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Creative Leisure News
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Date: June 23, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTSCOMMENTARY: SUCCESS STORIESI'm hearing very positive reports from vendors who attended Jo-Ann's controversial vendor meeting/anniversary party held recently in Cleveland. "It was the best chain presentation I've ever seen," said one vendor, "and I've been to a lot of them."The presentation included a history of the company. A few years ago at a dinner with CEO Alan Rosskamm and others, Alan told us how the two founding families actually started with a small cheese shop in Cleveland. The Jo-Ann's story fits with so many American success stories. Frank's Nursery & Crafts started with a guy named Frank and his pushcart selling flowers. The founders of Michaels and Wal-Mart started as Ben Franklin retailers. Jack Parker started with one A.C. Moore store. The big guys weren't always big guys; they started just like the rest of us. It's not just retailers. One vendor (who would kill me if I mentioned her name) used to be afraid retailers wouldn't order from her if they knew how small her operation was. So she'd answer the phone like a switchboard operator. "Just a moment; I'll connect you with our sales department." Then she'd put her hand over the mouthpiece for a moment, then, using a different voice, would say, "Sales department. May I help you?" Today, no one would worry that her operation was too small. For every small retailer and vendor, the point is this: EVERYONE started small.
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MICHAELS OPENS THE FIRST RECOLLECTIONS STOREApparently the company is not superstitious. Michaels opened its first all-scrapbook store, ReCollections, last Friday the 13th in Frisco, TX.The opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a variety of special events, including appearances and class instruction by Sandi Genovese, host of DIYScrapbooking on the DIY Network and Creative Director for Ellison, and Anna Griffin, owner and designer of Anna Griffin Designs. Also appearing in June are Tracy White, Editor of Creating Keepsakes; Renae Lindgren and Sharon Soneff, designers featured by Creative Imaginations; and Stephanie Rahmutalla, owner of Me and My Big Ideas. The store is 6,400 sq. ft. with obviously a much broader assortment of scrapbooking products than a typical Michaels store. There are approximately 10,000 SKU's, including items of local interest such as school and team logos and colors. The store also features two large classrooms and an on-going open crop area. Officials claim customers will receive in-depth, one-on-one service from employees, all of whom are experienced scrapbookers. They also promise the store will provide hourly demonstrations of new products and techniques and a cutting-edge technical support center for cropping, journaling, and reproductions. Sam Crowley, Sr. VP of New Ventures said, "We believe ReCollections stores will prove to be a great concept. With the robust growth of the category, there is a large segment of scrapbookers who want more rapidly changing assortments, more personalized service, and broader selections than a traditional craft store provides. "More importantly, however, scrapbookers seek the fun and social interaction that comes from participating in their unique craft," Crowley added. "As the world's leading retailer of arts and crafts merchandise, this venture is a natural fit given our expertise in memory preservation, and we're looking forward to developing long-term success and partnerships within the scrapbooking community."
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NEW ARTICLES THIS ISSUEBelow is a list of new columns added since our last issue. To read them, just click on the appropriate spot in the left-hand column.Designing Perspectives. Noted designers/trend watchers Tracia Williams and Lynda Musante introduce their column and the latest fashion/home dec trend. Legal Q.'s & A.'s. Have legal questions about business? This lawyer will answer them. The first column is devoted to the question of how much a product must be changed in order to avoid a trademark or copyright infringement lawsuit. The answer may surprise you. Kate's Collage. What happens to a company's reputation when the quality of the pieces in a craft kit don't match the bright, attractive box? Plus reader comments on previous columns in the Memory, Paper & Stamps and "Vinny Da Vendor" sections.
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WAL-MART'S GROWTH PLANSApparently Wal-Mart's not big enough? Next year the discounter plans to open another 278 new stores in the U.S. -- and 113 international outlets. Over the next five years, the retailer plans to hire another 800,000 people, including 120,000 managers, reports Chain Store Age. Meanwhile, DSNRetailing Today estimates the discounter will grow from sales of $229.6 billion in 2002 to $370.6 billion in 2007.DSN's annual Wal-Mart issue (June 9) did include a fly in the ointment, however. A DSN survey of 12 stores checked the availability of products highlighted in an ad circular. Wal-Mart scored 77%, substantially down from the 91% score in a comparable test in March, and even 1% lower than a Kmart test when Kmart was still in bankruptcy. Highlights of the issue's craft division article: Sales are estimated at $2+ billion a year, although Wal-Mart won't divulge sales of specific categories ... Every time Wal-Mart has tried to drastically decrease or eliminate sewing or crafts, customer complaints stop it. The category's growth reflects the industry's growth since 9/11 ... The strategy seems to be cherry-picking lines for the best sellers ... The article cited a 2002 HIA study that showed 27% of those surveyed bought supplies in discount stores; that's up from the 24% in the 2001 study. Craft chains only scored 20% in the 2002 study.
