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From the President Each year, the ARA International Awards Program acknowledges and celebrates the varied achievements and contributions of individuals and companies in the Awards industry. ARA members and their companies regularly create ways to recognize excellence by creating new products, designs, or promoting others who do. Receiving tangible and emblematic validation is a great way to let your peers know their hard work is admired and appreciated. All 2007-2008 award winners will be announced at the ARA Awards Gala, Thursday, February 28, 2008, at the Las Vegas Hilton. So, how do you go about winning an ARA award? Click here for more information—and good luck to everyone who enters! "Seeking Perfection"
Coming in December: 2008 ARA Calendar Your association will include a helpful gift with the December issue of Recognition Review—the ARA 2008 Calendar. Featuring new and exciting products and contact information from ARA supplier companies, this colorful poster calendar can be displayed in an area of your shop to help you, your employees, and customers easily reference dates, 2008 ARA show dates and deadlines, and major holidays. Think of the calendar as ARA’s annual gift to assist you in staying aware of important “due dates” that will help aid in your business success in the coming year. Extra copies will also be distributed at the 2008 ARA International Awards Market, February 27–29 in
2008 ARIEF Scholarship Program The Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF) is requesting applications for its 2008 Scholarship program. Five $1,200 tuition scholarships will be awarded this February to ARA member company employees or their children. The 2008 scholarship application form can be found here. ARA Industry Trends and Price Survey Report CD ARA Members: A CD of the ARA Industry Trends and Price Survey Report was included your October 2007 issue or Recognition Review. This survey of awards and engraving retailers provides insight on current industry trends, plus pricing and sales volume among retailer recognition specialists. Conducted by Memberscope (a division of Research USA), survey participants included both ARA members and nonmembers who were asked to provide information on their business operations, sales trends, marketing plans, and historical pricing of popular awards products. Use the information the CD contains to plan your business and marketing strategy for the coming year.
Have You Checked Out Recognition Review Online? ARA now delivers the magazine electronically in addition to the standard printed and mailed issue. The online version is a new member benefit—a supplement to the printed version, but not designed to replace it. Once you try it, you’re going to like it. The online version of Recognition Review is among the first of many exciting changes members will see during the next year. If you didn’t get your latest issue via e-mail, please let us know by sending us an e-mail with your store name and address to info@ara.org.
ARA Members - Scam Alert
Check Out the Improved ARA Online Buyer’s Guide The new ARA Online Buyer's Guide now ready for you to use, offering tens of thousands of products, components. Your association spent months developing and testing a state-of-the-art version of its former printed Buyers Guide and Member Directory Here's what you can do with the new version:
To view the Buyer's Guide, visit www.arabuyersguide.com. Use the same login ID and password you use for the "Members Only" section of the ARA Web site.
November 17, 2007 ARA 2007 Canadian Education Conference Toronto, ON, Canada 800/344-2148 January 14–17, 2008 CorelDRAW Boot Camp Cruise February 25–29, 2008 2008 ARA International Awards Market July 30–August 2, 2008 Moody Gardens Hotel 817/868-6515
The November 2007 issue features an article on new technological innovations from ARA suppliers, a preview of the 2008 ARA International Awards Market, and new plaques and plaque components available from ARA suppliers.
ARA now distributes its official magazine electronically in addition to its standard printed and mailed issue. If you didn’t get a copy via e-mail, please let us know by sending a message with your store name and address to info@ara.org.
If you’re an ARA member, log in to the “Members Only” section using your member number, and select ARA “Ask an Expert.” Find the topic and expert you’re looking for and submit your question(s). More often than not, an ARA expert will have the solution you need.
? I am new to the industry and am trying to formulate some plans for constructing a new building for my business. At this point, I have a blank sheet of paper and a two-acre lot. Any suggestions or ideas you might have to guide me are certainly welcome.
Sam Varn, CRM, responds: Congratulations on your forward thinking! Planning is a key part of business success and you’re smart to be doing so while your company is still new and small.
Obviously, if you plan to have a showroom and production area, you will need to adequately plan for both. If you plan on just being a production center, then you’ll probably dedicate less space for showroom. However, you should have some type of showroom unless you anticipate absolutely zero customer visits.
I would strongly urge you to consult with an interior designer about the best use of your showroom space. The designer can help you design accents, which can quickly set your showroom apart from the others. Features like recessed lighting and built-in cabinets really add a quality look to a showroom. Proper colors are also a must, and the designer can be a big help here. You want your shop to look as professional as possible. Designers can bring that element to your displays and help you properly plan traffic flows. Their fees will be money well spent. [more]
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