HOW SAFE ARE YOUR SHADES?
Did you know that in September 2010, Consumer Product Safety Commission released a new version of the standard that outlines requirements for cordless treatments?
You also may have heard a lot of buzz in the news about recent recalls.
But you’re probably thinking “I’m just a small 1-person operation, it doesn’t affect me”. Right?
Wrong.
I recently listened to a webinar put together by three leading window covering associations that tried to clarify the new standard. In the spirit of productivity and in an effort to save you time, here is my best summary of the webinar, laced with personal impressions and perceptions.
• The standard is a very long, technical, and confusing document, filled with a lot legal jargon.
• Its goal and purpose is to specify and give best definition of cordless treatments (includes shades, traversing rods, and any other treatment that uses a cord)
• Its function is not to enforce the standard.
• Unfortunately it falls very short of explaining how to fabricate them and more importantly, how it affects designer’s product offering, now that roman shades as we know them are no longer available.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission has made it clear that compliance is a must
• Target date for compliance is March 3rd, 2011.
• Compliance is a must regardless of whether children are present in the household
• Compliance is a must regardless of the size of the business
• There are consequences for non-compliance, but it was not clear what they were
• It is up to the individual designer (and our lawyers) how to handle customer release forms. No form template was given during the call
• Although the standard is old, its recent visibility is new. Because of this recency, it is not clear what options designers have if they want to specify the “roman-shade” look.
• One thing was pretty clear, this will affect our industry in a pretty big way.
As you can see, this is not a clear-cut situation that gives a lot of direction as to what to do next. More information will be released as we go along. And I promise to relay this information in the most clear-cut, understandable, and up-to-date terms.
Congratulations to all of our winners from our VIP Business of Design Book Launch Party
- Ronica VanGelder – winner of the 5 Part Audio Course – “5 Ways to be the Next Design Marketing Star”, compliments of Kelly Galea, The Design Biz Coach – www.thedesignbizcoach.com
- Dawn Williams – winner of a $50 Gift Certificate to the Minutes Matter Online Store, compliments of Debbie Green, founder of Minutes Matter – www.minutesmatter.com
- Ruth Banks – winner of a 45 minute consultation and Dewey Color System, compliments of Margi Kyle, Design Doctor – www.doctormargi.com
- Lois Laidlaw – winner of the brand new book “Business of Interior Design, Proven Marketing Secrets to Attract More Clients, Make More Money, Have More Freedom, And Love Being a Designer”, compliments of Vitalia Vygovska, Window Treatment & Productivity Expert – www.vitaliainc.com
- Lucinda Reed – winner of a 1 year free membership to DSA, compliments of Natasha Lima-Younts, Designer Society of America – www.dsasociety.org
- Jennifer Crawford – winner of “live” video training of how to do a walk through and stage a clients home as well as how to redesign a room, compliments of Mary Larsen, Mary Larsen Designs – www.marylarsendesigns.com
- Denise Willard – winner of the book “Marketing Interior Design”, compliments of Lloyd Princeton, Design Management Company – www.dmcnyc.com
- Janice Ward – winner of the e-book, “Get Clients Now: How to Attract Ideal Design Clients”, compliments Kelly Galea, The Design Biz Coach – www.thedesignbizcoach.com
- Marna Conner – winner of the brand new book “Business of Interior Design, Proven Marketing Secrets to Attract More Clients, Make More Money, Have More Freedom, And Love Being a Designer”, compliments of Vitalia Vygovska, Window Treatment & Productivity Expert – www.vitaliainc.com
- Mary Bowden – winner of a 2 part audio class on “How to put on a Successful Trunk Show from Start to Finish”, by Margo DeGange, Degangi Group – www.margodegange.com
- Kelli Chitty – winner of a $50 Gift Certificate to the Minutes Matter Online Store, compliments of Debbie Green, founder of Minutes Matter – www.minutesmatter.com
- Patti Anderson – winner of $50 off WCAA membership compliments of Jenna Abbott, Executive Director Window Coverings Association of America – www.wcaa.org
- Michelle Eaton – winner of a 30 minute coaching session with Anna Jacoby compliments of Anna Jacoby Interiors – www.annajacobyinteriors.com
- Cherie Rissi – winner of ‘How to Host a Successful Telesminar”, compliments of Nika Stewart – www.nikastewart.com
- Maureen Quinn-Donovan – winner of $50 Gift Certificate to the Minutes Matter Online Store, compliments of Debbie Green, founder of Minutes Matter – www.minutesmatter.com
- Stacey Just – winner of the brand new book “Business of Interior Design, Proven Marketing Secrets to Attract More Clients, Make More Money, Have More Freedom, And Love Being a Designer”, compliments of Vitalia Vygovska, Window Treatment & Productivity Expert – www.vitaliainc.com
#1 REASON TO JOIN MY PARTY– and it’s NOT what you think!
