http://stationerytrendsmagazine.com/index.php/article en aheugel@greatamericanpublish.com Copyright 2012 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:49:53 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-store-room-how-do-you-make-the-most-of-your-time-at-a-trade-show/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-store-room-how-do-you-make-the-most-of-your-time-at-a-trade-show/#id:15778#date:13:49 Our monthly column is devoted to what works and what doesn't - for our readers, from our readers "How do you make the most of your time at a trade show? What do you wish you could change?" Edward HechterPartyPail Inc.Enumclaw, Wash.We generally only spend two days at the annual show in Houston, so we want to make sure the time on the floor is really efficient. We start working around 60 days in advance of the show to schedule specific meetings at specific times to review new products, discuss the year's promotions and meet… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:49 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/give-thanks-and-solutions/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/give-thanks-and-solutions/#id:15777#date:13:45 Combining fall holidays and sales with style and ease Planning a dinner party can be overwhelming. Throw the stress of Thanksgiving into the mix and it can become downright daunting. Fortunately, parties can be planned with ease and beauty nowadays, thanks to the vast inventory of party and paper stores. From trendy table landscapes to creating festive, manageable meals, your customers will be hoping it's their turn to entertain Thanksgiving guests year after year. There's a lot more to the day of Thanksgiving than just favorite foods. Thanksgiving is an event that lasts all day… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:45 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/halloween-2012/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/halloween-2012/#id:15776#date:13:42 Cool décor, tricks and treats keep business ‘BOO'ming With more than 65 million trick-or-treaters prowling the streets of America on Oct. 31, it's no wonder that manufacturers and retailers are excited and optimistic about this Halloween each year. "Consumers anticipate seeing traditional decorations using pumpkin, skeleton and witch art, but they often will buy on impulse when they see something that is unusual and different," said Dave Goode, vice president of marketing at The Beistle Co. "After all, these are the decorations that really get the neighbors talking." Goode continues to see strong consumer interest… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:42 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/by-air-and-by-sea/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/by-air-and-by-sea/#id:15775#date:13:38 Air Swimmers are rising to the top If you see a 4-foot long shark or clown fish flying through the air, have no fear: Air Swimmers are here. Since 1992, the William Mark Corporation (WMC) - a family business started by Mark Forti and his father, Bill, who retired from the aerospace industry - has been dedicated to developing unique, high-quality products for extraordinary flight performance. Their latest innovative, remote control flying balloons called Air Swimmers, have quickly risen to the top of the retail ranks. "The first prototype was developed by Stanford University engineering… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:38 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/animal-magnetism/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/animal-magnetism/#id:15773#date:13:36 Walk on the wild side with animal-themed products Whether it's zebra stripes and leopard print patterns, a Hello Kitty party or a flock of Angry Bird balloons, whole parties are being planned around a specific animal theme. Companies have taken note of this emerging trend and are answering the consumer call for more textures, patterns and designs that reflect the wild side of partying. So what's the appeal of this animal magnetism? "The reason is simple," said George White of Up With Paper. "If you show an image of a blonde-haired girl, you've immediately eliminated… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:36 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-discount-party-warehouse/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-discount-party-warehouse/#id:15769#date:13:30 Spotlight On: Sydney, Australia Down under they go up and over expectations Eight years ago, brothers Deepak and Sanjay Gidwani set out to achieve one mission - to have Discount Party Warehouse offer the biggest range of party products in Australia, with great customer service, while providing value to their customers. "Our parents owned eight variety stores for 30 years and we had a background in wholesaling packaging, tableware and party supplies," said Sanjay, who started with the family business and then worked at Harrods of London for a period while living in England. "Deepak… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:30 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/party-line-you-get-what-you-give/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/party-line-you-get-what-you-give/#id:15766#date:13:29 While hearts and flowers have no doubt taken over your stores for Valentine's Day, this is our Halloween issue, and it's full of great ideas and products to help get you thinking about those fall holidays. But first I'm going to ask you to do something that might seem a little bit off topic, but trust me on this one. Just once this week - perhaps in the spirit of Valentine's Day - I want you to give what you can share, not what you can spare. Whether it's just a customer appreciation day, a… Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:29 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-store-room-what-are-your-business-resolutions-for-2012/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-store-room-what-are-your-business-resolutions-for-2012/#id:15363#date:18:16 Our monthly column is devoted to what works and what doesn't - for our readers, from our readers "What are you resolving to do with your business in 2012? Cornelia FranklinA Pink GorillaClevelandOur plans will be focused on a few different aspects in our marketing program, led by my husband, Domonic. His focus will continue to be improvements to our website, rotating pictures of décor and bouquet offerings through our online ordering. We also have tapped into Twitter and Facebook over the past two years and will continue to drive clients old and new to… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:16 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/mission-possible/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/mission-possible/#id:15362#date:18:10 Making Stellar Employees Out of So-So Associates By Nicole Leinbach Reyhle With the good comes the bad, and in the case of retail employees, this is often the situation. From late arrivers to gossipy co-workers to lazy performances, many associates come with attitudes and habits that aren't ideal for your business. We can't overlook our achievers, however. Amidst the bad are hard workers with flexible schedules who are dedicated to your store profit. Then of course, there are those in between - the gray group. Neither black or white in their performances - or lack… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:10 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/bridal-bouquet/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/bridal-bouquet/#id:15361#date:18:08 Be sure to offer customers a little of this, a little of that When it comes to a wedding, the classic "Something old, something new ... " might apply in the traditional sense. But when it comes to bridal offerings and party stores, it might be more accurate to say "A little of this, a little of that ...." It's impossible to be all things to all people, so offering a