TO BE GRATEFUL OR THANKFUL, THAT IS THE QUESTION...

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

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Moe Lastfogel

​The holidays are upon us and I cannot decide if I’m more grateful or thankful for this past year.

By definition:
Grateful (adjective) - warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.
Thankful (adjective) - feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

Ok, they are different words with very similar meanings, so I guess that I am feeling both (even in this Covid era). Let me tell you why I feel this way. The last 13 years in business and personal life have been a whirlwind of ups and downs. Dealing with loss as multiple family members moved on to the great beyond (four loved ones in three years), I experienced the warm support of friends and family during these times. Having children grow up and move out on their own (3) and now having five grandchildren with one more due this month. Thanks to social media, Facebook and LinkedIn has helped bring many old friends and family back into my life.

The Retail Observer has officially gone from “News Rag” to one of the most respected magazines in the industries we cover. It has achieved growth in our readership with over 26,000 subscribers and reaches over 38 countries. The website is now receiving over 30,000 hits a month on average. The magazine has also become the official sponsor or media partner of over 30 shows and events. Affiliations with trade associations, buying groups and our readership are in constant growth and are getting stronger every day. Consumer electronics, furnishings, plumbing and even cabinet manufacturers are calling to get involved with us to offer our readers new products to help grow their companies. The openness of the many manufacturers we deal with to invite us to take behind-the-scenes looks at what they are doing for the future has been amazing. We have grown to have many of our own writers and various Buying Groups and Associations that submit exclusive articles to us, making us one of the best resources in the industry to help our readers thrive in this economy — not just for today, but for tomorrow. I see the future offering even more to be thankful and grateful for. The sky’s the limit. Let us know what you are thankful for. Send an email to [email protected]. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Happy Retailing,
Moe Lastfogel
​[email protected]

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