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Retail giant Best Buy's technical support arm, Geek Squad, has quietly emerged as not only a leading technical support force but also as an influencer for security software it deems the best.
What to look for in a pair of binoculars
Whether you're looking for a shelter that can fit in your hiking pack or a home away from home for your family, deciding on the right tent comes down largely to a matter of portability versus ''elbow room,'' according to Katrina Smith, assistant manager of Eastern Mountain Sports in Canton.
Relient K’s Matt Thiessen doesn’t insist the moon landing was filmed in a studio or launch into a diatribe about magic bullets or grassy knolls. His lyrical suggestion that an Abraham Lincoln impersonator died on April 15, 1865, was just something “dumb” he needed to fit an album title.
There are many things to consider when shopping for a kayak, rather one should carefully consider where, how and with whom they plan to particpate in this paddle sport.
Internationally renowned colorist Leatrice Eiseman speaks out on why color continues to enhance sales.
An industry does not live on war, pestilence, natural disaster and the inhumanities of mankind alone.
The 2008 SHOT Show was another record-setter for the industry, another shot at growth for the army/navy market
trends that are a preview of 2008 old-money elegance.
Sometimes it seems that the usually pragmatic American market has given up on dresses.
Lustre: a quality that outshines the usual [syn: brilliancy, splendor]
After careful consideration and consultation with our Magic 8-Ball, we have solemnly concluded that this Internet thing is not going away any time soon.
The swirling teardrop shape first associated with intricate shawls, quilts, and rugs has found its way into the imaginations and collections of leading luxury jewelers.
Most of the time, I find irony to be interesting at least and humorous at best.
As airsoft takes the lead over paintball, it is still important to remember that both categories are very much at home in the army/navy store.
This spring, jewelry designs journey for inspiration to medieval castles, gothic cathedrals, baroque opera houses, and neoclassical squares.
The times, they are a changin', and it confronts us all.
August 12 - 14, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nevada
As genuine military surplus becomes harder to track down, and government-spec private brand goods fill the gaps, retailers have had to seek new product lines that are synergistic with the status quo, and suppliers have had to seek new markets for their in-house military-style apparel lines.
Consumer advertising is a critical part of the brand building equation for savvy jewelry marketers who realize the imperative to drive customers into the doors of their retail clients.
Backpacks in lighter weight and weather resistant materials with innovative accessories have made the camping experience more accessible and comfortable for many people.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. For the army/navy retailer, militaria is also a sign of success.
Dress for sales success with the variety and range of Battle Dress Uniforms for work and play.
Brides have a new love affair with custom-made rings.
While nobody is going to behoove a bride's desire to wear white on her wedding day, the same no longer can be said about bridal jewelry.
Capri, the beautiful Italian island that lures the beautiful people . . . and the jewelry they're wearing there now.
Not long ago, the consumer who spent a significant sum on a piece of contemporary jewelry was looking for something very different when she was looking to spend similar dollars on a piece of antique jewelry.
The Badgley Mischka bridal collection epitomizes the glamour and romance of old Hollywood.
For the curious, ConExpo can be found at www.
How The Top Stores Do It
C & F Army Navy enjoys a thriving tourist business, an exclusive on traditional army/navy products and a growing law enforcement business.
Where Fashion & Function Are Partners in Profit
New technologies and lighter weight materials have revolutionized the camping industry Additionally, a trend toward shorter camping trips has resulted in a decline in sales of tents and sleeping bags.
There are many options for the outdoorsman seeking nutrition and hydration in the wild.
"The upswing in sales bears out our long standing theory that when the economy is weak, people stay close to home and go backpacking," said Garreth Martins of Osprey Packs.
Denims, Dockers and more for the army/navy store, in a category where youth shall certainly be served.
That's because the military look is still in vogue, although perhaps not with quite the ardor of a couple of years ago.
Outdoor merchants compete on selection as well as versatility in casual outerwear.
Champaign Surplus - serving central Illinois for over 50 years
There are many things to consider when shopping for a kayak, rather one should carefully consider where, how and with whom they plan to particpate in this paddle sport.
Whether you're looking for a shelter that can fit in your hiking pack or a home away from home for your family, deciding on the right tent comes down largely to a matter of portability versus ''elbow room,'' according to Katrina Smith, assistant manager of Eastern Mountain Sports in Canton.
Bold statements transform the traditional in spring 2008.
Technology and Tradition Warm to Each Other
Collecting commemorative and decorative cutlery and firearms are hobbies with an edge
Turn fantasy swords into real dollars, and other armaments from the past into a future for your store.
