Support the economy, buy online for Xmas!

Just got done reading this article in the NY Times about us internet retailers and our woes this holiday season.  Small businesses are the backbone of the new emerging US economy and I encourage everyone to try one new small business this holiday season!  Of course we’d be thrilled if you chose ours!

www.bookbouquet.com Book Bouquet gift baskets combine books (your choice or ours) with gourmet foods and gifts to create unique themed gift baskets for all occasions.

Read the New York Times Article:  Web Sites Wage Holiday Price Wars

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/technology/internet/20slashing.html?_r=1

Gift Cards for the Holidays…make sure they will be good if the store closes

This was posted on a message board and I wanted to pass it on as food for thought.

Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the
cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1

There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is
referred to as ‘Bankrupcy Planning). Below is a partial list of stores that
you need to be
cautious about.

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine’s to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Loews to close down some stores
Dillard’s to close some stores

Is anyone else’s head about to explode?

First, I apologize to anyone whose head has actually exploded, I don’t mean to make light of your condition.

I use to consider myself an internet pro, I began my business ten years ago, in the infancy of “the web”.  Then I became a dinosaur.  I have a facebook page I’ve never used, I just started blogging and I only just found out about “linkedin” and “twitter” and “stumble upon” and the list seems to go on and on.  Techonology passed me by and now I am trying to play catch up.  I can honestly say I just don’t get twitter, and that one fact is making me feel really behind the times!

Why do I care about all this stuff now anyway?  Well the economy tanked which affects my business so now I have to get back to actually marketing my company.  Everyone says social media is where it’s at and I let myself get behind the times.  Lesson learned, even when business is great keep up with your business education and with the trends of the times or you’ll find yourself sitting at your computer with some free time trying to figure out what a blog widget is, and if you should follow a person you know nothing about on twitter!

Speaking of twitter….you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/bookbouquet

Or feel free to stumble upon my website: www.bookbouquet.com

We can get connected on linkedin.  Send me an invite at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bookbouquet

Thanks for reading my blog!

Kim

Fire Looms Close

As I spent my day packing for possible evacuation I thanked my lucky stars that I atleast had the time to get my stuff together.  I am east of the Yorba Linda / Corona fires and have been saved by the west wind so far.  But, what if you had to leave quickly?  Do you have your  business files backed up in a seperate location?  Do you have a secondary distribution facility and inventory to fill your orders?  What about your personal files, photos, animal needs, kids needs, etc.?  This event has shown me the weaknesses that were in my systems.  Take a few minutes this Sunday and think about your own disaster plans.  You may not always have the time to pack and leave.

Here are some photos taken from our backyard and roof.  They are of the Chino Hills fire and Corona fires.

 

Smoke from both fires meets in the afternoon sky

Sunset the fires flared up again

 

Make Mine A Million

In September I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a finalist in the make mine a million dollar business program sponsored by count me in, an organization devoted to helping women business owners reach the million dollar sales mark.  This is a significant milestone for many reasons including being able to hire employees and contribute to the overall health of our economy.  Count Me In is getting to ready to launch a new program for 2009.  I invite women business owners to log on to the website on December 1st and sign up to make your 2009 sales your best year ever.  Bookmark their website www.countmein.org.

Get a jump on your competition with The Girls Guide to Growing a Million Dollar Business.  This book inspired me to rewrite our mission and vision statements.  Check it out on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Guide-Building-Million-Dollar-Business/dp/0814474195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225955209&sr=8-1

By Susan Wilson Solovic