little something in terms of partyware, balloons or favors and accessories is the key to them saying "I do" to more sales. Mix and… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:08 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-foys-variety-halloween-stores/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-foys-variety-halloween-stores/#id:15358#date:18:02 Spotlight On: Fairborn, Ohio Success is in the numbers For Michael Foy of Foy's Variety/Halloween Stores in Fairborn, Ohio, success is in the numbers. What started as a 5 & 10 store 80 years ago has turned into six stores with four generations of retail experience and countless memories of customers, costumes and friendships. "While we started as an old time 5 & 10 Variety Store, when we branched into the Halloween business our inventory began to increase drastically, prompting us to seek another location to house our costume sales and rentals," Foy said. "Having… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:02 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/back-to-basics1/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/back-to-basics1/#id:15357#date:17:56 Help customers party all day, every day of the year Holidays are certainly fun and exciting - and the fuel to every party business - but there are at least 362 days in the year outside of Halloween, Christmas and New Year's. To keep customers coming in the store year round, owners must walk a fine line between offering a basic product foundation for any and every party and not letting that aisle of basic products grow dusty and boring. Follow these tips and advice to make sure your store can create an amazing party… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:56 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/little-kids-big-screen-sales/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/little-kids-big-screen-sales/#id:15356#date:17:47 If it captures their attention, it can capture sales Are you familiar with Frankie Stein and her "ghoulfriends" from "Monster High"? How about Lalaloopsy dolls? If you're not, you probably should be. Kids are spending more time than ever before watching television, playing video games and watching their favorite DVD over and over and over again, so these characters play a large role in their daily life. When it comes to Halloween - or dressing up for fun any time of the year - the characters they see each day are the ones they want… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:47 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/superheroes-super-sales/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/superheroes-super-sales/#id:15355#date:17:40 This looks like a job for ‘Super Retailer!' The classic battle between good and evil is nothing new, as people have always been draw towards an escape from reality and something heroic to follow. Lucky for retailers, the superhero genre has seen a resurgence in the past decade as more classics are being brought back to the big screen and new ones are jumping right in. Characters that dominate the big screen will dominate store shelves on everything from cups to costumes, which is good news for retailers, as a love of action and superhero… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:40 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/survival-of-the-hippest/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/survival-of-the-hippest/#id:15354#date:17:37 Consumers turn to pop cultural icons and themes for inspiration Another Halloween season has come and gone, leaving us gripping our seats wondering, "What's next?!" Incumbent vampire darlings? More celebrity masks? Will we be blown away by a late-in-the-game celebrity who makes a splash in the news? The fact of the matter is that the presence of pop cultural stimuli continues to overwhelmingly trickle into our daily lives. From the "Jersey Shore" to Charlie Sheen and everything in between, consumers keep their fingers on the pulse of society and they intend to show it. We… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:37 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/grown-up-garb/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/grown-up-garb/#id:15353#date:17:33 Get a look at what's in store At the end of the day, a costume is a costume, and customers can decide what they want and who they want to buy it from in a variety of ways. While some adults might be happy with a simple mask, others have a more discerning taste and set of criteria for their purchases. "I once had a good customer tell me that he bought from five great costume vendors and asked what I had that was different," said Sean Monahan of Party King. "Why should he buy… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:33 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/halloween-how-to-for-2012/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/halloween-how-to-for-2012/#id:15352#date:17:30 Be on the look out for the hottest trends There are some things you can expect every Halloween - black and orange, ghosts and witches, licensed costumes - but there are also those trendy details that can set your store apart and make Halloween a ghoulish goldmine. Because according to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch, seven in 10 Americans (68.6 percent) planned to celebrate Halloween in 2011, up from 63.8 percent in 2010 and the most in NRF's nine-year survey history. The average person was… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:30 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-performance-studios/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/shop-talk-performance-studios/#id:15351#date:17:24 Spotlight On: Nashville, Tenn. For what you need from top to toe What began in 1988 as Interstate Cosmetics, an 80-square-foot store in the corner of a lighting shop, has grown into Performance Studios, a 17,000-square-foot retail space in Nashville, Tenn., with more than 20,000 costumes and accessories, two fully functional hair salons and a wide variety of makeup and professional services. Owners Glenn Alexander and Gary Broadrick started the company under the premise of creating a line of cosmetics to be worn daily, as well as used professionally that would be distributed through hair… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:24 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/party-line-happy-new-year/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/party-line-happy-new-year/#id:15350#date:17:20 It's time to turn the page on 2011 and dive into 2012, a year that is sure to bring with it new challenges, new opportunities and new connections. It's also sure to bring with it more Halloween, as even though we're still recovering from 2011, the Halloween & Party Expo in Houston at the end of this month reminds us that it's never too early to start looking ahead. Halloween 2012 looks to be bigger and better than 2011, as according to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2011 Top Costumes survey, Americans were expected to… Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:20 GMT http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/store-room-what-have-you-been-doing-to-cut-your-business-expenses/ http://partypaper.com/index.php/magazine/article/store-room-what-have-you-been-doing-to-cut-your-business-expenses/#id:14954#date:19:22 Our monthly column is devoted to what works and what doesn't - for our readers, from our readers "Times are tight for almost everyone. What have you been doing to cut your business expenses?" Janice J. WhiteheadBalloons By JaniceBlair, Neb.Lately, I have been trying to create as much as I can from the inventory I have on hand. I have a large inventory and plan ahead so I can purchase less and use what I have in stock first. Because I trust the quality balloons I purchase (Qualatex and Betallic), I don't have to worry… Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:22 GMT