Be customer-centric to fight and win the battle against the luxury flagships, coming soon to a market near you.
The story of cordage (the catch-all name for rope of every description) has many twists and turns; but in the end, it all gets tied together into a neat bow.
Retailers of everything from donuts to dog toys are well aware of the importance of first class customer service to the bottom line.
Fanciful fantasy cutlery, war replicas, martial arts and historical knives and swords put pizazz and profit into a peripheral business for the army/navy retailer.
Journeying from Hollywood to the source of its glitter, jeweler-to-the-stars Neil Lane discovers how diamonds benefit Africa and its people.
The best defense against the destructive forces of man and nature is a good offense - by being prepared in advance of calamity
It is estimated that only 28 percent of the population owns a disaster supplies kit. That's where the army/navy retailer comes in.
In his own one-dimensional way, he is also a supporter of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a trade association representing over 3,200 companies within the firearm and outdoor sports industries.
The little black dress may be the universal uniform of socialites but, nowadays, any tailored dress will do.
Military outerwear remains a fundamental army/navy store category even as the selection diversifies.
Eco-friendly home furnishings will be in the spotlight at the Las Vegas Market in July in a new Living Green Pavilion.
We are all painfully aware that the national economy is headed into, or has already arrived at a recessionary period.
In consumer magazines, September issues are the ones that traditionally talk of education and new beginnings in learning.
This is the jewelry that demands attention.
This is the jewelry that you'll reach for each morning.
Even though we are well into the first decade of the 21st century, fashion seems to continue to take its cues from the past.
Protecting the extremities in extreme cold.
From head to toe, for warmth, safety, fashion or fun, gloves, hat and socks are home cookin' for army/navy retailers
A list of websites of fabric and textile designers.
For inspiration, designers on both sides of the Atlantic hark back to almost every decade—from the '30s through the '80s—revising these looks with a renewed sense of elegance.
When it comes to holiday rings, jewelry designers have taken their cue from Paris' haute couture runway shows, where high drama and fantasy reign.
As the line between military and casual apparel becomes ever more indistinct, the army/navy store is ever more well-positioned to become a distinct winner.
Although butterflies have long been a popular jewelry motif, it's definitely a season which features creatures we might not have always appreciated.
Well, if you haven't, the folks at Remote Lands, a New York-based bespoke travel service, are available to help.
One day, the concierge at our hotel—who had been spot-on with his other recommendations—encouraged us to include the H.
What's cooking in the field of food and beverage for the wandering camper, hiker and trailsperson.
Spending springtime in Paris with a loved one isn't just a romantic notion captured in song.
In mid-January, amid tepid temperatures atypical of northeast Italy, Vicenza served as the perfect backdrop for rose to bloom—rose gold, that is.
For holiday, jewelry designers get in touch with nature, contrasting rough-hewn gems and organic materials with more elegant diamonds and precious metals.
The earthly delights of garden motifs continue to grow as a trend, with new ideas sprouting up in the collections of many luxury brand designers.
Elsewhere in this issue (beginning on page 16 to be precise) you will find a sad but true story of how the theft of a backup server delivered a very serious blow to a company's record-keeping and information technology system.
Because yellow gold has recently become a must-buy with customers, a new exhibit highlighting the historical metal will become the new year's must-see for jewelers.
For holiday, the runways shine with everything from metallic-sheen gowns to statement-making jewelry.
It seems particularly appropriate that the recent Sotheby's auction of the late Princess Grace of Monaco's dresses coincided with American and European spring 2008 runways.
She may be small in stature—I'm guessing five-feet-two—but Ilaria Furlotti has a big role on the new stage of luxury Italian jewelry—and ultimately, the world stage.
Stores that focus on compost development.
Say no to plastic and paper.
Army/navy retailers look forward to dressing up sales and customers on Halloween.
As we get all pumped for pumpkin season, let's get a fix on what customers are looking for in costumery and sleight-of-face.
Fine jewelry's next destination? Cruise on into resort, the latest fashion hotspot.
Although competition from Big Box stores for big ticket items is daunting, the army/navy store can use a wide array of accessories to capture market share
As I write this, we are a week removed from the horrors that took place on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech.
The newest generation of hoops is generating oodles of hoopla.
Spinel, tsavorite, and tanzanite are adding sizzle to jewelry's red, green, and blue palettes.
Our entirely scott-free New Products section. In print, or on the web, you've gotta be in it to win it.
Hunting outerwear keeps evolving with new camo patterns, fabrics and sllhouettes.
There are hunting and outdoor footwear products for every terrain, climate, natural hazard and sporting interest.
