What's Appropriate in Recession-Era Marketing?

By Rebecca Lieb, ClickZ, Jan 30, 2009

"There's an elephant (the recession) in the room, in case you haven't noticed. Brands, products, and services that can position themselves as necessary and relevant, comfortable, environmentally friendly, wholesome, and nurturing have a real edge in this environment...

Over half of this country's leading retailers have already established a presence on Facebook, for example (and at considerably less expenditure than a Super Bowl spot). There's blogging, online video, and participatory chatter, all of it in the zero-cost budgetary realm."

Read the complete article at http://www.clickz.com/3632578.

Workshop for Craftspeople and Food Producers with Popular Gift Lines

As a artisan or food producer do you have popular product lines with high profit margins? Have shopowners approached you at craft fairs to ask if you sell wholesale? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, attending the Adirondack North Country Association's Workshop on How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts on Saturday, February 21 may be of benefit to you.

Workshop attendees review wholesale terminology and procedures from 10 am to 12 noon and from 12:30 to 2:30 pm provide feedback on each other's product with the goal of increasing wholesale market viability. The workshop is recommended for artisans and food producers planning to attend ANCA's 23 year-old rustic and nature theme gift show, Buyer Days, on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, 2009.

Last year, exhibitors averaged $3897 in orders and cash and carry sales at the show. Many of the following exhibitors who have already registered for Buyer Days have attended the workshop.

From the Lake Champlain and High Peaks region are: Whiteface Mountain Gourmet Maple Products, Bloomingdale; Heirlooms in Wood, Morrisonville; Aromas Galore, Rainbow Lake; and Underwood Herbs, Plattsburgh.

From the Lower Adirondacks and Hudson Valley region are: ONE on 1 Design, Hudson Falls; Adirondack Chandler, Glens Falls; Wood n' Works, Adirondack; Northeast Living Lights, Chestertown; Woven Glass, Sand Lake; Fawn Ridge Pottery, Chestertown; Nancy Miller Jewelry Designs, Saratoga Springs; Fish Bob, Howes Cave; Adirondack Cedar Chairs, Queensbury; and Richard Johnson, Porter Corners.

From the Central Adirondacks, Tug Hill Plateau and Mohawk Valley region are: Boulder Cove Originals, Weedsport/Old Forge; D & A Crafts, Camden; Benesch Creative Enterprises, Holland Patent; Rusticwood.com, Palatine Bridge; Adirondack Art and Chalkware, Gloversville; Pure Mist Naturals, Lowville; Silver Bench Jewelry, Croghan; Heart's Desire Gifts, Little Falls; and North Country Books, Utica.

Exhibitors from outside the region are Bear-Man Specialty Foods, Grand Island; Maine Antler Designs, Unity ME; Hill 'n' Hollow, Pavilion; Watershed Designs, Spencer; AJL Designs, Fayette ME; and Mooseman Nature Photos, Andover, NH.

The How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts Workshop will be held at the Adirondack Company Store at 111 Park Street in Tupper Lake on Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 10am to 2:30pm. Nadia Korths, ANCA Crafts Program Coordinator, will present the informal and lively workshop as she has for the past 13 years. Copresenter Joy Moody will provide 20 years of insight as owner of the Adirondack Company Store.

The workshop fee is $35 for single owner and $50 for dual owner businesses. To register, download the application from ANCA's craft resource website http://www.adknccrafts.com/ or call Nadia Korths, ANCA Crafts Program Coordinator, at 518.891.1632. For those unable to attend, the 45 page workshop packet of pertinent techniques and strategies is available for $10. The Adirondack North Country Association is committed to economically viable communities and a rural quality of life. For more information about ANCA, visit www.adirondack.org or call 518-891-6200.

Customer Tastes Have Not Changed - Ability to Indulge Has!

"By and large, the recession doesn't change their (your customers') tastes - just their ability to indulge their tastes."

Read more at http://buyersmarketblog.typepad.com/marketinsider/ January 7th, 2009 entry:
2nd article titled Challenge #1
For whom are you creating your products, and how are your customers' shopping habits affected by the current economy? What are they willing to spend for?

Market Insider is a publication of The Rosen Group, the producer of the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft and the publisher of AmericanStyle, a magazine for art collectors and travelers, and NICHE, a trade magazine for retailers of fine craft. See www.AmericanCraft.com. Market Insider is written by Jean Thompson, The Rosen Group's director of circulation, marketing and public relations, with help from contributors and staff.