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RETAILERS & DEBIT CARDS: CHANGES LOOMINGA New York judge granted preliminary approval to the combined $3 billion settlements that Visa and MasterCard reached with a group of retailers led by Wal-Mart. Under the agreements, Visa will pay $200 million per year for 10 years and MasterCard will pay $100 million a year for 10 years. Both must pay $25 million to retailers by 2004 and lower their debit fees. A hearing on the final approval of the settlement is scheduled for Sept. 25.The retailers had argued that Visa and MasterCard rules requiring merchants to accept their signature-verified debit cards imposed higher costs. Visa and MasterCard offered the settlement just before the case was to go to court early last year. Meanwhile, Michaels has rolled out VeriFone's EverestPlus Solution to all of its 775 stores, and this online, PIN-based debit system now accounts for approximately 18% of Michaels in-store transactions, which officials say lowers operating costs regarding payment acceptance.
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CRAFTS & INTERNET "RADIO"There's a new element to using the Internet to market yourself or your company, or enhancing your website: on-demand radio. It's radio that can be listened to, at any time, via most computers. The listener needs special software, but that's available for downloading, free, at the site. And the program is archived, so if you can't listen to the live broadcast, you can listen when you want to. (That's similar to the archive for CLN. If you missed an issue, you can always read -- or re-read -- it anytime.)Thus far, the most common use of this technology has been the chain stores broadcasting and archiving their conference calls with stock market analysts -- but that's changing fast. Artist/author Tera Leigh will begin a new online radio show entitled "The Creative Life", interviewing artists, authors, editors, etc. Guests include Priscilla Hauser, Lin Wellford, Julianna Hudgins, Kathy Peterson, Maureen Carlson, and others. It will air live twice a month and be archived thereafter. It will be available at www.ladybuglive.com and linked from Tera's site www.teraleigh.com. Tera, the author of How to be Creative if You Never Thought You Could, was already interviewed on Entrepreneur magazine's radio show on wsradio.com. (http://wsradio.com/entrepreneurshow). A needlework radio channel is in the works, too. CLN will report on it as soon as it's officially announced. Retailers and designers could add a vocal greeting to their sites, vendors could interview name designers who use their products -- there are lots of possibilities.
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MAY SALES: SO SOThe national post-war economy should be picking up -- at least Wall Street thinks so. But that's not necessarily showing up yet in retail sales figures.Michaels same-store sales for May rose only 1% -- but the company had expected sales to be flat. Spring seasonal, crafts, books, framing, and ribbon were cited as strong performers. The number of transactions increased 4% and the average ticket increased 1%. Hancock reported the best same-store increase of all the industry-related public retailers: 5.1%. Jo-Ann's figure was 2.3%. Wal-Mart said same-store sales rose 2.1%. Duckwall-ALCO's same-store sales declined 1.1%. Crafts was not cited as a strong seller, but it wasn't listed as a disappointment, either. Positive increases were posted by Costco, Nordstrom, JCPenney, and Target, but Sears, Federated, Kohl's, and Saks reported declining same-store sales.
