Swap Meet Magazine March 2021 EMAG

6 • MARCH 2021 • SWAP MEET MAGAZINE... READ BY 75,000 VENDORS NATIONWIDE
39 Years
1981-2021
SWAP MEET MAGAZINE
Published by:
Forum Publishing Co.
383 East Main Street
Centerport, NY 11721
Tel: 631/754-5000
Fax: 631/754-0630
forumpublishing@gmail.com
www.SwapMeetMag.com
SALES & MARKETING
Gregory Brown
Harry Makris
Tom Richards
Scott Savitt
Marti Stevens
OFFICE MANAGER
Leah C
PRODUCTION
Lisa Maresca-Smith
CREDIT DEPARTMENT
Kristine Hines
CIRCULATION
Discount Reading Svc.
LITERARY SALES
Rachel Spearman
COLOR PRODUCTION
Anchor Imaging
PRINTING
Composing Room
ART DIRECTION
Gregory Stevens
Marti Stevens
SWAP MEET is published monthly at
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Forum Publishing. Publisher assumes
no responsibility for contents herein.
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The Promise Of Springtime For Retailers
WE sure hope that the winter is wound down after a month of brutal
cold weather and snow over much of the country. Between our seemingly
never-ended pandemic and the frigid weather we retailers are ready for
warmer weather and increased business.
IN a normal world this March issue would have been our ASD show issue
and we’d have been looking forward to meeting and greeting our readers
and advertisers at the show. Instead we take the show virtual and adapt
to the new ways of doing business. However, we are excited to see the
ASD summer show back on the books and expect the pent-up demand to
make it a blockbuster. Who’d have thought we’d miss the grueling work of
a trade show this much?
THE bright side is that even with all of the challenges we all face, the
retail industry has been relatively stable. Provided that your store has
incorporated online sales into your model we are holding our own. In
general terms the economy has been surprisingly stable despite so much
upheaval by the new administration. This gives us hope that as we move
into our next selling season we can be positive.
SPRING is a time of rebirth. This is especially true for consumers who shed
their winter clothing and look forward to going out and about instead of
hunkering down. Even today as I write this editorial, our local mall was quite
busy as shoppers looked for some retail therapy. And it’s cold here today!
So it looks promising that when the weather warms up and the spring styles
and colors come around we are going to see a noticeable upward spike
in our sales.
WITH an increase in sales and once trade shows get back into gear we
will also see an uptick in new products. Over the last several months there
really hasn’t been any new or exciting item to hit the industry which is
understandable under the circumstances. When the markets open back
up there will be a need for new and exciting products and I think we will
see that drive more sales.
TO our manufacturer friends and wholesalers, now is your time to
introduce new goods to excite retailers and consumers. As the economy
improves shoppers will be longing for new merchandise, new colors and
new styles. This is the time to cash in. Same goes for retailers. Clear your
shelves of old unsold items and spring into action with a new look and
exciting displays.
SOON we will be back on the trade show circuit and once shows are in
full force we will see our industry catapult into new highs. We have been
doing our part over this last year to bring the trade show to our readers via
our magazines and websites. Adding the physical shows into the mix will
make us all unstoppable.
Happy Spring!