Register by February 15

When was the last time you participated in professional development?

Learning and retail training not only invigorates your store with new ideas, approaches and strategies but also recharges and refreshes you and your participating staff. That’s why Housewares Training & Information Group (HTI) has launched the One Voice Conference which will premiere in March at the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. The March 5 event will bring together retailers and vendors together in a daylong forum focused on education and networking. A special part of the event is the retail roundtable where you can share information and learn about successful strategies from other retailers just like you. It will also be a chance to meet with vendors to discuss product lines, issues of concern and build relationships one-to-one in a relaxed atmosphere--including a Friday night reception.

Participating in the educational forum is easy too--because it is held in conjunction with existing event, the confluence of the timeframe and the International Housewares Association’s mission made Chicago the perfect place to hold this event.

Author, seminar leader and speaker, Harold Lloyd (left) will keynote the conference. Lloyd is known in the gourmet industry for his presentations at Retail 2020, The International Dairy-Deli-Bake Conference and the National Grocers Association Convention. He has been the president of a 14 store company with 1,000 employees and a franchisee of an award-winning family restaurant group.

Lloyd joins HTI President Bob Coviello (left) who will bring his know-how and vendor-retailer experience of more than 25 years to the conference.

The One Voice Conference has been developed by independent retailers including: Karen Skalicky of Creative Kitchen, Fargo, ND; Mike Fear of Now Your Cooking, Bath, ME; Karl and Marie Benson, Cooks of Crocus Hill, St. Paul, MN.; and Dean Eaton of Your Kitchen, Keene, NH.

FMI contact Annette Quezada hti.aquez@gmail.com

Time to celebrate

Food Holidays for February

• Berry Fresh Month
• Canned Food Month
• Celebration of Chocolate Month
• Great American Pies Month
• National Cherry Month
• National Fiber Focus Month
• National Fondue Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• National Heart Healthy Month
• National Hot Breakfast Month
• National Snack Food Month
• Potato Lover’s Month
• Sweet Potato Month
• International Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday (February or March)
• Oatmeal Monday, second Monday

And this month's daily celebrations include:

February 1: National Baked Alaska Day
February 2: Heavenly Hash Day
February 3: National Carrot Cake Day
February 4: Homemade Soup Day
February 4: National Stuffed Mushroom Day
February 5: National Chocolate Fondue Day
February 7: National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
February 8: Molasses Bar Day
February 9: National Bagels and Lox Day
February 9: Pizza Pie Day
February 10: Cream Cheese Brownie Day
February 11: Peppermint Patty Day
February 11: Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
February 12: National Plum Pudding Day
February 13: National Tortellini Day
February 14: National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day
February 15: National Gumdrop Day
February 16: National Almond Day
February 17: National Indian Pudding Day
February 18: Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day
February 18: Drink Wine Day
February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
February 20: National Cherry Pie Day
February 21: National Sticky Bun Day
February 22: National Margarita Day
February 23: National Banana Bread Day
February 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25: National Clam Chowder Day
February 25: National Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day
February 26: National Pistachio Day
February 27: National Strawberry Day
February 27: National Kahlua Day
February 28: National Chocolate Soufflé Day
February 29: Surf and Turf Day

Keeping it local

Unlike big box stores which sell the same products, in the same layout, in the same store, in the same looking mall in everywhere USA, local independent kitchenware stores boast a hometown flair.

Whether stocking aebleskiver pans at the Creative Kitchen in Fargo, featuring cookbooks by local chefs at a kitchenware store in Napa Valley (left, above), or cheering for the Super Bowl-bound hometown team (left, below) at Pittsburgh’s In the Kitchen (Go Steelers!) independent stores are “keeping it local.”

How does your store show its hometown local pride?