CYBER Theft: Cracking the Case!

If you haven't been robbed in one way or another by cyber thieves yet, 

consider yourself lucky - and in the minority. It's happened to me multiple times, 

and I hear about it happening to others every day. Here is one such story:

Original Jewelry Designs by Gretchen Johnson Shaumann of Mimi-Toria's Designs
(She has some GREAT display ideas, doesn't she?!)
IMAGE: property of Gretchen Schaumann / Mimi Toria's Designs 2011
All Rights Reserved . used with permission

Last month, Gretchen, a friend on facebook, posted this question on her wall:

It has been brought to my attention that a blogger in the UK has basically stolen 13 pages off of my blog!

I've written, photographed, edited, designed the jewelry on it, as well as edited the photos, etc. This literally involves 1,000's of combined hours of my time. There are no other designers under the JEWELRY heading other than mine.

I do have a copyright statement on my blog, etc.

What would you do? How would you handle it if it were your blog? Would it bother you? Would you be flattered? Or would you insist it all be removed at once?

Just pretty much blows me away that someone would do this first off...

She received dozens of comments - most of them to the tune of 'WHAAAAAAA? Why would someone do this?!' Many people just don't realize the extent to which this happens, especially in the creative world.

I commented on her post and shared that my experience with it was that the offender was simply channeling traffic to his own blog, where he was making money through ad clicks. I also gave her the link to my blog, and told her about the resources I have posted on my right sidebar for 'Content Theft'.

I learned a lot when my own design blog content was scraped by the unscrupulous Danish man whats-his-name a few years back. I yelled and screamed at the wrong person (the template designer... who responded by posting on his blog. I am STILL getting irate emails from techies coming from his post, so may I just say ONE MORE TIME "I am SORRY, Andreas! I still had a lot to learn at that point!") I posted resources on my own blog sidebar, in hopes that they would help others who find themselves in this less than appealing position. There are a lot of links ;0)

My friend checked out my links, did some recon, wrote some complaints, took action, and eventually got satisfaction. I received this from her today:

Hi Deb!
I just wanted to update you that my issue in the UK with the blogging 2 years of my content that was stolen, has been resolved. It was removed, and a nasty cinderella/wicked stepmother cartoon was put in place of it, as well as a lot of other vulgar stuff.

I don't understand people.... They steal, and then get mad when caught...???

Anyways, just wanted to be sure to THANK YOU for your valuable help and encouragement you shared with me. I ended up emailing GOOGLE first as it was their AD SENSE program that this person was selling using my content. I didn't hear anything from them, and than recently went on again to check and it was removed.

Then this weird cartoon about the wicked step Mom cutting off Cinderella, etc. was on their wall. People are so strange... Thanks again!

 I love to hear that the good guys win once in awhile! And I thought that the Google Ad Sense avenue to approaching this mess was a GREAT solution, so I wanted to share it with you. If you have tips to share in regard to protecting online content, please share in the comments below...

Make sure you visit Gretchen Johnson Schaumann at Mimi-Toria's Designs, to see her beautiful vintage jewelry designs... and her great ORIGINAL blog content. ;0)

Tips & Tricks for your Trade Show Displays

 It's gift show season again, 

and for those of you who participate as exhibitors/vendors,

here's a re-run of a post I wrote a few years ago

For Trade Show Exhibitors

In it, I offer up some tips, tricks, ideas and information

about how to maximize your presence at shows,

using some of the marketing opportunities offered by management.

And just exactly what those 'Exhibitor Display' areas are for!

Having created exhibitor/vendor displays & seminars at the 

Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland Gift Shows,

I've seen the good, the bad, and the ridiculous -

click the link above to read all about it.

Window Dressing

 Yep, I'm still Pinning images to my

Retail Display Inspiration board on Pinterest.

 And as I scroll through hundreds of shared images on the site,

I am thrilled to discover more retail resources. 

Sharing those resources with you is what my blog is all about, 

so without further ado, let me share one I find MOST interesting:

Please RUN - do not walk, RUN - over and check out the blog 

'A Love of Visual Merchandising'

You'll find a plethora of fabulous photos there, taken of store window displays in the UK.

