Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category

Exhibitions, Tradeshows And Events - The Single Most Important Ingredient To Your Success

Monday, November 5th, 2007

There is ONE central idea, one key concept that I want you to understand. If you get this right, your show (exhibition or event) will reward you with customers buying what you have to sell. If you DON\’T get this right, you\’ll be paying a fortune for next to nothing, your competitors will eat you up, and your whole exhibiting experience will be very, very unpleasant.

The one thing that you must do right now long before the show, is to…

Set Objectives!

There are many things that drive success to your show, but none more so than setting objectives. Without objectives you are down and out before you even get in the ring. Yes they may not sound exciting or urgent but believe me they are incredibly important.

The vast majority of exhibitors do not set objectives - they book a show because their competitor does; they don?t know who really goes; they don?t know what image to portray or products to display; they don?t know, don?t know, don?t know!

Paying good money and then turning up at your event without objectives is like going to war without knowing why and of course you\’ll never know if you?ve won or lost!

Objectives are not just about what you want to get out of the exhibition or show, they include how you are going to get the results - for example - How are you going to measure your success? Or how will you follow up leads?

Up to 80% of your competition at any exhibition, trade show, trade fair, conference or event will be what we call ?logistic exhibitors? - not ?strategic exhibitors?.

What?s the difference?

Most exhibitors focus on the logistics of the event (for example, ensuring the stand is bought, that the staff are booked, that the transport is laid on, that the products are ready, that the hotels are booked etc) and making sure they don?t miss that critical deadline.

Strategic exhibitors of course focus on all of the above but realise that there are equally (if not more) important tasks that whilst not seeming urgent right now are absolutely critical to the show?s success; these include setting objectives, how to measure their results and how they will follow up leads to name but a few.

So why aren?t more exhibitors strategic? There are many reasons, but in most cases logistic exhibitors fall into one of two categories:

1. Small Business ? Who don?t have the time, the knowledge, resources or know how. If this is you, then you need to spend time doing all of the above or think very seriously about not attending at all - It could save you a fortune and a very big headache!

2. Big Business ? With fairly typical communication problems. This often develops when the senior management doesn?t communicate what it expects to the organiser (that?s probably you!), who in turn is busy trying to achieve what they think the senior management wants to hear ? the result mixed messages and mixed results. If this is you, then you need to start knocking some heads together or at the very least send an email to tie up the loose ends.

Become a Strategic Exhibitor?

Becoming a strategic exhibitor is easy; you just need to do two things to make it happen. Firstly, with the best will in the world, your show will not become a success just by you reading our e-course ? you must implement the information and make it happen! Secondly, become a strategic exhibitor, stay focused, follow our system and do everything that is required to make your show a success ? not a logistic exhibitor who just does the obvious.

Do not under-estimate these two simple steps - by you doing just these two things will have a serious impact on the success of your show.

Setting Objectives?

Your first question should be ?Why are we going??

If you?re in a business-to-business selling situation then you might think you should be exhibiting and your reasons might be to generate leads, find new customers, or maintain or improve your current customers perceptions of you.

Whilst this is fine in general, you need to get to the very heart of why you (or your organisation) are going and what would ?success? actually look like? What would have to happen that would make the event a great one?

By sitting down early and getting these objectives on paper now, will ensure that you (and your colleagues) follow a course to exhibiting success.

How? Simple; keep your objectives continually in the forefront of your mind ? every time you make a decision think objectives - the end result will be nothing short of a roaring success

Visual display guru Matt C Fiore has been helping small and big businesses, marketers and entrepreneurs get the most from their visual marketing space for the last 20 years. Matt\’s passion is brought to life with his business Precision Display, which is based in the United Kingdom. Precision Display is committed to helping people solve their display problems by writing unbiased guides, offering free help, advice and consultancy all backed up with a guarantee of no hard sell. You can find loads more help and advice at http://www.precisionexhibition.co.uk along with thousands of ingenius display products and solutions at http://www.precisionmegastore.co.uk

Coin Shops - How to Deal With Them

Friday, October 19th, 2007

Thank you for being interested in our work. We hope to be of service with the following guidelines.

For coin collectors, Coins are for the most part very interesting items to collect. It is also one of the best ways to understand the various conditions or events in history that resulted in the coins being minted. You can buy coins in Auctions, on the internet even other collectors, but the best way to get good quality coins in which to begin your coin collection is with coin shops.

