DREXEL HERITAGE: Now at IDS - International Design Source

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‘08 TRENDS for Kitchen + Bath Here are the top 5 trends as listed by the Qualified Remodeler: 01. Color is “King” This is a trend toward the use of new colors and new mixes of colors. 02. Changing View of Storage The trend is being driven by the encompassing goal of achieving more openness and creation of larger multipurpose spaces. Overhead units; such as storage racks, pot hangers, wine racks, etc., are seen as blocking the line of sight and making rooms feel tight. 03. Connection to the Outdoors People want to feel connected with the outside— especially in the kitchen. 04. The Rise of Practical, Function-based Choices Clients are not necessarily expanding their space, but trying to utilize it more efficiently. 05. Stone Surfaces The power of granite and quartz surfaces continues to hold a steady allure in kitchen and bath remodeling. the American society of interior Designers’ foundation and the u.s. green building council have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects. this program will increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers to build both demand and industry capacity. CASE STUDIES Envision your green remodeling project by seeing what other people have done. REGREEN includes 10 case studies covering different project types and highlighting the strategies that made these projects successful. The case studies show examples of green design in practice, but because they were done before REGREEN was created, they do not necessarily represent the best-practices recommendations of this guide. RESOURCES Learn more about going green at home with a Green Product Checklist, FAQs and a 108 page REGREEN Guidelines 2008 PDF. www.regreenprogram.org REGREEN
A 60 Second Guide to Marketing on a Limited Budget on a limited budget you can still create a quality marketing plan, assuring customer satisfaction and a good image for your business. in just 60-seconds, you’ll learn creative marketing strategies for your small business. 0:60 Develop Your Major Selling Advantage Determine your quintessential qualities. What makes you better, more memorable, and of greater value to your target market than your competition? Identify your ideal customer. What challenges are they facing that you can provide a solution to? Network to build your prospect base. Go to trade shows, events and local chamber meetings, and join groups that have members in your target market. 0:48 Create a Memorable Identity Marketing is about VCR — visibility, consistency and repetition in the marketplace. You need to be visible in a consistent way and repeat that message over and over again to your target market. Invest in creating a professional logo. 0:36 Design a Promotional Kit The brochure is the most common type of promotional material, but it’s also the most useless, especially for newer businesses that are still evolving. An alternative is to develop a promotional kit, which generally consists of a two-pocket folder with your logo on it that holds information about your business. Include your biography, the history of your company, a press release, a list of products and services, client testimonials, a list of references, a professional photograph, reprints of articles you’ve written or been quoted in, a newsletter and a question and answer sheet. 0:25 Promote Your Business Stay in the public’s eye. Repetition is the key to visibility. A rule-of-thumb is that it takes at least six impressions before a consumer associates your product or service with your business name. When your business accomplishes something that is newsworthy, submit a press release. 0:15 Develop an Effective Web Site The key is to make it easy for your clients to reach you and receive information about you. Include your web site address on all printed marketing materials. Many people look for services and products online. Even a web site that is simply brochure-ware, providing relevant information that your prospects and clients want to know, will be sufficient. 0:11 Generate On-going Referrals Ask your best client (particularly after they’ve said something wonderful about you) if they would assist you in the growth and development of your business by signing off on a referral letter that would come from them (that means on their letterhead with their signature) and be delivered to a pre-determined list of people (your prospects). 0:03 Implement a Simple Marketing Plan Be specific about your goals and detail what you need to do to reach them. For instance, if your objective is to increase sales by 15 percent during the next 12 months, create a timeline with specific steps toward meeting that goal. by SCORE
Page 1: issue 8, VoluMe 1 The Design Times

DREXEL HERITAGE: Now at IDS - International Design Source

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