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johnfdtaff

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Aug 4, 2000
Posts
140
Hey, does everyone remember we're conducting the Top 100 Art & Framing Retailers Award? I haven't seen many entries from anyone on the Grumblers? What gives? This is the perfect opportunity for you guys and gals to step out and show people what you're doing. I thought we'd have better representation from this group!

To give you some incentive, we're extending the deadline for applications to June 16. The feature is moving to the August 2003, the pre-show issue for Atlanta. That should give plenty of time to get your entries in.

Don't have one? Go to www.decor-magazine and download one. Or call 314-824-5516, and we'll get you one.

Remember, in addition to some great coverage in our August issue, top winners in each category get a free trip to the Atlanta show, complete with airfare and hotel, for the big award ceremony.

So, what are you guys waiting for? I want to see some Grumbler entries!

John
 
No offense but we're not so keen on giving our financials out to others.
 
You know, John, I know you're serious about this and no doubt have an altruistic motive; frankly, though, when I read the solicitation, I imagined that we'd be seeing a list of the same ol', same ol', just re-cycled into a new format.
 
Did the old "Awards of Excellence" require this much notorized financial documentation? And did they require a "retail establishment" to participate?

Betty
 
Well, we've backed away from the notarized stuff, but financials are one way to measure the success of a business...not the only, but one. And when you mix them in with growth from year to year or marketing plans or customer lists, then you begin to get some idea of the retailers out there who are successful.

As far as the same-old, same-old, I'm afraid that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a small group of people actively participate in an industry and others don't, then, yes, you will tend to see a lot of the same faces. Perhaps we were naive in thinking that we'd get more participation, and thus show a greater wedge of the industry. I hope not. But to ensure that doesn't happen, your best bet is to enter.

Betty, in terms of the Award of Excellence, yes, it, too, was targeted to retail store fronts.

I really hope you guys get behind this. I think it's an important thing for the industry to recognize retail success within our own ranks.

Let me know if you have any ideas to retool the approach when we prepare this for next year.

John
 
John,

We made sure that you had our entry by the first deadline. If we had known the deadline would be extended several times, we would have fine-tuned things a bit more. Maybe the entries that were submitted using the original rules and deadline should receive a few more points.

Regardless of final ranking, it makes good press release material with the local media. But, you can't have your name in the list if you don't submit an entry.

And for those who don't want to divulge financial information, there are categories that don't require those figures to be submitted.
 
Amen, Rick! I ahve your entry, and it's great. And, one more thing that I forgot, you're not going to get the same-old, same-old out of this, because we're getting judges from the SBA and from other sources.

John
 
Hi John-I think there are some like me that think if you want to find the best of anything (retailers, motion pictures, moms, whatever) the best source of that type of information is from within the trade itself. Speak to vendors, for example. They deal with the masses daily. They know who the best of the best are.

I'm sure a statement of income might give a "measure" of excellence, but it is a very small snapshot of one year's performance. For some, one large corporate job from a very small operation might reflect, percentage wise, some great numbers. Yet, that reflection is compared to the prior year and that year might have been horrible.
And, the converse is true for a business that, maybe, last year lost a major contract and it's numbers might reflect poorly.

While, I think a statement of income is important,it's not as important as peer review. Look at the Airline industry, for example. Outside of my favorite airline, Southwest, they all stink on paper. Yet, we know that some very talented people are running some great operations. Perhaps, those on the inside would be a better barometer of excellence than the numbers, especially now.

So you get a great operator, with better than average numbers and a bright future and I'll bet that those analysts inside the industry would call them the winners. Not just sales increases or percentages.

I do appreciate that you have a difficult challenge really picking out the best retailers, since so many have differing opinions on what makes a great retailer. But if we were publicly traded companies, how many of us would garner a "Buy" recommendation?

I would encourage this type of selection left up to those that have "inside" analysis to get a true assessment. A panel of vendors might be very insightful and include those that aren't comfortable tooting their own horn, as well a those that feel they have no chance. One of my favorite Football coaches in college often said that the hardest thing he did was to evaluate talent, and the best way to do that was to include the opinions of the other coaches that watched the players everyday. Otherwise, we end up with a "Miss Congeniality" type of award.

I do agree that differing levels of volume is a good place to start
 
Sure, John. Have your people call my people and we'll discuss honorariums....

Actually, a survey set to most regional suppliers and vendors could yield similar results as long as the findings were confidential...

Or, at Atlanta you could buy a few rounds of adult beverages and call it research...

Or, you could ignore this whole thing and just compare statements
 
Originally posted by Bob Carter:

Or, at Atlanta you could buy a few rounds of adult beverages and call it research...
Click to expand...
Why does everything have to be done over "adult beverages"? Why not just a big glass of sweet iced tea with 2 slices of lemon, and keep the pitcher close by! This way there's no need for a "designated driver", just well planned potty breaks, because as everyone knows, iced tea is never bought, only rented! :D

Betty
 
OK, time for a brief frankenthread!!

One thing that I WILL NOT give up when I move to the North (of Florida) is my unsweet tea! Lemon is good in tea as it is in water but sugar is best used in good chocolate and not tea! ;)

Sorry Betty, you and I have to part ways on this one. But I still like good bisquits 'n gravy with grits on the side and sloppy eggs with ham or crisp bacon.


We now return to our regular broadcasting.

Framerguy
 
A little butter, maybe some red-eye gravy. But sugar? You are a dad-gummed yankee
 
No sugar in the tea, hot or cold.

John, the download link does not work for me.

[ 04-25-2003, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: JPete ]
 
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