I am not saying the auction or the internet is not a good place to buy coins for your collection. But Coin shops will have people who are well-educated about coins. They also have a plenty of different coins that can be sold. But most of all the people buying and selling coins are also collecting themselves which means you will find a person who shares your interest in coins.

Another advantage of coin shops is that the dealers can see what your collection is like. But like I stated in other articles coin appraisals are different from shop to shop. Many factors are responsible for that, but most of all it is due to the coin grading knowledge of the dealer. As in every industry you will find honest coin shops and dishonest ones, it is always recommended to look for a coin shops with a good reputation.

When you go to the coin shops in your area keep in mind the type of coins you are collecting. As you may like to add more civil war or colonial time coins to your collection, look for coin shops that sell and purchase these types of coins.

Some coin shops buys, sell and deals with coins of a certain metal. They can help you locate dealers or coin collectors who will be able to sell you coins made of gold, silver and platinum.

Like I wrote earlier you will also find coin shops on the internet, while they make your life easier in a way, choosing the coins you want from the comfort of your home, keep in mind that you will have no way at looking at the coin and see if you want them in your collection.

Paying big money for low value coins is not the way you want to go. From time to time you may fall victim to coin shops that have very little experience in selling coins. Try to avoid those shops as they will be emptying your pockets.

Look at things like:

- Are they reputable

- Do they have good experience in purchasing and selling coins

- Do they sell the type of coins you intend to collect

- Can they help you locate dealers that will sell you any type of coins you like

- But most of all look carefully at the shop reputation before making any buying decision.

Finally, I’d like to thank you for reading this article and I hope it was helpful information.

Happy collecting!

Visit our website for more information about coin collecting or coin collector. We hope you liked our article about coin shops, Feel free to browse through our website for more quality articles.

Hot Wheels Collecting Tips

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Collecting Hot Wheels cars is an easy and fairly inexpensive hobby. Here are some collecting tips to get you on your way with this ever growing hobby of die-cast cars.

* Keep abreast of upcoming special collector days at your neighborhood K-Mart or Wal-Mart stores in your area.

* Search the online auctions or collector’s web sites for cars you may be missing from your current collection.

* Purchase trade books and magazines to stay on top of the value of each car.

* Begin with the latest releases if you are just starting out. Most newer Hot Wheels will not be too difficult to find and you can keep track of your collection with a Mattel Hot Wheels checklist.

* Find all the cars released in the latest years First Editions Series or Treasure Hunt Series limited editions. There are also 12 Final Run retiring models each year; these may be a little harder to find.

* Look for Planet Micro vehicles. There are six different series of these tiny car sets.

* If at all possible do not open the packages that your hot wheels come in. They hold their highest value if they are in their original package.

* When buying cars from Ebay, make sure to check out the seller and their selling history. This will give you a great idea of the type seller you are dealing with

* The biggest collecting tip is to just have fun and do not spend more than you can afford.

Happy Hunting!

Dave Cherry is an avid hot wheels collector and runs Hot Wheels Depot.

For more Hot Wheels info visit Hot Wheels Depot

These Things Help Your Marriage to Last

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

So you want your marriage to last? Well… statistics show that if you have the following elements in your relationship, they are likely to provide a better foundation for a long lasting relationship. These items cannot replace or outweigh personal and intimate issues such as your perceptions of each other (and self for that matter), behavioural issues and fidelity etc. But you can take some comfort that you have a better edge than many other partners.

1. You were both older when you married.

Getting married over the age of twenty-five (as opposed to your teens) will decrease your chances of divorce. This is because older individuals tend to be more mature, clearer about what they’re looking for in a partner, and have more economic stability.

2. You share the same religion or belief system.

Sharing a religion is a powerful bond, because it brings you and your partner together on a spiritual level and gives your marriage a sense of a higher purpose. When you are both active in a religion, you have counseling and a strong support network available to foster you through difficult times in your marriage. Your shared values and life goals sustain your marriage and keep you growing together rather than apart.

3. You have some higher education.

A college degree isn’t necessary to increase your chances of a long-lasting marriage, but some higher education will decrease your chances of divorce considerably with comparison to a high-school dropout.

4. Your parents are still together.

If you grew up in an intact family, your chances of divorce are less in comparison to someone who grew up with divorced parents. This is because so much of what we learn about marriage and marital behavior comes from watching our parents. If our parents developed strategies for staying together, we’ll absorb those strategies in childhood and be able to use them ourselves in our adult relationships.

