network news - Retail Advantage Group

AUGUST 2016
Gi
ft Guide
Back to
School
NETWORK
NEWS
Supply List
From lesson time to after
school club, meet the
hardworking items on this
year’s supply list.
Pomchies LLC
(10%) (602) 493-1745
www.pomchies.com;
Spirit Colors Display
(Choose Your Team
Colors) $2.40 - $3.50/each
trends
savings
gift shop
published monthly by
retail advantage group
Melissa & Doug
(5% ex. Sunny Patch
& Trunki) (800)
284-3948 www.
melissaanddoug.com;
Basic Skills Learning
Mats Set $5.50
Zak Designs,
Inc. (10%) (800)
331-1089 www.
zak.com; Teenage
Mutant Ninja
Turtles Reusable
Lunch Bag $2.23
Queens Designs (10%) (404)
589-9897 www.queensdesigns.
com; Alabama Silver Tone Cuff
Bracelet $5.99
Last year Back to
School Spending topped
$60 Billion
Source: NRF Back-to-School Data 2015
for K-12 and College Shopping
Zipit (10%) (800) 511-6239
www.just-zipit.com; Beast
Box Pencil Case $3.99
Back to School Rush
Red Carpet Studios Ltd. (5%) (877) 9850405 www.rcsgifts.com; Scarf Hat Glove Set
Fanwear Blue/Gold $10.00
July 13th–End of August
In School Frenzy
Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
(10%) (212) 643-6816 www.
skyhorsepublishing.com; How
to Pay for College: A Library
How-To Handbook $7.48
Passion (10%) (855) 880-4598
www.passionnyc.com; Foldable
Reusable Backpack Shopper $10.00
Forgotten Purchases
Realized and there is
another uptick of sales in
September and October
Source: Bazaarvoice network data
from Social Analytics Team
Monday Morning
Our Favorite Tips from Successful People
It probably comes as no surprise that Monday mornings are
the most critical time of the work week. They set the stage
for your day and the week ahead.
“Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these
back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest
of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert.
“They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way,
depending on what actions you decide to take,” shares Taylor.
Exercise
Not everyone is a morning person, but getting up
and moving can actually be an amazing way to
start your day. It boosts your feeling of well being
and sustains energy levels throughout the day.
Eat a healthy breakfast
A healthy breakfast will satisfy your appetite,
provide energy, and set the stage for smart
decisions all day long. It’s one of those simple
things, in your control, that has a lasting effect.
Arrive early
Successful people are tuned into the typical Monday morning
Monday morning commute times can be tough.
workplace dynamic of unforeseen events, communications
Why not arrive early, to present yourself with
overflow, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds
an opportunity to prepare for the day, organize
of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,”
your agenda and set priorities for the week’s
Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this
productivity.
busy time of the week, and apply their best management
skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.” Clear your desk and desktop
We researched this topic and considered our own Monday
A clear desk and desktop will help you clear your
mornings and what we implement in our offices. The tips
mind; offering less distraction, more freedom
shared have a commonality from article to article and author
and new opportunity. Organize and prioritize your
to author and so we narrowed it down to our favorites from
files, put aside unimportant paperwork and keep
those making strides in their industry:
critical files easily accessible.
Wake up early
Successful people go to bed at a sensible hour
Sunday evening, ensure a good night’s sleep, and
wake up early Monday morning. When the alarm
rings, ignore the urge to hit the snooze button –
jump (or roll) out of bed and let your day begin!
Carve out time for unexpected
projects and tasks
Expect the unexpected on Monday. Leave
yourself a bit a time to tackle an unanticipated
complication or unresolved issue from Friday.
Cont. ON page 3
Fresh
...a curated feature unveiling
on-trend products
Introducing Bolli from
OgoSport (10%), a new
sensory development ball
for kids AND babies that
is great for stretching,
manipulating, grasping,
and teething. 100%
nontoxic, BPA-free silicone
and dishwasher/freezer
safe. $3.00 (718) 554-0777
www.ogosport.com
Baby Laundry & More (10%) introduces
Swaddlers, made with double gauze cotton
fabric for extra softness and comfort. The
breathable, stretch fabric makes them ideal for
swaddling. Colors: ivory, gray, pink or blue. $7.00
(801) 766-8437 www.babylaundryandmore.com
New from AngelStar Inspired Products
(10%); unique hand-drawn artwork and
powerful sentiment, Baby Blessings wall decor is
perfect for the nursery. Each piece has brilliant
artwork wrapped around the sides for a polished
look. $6.50 (800) 264-3577 www.angelstar.com
introducing s
Chamilia LLC
Fashionit
10% Discount
(800) 495-0977
www.chamilia.com
Opening $2500 Reorder $100
10% Discount
(800) 546-7302
www.justfashionit.com
Opening $150 Reorder $0
Tell a story that is yours alone…Chamilia’s charms and jewelry are
lovingly created with a blend of old-world techniques and cutting-edge
technology. They are proud to be a Swarovski company and only use the
finest heirloom-quality materials including sterling silver and 14K gold
accented with Swarovski crystals and zirconia.
