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From the Editor: Laguna Beach, Vegas & Home

Hi everyone!

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks, but I’m happy to be back at home and settled into my office again. I always love getting out to different communities nationwide and attending trade-shows, but as the saying goes…”it’s good to be home”.

My first stop on my jammed-packed two week adventure was in Laguna Beach, California, where I spoke at the HARDI conference to a group of distributors about point-of-sale opportunities. It was interesting for me to speak to distributors vs. retailers and wholesalers, but a challenge I was up for and enjoyed doing. Additionally, I spent two beautiful afternoons in Laguna Beach visiting indie retailers and discovering the thriving art, restaurant and retail community in Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. Honestly, I had to ask myself a few times why I live in Chicago and not California (or anywhere on an ocean beach, for that matter). It was a nice change of weather from my normal everyday, plus I absolutely loved getting to know the “retail scene” in this community. Funny enough, the first time I had ever been there was about ten years ago in my Franco Sarto days when I planned a store visit and autograph signing for shoe designer Franco Sarto at the Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza Mall, one of the nation’s most successful indoor shopping centers. Times have certainly changed. I loved my days at Franco Sarto, but I rarely walk into malls anymore… if you know me at all, you know I’m more of a “mainstreet” type of gal!

I’ll be sharing more of my retail discoveries from Laguna Beach in the next issue of Retail Minded Magazine, which debuts April 15, 2013. I’m excited for this story – but even more so for the strong educational, store supporting articles we have planned for our readers!

A quick trip home from Laguna Beach gave me just two short days with my kiddos, then it was off to Vegas for the ASD Show. For regular followers of Retail Minded, you likely know that I LOVE the ASD Show. It truly offers something for all types of retailers, and I even saw a few TV reality stars buying for their shows there! Kevin Lee of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “Beverly Hills Bridezillas” was among them, as well we Ashley Broad of tru TV’s “Hardcore Pawn”. Such extremes in their store assortments and yet, they buy for their stores from the same show. This is a great example of the variety of products sold at ASD! Beyond my fun celeb sightings (check out the next issue of RM Mag for my pics & more from them), I also spent my days chatting with vendors and retailers, as well as blogging about my fav picks from the ASD Show floor. Be sure to look under our “TradeShow” category on RetailMinded.com for all my posts direct from the ASD Show floors.

Finally, Spring is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I’m excited? Chicago winters take a toll on me and after nearly two weeks in warmer climates, I am ready to bring some sunshine back to Chicago. The best part about Spring, however, is that retailers get to begin opening their doors and welcoming shoppers with a little more comfort in their shopping strolls. Retail doors propped open scream “welcome” and I look forward to getting out onto Main-streets in my own community and nationwide as Spring gets into full swing.

In the coming weeks we will be delivering the next issue of Retail Minded Magazine, as well as I’ll be heading to Atlanta to speak at the upcoming COVERINGS show. After that it will be almost time for the second annual Independent Retailer Conference, taking place in NYC on May 20, 2013. I hope you will consider joining me! Details here! 

Here’s wishing you a wonderful, successful selling season this Spring and always –

 

Best,

 

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle

Founder & Editorial Director

 

PHOTO DETAILS: While in Laguna Beach, I stayed at the beautiful Surf and Sand Resort. It’s a gorgeous resort that I was lucky to stay at and reccommend anyway who visits this area to check it out. 


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