ETD: 754 Gift certificates; Need help-new business; Stationery survey - Gifts & Dec Magazine

[E-Tailer's Digest]

  E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the  Retailer
  Issue #0754                     January 22, 2004
  George Matyjewicz, Moderator         mailto:georgem at gapent.com
  Published by:  GAP Enterprises, Ltd.  http://www.etailersdigest.com
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   CONTENTS

  [1]  Greetings
  [2]  Gift certificates
  [3]  Need help-new business
  [4]  Stationery survey - Gifts & Dec Magazine

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  [1]  Greetings.
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Hi All:

Over the weekend we switch our sites to a new server, and we may have had a 
slight glitch.  I understand a test message went out without moderator 
approval.  It should be working now.  Thanks to those who alerted me to the 
glitch.  Let me know if you experience anything unusual.

I was doing some research on retail sales in 2003.  Interesting to note how 
gift cards have contributed to retail sales and profits.  Do you use 
them?  Are they common outside the U.S., especially in countries where 
credit cards are not as popular as debit cards?

We have another list member who needs help, and this needs the expertise of 
all of us.  They are a small manufacturer in Malaysia and want to expand 
retail sales.  It can be a great case study, as they need help with 
import/export, marketing, focus groups, sales, alternate channels, 
technology, distribution, etc.  So, let's hear from you.

Gifts & Dec Magazine has a survey going which you should complete if you 
are in the stationery business.

Let's hear about your business,  which will remain  for posterity at 
our  "Members: Who Are You?" site. 
http://etailersdigest.com/resources/members/index.htm And we have a form 
there for you to tell us about you.  As I said when I first proposed this 
idea, we have "known" each other for a long time, yet we often don't know 
anything about each other.   So, tell us who you are and what you do.

Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.

Sincerely


George Matyjewicz, PhD
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem at gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
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  [2]  Gift certificates
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Did you know that some gift certificates have an expiration date?  Millions 
of people forget to use them.  By one estimate, 12% of all gift 
certificates go unredeemed - leaving unclaimed $5 billion in 
purchases.  Yes, the  gift certificate market is a $42 billion industry!

Following generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), sales of gift 
certificates are not included in a retailer's sales figures for the 
timeframe when they were sold. Gift certificates only become part of the 
retail sales figures when they are redeemed.

So this means there is $5 billion of your hard-earned money that goes to 
the bottom line in retailing, reported as other income.

On a bright note, gift certificates and gift cards are driving retail 
sales, especially during the holidays.  Many retailers are offering cards, 
and they are ideal for those of us with families all over the world, or at 
least the US.  Cards can be ordered online, and one site even offers cards 
that can be used at different retailers.  You send somebody a gift card to 
somebody and they can redeem it online and get a gift card from their 
retailer in the mail.

Another site allows you to find stores offering gift cards, which works if 
you know somebody shops at a particular retailer.    At the site 
(http://www.findgiftcards.com/) you select a retailer and go their to buy a 
gift card, which again is sent via mail.

Obviously the reusable card technology has helped drive this new trend.

Are gift cards as widespread outside the U.S.?  I know in many countries 
debit cards are far more popular than credit cards.  So I was curious if 
this trend works there.

What do you think?

George

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  [3]  Need help-new business
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My name is Theresa Petrose and I have been receiving E-Tailer's Digest for 
more than a year now.  My husband and I (we are in our 50s age group) are a 
small time manufacturer cum supplier for personal care products.  We would 
like to expand our retail sales.  How can your network help people like us.

Theresa Petrose
Audra Herbals (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Tel : 603-20944500
Mob : 012-6730961

+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
E-Tailer's Digest is the best resource in the world for retail 
knowledge.  We have many leading gurus in our community who can offer 
advice on virtually any topic related to business in general, and retail in 
particular.  Often queries are presented and discussed in this forum, then 
taken offline for folks to make their own arrangements for success.  I ask 
that all response first be posted to the list, so that 3,000 members can 
learn.

So, folks, who can offer some assistance to Theresa?

George

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  [4]  Stationery survey - Gifts & Dec Magazine
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Gifts & Decorative Accessories will publish its annual Stationery and 
Related Products Survey in the April 2004 issue. But before we can do that, 
we need your input. You probably have received a faxed copy of the survey, 
and it's sitting in that pile on your desk. Not to worry. You can ignore 
that fax by clicking on the button below to respond to our survey questions 
online. (There are only half a dozen questions.) Survey results will appear 
in the April issue in time to guide retailers shopping at the National 
Stationery Show in May, and other spring shows. Your answers will be 
combined with others to provide a composite industry report. No individual 
company information will be published. So, please, click here now!

Take our STATIONERY SURVEY

http://furnituretodayonline.com/data/gdastatsvy04.htm

Quinn Halford, Editor In Chief
Matthew Kalash, Editor
Gifts & Dec Magazine
www.giftanddec.com

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