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FEATURE
whwytriright 24 Getting Hot for the Holidays
“Last year was not so good,” remarks Tom Tal, vice
SNAFU DESIGNS
2500 University Avenue West Suite C10president at Puzzled Inc., which specializes in wooden
St. Paul, MN 55114
toys. “Th is year so far has been okay, but the trade shows
Toll Free: 800-766-5786
have been shrinking, and that’s a problem. But we
Tel.: 651-698-8581 Fax: 651-698-8661
Email:
info@snafudesigns.com
think that with the right eff ort we’ll fi nish the year in a
Website:
www.snafudesigns.com
good position.”
“So far, 2008 has been all right, nothing spectacular,”
says Mark Cohen, owner of Bongo Flashers, which off ers drum up a litt le more business. In the past,
wholesale body lights, blinky lights, fl ashers, and glow we haven’t had to do that.” Th ough SNAFU
sticks. “We’re seeing our business starting to pick up, off ers two basic lines of cards (fl oral and
which is not bad,” he adds with a laugh. Some are taking humorous), Austin says the humorous cards
heart from the NRF’s 2009 Independence Day Consumer are by far the strongest current sellers. “I don’t
Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, know if it’s because the economy is bad or the
which indicated that. Since July 4 fell on a Saturday this year, world situation is so scary or what it is, but people are
more people would be actively celebrating, with 62.6 percent gravitating more toward humor and more toward our gently
(144 million people) either hosting or att ending a cookout, humorous cards, rather than the edgier ones.”
barbecue or picnic, compared to 61.2 percent (139 million) Most of SNAFU’s cards are priced at $1.25 each, or in
in 2008. With those plans come added store traffi c, the group six and twelve packs priced at $7.50 to $15. Th e company
said. Such news is welcomed by requires a $75 minimum fi rst
Cohen, who does a signifi cant time order, and a $50 minimum
trade in American fl ag themed Realization that the time for reorders. SNAFU also off ers
products. “We always look for- packages of some of its best sell-
has come to rethink
ward to the Fourth,” he says. ing cards, starting at $180 for
Looking further ahead, the long held traditions and 12 sets of a dozen cards each:
Consumer Electronics Associa- Th e same packages are avail-
practices is much in
tion has indicated that Holiday able with white wire spinner
2009 expectations, while low evidence throughout all displays, priced from $135 to
by historical standards, will be $1,800, depending on size. Aus-
sectors of business.
much improved over 2008’s tin says plans are also afoot to
numbers. An expected price make SNAFU’s website more
decrease for gaming systems, user friendly. “It used to be
Nintendo Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3, will help drive the really an online catalog only,” he says. “For the fi rst time
sector’s sales. Even the hard hit luxury sector is taking steps last year we off ered sales online, and the response has been
to ensure a stronger 2009, as executives at the Reuters Luxury great. Plus it saves us money from not having to send out a
and Retail Summit, held in June in New York, indicated that catalog and sample cards, with postage.”
price cuts were in the works, meaning, that Prada bags will Bongo Flashers is also looking to revamp its website,
now be a litt le less unaff ordable, in some cases. according to Cohen. “It’s really a full facelift ,” he says. “We
Th is realization that the time has come to rethink
long held traditions and practices is much in evidence
BONGO FLASHERS
throughout all sectors of business. Scott Austin, presi-
19140 No. 4 Lahey St., Northridge, CA 91326
dent of SNAFU Designs, a wholesale supplier of
Toll Free: 866-707-5483 Tel.: 818-368-8758
Email: sales@bongofl
ashers.com
greeting cards, says his company will, “probably
Website: www.bongofl
ashers.net
off er retailers more discounts and specials, free
shipping for a certain size order, things like that, to
Continued On 28 whwytriright
26 August 2009
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