Fashionit’s three color logo represents the three “F’s” ~ Fashion,
Numerary Tea for
One from Boston
International
(10%) $16.00 (800)
637-5061 www.
bostoninternational.com
WORLD
of
TEA
Tea sales in the United
States for 2015 were $11.8
billion and are currently on
track to increase 8 - 10%
for 2016. As specialty tea
and tea-related products
continue to gain momentum,
consumers everywhere are
reaching for a cup, bottle,
or single-serve pod of the
fine-leaf beverage.
Function and Friendship. Fashionit has proven results in gift stores
across the nation and strive to offer unique, affordable and trend
setters products for all ages. Proceeds from sales are donated to SOS
Children’s Villages helping orphans around the world.
Tea Coaster Set
from P. Graham
Dunn (10% ex laser
products) $6.00
(800) 828-5260 www.
pgrahamdunn.com
Monday Morning
Cont. from page 2
Greet the team and boss
This is important every morning, but particularly
on Monday when your team needs a boost to get
the week started. It creates a sense of purpose
and starts everyone off on a positive note.
Update your to-do list and goals
Set five to eight goals you want to accomplish for
the week. Write a list and refer to it periodically to
be sure you are on track to accomplish your goals.
The Tea Lover’s Devotional
from Harvest House
Publishers (10%)
$5.00 (888) 501-0160 www.
harvesthousepublishers.com
MisterTea Tea Infuser from
True Brands (10%)
$6.00 (800) 750-8783 www.
truebrands.com
Visualize the week’s successes
Envision the positive outcomes of various projects
at hand. You can then work backward and
establish the necessary steps for achieving the
desired results.
Screen emails for urgent requests
Don’t let your Monday morning inbox overwhelm
you. Take a few moments to flag those that
require your immediate attention and organize the
remainder into a “working” folder to be revisited.
Cont. ON page 4
VENDOR UPDATES
Due to a lack of orders, the following Vendors will no longer be extending a discount to Retail
Advantage Group Member Stores: Christian Brands, Inc., Kathy Ireland Imagine,
My Saint My Hero, ROOT CANDLES
5224 West State Road 46 #337
Sanford, Florida 32771
4 07.2 6 8 . 4 4 4 4
www.retailadvantagegroup.com
Monday
Morning
Cont. from page 3
Tackle the tough challenges first
It’s easy to put off the more daunting projects,
but your energy is the highest in the morning,
so that’s the perfect time to confront those
challenging assignments.
Make an extra effort to smile
There is nothing like a smile to put others at
ease. A smile conveys confidence and is almost
always contagious. Displaying a genuine smile is
a worthy effort!
Add a “blanket of humanity” to your
emails
Remember when you are quickly responding to
emails, there is a recipient on the other end. Take a
minute and reread your reply to be sure it’s friendly
and clear. How would you feel receiving a clipped,
impersonal reply? Share a little kindness, begin
with a friendly, “Hi” and “I hope you are doing well.”
Be able to say no
Successful people are adept at diplomatically
and politely saying no, by offering to engage at a
later time. It is stressful to be a people pleaser,
but especially on Monday mornings! Typically, no
one ends up happy and you simply cannot offer
your best effort if you are juggling conflicting
priorities.
Stay focused
Daydreaming about the weekend or wishing
for the evening’s gala to arrive can occupy your
thoughts. Learn to compartmentalize. Focus on
the task at hand and do it well.
Remember that there is Tuesday
Part of the beauty of Monday is that you’ve got
the whole week ahead of you. Don’t pressure
yourself to do in a single day what you have an
entire week for.
Monday morning can challenge even
the most industrious, successful business
leaders. Focus, plan, and stay calm.
Monday will be great! Make the most of it!
Write On!
Made in the USA, Leanin Tree’s (10%)
note pads offer a variety of beautifully
designed pads for notes, lists, and to-do’s.
Printed on recycled paper using soy-based
inks. Featured: Bright Floral Delights Note
Pad $4.00/pack of two (800) 525-0846
www.tradeleanintree.com
Hard-cover journals provide a
stylish way to take notes and stay
organized. Spiral-bound to lay
flat, this versatile notebook has
unmatched durability. Add a bit
of whimsy with matching fashion
pen! Graphique de France
(10%) $4.98 each (800) 444-1464
www.graphiquedefrance.com
The Gift Wrap Company’s (10%) Batik Bursts note
cards include ten note cards and printed envelopes in a
brightly colored magnetic box. Recipients will love the eyecatching design along with a special written note. $10.50/
pack of three (800) 443-4429 www.giftwrapcompany.com
Wellspring (10%)
introduces the new larger
sized aluminum notepad.
With an eye on style and
sophistication, the case is
locked together with a fullsized pen that features an
optional bright LED light at
the tip. $7.25 (800) 533-3561
www.wellspringgift.com