5. Your income is above $50,000.

Couples with medium to high incomes tend to experience less strife over money management. They have the financial security to worry less about making a living and more about making a life.

6. You have a child together.

Couples with children have a lower risk of divorce compared to childless couples. However, be warned: the most stressful time in a marriage is after the birth of the first child. That’s why it’s so important that the first child is born only after the marriage has developed a strong foundation.

Do you know how to recognize when your relationship is in danger? Amy Waterman’s excellent book exposes it all:
Save My Marriage Today

Choosing Deck Coatings

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

Two of the most valuable attributes of a deck is that is be durable and functional. That is, it should last a long time and serve its purpose while offering protection and safety to those using it. For these reasons manufacturers have developed a number of products that perform these two tasks, being various deck coatings. These deck coatings range in purpose from providing defense against weathering agents to giving a deck a non-stick surface.

Of the non-stick products, several have ground up items in them, which provides the aforementioned effect while still keeping the deck surface smooth, even on bare feet. A particular type, poly-crete, can actually be used to create a surface somewhat like slate when applied to plywood. Of the products with ground up pieces in them, rubber is the more common additive, but walnut shells are also frequently used. Sand is another anti-slip ingredient in many of these products and in fact, is invisible in clear coatings. A nice feature of these non-stick coatings is that they can easily be sanded off. A disadvantage of these coatings is that some do not take well to various paints and epoxies. Latex paint however, does work fine to paint over these coatings.

Products offering waterproofing can not only be applied to decks but also indoor surfaces including even vertical surfaces. These products, when dry, create a non-porous film over surfaces. 3M™, a United States based company, supplies many of these articles with the advantages of being UV resistant, low odor and non-flammable. It also offers Scotch-Clad™ TC deck coating, which is one of the most durable

water-resistant commodities on the market. Products supplied by other manufacturers include Versa Deck and Versa Deck Plus, which both employ a fiberglass system, with the former being used on concrete decks and the later being utilized on plywood surfaces, and Elasto Shield, which is a latex waterproofing membrane used over existing waterproof coatings to offer additional support.

For lots of information on

the best deck material
and other decks and patios related topics, visit http://www.decks-and-patios.com

Plant Ideas for Container Gardening

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

If you are looking for plant ideas for container gardening, look no further. Who doesn’t enjoy the enticing aromas from the scent of fresh herbs? Can you imagine what it would be like to have wonderful aromas wafting out of your kitchen as you cook with fresh herbs picked moments before in your container garden? Forget about needing a large outside garden to make this happen. Indoor container gardening is relatively easy when you follow these easy tips and ideas; and, herbs are a great way to start!

First let’s pick the pot you’ll use. Choose pots that fit the feel of your home. Is it contemporary or old world? Pick a pot that reflects your style. Herbs are attractive plants anyway and a well chosen pot will be beautiful in your home, as well as season your food. Once you have your pot or pots chosen, it is a good idea in indoor container gardening to add some bark chips and stones to the bottom. Herbs in particular like a lot of aeration and usually respond well to this method. As far as the type of soil to use, a loose mixture is best. Compact soil makes it difficult for the roots to grow properly.

The easiest way to plant your herbs is to place some soil in the container, add the plant, and fill the pot the rest of the way. In order to eliminate any confusion, on which herb is which, put the information stick that came with your plant in the soil of the pot. Indoor herb container gardening is a simple project that will add a new appreciation for cooking and growing your own seasonings.

There are few other ideas that will help ensure your indoor herb container gardening experience is a success. Remember that herb plants need an average of ten to twelve hours of sunlight a day. If this isn’t possible naturally in your home, your best course of action is to purchase a grow light to provide what the plants need. Fertilizer is important to most plants, however since your herbs will be indoors they probably won’t need much. Refer to the information tag for specifics of each herb. Finally, while bugs can certainly be a problem even in indoor conditions, be cautious about adding insecticides to the soil. Think organic. If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t add it.

Herbs are an easy plant idea for container gardening; not to mention, how fun and excellent way to add color and flavor to both your home and food. It is a rare thing to be able to enjoy fresh herbs any time of the year. You won’t have to buy what is often expensive herbs in the supermarket; and, you’ll have whatever you need fresh when it comes time to whip up your special sauce or season that roast chicken. With your own private collection of herbs to pick from, you’ll never lack color or flavor every again if you choose to use herbs as your plant ideas for container gardening.

