october 06 blueprint . . .

august 06 blueprint  . . . Blockbuster movies, licensing home-runs, runaway products, distribution windfalls . . . ah, the good old days, when to the long-planning victor went the spoils. Nowadays, "pass/fail" metrics mark you as old school . . . And quick-niching beats out naval- gazing!

july 06 blueprint . . . A TI scientific calculator or a Tandy TRS80 portable computer with a floppy drive and a glowing green screen . . . these were the "high-tech" options vying for your dollars back in the 80's . . . and neither of them competed with an "it" bag, a new sofa or the latest wonder cream! These days, every product in the market is either competing with or against the hottest technology . . . The ever- charming and affable Howard Stringer provided a non- answer Mr. Eisner's quote of note ("That's very clever").
What's your answer?
 
june 06 blueprint . . . Ever wondered how anyone could spend so much time slavishly pursuing a particular interest? Why do people have to get so hard core about gaming, technology, cars, sports . . .? You just might owe them a favor! Welcome to a marketing trend that enables consumers to flirt with the edge without living on it . . . we're calling it "soft- coring." Dabblers encouraged!

may 06 blueprint . . . They hold the promise of raising the bar, filling in knowledge gaps, increasing financial and customer confidence . . . boldly going where no sales, product, or corporate team has gone before! . . . That is, if they aren't undermined, sabotaged, and micromanaged . . . or given 15 minutes to make their mark. Welcome to the perilous world of the "outsiders," where talent is scarce and failure costly!

april 06 blueprint . . . launching on all cyclinders - Not content to test the waters and chafing at the bit to react to trends, retailers, manufacturers and entertainment companies are launching now and asking questions later. ”Wait and see” won’t win the day in these fast and furious times!

march 06 blueprint . . . where everybody knows your name - Remember when shoppers were either sporty or sophisticated? Better or budget? Well, those generalizing, dart-throwing days are over . . . Detailed, data-driven consumer profiles are the latest arrows in retailers' quivers . . . ones that are dictating everything from branding, to store environment, to customer perks. . . it doesn't matter what you're selling - you should make it your business to learn the revolving cast of consumer characters!

february 06 blueprint . . . picking teams that are right for the times - Remember when buyers, division heads and top execs stayed in one position for years? Open any business magazine, newspaper, or trade publication . . . a torrent of executive restructurings, shake-ups, poachings, and appointments has hit retail. The challenge for vendors and licensors? Choosing and retaining team members who are right for the changing times!  

january 06 blueprint . . . bentonville beckons - newmarketbuilders announces coporate relocation

december 05 blueprint . . . our special year end review . . . ghosts of retail future!

november 05 blueprint . . . why small groups mean big business for you!

october 05 blueprint . . multiple brands, executives, and divisions . . . do they make the best of a winning formula or just add confusion?

september 05 blueprint . . . try, ply, or lie before you buy ...consumers connect with products!

august 05 blueprint ...  VERY private label: middlemen are so 2004!  Remember the days when vendors did the only brand-building . . . and direct sourcing was just too much bother? Well, soon you might find yourself longing for the low-margin-but-still-sellin’ days when retailers slapped their name on your stuff (at least you made it)! Retailers are asserting their independence where suppliers once held sway. . .

july 05 blueprint ... punitive practices ~ Mutually-beneficial tradition or egregious retailer power trip? This month we're taking a deeper look at the bane of retailer/vendor relations - chargebacks. Depending on who you sell and even HOW you sell, you might see them as a punitive profit-center or a pay-to-play partnership . . . or you might just avoid them altogether.

april 05 blueprint ... MP3 or Manolo? iPod or Prada?  Flat Screen or   Ferragamo? Hmmm, discretionary dollar decisions aren’t favoring frocks and shoes these days … convergence is the color for forward-thinking fashionistas and technosexuals! 

march 05 blueprint ... it's a family affair!  30% of all family-owned businesses survive into the second generation ... 80% of senior generation family business shareholders want the business to stay in the family ... 20% aren’t confident about the next generation’s commitment to the business ... how do family owned business stave off those statistics?

february 05 blueprint ... goods or services?  promotion or entertainment?  the lines are blurring as retailers woo customers with more than just their wares …!

january 05 blueprint ... the big and small of it...darlin', I don't know why I go to extremes!

blueprint 11/11/04... land of the rising trends...time to take a beyond-sushi look at Japan … widening the canyon of cool between itself, China and Korea through fashion and design differentiation... 

blueprint 10/14/04 ... coming to america! hot new emerging market...the U.S.? 

blueprint 09/23/04... give me some space... retailers try out new spaces...

blueprint 09/02/04 ... go team!  lessons for suppliers from the athens olympics... 

blueprint 08/05/04 ... what's happening at the mall, ya'll?

blueprint 07/15/04 ... innovation…first admit you don’t know everything!

blueprint 06/25/04... it’s bling time! As luxe takes the lead, finer accessories follow…Line extensions, licensing, acquisitions, and low-cost alternatives heat up in fine jewelry and watches.

blueprint 05/06/04 ... people who need people…are the luckiest people in the world! ...the world of direct sourcing, squeaky margins, and “whathave-you-done-for-me-lately” Wall Street! Product is product and competing on price is truly a losing game…your people make you prosper.