RECESSION IS OVER

"FED ALL BUT DECLARES RECESSION OVER!"

I was reading USA Today at breakfast. Front and center on their "Money" page it says "Recession Over." The Federal Reserve even said the "growth would be more robust than it previously anticipated." When Ben Bernanke makes positive statements about the economy, I am all ears! Most of us in the home furnishings business have experienced possibly the most challenging environment ever. Consumer spending on discretionary purchases, such as new window coverings and furniture, has been hit hard. To survive and to thrive we have all been making the changes necessary in our business to adjust to today's realities and to proactively position ourselves for the opportunities ahead.

"IS IT ME OR AM I REALLY PEDDLING SLOW?"

IHS GLOBAL INSIGHT, a major economic forecaster, predicts a "strong recovery in the last quarter of 2009 followed by a gradual rebound in the first quarter of 2010." I LOVE positive economic news, but right now I feel like I'm peddling a heavy beach cruiser rather than my Eddie Merckx titanium road bike. What are my choices? I can change bikes, get stronger, or do both. I need to change the way I see things by widening my lens. With a broader view of our business, our customers, and our products, I know there will be beautiful roads ahead to travel on. I definitely want to be ramped up and ready to go, rather on the side of the road worrying about a flat. The 80-20 rule applies now more than ever! We need to focus 80 % of our attention on opportunities and 20 % on correcting what's wrong.

KEEP CALM & CARRY ON

This 1939 British poster was issued to help stiffen the reserve during the early days of World War II. We all need to keep calm and energized to carry on in new ways. My advice to customers today would be to focus first on sales and marketing, then work on being an expert in your field. This may sound backward, but client generation is paramount. No matter how gifted you are in product knowledge, color, layout, and design, you first have to have a customer! Read everything you can, burn up the web searching for ideas & inspiration, network like crazy, find a mentor to help you in the field, join other designers and window covering professionals in support groups, and be ready to learn! On the product side it is important to partner with someone that cares for you and your business. I hope you don't mind if I toot the Wesco Fabrics’ horn. Our total package of products is unsurpassed! Our web based "Wesco Online" as well as our website can save you time and unnecessary mistakes. We can give you personalized training and support with our online webinars.

YOUR COURAGE POSTER

GRIT is everything.

GET HOT POSTER

I love motivating antique posters from the past. This one says it all, "GET HOT-Keep moving. Don't waste a precious minute."

WE CAN DO IT!

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD'S PURPLE SHOES

I love Paul Arden's little book "Whatever you think think the opposite." He says "I wish means: wouldn't it be nice if..... If you always make the right decision, the safe decision, the one most people make, you will be the same as everyone else. Always wishing life was different." If you are working in home furnishings you need your own special voice, your personal signature. "Original ideas are created by original people, people who through either instinct or insight know the value of being different and recognize the commonplace as a dangerous place to be." In the 1970's Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren opened a radical shop in an unfashionable part of London. Their clothes were often un-wearable, crazy and odd. Their shop closed pretty quickly. Had they not had the grit and the courage, Westwood would not become one of England's greatest designers and McLaren would not have started the Sex Pistols.

THE RECOVERY STARTS HERE

I found this picture on Style.Com. New York's Fashion Week showed there was a creative spark ready to ignite.

YOU WILL FLY

It's time to step up and make decisions.

LIFE IS EITHER A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING

I'M READY TO BLAST OFF

THE LIFE OF FABRIC

Wesco Fabrics Warehouse Clearance Sale

Our biannual clearance sale, October 14 & 15, will attract designers from around the country to our Denver warehouse. Savvy shoppers search for super low priced treasures on decorative fabrics, furniture and accessories from around the globe. We even have silks as low as $3.00 a yard! This is a bitter sweet event for me. Of course I am happy that a discounted item finds a good home, but on the other hand it shows the transitory nature of the decorative home furnishing business. Decorative fabrics definitely have a lifespan. The life of a fabric is determined by the whims of the marketplace, color and style changes, the economy, the method and distribution of sampling, the support (continuity) of the mill, and of course whether designers and their clients liked it. Risks are taken in the buying process with home runs and the occasional strike outs. It is important to read regional preferences and the zeitgeist of the market. Follow along as I take you through the fabric buying process from the beginning to the end.

The fabric search begins at textile fairs around the world.

Marla makes sure the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed on our orders.

Programming the line and laying out new products for the next season.

The calculating guesswork begins.

Are the patterns on the money? Are they scaled correctly for proper sampling? Are they priced right? Is the mill reliable? Will the colors resonate? How much shelf space should we commit? So many questions and often times not many answers.

Too crazy or pretty cool?

When the economy is challenging it can be difficult to take risks on patterns that are esoteric. The line can be boring if we don’t stretch out and add some really exciting items to the mix.

Metallic silk appliqué.

I have to occasionally step outside my bubble and come up with something new and exotic. We definitely have a number of “signature” patterns.

Drapery damasks.

Damasks were first brought to the western world by Marco Polo in the 13^th century. A bit basic, but well loved in the hinterlands of America.

Reference samples.

When a company has been in business for over 63 years there is a lot of accumulated buying history. It can often become a blur. “Do we already have this pattern?” “Don’t we have a twin to it in the line now?” The final editing process yields the pattern finalists. It’s like Heidi Klum saying “You are OUT!”

Samples ready to go.

One of the most expensive aspects of our company is the sampling expense. You do your best each season and hope that your customers like what you’ve done. For Fall 2009 we added the “Gentry Collection” along side our regular line.

Mistakes are made.

I loved “Wes Spot Check” when I purchased it a few seasons ago. It flopped! Sometimes you have to take your heart out of the process and use more brain. If you take risks there will be some mistakes,…but you will also get winners as well!

Happy designers!

These designers found some great buys and that really makes me very happy!