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

Let’s face it, most of you are involved in the appliance industry in some way as a retailer, distributor, designer, contractor or manufacturer, plus other loyal readers not mentioned. What is the common factor that these groups all share? FOOD!!! You’re selling, specifying, servicing or installing cooking and/or cleaning products and this is why your customers call you.

What is your level of culinary education? Can you boil water? Do you know how a microwave works beyond the 30 second or popcorn buttons? When is it the right time to change the temperature in the oven when you are using convection, and is time a factor? What temperature should red vs. white vs. sparkling wines be held at? How does scraping or non- scraping plates effect their cleanliness from the dishwasher? At what temperature does ketchup come out of wool in the laundry? If you don’t know these basic answers, I suggest getting some help from your peers.

Let’s face it, you wouldn’t purchase a stock portfolio from a lemonade stand or lemonade from a stock broker, right? So, who wants to buy appliances from someone who just reads a spec sheet and has no concept of why or how these products work? People relate to food, because without it, well, you know...

Anyway, your culinary knowledge beyond take-out menus is a must. Ask your manufacturers and distributors if they have programs available that can build your knowledge, DVR some cooking shows or take some classes at your local community center. “Why,” you ask? Because if your customer asks why they should purchase the $6,000 wine cabinet rather than the $200 cabinet, you’ll want to be able to respond with something more informed than, “Because it looks so much more impressive.”

Happy Retailing,
Moe 
moe@retailobserver.com

By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

Libby Wagner’s article in this issue, A Culture of Gratitude All Year Long, is a great reminder of the power of thankfulness.

In my own life, I’ve found that when I wake up and purposely think of something to be grateful for, my mood is usually much better, so my interactions with other people are more uplifting and how I deal with problems throughout the day seem to be more positive than on the days when I wake up and just get started.

This tiny shift in thinking is not a lot of hoopla either. Just Google ‘the science of gratitude’ and you will find tons of reports and studies by reputable names who have proven that people who practice gratitude enjoy a host of benefits like stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure.

Most of our readers live safe, comfortable, satisfying lives filled with love and joy. However, many don’t take time to stop and acknowledge this fact. So, they’re not getting the full benefits from living such full, rich lives. To live in a world where all of our needs are taken care of is actually not a common thing. Every year, a report called the World Poverty Statistics is made public. Here are some numbers from this year’s report:
• Percentage of world population living on less than $2.50 a day: 50%
• Percentage of people living on less than $10 a day: 80%

So think again the next time you wake up and find yourself filled with a woe-is-me attitude. What we call “problems” are really small in comparison to what the majority of people in the world are facing everyday. Have a few minutes to spare? Here’s an interactive online quiz that will tell you exactly how rich you really are. Go to www.globalrichlist.com.

In gratitude, 
Eliana
letters@retailobserver.com