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NEW ACCI EXHIBITORS, PT. II(Note: The following is the second installment in our series of new exhibitors at the ACCI show. For buyers who want to do some advance work for the show, here are names, booth numbers, brief descriptions, and links to the companies' websites. The remainder of the new exhibitors will be highlighted in our next two issues.)Idea Tool Box. #8816. Designer Shaker boxes (Shaker Shapes) and designer brads (Toggles and Mini Toggles). www.ideatoolbox.com. Impression Obsession. #8116. Stamps, cardstock, accessories, and templates. www.impression-obsession.com. Impressionables. #8301. Blank card stock, scrapbooks, journals, note cubes, padfolios, notepads, calendars, etc. www.impressionables.net. In The Attic. #7504. Round knitting looms in four sizes. www.knittinglooms.com Itoya of America. #8011. Pens, organizers, storage products. www.itoya.com. Jokari/US. #8104. Storage solutions and organizers. www.jokari.com. Judikins. #8501. Wide variety of rubber stamps. www.judikins.com. Kandi Corp. #8217. Swarovski iron-on Austrian crystals, pearls, nailheads, rhinestuds, a crystal and pearl applicator wand -- the Kandi Kane. www.kandicorp.com. KI Memories. #8316. Scrapbook supplies. www.kimemories.com. Kinetic Scrapbooking. #8409. Products that make scrapbook pages move! www.kineticscrapbooking.com. Kreinik Manufacturing. #5112. One of the industry's leading needlework thread companies. www.kreinik.com. Magnolia Memories. #8020. Paper piecing patterns, charms, jewels, fibers, etc. www.magnoliamemories.com. Make An Impression. #8018. Rubber stamp images that reflect the uniqueness of the Northwest. www.makeanimpression.net. Mango Moon. #8100. Recycled silk, batik ribbon, multi-color silk yarn is made from recycled silk saris. The company is connected with helping underprivileged women of Nepal, many of whom are refugees from Tibet. www.mangomoonknits.com. Martelli Ent. #7907. Sewing notions and tools. www.martelli-enterprises.com Match'em Ups. #7701. Scrapbook stitckers and papers. www.matchemups.com. Material Concepts. #8311. Lilsmacker tools -- eyelet tools for scrapbooking. www.lilsmacker.com. Maude Asbury. #7920. Scrapbook albums and accessories. www.maudeasbury.com. Memories Complete. #8812. Scrapbook backgrounds, quotes, and stickers. www.memoriescomplete.com. Memories in Uniform. #8921. Military-themed scrapbook supplies. www.memoriesinuniform.com. The Memory Group. #7606. It strives to help independent member stores succeed by providing group buying advantages, services, education and a retail community. www.memorygroupllc.com. Memory Melodies. #8108. Products to make scrapbooks sing! www.memorymelodies.com. Metropolis Paper Int'l. #4245. Embossed papers. www.evergreen-metropolis.com. MyPokkets. #8205. Pokket Frames are thin; stick to any surface; can be easily moved; won't damage a surface; have a clear, protective window; and fit in most greeting cards. www.mypokkets.com. Page Additions. #7612. Products to add motion to scrapbooks. www.pageadditions.com. Paper Loft. #8417. Printed background papers. www.paperloft.com. PartNET. #8512. Software to establish end-to-end connections with any trading partner using standards-based protocols -- i.e., supply chain solutions. www.partnet.com. Persnippity. #5212. Vellum ink drops, cut-outs, and other products including poetry, quotes, tags, and images printed on 8 1/2" x 11" vellum. www.persnippity.com/pages/741990/index.htm.
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BOOK REVIEW: A SCRAPBOOK MURDERLast week I read Keepsake Crimes, a paperback mystery written by Laura Childs and published by Berkley. To my knowledge it's the first mystery set in a scrapbook store.Mystery lovers may enjoy the book, provided they don't know anything about retail. The setting -- New Orleans during Mardi Gras -- is interesting and the plot is ok. It's a good thing the heroine, storeowner Carmella Bertrand, is a good detective, because she's going to go broke running her store. The store is on the edge of the French Quarter, so the rent must be enormous. Carmella seems to have about five customers a day. She closes on weekends. She buys lunch for the customers who are working on their scrapbooks through the noon hour. The publisher says it's the first in a series, but I think Carmella better stick to detecting instead of retailing. Still, it's a sign of the category's growth that a major publisher thinks it would be profitable to publish a series set in a scrapbook store.
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CLN'S ONLINE PRODUCT PREVIEWThe next issue of CLN, online July 7, will be exhibitors' last chance to publicize their products before the ACCI show. For info on how and where to send material for CLN's "New Product" section, email mike@clnonline.com or call 309-925-5593.