Author Kathryn, from Bath, Avon, United Kingdom, introduces herself this way:

My name is Kathryn, I am 22 and grew up in the Cotswolds. I have recently graduated from university where I studied a BA Hons Degree in Fashion Marketing and Communication. I hope to pursue a career in retail, my area of particular interest is visual merchandising. This blog is an opportunity for me to record and display examples of Visual Merchandising that inspire and excite me. In addition to my observations I try to identify Visual Merchandising trends within the fashion industry, to train my eye to look at things from a professional perspective as well as from a commercial and consumer one.

Delve into her archives for some real visual inspiration 

from the very talented 'window dressers' in England. Posh, for sure ;0)

white image shown above is linked from 'A Love of Visual Merchandising' blog.

Top red image is mine.

iPhone? nah....iPin

  Yeah, I've been hit by the Pinterest bug!

I've been busy this morning creating a new board, 

pinning my own images of displays I have designed & created 

along with some really fabulous images discovered on other pinboards.

I'll keep adding to it as I find more

('cause you KNOW how addictive Pinterest IS!)

You can find my board here:

Retail Display Inspirations

And I'll suggest that you also check out Cathye Bordwell's here:

 Display Merchandising

(some of the images I pinned were found on her board) 

and Patty from Sisters Antiques has one here:

Shop Displays 

Smart Retailer Magazine has one, too!

 Display Inspiration

Pinterest is a really great new resource for visual inspiration...

you just have to be rather determined NOT to waste hours of time there!

Do you know of other inspiring retail display boards on Pinterest?

Share links in a comment!

Winter Displays on the Cheap

What are you featuring in your windows and front zone displays right now?  

Have you restyled them to reflect the season and provide fresh inspiration - or are you waiting for new merchandise to arrive? It's very simple to refresh existing merchandise to look new and appealing to customers. 

It's important to get a fresh start after the holidays! 

Your customers will be coming in with gift cards, gift certs, and money they received, and they deserve to see fresh new ideas. Inspiring them to buy what you offer can be as simple as taking what you already have and combining it in a new way to reflect the season.

The tableware display shown in the photo above features white Vietri pottery, along with gorgeous brown linens, whimsical dotted glassware, and since this was during my stint creating displays at Columbia Winery, of course a lovely wine is included. This look is a perfect mix for this 'bridge' season of late winter to early spring. Simple, contemporary, classic, and warmth of color & textures draw the customer in. Huge bare branches bring nature inside - you could even hang crystals (or leftover snowflake holiday ornaments) from the branches to add movement and sparkle to the display. 

Most of the products shown here were in displays in the store during the Holidays: the white Vietri was paired with red linens and snowflakes. The brown linens were displayed with brown pottery and pinecones. Combining them with new elements and a few fresh props creates a fabulous new look, inspires your customers, AND saves you money. 

Go out on your sales floor and look at the components you already have - 

what possibilities exist to rethink, restyle, and sell them at full price right now?
Use leftover Christmas merch for Valentine's Day? Yep! Look HERE

Image Credit: Taken by DWK 2007; courtesy of Columbia Winery

Get Smart!

For many years, I've provided content, tips, articles, and QandA columns for Country Business Magazine -
both in print and online. Working with Editor Susan Wagner has always been a pleasure, and knowing that the information I share has reached retailers who are working hard to succeed is even better. The CBM readership is a dedicated group of professionals!

Susan recently contacted me to let me know about some upcoming changes to CBM... BIG changes:

They are undergoing a massive 'makeover' (and you KNOW how I love those!), making the magazine, web site, and blog even better for their growing readership. Country Business Magazine will now be Smart Retailer, with the magazine, web site, and blog geared to a wider range of the retail gift industry - not just country style boutiques.

With a tagline like 'Helping Your Gift Business Succeed', you know the goal is providing information and resources that retailers can use to build better businesses... hey, wait a minute... that's MY tagline! Since I've always done the same with my blog, facebook page, speaking, and writing, I can really get behind this. Beginning in January, I'll be providing new content for the Smart Retailer blog. Thank you, Susan, for inviting me to be a part of your new direction!

The new website goes live on December 1, so click over there and check them out!

You can also keep up with their news on facebook

http://www.smart-retailer.com/