ETD: 701 Thank you; Is there an excess inventory site?; States
Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax; Help for the Web;
Scrapbooking is fastest growing segment in stationery market
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post@gapent.com
Tue, 08 Jul 2003 06:39:42 -0400
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0701 July 8, 2003
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem@gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
==================================================================
CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Thank you
[3] Is there an excess inventory site?
[4] States Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax
[5] Help for the Web
[6] Scrapbooking is fastest growing segment in stationery market
==================================================================
[1] Greetings.
==================================================================
Hi All:
Many thanks to all for your well wishes on issue #`0700. While I can't
post all messages received, I am posting a sampling of some of them. I
couldn't do the E-Tailer's Digest without your help and support.
Hope our US members enjoyed the long weekend. How is business during this
holiday? It seems to me to be one of outdoor fun, which leaves out our
giftware members.
Today one of our member's needs help finding a place to discard excess
inventory. Anybody have any ideas? She isn't interested in the auction
process. Perhaps those who know that process can make a deal here.
More on the streamlined sales tax. It may be that states with 20% of the
population have approved the process. It will be interesting to see how
far this will go. Perhaps the states should figure a way to tax the
spammers, and really get rich eh?
Speaking of spammers, there is a very interesting joint project in the
works that looks promising. 60 universities have formed a consortium that
hopes to "make the Internet faster, smarter, stronger and
spam-free." Already they stopped 2 million pieces of spam in a test and
it worked with denial of service attacks, a/k/a mail bombs. Keep watching,
it should be very interesting. Don't forget, the Internet was originally
developed by universities.
Finally, Pam Danziger reports on the fastest growing segment of the
stationery market - scrapbooking. Which surprises me, especially with
digital cameras, where we neglect the scrap books and picture albums. I
always enjoyed creating an album or scrapbook when traveling which included
pictures and mementos of the trip. Care to share your thoughts?
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
Dr. George Matyjewicz
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem@gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
==================================================================
[2] Thank you
==================================================================
Many congratulations on reaching 700
I always look forward to receiving and reading my copy of E-Tailers Digest.
It is one of the few emails that is opened and read when received. My wife
also gets a kick out of it and I am frequently asked when we get home "Did
you read George today?" followed by further discussion on some topic.
I cannot remember how long I have been receiving ETD but I can remember the
100th edition, so obviously well before that.
My congratulations again on an excellent production and thank you for the
time and effort you put into it.
Richard Woolnough
Bespoke Solutions Ltd
Bermuda
www.BespokeSolutionsLtd.com
+1(441)295 0951
We can tailor your business
+++ [Next Post] +++
Congratulations on #700! I celebrated with you as I read those wonderful
highlights. Yes, it has been a great trip, so far...and who knows where
else it will take us. Thank you for providing the transportation for us
all to travel with you on the ETD Unlimited.
Here's to the next 700.
Thank you again,
Your favorite party girl, Patty Sachs
+++ [Next Post] +++
You do a great job with E-Tailers Digest. I'm happy to lend my expertise
whenever you need it. I find it amazing that you can publish twice a week
with your busy schedule. I wish you continued success with your business
enterprises.
Best Regards,
--Dean Martin
pointofsale.com
---------------------------
888-430-1685
Fax: 509-735-6299
http://www.pointofsale.com
dean@pointofsale.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Automate Your Retail Business With Point Of Sale Software And Hardware
----------------------------------------------------------------------
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
Thanks to everybody for reading "George." I love that comment by Mrs.
Woolnough. It brought a smile to my face.
I couldn't put this together these five and 1/2 years without the help and
support from all of you. Thanks again.
George
==================================================================
[3] Is there an excess inventory site?
==================================================================
I am a retailer and seem to have an ongoing problem! I have a gift shop,
and there is always excess inventory that needs to be moved even after I
have a sale. I am not an "auction" person, but there is bound to be a site
somewhere that I would be able to post what I have to sell. I do this at
below wholesale pricing, so it is a "win-win" situation for me and any
buyer. I hope someone has a suggestion.
