Friday, February 20, 2009

CDT News 2-20-09

As we stated in our past e-mails, this year we are all about building our businesses. We must all work a little harder, maybe a lot harder, during slow economic times. The trick is to work harder on things that will actually pay off in more customers and higher sales.

CDT's annual "Toasting the Top Ten" Party
was held on January 29th at Le Titi de Paris in Arlington Heights. Vicki and Camille played hostess to the top 10 designers for 2008. Each honoree was driven to and from the party in a limo, treated to a lovely four course dinner, serenaded by harp music and showered with gifts and praise. Best of all was the chance to talk and share ideas.

All of us at CDT wish to thank these women for their business and loyalty one more time. Shown in back row above are Kelly Guinaugh, Marietta Calas, Cynthia Keltz and partner Katie Campise, Carolyn Lewis, CDT owner Vicki Martin, Dagmar Obert, Mara Pedersen. Front row: Carol Most, Lynne Gillis, Tara Gruber, and CDT owner Camille Sullivan. Not pictured is Sharon Miller

In addition to our Top Ten, each year we also like to acknowledge the other 15 designers that round out our Top 25. We applaud the efforts of: Kerry Steiner, Bonnie Kovacik, Sandy Dzursin, Cathy Fountaine, Dana Kelter, Karen Fischer, Diane Johnson, Alison Sherman, Heidi Green, Tess Horak, Kristin Petro, Laurie Venema, Karen Nashen, Mollee Johnson, and our own Eve Senti.

Each of these 15 ladies received a special gift. All 25 have special mailboxes at CDT and get "first dibs" on new pricers and other goodies. We make every effort to find little perks and ways to show our appreciation to each of them.

These 25 ladies are living proof that, even in tough economic times, there is business out there if you do the right things and work hard to get it.



SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU??
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
In 2006, the first year we started the top ten promotion, the average sale of the honorees was about $40,000 in sales placed at CDT, including Robert Allen and Duralee sales, on the accounts that are attached to us. For 2008, that number had increased to almost $65,000. We know, from conversations with the winners, is that by setting a goal and striving toward it they increased their sales. Anyone who competes in ANYTHING understands the importance of having a written, measurable goal. If there is no target, what do you aim for?

We would like to challenge each of you to set a reasonable goal for 2009. Even if your goal is to stay even with 2008, it is important to state that goal. Post the number where you can see it. Decide what steps you need to take to reach it.
We have several experienced sales trainers here on our staff. We would be happy to help you with your goal setting, if you would like to brainstorm.

Is your goal to be one of the 2009 Top Ten?

There are lots of ways to begin! Do more appointments, sharpen your selling skills. Build your product knowledge, make more "add on sales" like upgraded cushions or accessories. As I mentioned, we include your Robert Allen and Duralee sales in these numbers. These vendors send us monthly reports on the accounts that are attached to our showroom. If you are not one of "our" accounts, we cannot count them toward this promotion, since we do not receive any credit for them, and cannot learn what your volume is. Typically, once we add the RA and DUR dollars, the make up of the Top Ten changes slightly, in that designers who do not order fabric through CDT, or are not "our accounts" get edged out.

The easiest way to break into the top ten is to simply order most of your product here! If you are spending hours going downtown, running from showroom to showroom, you might want to reconsider!

Do you sell a full complement of products? If you are not selling furniture, or do not usually accessorize, adding these types of things to your product mix can make a HUGE difference in your sales. Selling Hunter Douglas products has gotten several designers to the party.

These are just a few ideas...not only might you be at the top of our list come December, but think what sales of $60,000 would do to your income!

Nothing would make us happier to have to have a "Toasting the TOP 20!!! We would love to see you there!!

Sales: When you visit the showroom, be sure to look in the Duralee room for the flyer on current sale items. Many vendors are offering great promos now. Currently there are great deals to be had on Hunter Douglas "ette" products (like Duette, Silhouette etc.) as well as Century, Thomas Lawrence and Superior.
Call CDT for details, or check our blog for past e-mails.
If you have a good marketing idea to share with your fellow designers, we would love to hear it!

If you want to brainstorm about your goals, or any other aspect of your business, we are all here at CDT---ready and willing to help!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Top Ten Party Photos






















CDT News week of 2-13-09

Happy Valentines Day to all of you! We hope it was a nice weekend, wether you are with a sweetie, relaxing alone at home or out on the town.

New accessories
from Elizabeth Marshall and some new Butler tables have arrived! New Foliage and Uttermost lamps and mirrors will be here next week. Stop in and take a look.
Marketing and selling during difficult times
This is the main focus of our efforts this spring. Regardless of how big your business is, it is more important than ever to hone your sales and marketing skills and to increase your effort in these areas. We all need to focus on finding the business that is out there, and to close more sales once we have the opportunity to be in front of a client.