Susanne Garris is a gardening enthusiast and green thumb advocate who enjoys helping others get started with easy gardening tips.To find out more about how to choose the right container, get her free report instantly by clicking here! Indoor Gardening Secrets

The Care of Orchids

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

As we live in Australia (Melbourne in fact) the molybdenum orchid is a native species . My wife was given some pots by a friend some 20 years ago. She has been caring for them all these years and now has at least 40 pots of them. I like to observe how she looks after them.

Care of these orchids takes quite an amount of time, especially during autumn (May-June) when their growth period starts, the flowering months (July-September) and even more so when the flowering season is over and the plants go dormant during the hot summer months. That is the time she takes the older plants where the roots have become pot-bound and that have not flowered that season, divides the root system and re-pots them in 2,3 or even 4 pots with new orchid mix(mostly charcoal and some sandy soil, mixed with some organic plant food. The new pots are then placed around the garden in shady areas to avoid the hot sun in summer (temperatures go well over 100 degr.F or 38 degr. C) (they also make welcome gifts to our friends and neighbors)

The care of orchids is a difficult subject in as far as there are so many different species and kinds of orchids, each requiring its own care. The care of orchids depends very much on the kind of orchid you are caring for. The type of soil required (if at all), whether they like acidy soil or soil derived of acid, is important for the care of orchids,as for any plant. Then of course the amount of soil drainage is of extreme importance for the care of orchids.

The care for orchids sometimes requires a tropical climate and outside of the tropics the care of those orchids will require a hothouse where temperature and humidity can be controlled. Other orchids like a hot and dry climate, others again thrive in a cool or even a cold climate. Thus the care of orchids depends on many factors. Then again there are seasonal differences to be considered,which influence the care of such orchids. Whereas tropical species are used to a more or less even climate year round, orchids from the Northern or Southern hemispheres will have quite different growing and blooming seasons and thus determine the care for those orchids.Thus the time of separating roots and fertilizing will differ on where the orchids are from and thus affect the care of such orchids.

The care of orchids is a very intriguing and exacting science. Witness the care Nero Wolfe, the great (fictional) detective, created by by American author Rex Stout in the 1930s, who had his orchid garden on the rooftop of his establishment where he spent hours every day morning and evening caring for his orchids, watering, cutting, transplanting, separating end re-establishing his favorite flowers. Indeed these hours were sacred to him and he hated to be disturbed during the care of his orchids.

My wife is an ardent grower of orchids. I observed her for many years and wrote http://www.orchidcarer.com to help her widen her interest and help other enthusiasts as well.

For a more detailed information I refer you to my site http://www.orchidcarer.com

Crying, Colic & Babywearing

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

Extreme crying and colic. Those words seem to strike fear in every mother to be. Why are mothers in western culture so afraid of a supposed common problem, one which babies in other cultures seldom, if ever experience?

First let’s define it:

An infant between 2 weeks and 4 months of age with bouts of crying that occur 3 times a week for greater than 3 hours a day and lasting 3 weeks.

Now, some baby colic symptoms:

• Excessive crying and the appearance of being in pain.
• Crying may be sudden and last for greater than 15 minutes.
• Difficulty consoling infant.
• Poor sleeper.
• Acts like they are starving, will then suck vigorously for a few seconds, only to spit the nipple out and scream.
• Passes a lot of gas.

Colic is hard to pin-point and difficult to treat with western medicine. I know how difficult colic in an infant can be. I am not a medical doctor and I cannot cure colic. I am a mother of two and have dealt with a majority of the issues I cover in my parenting articles. I don’t know if your baby has what is termed “colic”. But I know you are concerned about your baby and I want to give you some ideas, mother to mother (or father!).

You’re imagination is a beautiful place, let’s start there:

Indigenous, primitive, native, hunter-gatherer societies. Conjure up a picture. Do you see native peoples living in huts, tepees, or igloos, clad in loin-cloths, beads, animal furs? Naked children running around. Women grinding wheat, carrying water, weaving, beading, nursing, working, laughing.

Men hunting, crouched low, noiseless, making their way through the forest, jungle, across the plain or ice. Intent upon providing the next meal for their families. I am not trying to be stereotypical, this is what I see and it is a peaceful, beautiful picture to me.

What do you hear? Chatter in a different language, children laughing, feet stomping, singing, shouts of glee over the successful hunt.

Do you hear crying? Do you hear unmanageable crying? I don’t think you do. Why not? I think it is because you know, from eons of history running through your veins that it wasn’t happening. Look again at your scene. There are babies in the scene and they are being worn by their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunties and the like in all sorts of infant carriers; baby slings, wraps, pouches, cradle boards.

