Fashion Industry Heavyweights Speak at MAGIC Marketplace

The MAGIC Marketplace, Woodland Hills, Calif., announced Zappos’ CEO Tony Hsieh will be discussing the critical role customer service plays in the corporate world at the company’s seminar series February 16 to 18 in Las Vegas.  In addition, the Port Washington, New York-based NPD Group’s analyst Marshal Cohen will explain how fashion businesses must forge ahead in this new decade.

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In a Recession, Dress Up To Cheer Up

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with Executive Apparel’s president and its director of product development in Orlando, Florida. In desultory fashion, we discussed the weather (unusually cold for Florida this time of year) and the economy (not so hot either) over dinner until someone raised the subject of socks. Suddenly the evening sprang to life: The men pushed their chairs back from the table and rolled up their pant legs.

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17 Distributors Affiliate with iPROMOTEu in December 2009

Wayland, Massachusetts-based iPROMOTEu announced 17 promotional products distributors affiliated with iPROMOTEu in December 2009. These new affiliates, in aggregate, have an estimated annual sales volume of more than $6,000,000. Presently, more than 470 distributors from 46 states (plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) are affiliated with iPROMOTEu.

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United Joins Continental, Delta in Raising Fees for Checked Bags (USA Today)

The move by United follows increases by Delta and Continental last week.

Continental (CAL), Delta (DAL), American (AMR) and United (UAUA) also have boosted their fuel surcharges on flights to Europe by $20. Surcharges vary by route, but the airlines typically impose fuel charges of about $242 on flights to London and $280 on routes to many popular destinations on the continent.

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Meet The New Boss (Fortune Small Business)

The Great Recession won’t last forever, but no matter what comes next, business as usual is clearly over.

Wall Street and Detroit are melting before our eyes. Trade barriers are rising globally, while the federal government moves into corporate boardrooms here at home.

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Can Main Street Win Business Plan Competitions? (The New York Times)

Business plan competitions tend to emphasize technology. Many competitions, like Nokia’s Mobile Rules Contest and those held by Rice University and the Hong Kong University of Sciences and Technology, either prefer or require plans in the fields of life sciences, clean technology, aerospace, mobile or information technology.

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Victorinox Unveils New Web Site with Updated Sales and Marketing Tools

Victorinox Swiss Army (VSA) Corporate Markets Division, Monroe, Conn., announced the launch of its new Web site at www.vsacorporate.com. The Web site offers distributors sales and marketing tools, including comprehensive product information and search capabilities, customizable sell sheets and presentations, online-only promotions, customer representative support and special distributor pricing.

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