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RANDOM NOTES, RANDOM THOUGHTS1. A sign of the times: A while back Discount Store News magazine changed its name to DSNRetailing Today. The change was probably made because a) the constant sales by department stores and big-box retailers makes it more difficult to distinguish between a discounter and a traditional retailer, and b) the number of "discount" retailers (Ames, Jamesway, Bradlee's, Venture, etc.) has declined so drastically, there weren't that many chains left for the magazine to cover. Even DSN can't write about Wal-Mart ALL the time.2. The Martha Stewart mess is a good example of what can happen when an entire company is built around one person. Many of our industry's companies -- independent stores, too -- are that way, and that's fine as long as that person stays healthy and out of trouble. A problem eventually arises, though: how do you sell such a company if the owner isn't willing to go along and work for the buyer? In that case, what is the buyer buying? The only answer I can think of, is for the owner to take on an assistant years before he/she is ready to retire and sell the company. Then the owner teaches the business to the assistant and slowly builds up the assistant's reputation in the industry. Then, eventually, the owner can sell the business or slowly fade away without the business suffering.
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWSACCI. Pre-registration for the July 18-20 show closes TODAY at 4:30 EDT. Sixteen classes are already sold out. Current stats: 557 exhibitors in 1240 booths. That's an increase of 14.6% in exhibitors and 16.1% in booths. There are 170 new exhibitors, up a whopping 70%. Registration is up about 8%. Look for attendance by the press to be up, too. ACCI has sent invitations to the show to 3,000+ daily and weekly newspapers. Don't forget business guru Doug Hall's Brain Brew Theater session. Retailers will be bringing their problems to stage and Doug and his assistant will offer a portfolio of solutions. Call 888-360-2224 or 740-452-4541; email acci.info@offinger.com, or visit www.accicrafts.org.BAR CODES. The U.S. Uniform Code Council, a bar-code governing body, developed Sunrise 2005, which requires retailers to be able to handle bar codes with up to 14 digits by Jan. 1, 2005. The current system is 12 digits and is getting filled up, like telephone area codes, Reuters reported. North America is the only area that is not already compliant with Sunrise 2005. ACQUISITION. Duncan Ent. has acquired all of PSX, a rubber stamping and paper manufacturer formerly known as Personal Stamp Exchange. In March, 2002 Duncan had purchased a 50% share in PSX. PSX will remain a separate business line at its offices in Santa Rosa, led by President Jim Doty, VP/Creative Jeannene Chase Langford, and VP/Sales Deborah Wandner. Sometime this summer, all orders will be shipped from Duncan's facility in Fresno. STOCK. Zacks, the stock analysis firm, recommended investors buy Michaels stock and sell Martha Stewart ... Adams Harkness & Hill initiated coverage of Hancock with a Strong Buy rating. SARS. The World Health Organization declared that SARS has been "stopped dead in its tracks," Reuters reported. The WHO lifted its warning to avoid travel to Taiwan, but has kept the warning in effect for Beijing. AWARD. The Paper Company won Jo-Ann's Vendor of the Year award. REMINDER. July 7 is the deadline for submitting Supershop proposals for the HIA show in Feb. in Dallas. For info call Laura Herrera at 201-794-1133 or email lherrera@hobby.org. FRANKS. For the quarter ended May 18, income was $1.0 million versus a prior year loss of $25.6 million before reorganization items. Sales were $116.7 million, up 5.1%. Expenses as a % of sales dropped to 27% from 28.4%. The current store count is 170 stores in 14 states. COMPANY FOR SALE. Profitable craft manufacturer with annual sales of $10+ million and a strong presence in the major chains. Southeast location. Management in place. Final offers subject to financing will not be considered. Talk to Mike Hartnett in complete confidence for more info. 309-925-5593; mike@clnonline.com. ELECTION. The deadline for nominating yourself or someone else to serve a three-year term on the ACCI board is July 1. Obtain a nominating form by calling or emailing Mark Bennett -- mbennett@offinger.com, 740-452-4541, ext. 3187. WINNERS. Of the Tara/Fredrix Canvas 2003 ACCI Art of Collage Contest: 1st Place, Andrea Rothenberg ... 2nd Place, Madeline Arendt ... 