By now you’ve surely heard the buzz about my VIP Book Launch Party! Are you joining the celebration?
(In a hurry? Join here http://bit.ly/chlQlw)
Just in case you haven’t made up your mind, here’s my list of top 9 reasons why it would be good for you. So here goes…
#9. Be in-the-know. Even if you’re just a little bit curious about what’s happening. It’s your industry and you deserve to know what’s going on.
#8. Free give-aways – many bonuses, e-books, coaching sessions, recordings that can be yours, simply by joining the party
#7. Free advice – we’ll be talking about Setting Yourself Up for success in the busy Fall months – you need to know this information to succeed!
#8. Amazing line-up of guest experts – you want to be in their presence, you want to know how they think, what’s on their minds now, where they think the industry is going
#5.Free excerpts from the book – if you want to know how to market yourself better, you will want to hear this
#4. 3 conveniently-timed slots – hop on for all three sessions, or just one – whenever it’s convenient for you
#3.Get a recording for the future – even if you are busy on the actual day of the party, I will send you a recording of everything that happened, so you can listen at your convenience
#2. Beat the competition – you don’t want to be the only one NOT knowing about the best, brand new marketing resource for our industry
#1. I would love your support! You’ve been a host of a party before right? So you know how it feels when you’re preparing your grand event and making everything just perfect. You’re anticipating. You’re excited. And you would just LOVE to have your friends and colleagues there.
That’s how I feel now too. This is my very first book. And let me tell you, it was like birthing a child: exhausting and rewarding at the same time. One of my goals this year is to really slow down and relish in what I’ve accomplished and celebrate. So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I am a first-time author and I’m just so proud and excited. Would you come support your colleague in the industry? I am inviting you to join me!
To join the party, simply get your own VIP access details here: http://bit.ly/chlQlw
7 No Brainer Ways to Repurpose Your Expertise and Excellence ©Melissa Galt 2010
In this age of life and business at warp speed, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the many opportunities and tasks that come our way literally daily. And we forget that the whole point to the internet is that it allows us countless super simple ways to replicate ourselves and our expertise with a minimum of effort. So let’s imagine that you have one piece of incredible content, even at just 250 words whether they are written or spoken (I know you might not like to write or be good at it, but I also know you can talk and be transcribed!) Here are seven no brainer ways to repurpose your expert and excellent content.
1. Make it a BLOG POST, if you don’t have your own blog, then share it on someone else’s as a comment.
2. Turn it into an ARTICLE and submit it to article directories like www.ezinearticles.com
3.Spin it into a VIDEO. You can do this easily with www.animoto.com or www.articlevideorobot.com
4. Add images and illustrations and make it a downloadable SPECIAL REPORT. (This works even better when you combine several articles together.)
5. Put it in your EZINE (electronic newsletter)
6. Make a PODCAST out of it.
7. Share it in a FORUM. This is a great way to attract new prospects and buyers.
There are many more ways you can repurpose your content. The key is to put these systems into place so that you can focus on your excellence and expertise and reap the time saving benefits of sharing great content you create in multiple formats with multiple prospects and buyers. After all we are in the Information Age, the more you share, the more you grow.
Want more great shortcuts to systemizing your profits? Grab your seat on the upcoming free webinar “5 Super Simple Secrets to Save You Time, Skyrocket Your Profits, and Build Your Brand With Heart and Individuality”; on Thursday, August 12, at 4 pm EST/7 pm PST, http://tinyurl.com/23wgfeo.
Do you know this man?
The man that I’m talking about is David Shepherd.
A very accomplished entrepreneur, he is also the founder of Business of Design Conference – THE place for serious designers to get best business advice and latest strategies.
I am embarrassed to admit that until a few months ago, I had never heard of David Shepherd or his conference. And you know me – I am ALL about business of design. It’s shocking that such a charismatic figure in our industry and such a powerful event, escaped my radar.
So, it occurred to me that if it escaped me, perhaps it’s escaping you as well. And I just couldn’t let that happen.
I am very excited to be attending the conference this year. You know that I always talk about continuing education, self-improvement, and betterment of your business skills. Well, if you are a serious designer, there is no better place this year to further your business, your confidence, and your bank account, than by attending The Business of Design Conference, September 2-3, in NYC.
I’d like you to experience it so much, that, as a preferred partner of DPI, I’ve been able to negotiate something very special for you (I still can’t believe David agreed to this).
Officially, the ‘early bird’ special ended on June 1st but David is extending it for you through July 6th! Only through July 6th, you can save $500 off the regular price admission ticket of $1995. So your price for this premier two-day event is $1495! Your special code is 74Z4G. (this offer is not valid for those who have already purchased their tickets)
Be sure to check out the particulars at The Business of Design Conference and register today. Can’t wait to meet you in NYC!