled batting. Design Master. Modern Metals are enriched, metallic aerosol colors. Plaid. Bucilla's Fall 2002 stitchery line. Milestones. The 2003 Stepping Stone line. Wrights. EZ SCALLOP, an adjustable quilt template. Wrights. Fleece Binding, binding and finish for the edge of fleece projects. Wrights. The Gingham Girls Collection -- 1-yd. gingham ribbon with carnations and roses. Wrights. Disney Princess-themed satin ribbons and iron-on appliques. To learn more about these products and see photos, click HERE. VENDORS: CLN's "Online Product Preview" will run in every issue. To learn more about how you can have your products and photos published online for six months, email Mike Hartnett or call 309-925-5593.
[ top ]
RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS1. The change in the Toy Fair dates, with a special event for chain buyers moved to October, is another sign of how far in advance many buyers now work (See item in "Miscellaneous News", below). Christmas is the key period for toys, of course, and now there will be a show (or "preview") more than a year in advance of that all-important holiday.When I first came into the industry, the trade magazines billed their August issues as the "Christmas Buying Issue." That became too close to Christmas, so the ACCI show became a big Christmas show. As imports (and their longer lead time) took over the seasonal business, the HIA show became more Christmas-oriented. If this trend continues, maybe the trade magazines will resurrect their "Christmas Buying Issue" in August, only this time it will be for the Christmas 16 months away. Is it any wonder independents adapt to fast-changing trends more quickly than chains? 2. In our last issue, we reported Jo-Ann's had launched a discount program for teachers. Hancock's Red Apple Teacher Discount Card has been in operation for many years. Which makes me wonder, why don't more retailers offer special discounts to "professionals", much the way hardware chains offer special pricing for professional contractors?
[ top ]
MISCELLANEOUS NEWSCHRISTMAS. According to a new study conducted by the market research group, NPD, only 12% of U.S. consumers plan to spend more than last year on Christmas; 69% plan to spend the same amount, and 20% will spend less, Retail Merchandiser reported. Consumers with incomes between $20,000 and $74,000 will spend an average of $618, the survey reported.TOYS. The Toy Industry Assn. will sponsor its first "early mass market toy show" Oct. 21-23, 2003. The show replaces the New York Toy Preview. The purpose of the switch, according to TIA officials, is to move the chain buyers' event to a time more appropriate for their buying schedules, and so all buyers can concentrate more on specialty items and smaller manufacturers during Toy Fair. CLARIFICATION. In our last issue we reported Mary Engelbreit signed a licensing deal for her designs to appear on buttons and sewing notions from Blumenthal Lansing. Blumenthal Lansing will produce buttons and appliques, but Prym-Dritz will produce sewing notions with Engelbreit designs. (For more info on Prym-Dritz, click here.) PRICING. The price war between Michaels and A.C. Moore in the East continues unabated. We're hearing examples of two-ounce bottles of premium acrylic paints selling for as little as 54 cents. JOB OPENINGS. A craft company in Massachusetts is looking for a Director of Marketing ... Northeastern manufacturer is looking for a Product Manager to identify new product opportunities and develop existing product lines. $50-$60K. Must have 4-year marketing degree or its equivalent and 5-7 years product marketing/management experience with a consumer products company. For more information on both positions listed here, call Mike Hartnett in complete confidence. 