3rd Place, Tracia Williams, Tracia & Co. ... Honorable Mention: Rebekah Meier. The winning entries will be on display at Tara's ACCI booth, #517. (Note: Tracia is the co-author of CLN's Designing Perspectives column. Just click on the appropriate line on the left-hand column.) DIVIDENDS. Here's a result of the recent tax code changes: For the first time Michaels is declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10/share, payable July 30 to shareholders of record July 15. The company approved the repurchase of up to one million additional shares of its common stock, bringing the total shares authorized for repurchase to 1.6 million. Since June 1998, Michaels has repurchased approximately 14.7 million of its shares and currently has 66.6 million shares outstanding ... Hancock, which has been paying dividends for years, declared a dividend of $0.10/share payable July 15 to shareholders of record July 1. COMPANY LOOKING. Pumpkin Masters needs a national sales manager to oversee sales department and rep groups. Reports directly to the CEO. Fax resumes/salary requirements to 303-860-9826 or email gburke@pumpkinmasters.com, ATTN: Gay. No phone calls. ACCI. The second issue of ACCI's newsletter, News and Views, is now online at www.accicrafts.org. It includes interviews with buyers talking about what they want -- and don't want -- from exhibitors, and magazine editors talking about trends. HANCOCK. Reported that the insurance carrier/administrator for the company's self-insured workers' comp policy failed to bill Hancock fully for various claims going back to 1993. Consequently, Hancock revised its results to reflect the additional liability -- $938,000 after tax over the entire decade. Officials anticipate the adjustment to net income in any one year will not exceed $0.01/share, and will be reported to the SEC. CEO Larry Kirk said, "Over the years, our company has been very sensitive to the accuracy and clarity of our financial reports. We acted on the issue as soon as it was confirmed by recording the liability in the affected periods." MAGAZINES. The premier issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts, the new, 8-times/year magazine from Scott Publications, goes on sale next month. Projected distribution is 50,000 through retail stores, newsstands, and subscriptions. Single copy, $5.99; year's subscription, $29.90. It's an outgrowth of the former Stamping Arts & Crafts magazine. Call 231-733-9382; visit www.scrapandstamparts.com. MAGAZINES. In its June 23 issue, Business Week described how successful Meredith has been since 9/11, and gave as an example the success of its Scrapbooks, Etc., which is published by its Better Homes & Gardens Craft Division. Revenues for the company are expected to surpass $1 billion this year. STORES. Now Wal-Mart is testing mall stores. The discounter opened its first in a Massapequa, NY mall -- about 30 miles east of Manhattan. JO-ANN'S. Kids In Need teacher grant applications will be available in stores from early August until September 30. The program, an initiative of the School, Home, & Office Products Association (SHOPA) Foundation for Educational Excellence, provides funding of $100 to $500 for innovative classroom projects. CROCHET. The Crochet Guild of America will celebrate its 10th anniversary with its annual Chain Link conference, "Sweet Home Chicago," July 24-27 in Rosemont (Chicago), Ill. CGOA now has 2,000+ members. Jean Williams Cacicedo, a founding member of the art-to-wear movement, is the keynote speaker. For info, visit www.crochet.org or call 877-852-9190. ARTISAN CRAFTS. The direct impact of sales from handmade crafts on the national economy is $14 billion, according to a survey conducted by the Craft Organization Development Assn. Visit www.contemporarycraft.org/CODA_press.html. EMAIL. "Regarding the sewing/craft shows on PBS: Yes, do call your local PBS station for the program (it is effective), but ask to speak to the program director and give him the correct name of the show, and who produces it." Sharon Dugas, Papier Dreams (who is married to a former PBS affiliate program director). TV. A recent Oprah show features scrapbooking and Sakura contributed Gelly Roll Stardust and Pigma Micron 05 pens for the audience gift baskets. TV. The third series of Scrapbook Memories, hosted by Beth Madland, Julie McGuffee, and Michele Gerbrandt, uplinks July 20. Call your PBS station and ask for it. (The producer is Katherine Stull of KS, Inc.). Sponsors are Fiskars, Epson, Memory Makers, Hot Off The Press, Craf-T Products, Mag Time Frames, and Rollabind. SCRAP SHOWS. Retailers attending the Memories Expo in Orlando Oct. 9-12 will have cash-and-carry, wholesale-only shopping hours Oct. 9 (5-8 pm) and special retailer classes, one sponsored by CNA and the other taught by scrapbook guru Sue DiFranco. For info, visit www.memoriesexpo.com or call 740-452-4541. EMAIL. "To add to your comments in "Random Notes, Random Thoughts" about companies getting by without visiting the Orient, the Wall Street Journal (5/28) reported on Wal-Mart adjusting their overseas buying sessions. Although it is important to visit factories and showrooms for face-to-face meetings, videoconferencing, email, and digital photography may cut down on some of those trips." -- Elaine Schmidt, Elaine Schmidt Designs