At CDT, we are looking for new ideas as to how we can help you improve business, AND how we can improve OUR business. As always, if there is anything you would like to suggest to us, constructive criticisms, product ideas etc, we always welcome your feedback.

Marketing tip for the week

Many of you have commented on our new newsletter/e-mail format. This is provided for us by Constant Contact. They charge a reasonable fee for you to use their templates, and they mail the letters out from their site. This makes it secure, the forwarding and unsubscribe features are better than we would have on our own, and most importantly for us, it allows us to send huge numbers of e-mails with a single click. If you have a large mailing list, you might want to look into it. Andrea can give you the details.

A newsletter is a great way to keep your name in front of your clients. It takes minimal time, can be as simple or as elaborate as you like and if you do it all yourself and send it electronically - it's free.

Right now, there are great deals available from Thomas Lawrence, Hunter Douglas and Century. Have you notified your clients? Take advantage of these sales...it gives you a reason to contact them. Don't have their e-mail addresses?? EXCELLENT!!! This gives you a reason to call them!!! While you have them on the phone, see if they -- or someone they know-- is in need of your services.

We challenge you to start a newsletter, either e-mail or snail-mail TODAY!!!
Calendar of Events

March 25 10:00 am Hunter Douglas Beginner Class
April 1 10:00 am Hunter Douglas Intermediate/Advanced Class

April 10-12 CLOSED FOR EASTER
May 22-25 CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY
July 3-5 CLOSED FOR 4TH OF JULY
Sept 4-7 CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
Nov 25-29 CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING
Dec 24-27 CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
Dec. 31-Jan. 3 CLOSED FOR NEW YEAR'S

Other dates will be added as events are planned. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Please RSVP to any events to help us plan our seating and refereshments.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

CDT Top Ten Party

CDT News 2-9-09

As always, there is a lot of news here at CDT! Upcoming events, marketing tips, sales and other useful information.
Are you a former furniture store designer who is now your own due to cutbacks? Or are you considering going out on your own after years of working retail?
We are considering hosting a focus group for all of you "retail refugees!" If you would be interested in meeting with a group of designers who share the same situation, please contact us at this e-mail and let us know what you would like this meeting to be like.
Would you like structure? If so, what topics?
Would you prefer just networking?

We would love to hear your thoughts, and to determine if there is enough interest to warrant an after-hours event here at CDT. We look forward to hearing from you.

New Hekman prices will be in effect as of 2/16 be sure to check in with us if you are working on a Hekman order.

Hunter Douglas Promos
Remember the terrific rebates available on select Hunter Douglas products. This is a great way to entice your customer to buy NOW! Refer to the CDT blog and scroll back a few e-mails to view the rebate list. Or call us at 847 394-1800 for details.

There is an additional promotion on Applause Sunterra Shades: In order to introduce you to the new Sunterra fabrics, there is a special price grid in the Hunter Douglas binder, which is good until May 4. Regular pricing will resume
May 5.


CDT will be hosting Hunter Douglas training classes
Beginner class: Wednesday, March 25, 10:00-12:00
Advanced class: Wednesday, April 1, 10:00-12:00
Please RSVP by March 20.

Valentines Day "Because We Love You" Sales seminar.
Due to the huge response to this program, we are no longer accepting reservations, and have started a waiting list. If you want to be on that list, please call the showroom. If there is enough interest,we will schedule a second date. If you are unable to attend, please let us know, so we can invite designers who are wait listed.

A helpful tip
Jody and Andrea have offered this time saving suggestion: If you are placing a COM order, come prepared with a small swatch or a GOOD color copy of your fabric. Attach it to a paper with the vendor name, pattern and color, width and repeat. Indicate which is the right side, which way is "UP" and if it is railroaded. Also indicate how many yards you are sending.

We need this info on EVERY COM order we place. This prevents many mistakes. Our vendors require it, and we insist on it for our protection, as well as yours. This is a great way to ensure that if there is an error on the way your fabric is applied to the frame, YOU have done your home work and are not to blame. If all these items are in place, the vendor will re-do the piece if there is an error. We strongly suggest you follow this procedure with ALL your COM orders, and with your local upholsterer and drapery workrooms.

If you come to CDT with this info ready, we can place your order that day. If we have to wait for you to call us with this info, your order will be delayed.

