August Newsletter

• Editorial
  - Counting down till kick-off,
• The Baby Boutique
  - Trends for Little Feet.
• Buy Baby Buy
  - Retail Buying Tips
• Accessorise Me
  - Jewellery and Fashion Accessory Speak
• Sharpen Up
  - Leading Trends in Kitchen Gadgets and Knives
• Make it a Wrap
  - Wrapping Up the Season Ahead
  

Counting down till kick-off

It’s August already and I’m excited. Before you can say boo we’ll be cheering on rugby balls, painting our faces and huddling around the TV screen to live the Rugby World Cup extravaganza. If I’m honest, however, it’s not so much the rugby games themselves I’m hanging out for, it’s more the opportunity to jostle with friends and family, to make dips and rugby fare (that’s bound to get thrown around the carpet) and take a peek at a little overseas eyecandy on the field.

Whatever the reason for getting involved in the Rugby World Cup spirit, one thing’s for certain – most Kiwis will be backing the same team and no doubt feeling that overwhelming sense of pride when the All Blacks run out onto the field, no matter what the outcome of every game.

However, it’s not all balls and hot dogs that’ll keep rugby revellers happy this September/October. Many visitors to our shores will be getting excited about tiki-touring around our country and buying a few mementos to take home with them. All this is great news for Kiwi wholesalers and retailers – a well-deserved cherry-on-the-top after what’s been a rocky ride for many over the past few years.

The key to making the most of Rugby World Cup offerings is ensuring you’re retail-prepared. There is an array of information available to retailers about how to be rugby-ready come kick-off season. Below is a list of helpful websites:

• www.rugbyworldcup.com: This is the official site of the Rugby World Cup. It has all the tournament information, links to various initiatives taking place and game schedules.
• www.nz2011.govt.nz/business/new-zealand: This site connects visitors with local hosts in similar business areas or with similar interests.
• www.rugbyworldcup.com/destinationnewzealand/festival.html: The New Zealand Rugby World Cup Widget is a free, user-friendly interactive tile that allows website owners all over the world to display Rugby World Cup information and events on their websites.
• www.auckland2011.com/matchready: This online guide is aimed at assisting small to medium-sized Auckland businesses to prepare for the Rugby World Cup. You’ll find video presentations, transport plans, workforce planning and training programmes, and tips and tools for welcoming visitors.

I believe embracing a positive attitude and an optimistic spirit shouldn’t just be in aid of the Rugby World Cup – it should also extend beyond. As Christine McLaren of The Little Import Company mentions in our Buying Tips feature (refer page 24), visitors to our shores shouldn’t be faced with ‘sale’ signs on every retail window. “The Rugby World Cup months will be the best time for retailers to get out of the ‘sale’ mode whilst they have all the extra customers,” she says. “This would make the market much more buoyant leading up to Christmas. It would be a major step forward if we could avoid all the pre-Christmas sales this year and only discount from Boxing Day onwards.”

Bring on the rugby balls and the jolly man in the red suit I say!

Till next time,
Dyani