Do Business Well

It’s almost Meeting Failure-Proof

Keep in mind that most meetings aren’t very effective as they are now run. When you get a chance to facilitate or record, it will be because your group has agreed that it is worth trying something new. You are probably going to look good no matter what you do. The mere presence of a facilitator, recorder, and group memory will do wonders. Even if you think you have done a lousy job, your group may well be impressed just because it will all be so new. Explain that you are learning and will make mistakes. Ask people to help you stay in your role and remain neutral. You are there to help them. It’s their meeting and they share the responsibility for making it a success. Continue Reading »

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No matter how many books you read, how many training programs you attend, or how many meetings you run, you can always improve your facilitating and recording skills. Professionals in any field know this. Famous athletes or performers are constantly experimenting, trying new techniques, striving for perfection which they know, no matter how hard they work, no one can attain. Even if you’ve been fortunate enough to receive professional facilitation training, if you want to become a topnotch facilitator or recorder, you will have to continue learning by yourself. Continue Reading »

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Consumers have two main choices when it comes to decorating their walls: either they display art or they use other types of wall decor, including sconces, mirrors, and tapestries. Purchase incidence of wall decor shot up in 2007 from one-fourth of American households purchasing wall decor in 2005 to 38 percent in 2007. As a new anti-clutter approach to home decorating is sweeping the country, consumers are turning their decorating attention away from the tabletops, mantles, and bookshelves toward the walls. With purchase incidence of both art and wall decor rising in 2007, the home’s walls can be adorned without appearing too cluttered. Continue Reading »

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Purchase incidence of tabletop products was 16 percent in 2007, about even with results of the 2000 survey, after jumping sharply in 2001 to 26 percent. With purchase incidence going up and down, it is likely to be driven by home entertaining and other special occasion needs, including wedding occasions where tabletop is popular.

For example, more specialty retailers are merchandising their dinnerware departments with specially themed groupings that are offered as a more prestigious option than paper plates for entertaining or other special occasions. The patterns are clearly not intended for permanent, long-term use. A recent trip to Pier 1 found a whole range of very attractively priced, color-coordinated tabletop items for spring, including dinnerware, chargers, stemware, napkin rings, and table linens, perfectly suited to setting a spring-fling table, but clearly not appropriate for year- round use. So instead of going to Wal-Mart and spending $10 on tacky paper places, you can go to Pier 1 and drop a $100 but set your party table in much more style. Continue Reading »

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