Wow! What a ride it has been and continues to be. 2020 was a year like no other. Everything we thought we knew, everything we trusted, and everything we came to rely on changed. Between the quarantine, lifestyle adjustments, cognitive dissonance, and the never-ending roller coaster ride, I skidded into the end of 2020 a bit roughed up and mentally exhausted. I bet most of you can relate.

So, if you think 2020 was a doozy, just wait till 2021 gets underway! Ready or not, life has a way of changing course in a heartbeat when destiny calls us to move in a new direction. Current world circumstances beg us to take the time to examine not only our businesses, but our personal relationships and most importantly ourselves.

So, what does ‘living the best version of yourself’ look like? This past year kept me exceptionally busy with little time for myself. As I look at how to approach 2021, I feel the need to turn my dream machine back on and imagine a fun-filled future no matter what is going on in the world. So, I think it’s Bucket List time! Bucket lists help us articulate what we want to focus on and explore in our lives and make them a reality.

Tal Gur, blogger, entrepreneur, and devoted adventurer said it so well when he wrote: Inspiring People Chasing their Bucket List Dreams Around the Globe. (www.fullylived.com/bucket-list-dreams) Check it out - it’s a great article!

“More and more people are being inspired by the idea of chasing their bucket list dreams. No longer willing to settle for the lives they feel they should be living, they are deciding what they want to do, and then, doing it. Inevitably, this involves going outside of their comfort zones, taking risks, getting rid of unnecessary stuff, and more consciously planning their lives.”

So, plan for good times ahead and keep the positive energy flowing. Live your best life. Inspire others. Nothing can stop what is coming.

2021–The best is yet to come!
Eliana Barriga
eliana@retailobserver.com

Happy 2021 to all of our readers and partners. 2020 was a different kind of year to be sure.

I’ve been watching the current trends and this industry is
rocking, as long as the product is available that is. Appliances, electronics, plumbing and furniture sales are up in all categories as consumers find their current products don’t meet their current needs. Looking at the state of things with the Covid situation, new categories have opened for sales although the products themselves have been around for a while.

In the appliance sector, companies like Liehberr, Summit, Frigidaire and Danby all have medical low temp freezers available that can be sold to the health care industry for vaccine storage. Laundry is also a category for hygiene that many businesses outside of your current customers are needing in order to handle PPE products (masks and cleaning materials. )

Plumbing Hygiene is another category that is taking off. Touchless faucets featuring electromagnetic sensors with a hands-free design and commercial foot pedal controls are starting to be specified more and more. Bidets are also a great option as an add-on sale to address current toilet paper issues.
Wellness, home security and outdoor dining are also great areas to invest in new products for resale. UV sanitizers, video surveillance and controls, gun safes and outdoor accessories like bar carts have all started to show up in retail offerings.

No matter in which category you sell or specify, there are many new revenue opportunities out there. You just have to find the correct clients with those needs and assist them in getting the products that can fulfill those niches. As we go into 2021, we will help facilitate you with news of these new products as they come available.

Happy Retailing, and be safe-
Moe Lastfogel
​moe@retailobserver.com