309-925-5593 or mike@clnonline.com. PEOPLE. Claire Nelson is the VP of Marketing for Delta. She's worked for a number of DIY product companies ... Notions Marketing named Cindy VanGilder as Buyer for crafts, paint, and memory. Cindy replaces Jay Klein who was promoted to President when Herb Latinga became CEO ... Ron Sprafkin, formerly of Offray, is the Sales Director at American Traditional Stencils ... As CLN had reported, CFO Bryan DeCordova leaves Michaels Oct. 31. Finances will be handled by Finance VP Chris Holland until a new CFO is hired. MINIATURES. The Miniature Industry Assn. of America (MIAA) is moving its show to the ACCI show next year, July 18-20 in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois. The MIAA booths will be on the ACCI Show floor, but will be given a special look, setting them apart from other ACCI exhibitors. The Miniatures Marketfest will feature street lights, benches, and street signs that designate this section as being exclusively for miniature items. Exhibitors' new products can also be highlighted for the buyers' perusal in the exclusive MIAA Gazebo. For membership/exhibitor info, visit www.miaa.com; email miaa.info@offinger.com; phone 740-452-4541, or write MIAA Headquarters, PO Box 3388, Zanesville, OH 43702-3388. WHOLESALE. Industry watchers are guessing that Michaels will open its second Star Decorators Warehouse in Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Denver. The original is in Dallas; it's a wholesale operation for wedding and event planners, decorators, retail florists and gift shops, etc. LOANS. Women entrepreneurs looking for financing should visit www.count-me-in.org, which has $1 million to loan to women "with an existing business that is ready to expand or a viable business idea with a concrete plan." Loans range from $500 to $10,000 with first-time recipients eligible for loans up to $5,000. CORRECTION. In our last issue we inadvertently mistyped a couple of links to altered book sites. They were corrected by noon of the day of the issue's release (Oct. 7), but if you tried those links before the corrections were made, we apologize. The correct links: www.somersetstudio.com, www.expressionartmagazine.com, www.creatingkeepsakes.com, www.memorymakersmagazine.com, and www.alteredbook.com/internationalsocietyofalteredbookartists.htm. And Design Originals now has material about its altered book publications online at http://d-originals.com/alteredbooks.html. IMPORTS. Gerson Int. will open a permanent showroom in the Dallas Market Center in January. The 4,000 sq. ft. showroom will be on the 4th floor, #418. The Holiday Expo show will be the first show utilizing this new space. To ensure an orderly transition to this new location, Gerson will also occupy 1,200 sq. ft. in booth #3036 on the 13th (temporary booth) floor. "This will give us the opportunity to present the majority of our seasonal import program to a market which has shown great growth for us the past few seasons," said Casey Casebolt, VP of Sales and Marketing. REMINDER. Nov. 1 is the deadline for ACCI exhibitors to reserve their booths for the 2003 show and pay 2002 prices. A 5% rate increase goes into effect after Nov. 1. Also booth space selection begins Nov 1. Call 740-452-4541; fax 740-452-2552; email acci.info@offinger.com; or visit www.accicrafts.org CONDOLENCES. We're sorry to report the passing of Rebecca "Becky" Stevens, formerly of Blumenthal Lansing, of complications from her long battle with multiple sclerosis. She had worked at Simplicity and Belding Corticelli, and retired from Blumenthal Lansing as Fashion Director in 1997. A memorial service will be held for Becky tomorrow 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Church, 34 Maple Ave., Hackensack, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Gimbel MS Center, 718 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666. ACCI. Part III of the transcript of the retail panel discussion at the ACCI show last July is now online at the website, www.accicrafts.org. BOOKS. Artist and author Tera Leigh and the Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency signed a representation agreement. The New York-based agency will work with Leigh on a multi-book deal focusing on crafts and home dec. Leigh is the author of The Complete Book of Decorative Painting and the forthcoming How to be Creative If You Never Thought You Could (both published by North Light Books), and is a columnist for a number of industry magazines.