Halloween may not be the new Christmas, but it is close. Consumer interest in this holiday is branching out from costumes and candy to a whole array of sophisticated, giftable treats, with an emphasis on tabletop for entertaining. Though still a niche market, blown-glass Halloween ornaments continue to be popular, driven both by collectors and by the widespread use of artificial trees.
Furniture, Decoration, Fabric, Design suppliers
Furniture, Decoration, Fabric, Design suppliers
Relient K’s Matt Thiessen doesn’t insist the moon landing was filmed in a studio or launch into a diatribe about magic bullets or grassy knolls. His lyrical suggestion that an Abraham Lincoln impersonator died on April 15, 1865, was just something “dumb” he needed to fit an album title.
The predominant jewelry trends that we first saw during the summer Las Vegas and JA shows, as well as on the most recent Paris couture catwalks, continued to flourish at the Orogemma trade fair in Vicenza, Italy (September 9-13).
As for jewelry trends, says Lara Meiland, founder of Lara Helene Bridal Atelier in New York City, when it comes to buying jewelry for their big day, "We are seeing women spending more on their jewelry than ever before, and they are opting for much less traditional pieces.
Standard equipment dominates the police and security market for the army/navy retailer.
The dangers of our times have led to the development of better protective equipment and accessories for personal & professional safety for all situations.
For the army/navy retailer, the law enforcement apparel market is ripe with opportunity — if the retailer is willing to commit in time, investment and education
Improvements in comfort, support, protection, durability, flexibility and suitablity to task are the hallmarks of modern tactical footwear.
The army/navy store is becoming a valuable resource for the law enforcement professional. It's up to the retailer to become an expert on meeting their needs.
Welcome to our second annual all-law enforcement issue.
Outstanding Products for Fall
Wealthy consumers are not just "consumption machines living in another reality," but hard-working, potentially loyal consumers who often seek guidance for their purchases, according to a new report by The Luxury Institute.
When two-time academy award winning costume designer Milena Canonero began working on "Marie Antoinette," she already had the framework for everything from the gowns to the shoes.
The army/navy store is becoming a go-to source for the apparel, equipment and footwear that law enforcement personnel require.
MREs and other military nutrition products are taking the mess out of the mess hall.
The military's version of the box lunch has many applications for the army/navy retailer and their customers.
Knives, swords and multi-tools are army/navy core items that require first class merchanding methods to make them stand out and shine.
Knives and swords may look sharp, but don't force your customers to look sharp to find them in your store.
Every battlefield is a potential museum, every soldier is a hallmark of history.
Increasing the Scope: Military and sporting optics makers are focusing on ever-increasing sophistication.
With support for the military continuing to grow, military collectibles and gift items keep the wheels of the army/navy store turning.
There are thousands of items that can be sold by the army/navy retailer. Fortunately, there are just about as many types of customers looking to buy them.
Military apparel and gear continue to enjoy countless uses in the civilian world.
Items of military and historical significance make every army/navy store a museum, a local landmark and a profit center
While military fashion remains popular with women and youth, suppliers now cater to their tastes by sizing military-style apparel to their physiques.
It's time for every army/navy retailer to take advantage of this "can't miss" market
Even though the ship may not be sinking, there's something to be said for catering to women and children first.
Whether for pride, for patriotism or for the family patriarch, military giftware and memorabilia appeal to every army/navy store customer.
DECIDE WHAT TO SELL DELIBERATIVELY, NOT IMPULSIVELY
For the army/navy retailer, an army of collectible and keepsake militaria can be considered precious metals.
The arrival of the digital ACU camouflage pattern adds more options for both the military and the civilian buyer of well-made military outerwear.
Graphic, ultra-sophisticated, sculptural shapes in jewelry give a nod to modern art for spring 2008.
The multi-faceted multi-tool is at a high state of development, while sporting cutlery blends art and function to new heights.
This is the jewelry that you won't be able to resist this year.
E-tailing grows more popular, but also grows more complicated.
THIS SEASON, READY-TO-WEAR DESIGNS IN BOTH Paris and Milan are feeling the blues.
Well, things are certainly percolating in trade show town.
The growing importance of resortwear in all fashion categories is creating a ripple effect in what has always been classic holiday jewelry.
Success with occupational footwear means a wide selection covering the bases of styles and standards.
Read more on ON THE CUFF ...
For the army/navy retailer, outdoor and athletic footwear are natural complements to sporting apparel and gear that are already in tune with customers' needs.
Shoes for outdoor use and inclement weather grow more technical and more specialized.