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BUSINESS PROFILES: COLORBOKColorbok was co-founded in 1984 by Bill Taylor in Dexter, MI. The goal at its inception was to provide superior stationery products to the gift and stationery market. Initial success with the die cut "alpha note" led to several other die cut notepaper products and the beginning of Colorbok's stationery division. During the mid-1990's, scrapbook retailers began selling the Colorbok die cuts to scrapbook hobbyists; their success helped launch Colorbok into the scrapbook industry.Market research led to Colorbok's first truly scrapbook-focused line under the name Remember When in 1997. The offering, composed of papers, stickers, and scrapbook kits, quickly became a success and put Colorbok firmly in the scrapbook business. In 1999, Colorbok added coordinated programs comprised of albums, stickers and papers, believing that these well-planned displays would lead to increased retail sales. Colorbok also added programs designed by well known artists such as Susan Branch & Joy Marie. The dramatic impact of these coordinated programs led to success for Colorbok's retailers and dramatic growth from 1999 to the present. Since 1999 Colorbok has brought over 20 coordinated programs to market, along with numerous other scrapbook products. Colorbok is committed to being a leader in the scrapbook industry through excellence in design, product quality and innovation. The plan is to always have the newest concepts along with strong basic products. Retailer partnership programs have played another key role in the company's growth. Colorbok offers a Premier Dealer program, founded on the notion that loyal customers should be offered benefits for repeat business. The program is designed to offer retailers substantial merchandising assistance, special terms, and other advantages. Innovative ideas, high quality products at great prices, drive and determination have led Colorbok to its leadership position within the scrapbooking industry. Colorbok¼providing creative products for creative minds. Key Execs: Bill Taylor, President; Jerry Poffel, National Sales Manager; Phyllis Hoover, VP of Product Development. Rolodex: Colorbok, 2716 Baker Rd, Dexter, MI 48130. Call 800-366-4660; fax 734-426-2520; email info@Colorbok.com; or visit www.colorbok.com. Note: To learn more about how your company can be profiled in CLN, call Mike Hartnett at 309-925-5593 or email mike@clnonline.com. To read other profiles, click "Business Profile Archives" in the right-hand column. Profiles remain in the Archives for one year; each time a profiled company is mentioned in a subsequent issue, it will be linked to the profile.
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THE CREATIVE NETWORK: JOB OPENINGSTo see a sampling of the current job openings and to contact The Creative Network, click on the "Jobs" line in the right-hand column.
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THE CLN RETAIL INDEXA. C. Moore (ACMR). Last*: 19.82 ... Change**: +2.78Hancock Fabrics (HKF). Last*: 16.00 ... Change**: +1.52 Jo-Ann Stores (JAS.A) [a]. Last*: 24.57 ... Change**: +1.85 Michaels (MIK). Last*: 38.65 ... Change**: +1.04 Rag Shops (RAGS). Last*: 3.10 ... Change**: -0.34 Wal-Mart (WMT). Last*: 54.26 ... Change**: +1.65 CLN Retail Index. Last*: 100.50 ... Change**: +5.7% Dow Jones Index. Last*: 9,200.75 ... Change**: +4.0% *June 20 ** from May 30 [a] voting share Prices are exclusive of dividends
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CAN YOU PASS THIS TEST?(Note: The following, which is making the rounds on the Internet, is a conundrum that reportedly was part of a job application. See if you can get the right answer -- and get the job.) A man is driving in his two-seater car on a wild, stormy night. When he passes a bus stop, he sees three people waiting for the bus: 1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die; 2. An old friend who once saved the man's life; 3. The perfect woman he has been dreaming about.Knowing there could only be one passenger in the car, which one should the man offer a ride to? The driver could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus he should save her first; or he could take the old friend because the friend once saved his life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him/her back; however, he may never be able to find his perfect dream lover again. Which alternative would you choose? The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) quickly answered, "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams."
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REMINDERS1. For more information on how your business can be the subject of a "Business Profile" or have products/photos included in the "CLN's Online Product Preview, 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. Just click on "Current Subscribers Click Here To Register." 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, June July 7.
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