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Thursday, October 22, 2009

News For and About Artisans and Retailers

Lake George Arts Project is requesting original video shorts of 3 to 5 minutes to be submitted by Nov. 20, 2009. Three awards will be presented in each category with a screening of all award winners on February 6, 2010 at the lst annual Peoples Pixel Project. Craft artisans could submit video of creating their work under two of the six categories, Get Reel: documentary video, and Narrative: Tell a story, but make it quick. Your video can also be posted at YouTube and linked to your website to help promote your story. www.lakegeorgearts.org.

Community newspaper readership is growing at an unprecedented rate. 44% of all active Internet users visited a newspaper Web site last month. 95% of U.S. adults report that the recession has imported their shopping in some way. 76% report doing fewer shopping trips. Adults also plan purchases more (67%). Actual purchases continue to be predominantly made in stores (79%) though shopping information channels have dramatically expanded. Newspaper Association of America ads, Scarborough Research 2008, How America Shops and Spends/MORI Research 2009, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October, 2009.

"Cristina Lussi, whose family owns the Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club (Lake Placid), said occupancy, as well as rates her hotel is charging, are down about 10 percent on the year. But that amount is not too bad compared to other hoteliers in Westchester County, whom she said have told her business is down, in some cases, 40 percent...."Thank goodness Lake Placid is an events-driven community," Lussi said...
Jenn Holderied, whose family owns the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort on Main Street, said her hotel's business was down about seven or eight percent from 2008, but added that 2008 was a banner year that would have been hard to beat under any circumstances. She said the resort's 2009 numbers are running about five precent above 2007. The Golden Arrow maintained their rates as much as possible this year; however Holdereid said she promoted some value packages during times that she normally would not have in order to encourage business.
The biggest change in tourism trends, Holdereid said, is in travel patterns. Since December 2008, visitors have been booking rooms at the last possible moment and shopping around for the best deal, she said.
"People are a little bit more cautious about spending their money," she said. "They are spending more time planning their vacations and really thinking it through before they committ." LP/Essex Co. Visitors Bureau cut two employees, by Heather Sackett, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 10.15.09, p. 2

The Marketing Your Product for Profit Seminar will be held Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 to 8:30 pm starting Nov. 7 through Jan. 7. $50. "This is a timely opportunity to turn your idea for a farm- or home-based enterprise into a profitable business venture.," said series co-organizer Molly Ames, a farm business management educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County. The Internet training equips business owners with a low-cost way to build their brand and relationships whether they want to sell over the net or not. The training involves online, face-to-face and distance-learning delivery methods. CCE Office, Plattsburgh, video conference. FMI and to register; Peter Hagar, CCE of Clinton Co., 518.561.7450. Press Republican, 10.11.09 and Essex County CCE monthly newsletter, Sept. issue

Profits at Panera (PNRA), best-performing major restaurant stock of the decade, were up by 33% in the first half of this year, with annualized growth of 31.5%. The strategies can be used by craftspeople as well as food producers: unfussy presentation, unpretentious atmosphere creating community gathering space, fresh, customizable, convenient, won't break the bank. "Panera's target audience is more Food Network than fast food. '"We hit a chord with people who understand and respond to food, but we also open a door for people who are on the verge of that," says chief concept officer Scott Davis. "We run an idea through the Panera filter and give it that twist that takes a flavor profile closer to what you'd find in a bistro than a fast-food joint."..."To consumers, the brand is family-oriented but also sophisticated."' `Rising Dough How Panera is thriving by selling real food - and a gathering space - in suburbia by Kate Rockwood, Fast Company, October 2009, p. 79

The Food Show at North Country Community College featured a new company Sustain Brand which markets locally owned and locally grown food products under the brand "Sustain" made from ingredients found within a 100 mile radius. John Glazier and Shaun Glazier of Malone are the owners of the company. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 10.09.09

The Collectors Issue of Adirondack Life featured two pages of product titled Botany of Desire, some made locally and/or some sold locally. Products made locally were Beth Johnson's silver twig pin, www.bethjohnsonbeads.com (sold at Art on Park, Tupper Lake and Ruthie's Run, Lake Placid, www.ruthiesrun.com); Floral bookmark cards by Mary Vianese of Indian Lake (sold at Abanakee Studios, www.abanakeestudios.com); Porcelain water lily by Mary Lou Reid of Saranac Lake (sold at the Adirondack Artists Guild, www.adirondackartistsguild.com); Hemp linen table runner by Dawn Wilkins of Heliographics, Long Lake, www.heliographics.com (this company has a number of beautiful sophisticated product lines to accessorize the home) and clay plate by Meredith Johnston of Aerobie Fields Pottery, Westport (sold at Bessboro Shop, Westport and Adirondack Art Association, Essex). Collectors Issue, Adirondack Life, p. 82

Larry and Joann Post, of L. Post Rustics, AuSable Forks, received the People's Choice award as first time exhibitors at the 22nd annual Rustic Furniture Fair held on Sept. 4-6 at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. More than 3,500 visitors attended. Weekender, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, p. 8, Oct. 2-8, 2009

The Association of Woodworking and Furnishing Supplies (AWFS) annual Vegas fair held July 15-18 had a decrease in attendance of about 50% (average 16,000 to between 8,500 to 8,000) and decrease in number of vendors by about a third (580 vendors). The New York Gift Show held Aug. 15 - 20 had a 5.6% increase in number of buyers attending (31,000 thousand people attending from 50 states and 85 countries) as a result of an increase in retailers needing fourth quarter inventory. The Saratoga Souvenir Show held for 4 days mid October had many satisfied exhibitors. Woodshops News, September 2009, p. 6; Crafts Report online September issue, p. 22 and word of mouth


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