Fall 2012 Hardlines Strategies

MARKET PREVIEW

Passport to Savings Blish-Mize 2012 Fall Buying Market is Sept. 21-22 I t’s time for Blish-Mize customers to pack their bags and get ready

As customers get ready to head out to the Market this year, they’ll want to grab their passports, too—but not the ones that allow them to enter a foreign country. These passports contain all the coupons they’ll need to take advantage of the best deals anywhere as they prepare for winter and next year’s early spring selling season. At this Market, vendors from across the industry will be showing new items, reviewing their product lines and offering attendees hot prices that will boost their buying power. In addition, Market attendees will get a chance to win cash in one of four Passport of Savings drawings to be held throughout the two-day Market. “Our Market is always the best place to connect with great prices, great people from the Blish-Mize sales team and great brands specially priced just for the Market,” Blish-Mize communications director Blish Connor says. There will be plenty of time for fun, too. “On Friday night, at our customer appreciation event, we’re bringing back the ever popular Jack Stack barbecue and hosting the band Bali Root, which everyone will love. Expect lots of fun, food and dancing on Friday,” Connor says. to save some money at the Blish-Mize “Passport of Savings” Fall Buying Market, to be held Sept. 21-22 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.

Introducing the Mini-Store One of the new features at the Fall Market will be a real-world example of some of the ways Blish-Mize can help customers build their assortments in two of the hottest categories in the market today. “Because there is less building and more remodeling these days, the Paint and Paint Sundries departments, as well as the Lawn and Garden areas, continue to grow in importance for many of our customers,” says Doug Long, Blish-Mize vice president of sales and marketing. “We have designed a mini-store that represents some key assortments in these areas that would allow customers to go deeper with a minimal investment.” This model store area is a must-see for customers who are looking to expand or enhance their assortments in Paint, Paint Sundries and Lawn and Garden. “Remember, this is just a small sampling of what Blish-Mize has in the way of RMS assortments in these categories,” Long says. “We can custom design one for your store and your market.”

Market, titled “Is Your Store’s Strategy Market Driven?” This seminar will be held once on each day of the Market. Lawn and Garden Seminar The second seminar at the Market is “Grow Your Sales with Scotts-Miracle Gro,” to be held Friday morning and again Saturday afternoon. Customers who have been looking for ways to drive more sales to their Lawn and Garden departments are sure to find this seminar helpful as they prepare to make important buying decisions for the coming spring selling season. Important Opportunities As always, vendors participating in the Fall Buying Market will be ready to answer questions about their product lines, offer a hands-on look at new products and strike a deal on some of their best-selling items. Here are just some of the can’t-miss booths attendees will want to visit: • Pratt & Lambert. This vendor made its debut at the Spring Market and will be back as retailers continue the transition from the Martin-Senour brand. This line offers the opportunity to attract a new group of customers with a premium line of coatings.

Of course, those aren’t the only categories Blish-Mize can help its

customers reset with the RMS program. To tell Market attendees more about what they can do, Blish-Mize regional managers will be holding a seminar during the

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Fall 2012 • Hardlines Strategies