Thank You
Kaye Snyder
Emaline Brook & Gift Basket
http://www.emalinebrook.com
==================================================================
[4] States Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax
==================================================================
The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) takes effect when at
least 10 states, accounting for at least 20% of the population of states
that impose a sales tax, have enacted the provisions of the agreement. With
the enactment of SSUTA provisions in Ohio, the states appear to have
crossed both thresholds. This means that SSUTA will become law, at least in
the fifteen states that have adopted its provisions. Ohio, with over 4% of
the U.S. population is the first big state to adopt SSUTA. The Texas
legislature has passed the legislation, but it has not been signed by the
governor. The effective date of the new Ohio law is July 1, 2003 (although
some of its provisions do not take effect for a few years).
However, there is some doubt as to whether legislation in Minnesota and
Washington conform sufficiently to the SSUTA to count these states. If the
two states are not counted, states with apparently conforming legislation
have only about 16.8% of the population of sales tax states.
Other states have made their new laws effective in 2004. Regardless of the
effective dates, the new tax regime will be real, and multistate sellers
must begin taking steps to comply with it.
To read the complete story go to http://ecommercetax.com/doc/070103.htm
==================================================================
[5] Help for the Web
==================================================================
Sometimes, the Web is a victim of its own popularity. When the Federal
Trade Commission launched its "Do Not Call" registry to stymie
telemarketers last month, so many Internet users tried to sign up online,
the site lurched to a crawl.
But Princeton University researchers say they are close to a cure for such
virtual logjams.
Their project is called CoDeeN and it is one of several experiments in
PlanetLab, a Princeton-based consortium that hopes to make the Internet
faster, smarter, stronger and spam-free.
Rutgers, Stanford, Harvard and Cambridge are among more than 60
universities taking part in PlanetLab, along with industry leaders Intel,
Hewlett-Packard and Google. They are cobbling together a computer network
to sit atop the Internet, for testing software and protocols without
disrupting the global network.
Such tinkering has posed a tough challenge ever since the Internet morphed
from a scientific tool into an engine of commerce, PlanetLab members say.
By spreading content around, the project eventually may blunt "denial of
service" attacks by hackers who cripple sites with electronic bombardments.
The software also can analyze the Web requests funneling through PlanetLab
servers. In recent tests, the software has detected and thwarted
"dictionary" attacks in which hackers tried to guess passwords using
automated programs.
The project also can be configured into "honeypots" -- decoy systems that
snag spam e-mail by posing as nonsecure relay networks, which spammers
hijack to hide their tracks.
The project recently prevented delivery of 2 million pieces of junk e-mail
in a single day. Eventually, such hauls could assist e-mail filters in
recognizing spam.
"When the Internet was first developed, it was an overlay on top of the
telephone system. A few computers traded information over the phone
system," says Intel's Teixeira.
Now, he says, the Internet "is so successful you can't change it. By using
overlays again, we can add capacities and features in bits and pieces --
and still use the Internet."
Intel has donated about 100 computers to PlanetLab, which is funded mostly
by members. Peterson says the consortium seeks increased support from the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Science Foundation.
Details at...
http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business-4/105746004743050.xml?starledger?b
==================================================================
[6] Scrapbooking is fastest growing segment in stationery market
==================================================================
Connecting, the next major trend on the consumer horizon, finds a vital
means of expression in the $14 billion stationery and greeting card market,
according to a new research study from Unity Marketing entitled Stationery
& Greeting Card Report, 2003: The Market, The Competitors, The Future Trends.
The connecting trend relates to consumers' need to reach out and
communicate meaningfully with others, using everything from electronic
networked communications to paper greeting cards to the ultimate expression
of luxury communication today, the handwritten note on hand-laid paper.
Consumer trends reflect the emotions of the times, and our time is all
about reconnecting to the outside world after spending the past decade
wrapped up in our personal 'cocoons.'
The consumer psychology of the 90's gave rise to conspicuous consumption
and a passion for collecting more and more stuff to fill up our 'nests.' In
the new millennium, however, consumers are focusing on enhancing their
relationships with others. So the collecting frenzy of the 90's morphs into
a passion for creatively collecting and sharing one's memories through
scrapbooking.