For the army/navy retailer, paintball and airsoft products remain right on target.
Warm corallo rosso is a hot choice for spring fashions.
After nearly three decades of making fine jewelry, this Long Island-based innovator still gets excited about designing—and those spontaneous sketches and scribbles are, quite simply, visual proof.
As military surplus continues to become harder to find, astute army/navy retailers are filling the shelves with law enforcement and security products.
Using great products to protect the good guys from the bad guys
We here at ANSOM have a nasty habit of constantly imploring our readers to innovate, expand, grow, explore, ruminate and otherwise look at change as not only one of life's constants, but also as a means of survival and profitability.
Specifics for plants utilized in Green engineering.
Everybody's doing it — which is a spurious rationale for teen behavior, but quite acceptable as a retailing guideline.
With proper planning, impulse and smaller ticket items add cars to the gravy train.
Yes, truly, this book is for anyone in retail.
Improvements in techology and materials are keeping military and law enforcement personnel safer than ever against weapons of all kinds.
The search for the perfect flawless diamond is the stuff dreams are made of.
I'm not a fan of superlatives—the most this, the best that, the greatest whatever.
Displays, merchandisers, ceilings, floors, shelving and lighting are key considerations for making the most out of army/navy retailing.
Six leaders in luxury retail speak freely about the unconventional—freer and freethinking—brides-to-be.
Now under new management and revamped in many ways both tangible and behind the scenes, exhibitors and buyers were hopeful of a renewed sense of energy and relevance at each show venue.
When it comes to holiday, lace has always been a fashion designer's best friend, as many of the best work myriad styles into the most lavish of gowns.
Here, we present the season's wedding gown trends . . . and the newest nuptial rings to complement each directional look.
Outcompete and outlast have been strategies for success for S-4 Military Surplus, a Northern New Jersey landmark for over 30 years.
Marketing, along with selection and service, are needed to succeed on an increasingly crowded Web.
For resort 2008, jewelry designers are turning to sand and sea for inspiration.
Competing with the luxury travel business requires creating memorable customized experiences.
What to look for in a pair of binoculars
An analysis of three types of luxury shoppers—just in time for holiday.
Exhibitors were almost unanimous in their support for the new floor layout, the kinder, gentler approach taken by show decorators GES and by the care and professionalism with which new show management displayed prior to the show as well as on the show floor during the show.
In addition to unfamiliar territory faced by exhibitors in the Military Tactical Outdoor Show section of Mandalay Bay, the pre-show prognostications of a faltering economy weighed heavily on the minds of many.
While most gemstones are faceted to reveal their beauty, cabochons have a beauty that's more than skin deep.
Although the market is tiny for this segment in the U.
"Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant . . ." — from "Sophisticated Lady"; lyrics by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, and Mitchell Parish
Five years after 9/11, many consumers are searching for jewelry with inspiring meaning and soulfulness.
Functionality and form join with technology and technique to make the sporting knife better than ever.
Retailers and suppliers speak up and speak out about the state we're in.
Going back to the basics of a core army/navy store is what will guide East Northport Army & Navy into the future.
Every day is a learning experience in one of America's newest army/navy stores
"That is the magic of the army/navy store. We can carry almost anything."
A family business thrives and grows from one store to three, deep in the heart of Texas
SC Army Surplus receives over 100 Internet orders daily, and Internet sales comprise more than 75 percent of their business
The Cop Shop has found success by applying career lessons learned towards meeting the needs of the Baltimore law enforcement community.
Veteran sales associates share selling strategies in the mattress and bedding market with the focus being on the consumer and their needs.
Although the appeal of a particular garment may vary from year to year and embellishments may be added to it, the basic military look continues to be a mainstay on high school and college campuses.
A cool new breeze has arrived in jewelry.
Your customers should never let their guard down about being ready for any emergency. It's your job to help them obtain the right products and to keep them fresh.
Because Bad Things Happen To Good People ... And Also To Bad People.
Customers need a wide range of products well in advance of any man-made or natural disaster.
Writer and social critic Truman Capote once referred to some of the most elegant and tasteful socialites of the late 1950s and early 1960s as "his swans.
T-shirts and ball caps are the basic battle dress uniform of the civilian world. Here are the latest offerings that keep up with the times.
It's safe to say that law enforcement personnel are going to continue being in the market for apparel indefinitely.
A celebrity chef, a watch technician, and a new store opening were the ingredients of a great store opening event for Long's Jewelers, who teamed up with a watch brand and a local restaurant to debut the new Long's location in Natick, Massachusetts, in style on September 10, 2007.
