​By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

Spring is a beautiful season, and one of my favorite times of the year. People begin to break away from their winter hibernation and emerge to a fresh, warm start. It is time to plant our gardens, deep-clean the barbeque, spruce up the outdoor social spaces, and plan our summer vacations. It can all seem overwhelming and it is important to  nd the motivation to get all the tasks done. Where do you find inspiration?

Design and current lifestyles are taking a turn toward minimalism—clean lines, clear uncluttered spaces, clearing distractions and junk —but where do you start? It’s easy to spend hours reading about it, or drooling over other peoples spaces on Pinterest, but how do you put it into action in your own house or business? Set small goals. Take small steps, tackle each thing one at a time, and do it start to finish so you can see your progress, and celebrate what you have done. Make your list —is it as simple as the junk drawer? Every closet in the house? How does your desktop look, or the countertops between your customer service associates and your clients? Give yourself something to do every single day to build the habits of a decluttered life.

A quote by William Morris states, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Ask yourself these questions when you are editing the items in your home or shop: Is it beautiful? Is it useful? If not, it is time to recycle it! Keep in mind your clients may be asking themselves these same questions when deciding on purchasing products from your store, so make sure your products have these qualities! Small appliances that multi-task — such as an Instant Pot — will allow your client to make room on their counter and in their cabinets by taking the place of their crock pot, steamer, rice cooker, and pressure cooker.

This spring, don’t just clean, clear! Clear your workspace, your home, your business, and your mind. You will create priceless space and time for what really matters.

It has been said that “If we take the time to de-clutter our life and maintain it, we will be able to live a more meaningful life.” I couldn’t agree more.

Here’s to streamlining life!
Eliana Barriga
[email protected]

​By Moe Lastfogel
Director of Sales and Marketing for The Retail Observer

CES, Design and Construction Week, ASTI and World Market have ended. People on the internet, at the shows, and post show press releases have said the same thing: the economy is looking stronger than ever, and the shows surpassed all of my expectations. Numbers don’t lie, (most of the time) and I’m excited to say that the shows were packed. As usual, my schedule didn’t allow me to see everything, but what I did see was over the top—new vendors and products and many new faces, not to mention the familiar ones.

The shows were like a homecoming for me. At every turn, in the exhibit booths and aisles, I ran into someone that I knew. Not only our vendor partners, but individuals from within the entire community that we work with; industry reps, designers, distributors, servicers, and dealers were all present! It was amazing to see so many people making the effort to be there and so many of our vendors stronger than ever before and ready to do business. It was truly a shot in the arm for our industry.

So what’s up next? As I look at my March schedule, I see many opportunities to see new products and pick up valuable information to share in our pages. The BrandSource Buy Fair along with the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo (HPBE) in Nashville, the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, and Arch Digest in New York, to name a few.

Are you going to any of these events? What are you missing if you don’t? A lot if the previews I have seen are correct. I expect attendance numbers and new retail opportunities will be above and beyond what we’ve seen in the past years. Go to the Events page on The Retail Observer website for links to all of the industry events happening this year. Then pick a show, plan your itinerary, pack your bags, and please say hello if you see us at the shows. I’m excited and hope to see you there!

Happy Retailing,
Moe Lastfogel
[email protected]