Consumer purchases of greeting cards and stationery rise, while spending
remains flat
Based upon a new 2003 survey among a random sample of 1,000 U.S.
households, 83% of adults purchased a greeting card or other stationery
item in the past year, a dramatic increase over the 72% of adults found in
Unity's 2001 survey.
Yet the increase in purchase incidence does not translate into industry
growth, as industry sales dropped slightly in 2002 to $14 billion from
$14.2 billion in 2001. This industry has been negatively impacted by
rampant discounting and deflationary pressures as mass merchants and
discounters now capture 24% share of the market with discount and
off-priced cards and stationery items.
Scrapbooking is booming — nearly 30% growth over previous year
Scrapbooking is an important new consumer passion that just emerging on the
horizon. With a sales jump of 29% in 2002, scrapbooking is the fastest
growing segment in the stationery market with $1.2 billion in consumer sales.
Despite vibrant growth, the scrapbooking market has only begun to hint at
its full potential. Today only 20% of adult consumers have purchased
scrapbooking supplies in the past year, trailing behind the 67% of consumer
who bought greeting cards; 61% who bought gift bags and wraps; 44% who
bought calendars; and 37% who bought boxed greetings, notes and invitations.
While purchase incidence remains narrow, stationery consumers spend the
most annually on their scrapbooking hobby, an average of $54, as compared
with $38 on greeting cards and $34 on boxed greetings. Scrapbooking is also
the stationery category where the highest percentage of consumers, 44%,
report they spent more in the past year, as compared with 24% of greeting
card consumers.
Scrapbooking is a hobby that uniquely fits our stressful post 9-11 era. It
creatively connects families with their past, present and future. Its
appeal crosses generations, genders and age ranges. Key to the future
success of the scrapbooking market will be its ability to make the quantum
leap from the niche-focused craft market into the mass-market realm. The
Michael's craft chain just opened the first of a chain of stores devoted to
scrapbooking, called Recollections. This launch may broaden exposure beyond
the traditional crafting market and bring scrapbooking into the main stream
where it will really blossom.
Luxury segment of the greeting card and stationery market to become more focal
Today with all the major greeting card brands, like Hallmark and American
Greetings, firmly entrenched in discount channels selling greeting cards in
the 99¢ or under price range, the industry has sunk to the bottom of the
pricing spectrum and little future growth will be achieved at these depths.
But the luxury realm of specialty paper, including hand-made paper cards,
specialty stationery, books and journals along with luxury writing
implements, offers marketers a significant growth opportunities. "As our
world becomes increasingly digital with technology dominating our
communications at work and home, consumers crave to be grounded in the real
world of sight, sound, emotion and sensation. The return to hand written
notes on exquisite stationery carries the ambience of a earlier time.
Writing and receiving a beautiful hand written note is the ultimate
expression of luxury communication.
The New York specialty store, Kate's Paperie, which offers a selection of
over 4,000 luxury paper products, is listed in all the tourist guidebooks
as a 'must see' shopping destination in the Big Apple. Kate's Paperie
perfectly reflects the trend toward luxury stationery and personal
connecting in the market today.
A key value of this report for retailers and marketers in the stationery
market is identifying emerging trends based upon surveys among consumers
and stationery companies.
Our survey of some 50 stationery companies identified a huge missed
opportunity in the marketplace. Consumers say scrapbooking is the hottest
category in stationery market today, yet under 10% of the stationery
companies surveyed offer products to this growing market. Stationery
companies need to venture beyond their comfort zone of greeting cards and
traditional stationery products to capture some of the dynamic growth and
market potential available in the scrapbooking trend. For more information,
visit www.unitymarketingonline.com.
Pam Danziger
President
Unity Marketing
www.unitymarketingonline.com
==================================================================
Links to follow
==================================================================
GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.gapent.com/
Sarbanes-Oxley 2002 http://www.sarbanes-oxley2002.com
E-Tailer's Digest http://www.etailersdigest.com
ETD Archives: http://topica.com/lists/etailer/read
Prior to 29 Dec
1999 http://etailersdigest.com/archives/index.htm
Marketing Your Web http://www.gapent.com/myweb/
Automated Press Releases http://www.automatedpr.com