The Good Old T-Shirt Continues to Cotton To Retailers and Consumers
T-shirts and casual caps continue to support popular culture trends and to support army/navy store sales.
For all genders, for all interests, plain or fancy, t-shirts and caps have you covered.
Given that camping presumably puts participants into closer contact with the natural environment, it follows that some tent and sleeping bag manufacturers are going green.
I am a veteran exhibitor, dating back to the beginning of the ASD Trade Show at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas.
Make the most of it with more than just an educated guess.
It's a very bright year for the House of Masriera, the company which, through its enamel expertise, brought a new style to the world of Art Nouveau.
Cable operators have agreed to make sure that when the time comes to pull the plug on analog broadcasting, none of its analog cable subscribers will lose access to any of their TV signals. It was valorous for cable to offer such a boost to the DTV transition.
A deficit of surplus or a surplus deficit. Either way, less is not more.
FROM RUNWAY TO FINE JEWELRY
Although struggling to hold its value against the weakened dollar, non-U.S. military surplus still offers fashion, function and flair.
As style-conscious and eco-conscious blend, green design grows in the freshest jewelry collections.
Flights of fancy belied the themes of the most recent Haute Couture shows in Paris.
A record-breaking SHOT Show signals a banner year for hunting and shooting.
No longer just a pretty face, the ANSOM Web site is now a fully interactive home for open dialogue and discussion of topics relevant (or not) to our industry, a dynamic source of timely news and events, the ultimate archive for the print edition of ANSOM magazine and most importantly, the best one-stop source (in pixels) for the best and hottest merchandise deals that our ANSOM advertisers have currently available.
For spring 2007, New York ready-to-wear designers stay true to their signature style of nonchalant sophistication and elegance.
By creating private label, OEM and milspec military goods, the industry once again successfully adapts to changing times.
Welcome to the inaugural ANSOM Marketing & Advertising article, the first in a series of semi-regular columns on the confounding and mysterious ways of marketing, promotion, advertising and public relations that will attempt to provide tips and tricks to both retailer and supplier.
Cordage is available in natural and man-made materials, in many sizes, colors, strengths and lengths. Don't be tied down to just a few choices.
The revival of the rose-cut diamond has ignited an atmosphere of great artistic creativity—much like the inventiveness of artists seen in the original Renaissance movement in Europe centuries ago.
America's top luxury jewelers share their expertise.
The new ANSOM will be printed on recycled paper, helping the environment while adding our magazine to the growing list of "green" publications.
Had to leave behind the napalm-scented aftershave (for a more manly razor burn), however.
After putting together this special issue of Lustre, highlighting the purchasing patterns of bridal customers in their twenties and thirties, it struck me that the iconic "My Way" could be this demographic's signature song.
Footwear for law enforcement and tactical use crosses over with military styles.
When it comes to bracelets, one is never enough.
But I don't want to talk about the shows.
For many, the first person that comes to mind in association with Barcelona, Spain's second largest city, is that of Antoni Gaudí, the famed architect whose extravagant cathedral design, Sagrada Familia, has become the iconic symbol for the city.
Tips on how to pick the best, natural soap for your skin
Contrasting opposing elements and themes has become a definitive direction among trendsetting jewelry designers.
Can the newly wealthy be taught how to spend? Purveyors of luxury in other industries—from auction houses to automakers—find that teaching is a lucrative tool.
Luxury bridal expert Lara Meiland of Lara Helene Bridal Atelier talks about the fashion and accessories trends for 2007.
High visibility, safety and comfort mark work apparel and footwear
An army/navy store that is as old as the industry itself finds that the keys to success are a timeless part of its proud tradition.
These are troubling days at Wal-Mart, currently experiencing a bit of an identity crisis as they attempt to move upscale into hallowed ground occupied by players such as Target and Kohl's.
Bedding specialty stores are much more likely to carry sleep pillows than furniture stores.
The Big Kahuna is once again upon us, our annual mid-winter boothfest in Las Vegas.
TEN NAMES ON EVERYONE'S LIPS IN 2008
Bundling up doesn't necessarily mean bulking up.
Activewear for winter sports is designed not to cramp your customer's style.
The trend continues - protection and comfort work well together.
Cuffs to bangles, bangles to cuffs. With fashion's focus circling the wrist, jewelers need to be fully armed with big selections of both for holiday.
A high school dropout who became one of America's leading society jewelers, Raymond C.
We're borrowing a slogan from the state lottery commission to bolster our bi-annual plea for more news, product releases and dialogue with industry suppliers and retailers.