Marketing tip of the week

This is a feature we will try to include with each mailing. We will see how long it takes to run out of ideas! If anyone has an idea to share, we will pass it along, with your name credited, or you can remain anonymous! This first tip is from Vicki. I think some of you do this already, but here goes:

Many places (Wolf Camera, WalMart)that do photo developing also offer digitally produced photo albums in a variety of sizes. All you have to do is insert your disc, memory stick, or whatever into the machine, choose the album and page style and click and drag your photos on to the page. They print the book in about an hour. This is a great client gift with before and after photos! Can you imagine the response when they show their friends? The photos are just normal size or smaller, and you can crop, so they do not need to be really professional photos. You can add text, with comments, or messages of appreciation. I have a realtor friend that does this for every house she sells. It is even more powerful for our business.

I also think that this is a great way to do a portfolio. You can add photos, testimonials or other items (diplomas and certificates) that you have scanned.

If you are interested in doing this at home, Creative Memories has free software you can download. Then you can do your books at home. You then upload it to CM, type in your credit card number and the book arrives at your door in a week or two. They also have software that you can purchase that allows you to manipulate the photos in all sorts of ways, add all sorts of decorative elements and change the page layout to anything you like. You can make a spectacular portfolio... not to mention a great scrapbook. I will be happy to talk to you about this, and have an example of a book from Wolf and one from Creative Memories at the showroom.

Check it out at www.creativememories.com

Monday, February 2, 2009

CDT News 1-30-09

Great deals are now available from Century!

From February 1-15, save an additional 10% on all Signature Upholstery!
Dozens of chairs, settees, sofas and ottomans in traditional, transitional and contemporary styling. Each piece is made to order with numerous custom options and available for delivery in 4-6 weeks. This is Century's finest quality, replete with flow matching, expert craftsmanship and available with over 60 frame finishes to choose from.

In addition, there are great savings to be had on hundreds of stocked and finished items ranging from 10% up to 50%. We have a large white binder in the showroom filled with overstock, discontinued items and other opportunities to save-or earn extra profits! Quantities on individual items are limited, so act fast to take advantage of these great deals.

Hooker has introduced some wonderful new youth bedroom groups.
We are really pleased with the way they have filled this void in their product mix. Some collections are wood stained, some come in black or white. Some are very "girlie" others are perfect for a growing boy. There are student desks with hutches, trundle beds and all the other items you need to do a gorgeous room for a great Hooker Price. I should point out that most of these collections, while geared toward the younger set, are NOT childish and could be used in almost any bedroom setting.

Take advantage of the CDT BLOG
As some of you are aware, each of our newsletters and weekly updates is posted on the CDT Blog. If you go to our website, www.chicagodesignteam.com and look along the top of the homepage, you will see the "Blogger "tab. If you click on this, you will see all of our past communication, with the most recent item first. You can use this to review things, or hunt down info you remember reading but can't remember the details. You can also use this tool to communicate with other designers in a secure manner. For example, if you love Century Signature furniture, you can post a reply to this e-mail. It will appear on the blog. Others can then respond. If you are looking for an intern, or a workroom, you can send us an e-mail and Andrea (aka: tech support) will convert it to a notice that others can respond to without going through CDT email. This could be a great communication and networking tool. You could also share photos of your work.
One of our goals this year is to start making better use of the tools we have at our disposal that will help our business grow. We invite you to join us!
Meanwhile, you can see the photos of our staff Christmas party.

HUNTER DOUGLAS TRAINING DATES
Join us hear at CDT for beginning training on Wednesday, March 25 at 10:00 am

The intermediate class will take place on Wednesday, April 1 at 10:00 am

Continental breakfast will be served.
Please RSVP by March 20 (847) 394-1800

WE DO NOT HAVE DETAILS ON THE UPCOMING "PREMIERS" SESSIONS. STAY TUNED---WE SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING SOON.

If you would like to learn about hard window coverings, or need a refresher, you should plan to attend. Some of you pass these sales on to your workrooms or installers. This is walking away from easy money. EVERY DESIGNER should have the full array of Hunter Douglas products as part of their arsenal. They are energy efficient, some are "green" and they make designing draperies so much easier. Consider how much more creative you can be with your draperies if they do not have to be operable. A beautiful Silhouette, Woven Texture, Vignette or other product can give your client privacy and light control, and you can work your magic with the over treatments. Remember that there are generous rebates available this spring, so this is a great time to begin or to increase your Hunter Douglas sales.

Remember, CDT has a measure and installation service available to you, so all you need to do is select the product that will give your client the look they need.

Duette is the most energy saving product on the market...a fact that is sure to appeal to the husbands

Don't forget our "Because We Love You" Valentines Day sales training seminar. You will learn tips on business planning, goal setting, marketing and closing. As always, we will provide goodies to help keep those brains functioning...like Wendy's Valentine cookies!

Wednesday, February 18, 5-7 pm at CDT. Please arrive promptly, and RSVP as soon as possible.

We will help you close those sales, and complete your rebate forms, so stop in soon!
Thanks to everyone for reading this message, and for working hard to grow your business. Have a great weekend.