25 New Designs

Twenty-five NEW designs await you at the January shows!

Two NEW categories and beautiful extensions of our existing lines will be offered. We continue designing and developing products for everyday gifts and gift-giving moments, helping the giver express herself for every occasion of life through the lens of faith in our loving Savior.

Everything is coming up roses! Just around the corner we see the church calendar being filled with weddings, receptions, bridesmaids, and happy couples celebrating their new life together. We think several of our new items which feature roses will be of particular interest for these occasions

Running in Circles

Are you running in circles? Going fast; but making only limited progress toward your goals?

Last weekend was the running of the annual "Turkey Trot" fund-raising 5K run. Maybe you had an event like this in your town too.

The lead group of about 15 runners missed the sign marking the race route because they were concentrating on each other, on their competitor's pace and position, and where they were ranked among the leaders.

As a group they "zigged" when they should have "zagged". After more than a mile detour loop, they met back up with the stragglers walking and limping toward the finish line. And as a group they wondered "what happened"?

How easy it is to be distracted! Distracted by the competition and heat of the race, only to lose your way with unhappy results. The detour in this year's "Turkey Trot" reminds us to daily ask these questions:

What Signs to Watch?
Who do we Serve?
Why do we Serve?

Stay alert to the Signs your business generates to avoid costly detours. What product lines are performing NOW? What lines can deliver NOW to meet your customer's needs? Today, what have you and your associates learned new about your customers that you can act on NOW?

Stay focused on Who We Serve. The signs your business generates gives you important indicators of PAST performance; and while useful for steering your business in the future, there's no better method of avoiding detours than by listening hard to your customers.

Serve them. Listen to them. Delight them with surprises. Look to the future WITH them. Special order for them. Ask them what they'd like to see.

Stay focused on Why We Serve. Do you remember why you got into this business in the first place? To express yourself? To create a safe place to enjoy with friends and new-found friends? To minister to your community with meaningful products for meaningful times in their lives? You make a difference in your community! Be encouraged by remembering your purpose and work hard to make more of your day "purposeful".

The "Turkey Trot" lesson rang clear for me this weekend: While watching the competition is important....don't let it be consuming. Don't let it detour you! Watch the signs, listen to your customers, and remember why you're in this business..... Act with purpose!

We selected this last snowflake pictured above, our best selling Fall/Winter item - "By Design", as a reinforcement to this month's "Inspire" message. The scripture reference associated with this item is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope".

Amen.

Back to "Normal"

Whether your store was in the swath of the recent hurricanes or not, your business has likely been affected in many unforseen ways.

Influx of new residents;
Outflux of local resources to relief efforts;
And little flex in your ability to meet your sales projections, or increase sales volume, with these events pushing "normal" activities off the agenda for most of your customers.

Our hope is that you've had ab-"normal" opportunities to engage these fluxes with active ministry of hands helping hands, and hearts touching hearts: with neighborly outpourings of support and with an extra dose of Christian hospitality and witness, where able.

With the change in season; temperatures dropping; leaves turning color; and school activities kicking into high gear we encourage you to proactively seek opportunities to continue your support. For many of us, the best way to do this is by getting back to "normal"...by meeting needs in the market-place...by helping those you serve achieve their hopes and dreams with the goods and services you provide.

Now....let's help one another move on toward "normal"-cy.....