Some are awake, some are asleep. They are living and observing contently and alertly the world in which they will soon play an integral part. The people are wearing their babies and responding to them because that is what their instincts tell them to do. They feel, just like you do, that ache in their chest when a baby cries. And they haven’t been conditioned by their society to ignore it. They aren’t being told such things as:

• Make your baby understand who is boss.
• Your baby is manipulating you if you go to her every time she cries.
• If your baby is fed and dry there is nothing she really needs.

Human touch is vital to development and contentment. Have you ever fallen in love? What did it feel like when your lover touched you, just your hand, or held you tight and close? It felt like everything was right in the world. Like you never wanted it to end. Hence the phrase “freeze a moment in time.”

The environment of the womb was perfect. Your baby was constantly hearing you, smelling you and all of her needs were provided for instantly. Newborns have no sense of time or hope for that matter. They live in a constant state of now. When you are holding your baby all is right in the world for her. When she is alone, wrapped in a blanket in a plastic shell she has no concept of you returning.

Wearing your baby can prevent unmanageable crying. When your baby is that close to your body, and you are so in tune with her she has no need to cry.

As I said before, colic is hard to diagnose, but there are a lot of things you can do to help your baby if she is experiencing symptoms.

1. Wear your baby in a baby sling, motion seems to help and it’s a lot easier than driving around in the car all night.
2. Allow your baby to eat or just suckle at the breast.
3. If you are breastfeeding look at your diet, are you eating something that might be bothering your baby’s tummy?
4. If you are bottle feeding, might your baby have a problem with the formula?
5. Rub baby’s tummy or back.
6. Take a bath together; warm water can calm you and baby.

All in all – know that your baby wants to be with you. Embrace the awesome position you hold in his life. Get yourself a baby sling or another carrier (baby slings are my favorite). They are comfortable, versatile, beautiful and most times affordable.

You have the most awesome job on earth, the rearing of the next generation. Help create peace in the world. Start in your home!

Emmy lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with her husband and two children, soon to be three! She is the owner and author of Babywearing Central, a website exploring babywearing around the world as well as classic parenting issues and babywearing as a tool for peaceful, healthy living. You can find her website at http://www.babywearingcentral.com.

Wax Emulsion End Grain Sealers - Application Tips For Woodturners

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

Overview

Few products in recent years have been as beneficial to woodturners trying to season green timber as wax emulsion end grain sealers. In the woodturning workshop, wax emulsion sealers serve an important function by controlling the rapid loss of moisture through freshly cut surfaces on logs, blanks and roughed out projects. Two widely available wax emulsion sealers are Anchorseal and Mobil-Cer M. Anchorseal is paraffin based colloidal solution for logs and lumber. It contains paraffin, water and a surfactant and is milky-white in appearance. Mobil-Cer M is a microcrystalline wax based coating. It contains microcrystalline wax, water and a surfactant and is also milky-white in appearance.

How Wax Emulsions Work

Wax emulsions (also known as end grain sealers) form a flexible and vapor permeable membrane between treated surfaces and the surrounding atmosphere. As woodturners, our goal is not to prevent moisture from moving through the log or the wax coating, but instead to retard the rate of moisture evaporation. When this is achieved, drying defects are reduced and the maximum amount of timber can be utilized in every log.

Application Methods For Wax Emulsions

Wax emulsion sealers can be applied by various methods including brush-on, dip tank, roll-on, spray-on and vacuum assisted. The decision on which method to choose should be based on the quantity, size and location of the logs or blanks to be processed. Correct application procedures are essential to obtain maximum protection from the wax coating.

Brush-On

Wax sealers can be easily brushed onto the exposed end grain, or side grain surfaces of logs, turning squares and bowl blanks. For an optimum surface coating, the cut surfaces should be as smooth as possible. Excess sawdust or debris should be brushed off before applying the sealer. In addition, if any checking is evident on the exposed end grain, it should be cut back until solid wood is present. When brushing the sealer on the end grain portion of re-sawn turning squares or bowl blanks, also coat 1″ of the adjacent side grain. This insures a better coating on the area where the end grain and side grain areas meet.

The sealer should be applied onto the end grain until it nearly runs off. Applying too thin a coating will reduce the protection level and may compromise the successful seasoning of the timber. If any bubbles are present on the surface, brush across the area again until the bubbles are completely removed. Bubbles that are left in the wet film may cause differential moisture gradients to form in the surface coating. These differential moisture gradients cause uneven drying zones across the face of the treated surface, which may result in surface checking.