[ top ]
BUSINESS PROFILE: FLORACRAFTThe Foliage Company of America was founded in 1946 by Leonard Schoenherr. The company preserved, dyed, and painted natural foliages for sale to florists. About that time, Dow Chemical, while trying to develop a flexible electrical insulation material of polystyrene, accidentally created a rigid, closed-cell material and called it Styrofoam brand plastic foam.This small company with a handful of employees grew over the years into the largest floral-craft fabricator of Styrofoam in the world -- and now employs more than 400 people. (Note: A fabricator purchases Styrofoam in bulk from Dow and cuts, shapes, and packages it into the myriad of products found in retail stores. Styrofoam is a brand name; the generic name for that type of product is plastic foam.) FloraCraft introduced Styrofoam brand plastic foam to the floral market after finding that its crisp, firm texture and precise cell structure securely gripped floral stems. Soon crafters discovered the versatile material, finding it easy to cut, shape, glue, paint, and cover. Then retailers realized that Styrofoam brand plastic foam generated more add-on sales than almost any other product. Today Styrofoam is one of the most trusted, widely known brand names in the industry. FloraCraft also manufactures and distributes numerous products for craft and floral customers: chenille, Diamond Dust glitter, wet and dry floral foams, urethane and extruded foam forms, straw products, Floral Necessities floral supplies, and Timeless Accents polyclay pottery. FloraCraft is a private company, led by Board Chairman Lee Schoenherr and CEO Jim Scatena. The company is headquartered in Ludington, Michigan and has facilities in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and California. These strategic locations allow the company to provide superior service nationwide to a diverse customer base which includes the major craft chains, independent craft and floral retailers, and distributors. FloraCraft believes in the motto, "Quality Counts; FloraCraft Delivers." FloraCraft delivers with EDI and Supply Chain Management to maximize customer profitability. Each day, Lee and his FloraCraft team are working to improve their already exceptional customer service. From the original Styrofoam logs to today's Timeless Accents pottery, FloraCraft is committed to quality products and strong customer service. ROLODEX: FloraCraft, One Longfellow Place, P.O. Box 400, Ludington, MI 49431. Call 231-845-5127; fax 231-845-0240; email postmaster@floracraft.com; visit www.floracraft.com. (Note: If any industry-related company is interested in a Business Profile such as the one above, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.)
[ top ]
THE CREATIVE NETWORK: JOB OPENINGSTo see a sampling of the current job openings and to contact The Creative Network, click on the "Jobs" button in the left hand column.
[ top ]
THE CLN RETAIL INDEXA. C. Moore (ACMR). Last*: 14.35 ... Change**: -1.73Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 15.75 ... Change**: +0.13 Jo-Ann Stores (JAS.A) [a]. Last*: 27.45 ... Change**: +2.15 Michaels (MIK). Last*: 45.40 ... Change**: +5.30 Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 4.40 ... Change**: -0.35 Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 56.28 ... Change**: +4.53 CLN Retail Index. Last*: 163.63 ... Change**: +6.5% Dow Jones Index. Last*: 8,322.40 ... Change**: +10.5% *Oct. 18 ** from Oct. 4 [a] voting share Prices are exclusive of dividends
[ top ]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT, AND CARLIN-ISMSQUOTATION. For decades, the Business Roundtable, a lobbying group that represents the CEO's of dozens of major companies, had stressed the social role that corporations played in their communities, as well as the financial obligations they owed their stockholders. In 1997, the Business Roundtable changed its position statement to read, "The paramount duty of management and board is to the shareholder." -- John Cassidy, in an article, "The Greed Cycle" published in the Sept. 23rd edition of The New Yorker.QUOTATION. "The computer allows you to make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila." (Author unknown) QUOTATION. One of the two women operating a small company trying to break into the industry: "This does get frustrating. I keep telling certain people that the next time I go into a big meeting, I am going to stick a sock in my pants so I feel like a man." (Comment: The current issue of DSN Retailing Today highlights the ShopKo chain, and includes photos of the ShopKo "leadership team": 12 middle-aged white guys.) And some questions raised by George Carlin: Do you buy bottled water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea, does that mean that the other one enjoys it? Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack? If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker? Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread? If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed? People read the Bible more as they get older -- they're cramming for their final exam. Mothers feed babies with tiny spoons. What do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks? Why are criminals' pictures posted in the Post Office? Are we supposed to write to them? Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?
[ top ]
REMINDERS1. For more information on how your business can be the subject of a "Business Profile", or submit new product information and photos, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com.2. Paid subscribers are invited to have their website evaluated by Lynn Carlisle of Carlisle Communications. She'll check the site and provide a confidential assessment and suggestions for improvement. Just email mike@clnonline.com or ljc@carlislecommunications.com. 3. If you want a hard-copy of this issue, click on "Printer Friendly version". 4. If your company is a paid subscriber, everyone in the main office is welcome to register, free. 5. If you want to recommend CLN to a friend, use the "Tell Your Friends" box on the home page. 6. Creative Leisure News is published on the first and third Mondays of each month. Your next issue will be Monday, November 4.
[ top ]
xxx |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printer
Version
|
|
