As you are reading this many of you are getting ready for this month’s buy fairs. Las Vegas Market, Nationwide, Mega and BrandSource events are all being held this month. This is an important time of the year with some great opportunities in front of you. Why not take advantage of them?

August starts with the Las Vegas Market, actually running from July 31 to August 4. With over 5 million square feet of showroom space and counting, the Las Vegas Market offers infinite shopping opportunities in one cohesive campus. Find an incredible array of new resources from thousands of leading manufacturers in both indoor and outdoor furniture, home décor, gift, tabletop, decorative accessories, lighting, home textiles, mattress/bedding, antiques/
vintage and more.

Nationwide will be at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN on August 14-17 for 3 days filled with intensive workshops, must- see seminars, customized vendor meetings, social networking events and the most competitive deals in the industry. Take advantage of face-to-face interaction with the Nationwide executive team; access to the industry’s leading suppliers of electronics, appliances and furniture; opportunities to expand your web presence and social media efforts... and much more!

The MEGA Show in Nashville at the Omni Hotel & Music City Center on August 21-24 will include 4 days of interactive sessions, networking, and special offers. This year’s unique agenda will offer product displays, breakout meetings, coaching sessions, buying show, and local hospitality for all attendees including Appliances, Electronics, Furniture, Outdoor & Seasonal, and Mattress.

The 2016 BrandSource Convention kicks off in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace on August 28. This event gives attendees a forum to educate themselves on a wide variety of topics, network with like-minded professionals, and participate in a “can’t be missed” buying fair. With over 2 days of educational sessions, 200 participating exhibitors, and 100,000 + square feet of expo space there is something for everyone!

This month will keep us all busy and we hope to see you at any one of these great buy fairs. If you see us, stop and say hi.

Happy Retailing,
Moe Lastfogel
moe@retailobserver.com

You may have heard this said before, “Those who say they don’t have time for relaxation are the ones who need it the most.”

I whole-heartedly agree! Summer is the perfect time of the year to relax before the busy-ness of fall is upon us. I think an alarm should go off in our heads when we start feeling like it is too much of a hassle to plan our next vacation, take a day off or carve out a few hours during the week to just chill.

And when you take time off, really relax and use your downtime wisely. That means, stop thinking or worrying about the business, checking emails or doing “just a few” hours of work before allowing yourself to enjoy the day. Instead, unplug, breath and just chill.

Study after study has shown that workaholics are slowly killing themselves. Keeping our bodies in a constant state of stress (even if you are used to it) wreaks havoc on the nervous system and our overall health. Not to mention the mental fatigue it causes that lowers our productivity and affects areas of our personal life like hindering the ability to maintain and nurture relationships.

If that’s not enough to get you to schedule time off to just chill this summer, Google The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware. Out of all of the personal stories from hospice patients told in this book, not one person on their death bed said, “I wish I had worked more.”

To many of us, taking time off is a choice, but to me it’s a requirement. Giving my mind and body time to rest is the only way I will be able to continue to do the work I love and enjoy a healthy, happy, fruitful life.

Until next time,
Eliana Barriga
eliana@retailobserver.com