Roll-On

Standard 9″ paint rollers make excellent applicators for medium to large sized logs and blanks. My favorite roller is the type sold for painting in tight areas. It is approximately 4″ long and works exceptionally well for any but the largest of logs. Rollers can apply the coating much faster and more uniformly than hand brushing. In addition, because the nap on the roller is available in different sizes, rough or uneven cut log surfaces can be more easily and uniformly covered.

Dip Tanks

When processing large amounts of smaller blanks or turning squares, dip tanks are simple and efficient. Almost any shallow container can be used for making a dip tank. Old pie pans work well, as do small plastic bowls. Simply decant a small amount of the sealer into the tank and dip each end of the blank into the sealer. The level of the sealer inside the dip tank should be adequate enough to coat the end grain and the small amount of adjacent side grain, in one step.

Spray-On

If you will be processing a large amount of squares or logs, or you are working with very large diameter (2’ to 6’ diameter or more) logs, consider spraying the sealer. Many types of sprayers are available including electrical, gas and manually powered with sizes and prices to fit any budget. Manual sprayers are excellent for spraying in remote locations without electrical service. Trombone type slide sprayers are also available that draw directly from five gallon buckets. I have found that simple pump-up garden sprayers available in most home centers, work very well and are much easier to use than trombone or backpack style sprayers.

Vacuum Assisted Application

When sealing high figured wood, unstable burrs or crotch figured blanks, vacuum assisted impregnation of the surface can be utilized. This method applies sealer to the side grain and end grain simultaneously, producing a well sealed outer surface. My use of this method is typically limited to pen blanks, but it can be adapted to larger turning squares quite easily with proper equipment.

About The Author

Steven Russell is a professional artist, demonstrator and writer. His studio, Eurowood Werks specializes in hand turned bowls, platters and hollow forms with unique visual and tactile treatments. Steve’s website, Woodturning Videos Plus, http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com offers educational DVD videos and eBooks for woodturners of all skill levels.

To learn more about woodturning, visit his resource library at http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/woodturning-education-articles.html which offers tips and tricks to master the art of woodturning.

In addition to his studio work, Steve frequently writes educational articles for international woodturning magazines, which are published in more than 75 countries around the world. As a highly sought after demonstrator, he has performed more than 1,760 woodturning demonstrations throughout the United States in the last eleven years.

A Fresh Line Of Baby Strollers From Maclaren

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Many new brands of baby strollers have surfaced in the past five years with either innovations in design, style, or both.

The poster child of this new era is probably Bugaboo. The brand has managed to revolutionize the stroller industry by gaining broad adoption of their radically different design and vivid color scheme despite a price three times greater than traditional higher-end strollers used to sell for.

This new type of competition has been considered a great threat for brands like Maclaren, Peg Perego and other traditional stroller manufacturers.

Maclaren has the added handicap of being known for the simplicity of its design and a traditional British inspired color scheme, making it hard to innovate without departing from its core identity.

This is why many were eagerly awaiting the next move from Maclaren in designing its 2007 line of baby strollers. Well, the new Maclaren strollers 2007 line is now out at many stroller retailers and it won’t disappoint for 2 main reasons: the british brand was able to strike a wonderful balance of audacity in design with designers like Starck, great style thanks to a new very contemporary color scheme, and yet was able to stay true to its origins of simplicity and efficiency.

The colors still include some classics like navy, crimson red, black, or grey/ charcoal but adds some newer options such as flame orange, coral pink, coffee brown, plum, cherry, etc.

The most notable addition to the line is the Maclaren Techno XLR which is introduced as the SUV of Maclaren’s. The manufacturer picked-up on the trend of children staying in strollers longer and smartly designed the new model around this trend.

Of course the classics such as the Maclaren Volo 2007, the Maclaren Triumph, or the Techno XT are still there in their new and improved 2007 versions.

These are all steps in the right direction in order for Maclaren to protect their maket share but it’s not enough to claim a stake in the new $500+ stroller luxury stroller market which is litterally “owned” by Bugaboo at this point.

Hopefully Maclaren will push their strategy a step further in the years to come and make a bigger push into the new but already thriving luxury stroller market. Their biggest asset in the pursuit of this goal is their trusted brand name but it certainly won’t be enough to win that battle.

Tinyride is a leading retailer of Maclaren baby strollers