Archives for April 2012

It is that time of year again for our team at Eberly & Collard Public Relations to start preparing for the National Hardware Show (NHS) in Las Vegas, NV. Held from May 1-3, the National Hardware Show offers one of the most complete ranges of home-related products ranging from hand and power tools, electrical and plumbing, housewares, and paint to home décor, lawn and garden, and tailgating products. Show attendees, including retailers, buyers, distributors, media members, and more, will have the opportunity to network with some of the most innovative and well-known companies in the industry. And, to help kick-off the show, our team will be sharing an inside look at some of the products attendees will see this year.

As part of a preview prior to NHS, and in a series following the show, we will be reporting on top products and trends. We’ll begin by publishing a photo album on our Facebook Timeline for attendees and members of the media. Many of our media contacts (editors, publishers, producers, bloggers, etc.) have requested this resource, as is our norm, so we are looking forward to reporting helpful information about our clients and many others in the industry.

As you follow our posted Facebook album in late April and early May, feel free to add your comments under each narrative / photo. Products with the most comments could be considered for our post-show “Best of Show” feature series. We are looking forward to sharing valuable information and trends with our friends, fans and readers. Be sure to follow us on Twitter during the show, as we’ll be tweeting about products and trends from NHS as well. Here are our social media channels; be sure to bookmark, fan and follow them to stay on top of breaking information:

• Blog: http://www.eberlycollardpr.blogspot.com/
• Facebook Fanpage: http://on.fb.me/JB5hsj 
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/eberlycollardpr
• Flickr photo pages: http://tinyurl.com/ECPR-Flickr

Members of the media whom may not yet have tapped into this resource, contact us if you would like to receive special articles, product profiles, photos, etc. directly.

~ ECPR team

• Made in America Pavilion – The Made in America theme has increased in popularity immensely among Americans. This year, the pavilion has expanded to over 32,000 square feet, due to the growing trend of consumer awareness and demand for American-made goods. Exhibitors include Flat Rock Furniture, Habersham, Shiner/Home Source International, and many others. For a full list of exhibitors in the Made in America Pavilion, click here. 

• Century Furniture, LLC – Located in the Market Square Building, spaces 500, 412, Century Furniture will be showcasing upscale home furnishings and accessories. Ranging from a variety of styles including French, Coastal, Contemporary, Mediterranean, and more. In addition to producing elegant, handcrafted products, Century Furniture has embraced the sustainability movement. Since 1947, the company has been creating furniture and accessories at its Hickory, NC facility, using predominantly domestic materials to help reduce energy costs. To learn more about Century Furniture, click here. 

• Lamp Works – Buyers and retailers, Lamp Works, is one of the top lighting design companies showcasing new products at this year’s market. Located in the IHFC Building, space D341, Lamp Works designs beautiful, high-end light fixtures. Ranging in styles, shapes and sizes, the company’s designs are ideal for hospitality projects. One of the company’s most recent installations includes Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. To learn more about Lamp Works, click here. 

High Point Market is the place to be in April for companies in the furniture and accessories industry. Retailers, buyers and media members will have the opportunity to catch a first glimpse at the newest and most innovative products that will soon be available to consumers. For those of you exhibiting or attending the event, visit High Point Market’s website for more details at www.highpointmarket.org.

Twitter is a great way to connect with clients and customers via quick conversational exchanges. Though some Tweets can be vague and slightly ambiguous, the point is to create short phrases and messages to get your meaning across in a direct and instant manner. Essentially, Twitter is a short-form messaging tool, geared towards businesses looking for new ways to communicate with target audiences. And, not to forget, Twitter is also a platform for listening to the communication of others.

Twitter’s primary difference from other social media channels is that each individual tweet, is restricted to 140 characters or less. As a Twitter user, you can post updates; follow and view updates from other users; and send a public reply or private direct message to connect with another tweeter.

As a guide, below, the ECPR team has put together four simple steps to creating meaningful Tweets. Let’s begin!

Page Tags: Much like Facebook, Twitter allows users to interact and connect with potential clients, consumers and fellow industry professionals. The key is to use the “@” symbol to “tag” other Twitter pages. The “@” is a means of sharing valuable information from an outside source, who also has a Twitter account, thus virally connecting your business page with the source’s page.

Photo Credit – John Burcham for The New York Times

To our designer friends, we thought you might enjoy reading about “The Ultimate Man Cave.” Located in a remote region of Utah, Ivo Zdarsky has turned an airplane hangar, dubbed Lucin International Airport, into his very own bachelor pad. Complete with a 90-inch flat screen T.V., a drum set and two mattresses, Zdarsky goes about his daily business in the most distinct fashion. While the design of the hangar is intriguing in itself, the unique story of the man who created it is even more compelling.

To read the full article on The New York Times website, click here. Be honest, what do you think of Ivo Zdarsky’s man cave?