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

I know it’s only September and maybe a little premature, but I am truly looking forward to 2015. The year starts off with some amazing industry events. In January we have CES (January 6-9) in Las Vegas with more than 150,000 attendees viewing the latest and greatest in Consumer Electronics and Smart Technologies.

LivingKitchen®, the international kitchen show at imm Cologne, Germany (January 19-25) has established itself as the central meeting point of the kitchen world. The trade fair duo will invite the driving forces of the kitchen and furniture industry. Including 185 well-known national and international suppliers from 22 countries, who will present their latest ideas and innovations from kitchen, furniture and built-in appliances to sinks, kitchen taps and fittings, worktops, lighting and accessories.

Also in January, in its second year is Design and Construction week at the Las Vegas Convention Center (January 20-22) which could rival CES and Living Kitchen® in numbers. Not only is it a combination of KBIS and IBS, but this year will feature 3 overlapping shows. The International Window Coverings Expo (with KBIS), Surfaces at Mandalay Bay (January 21-23), and Winter Las Vegas Market at World Market Center Las Vegas (January 18-22).

Okay, that was just January! For more events and to help plan your entire year, visit our website www.retailobserver.com and go to the Events page. This is our new hub for Industry Shows, Events and Buy Fairs. If you know of an event that is not listed, please send it to us at [email protected] so it can be considered for the calendar.

Happy Retailing, 
Moe
[email protected]

By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

It shouldn’t surprise you that this famous quote comes from John Maxwell, one of the most respected experts in the field of leadership. If anyone copes with change day in and day out, it’s the business owner. But the irony is that we are the very same people that fight change the most.

Look around your business, have you added any new product lines or services lately? What about new partnerships with vendors or collaborations with other local businesses? Have you attended any new trade shows, participated in a new training program or sponsored a local event?

Most of us think that we are playing it safe in business by sticking with what has been and what has worked. Staying in our comfort zone is what seemingly keeps us protected and is what keeps us in business. But actually, when we work against change, we work against growth. We close the door to new conversations and possible opportunities. It’s like swimming up stream with the same determination as the current against us. You feel like you’re working hard and getting things done but in reality you are only staying in place or worse drifting backwards.

In the spirit of the changing seasons, I challenge you to pick one area of your business this month where you will consciously stop swimming up stream, turn around and allow the current to take you in a new direction. Call that vendor who has been trying to reach you and find out about her services. Sign up for that trade show that you’ve always wanted to go to but never got around to attending. Sit down and talk with that employee who seems to be full of energy and new ideas.

Get excited about embracing change in your business and I promise you that growth will soon follow.

Until next time,
Eliana
[email protected]