We are awarding 2 prizes to two members this week.

1. The first Member to sign up was [smjtcox] on Monday morning.
2. The first Member to make a contribution to a forum/comment on a blog post was [ChristopherMccallum]

To these two members, we are awarding PROFESSIONAL MEMBER STATUS for the year. These prizes are valued at $120US each, and these members are now able to get all the benefits (see the special page) of our professional member package.

RRG site is a PLATFORM. The links on the left-hand menu are there for you to create/ contribute content.
Use it to communicate with your staff, the world-wide web or the members of RRG.

Our next prize will go to the member who has created a blog or a Website - on any topic!

Retail Tip of the Week
We have posted our first Retail Tip of the week here - and you can watch it there. If you like it, point a few other people to it. It is a simple staff sales incentive tip that could make a big difference to your business.

[More promotional- and sales stimulation ideas on the Discussion Board. Why don't you add your own?]

Retail Resources on RRG
We have added a a whole series of benchmarks from stockturn to GM% on the forum.
Also in File Sharing (Professional Members Only) we have uploaded:

• A 3 N -1 Benchmarks ROI (see forum for format)
• F 4 T -2 Business-Plan by ANZ
• Cash-Flow-Template-provided-by-ANZ

Retailing in the News

• One of the hottest trends today is the increase in 'private lables'.

A full 97% of U.S. households routinely use some generic products. Read all about it here. Best Buy in the US is a good example.

Is there an opportunity for smaller/ independent retailers to embrace this? Is it a good thing?

• One BILLION 'apps' downloaded for iPhone.
• Over 54% of consumers claim to prefer 'green options'.

New on RetailSmartResults
A discussion & post about retail benchmarks on the forum. Some KPIs included. Check it out.

AND WE ARE EXCITED: We have organised an interview with Adam Sheumack, one of the leading retail leasing experts in the country. He has worked for landlords and for retailers and is currently a director of Brookfield Partners. The video interview will be posted in segments in our Video Gallery. Keep your eyes peeled - and get your friends, colleagues and employees to join up in the meantime to get advance notice. It will be packed with tips.

Things we liked on the Net
If you have an e-commerce site, check out this offer from Yahoo.
They offer $150 free search advertising over 3 months. (But they do charge $9 setup fee.)
An interesting article on Trip Marketing (Moments of Truth).

What can YOU do?
Have you got some good pics? New products/materials to showcase? (Not ads - but things other retailers may find useful.) Why don't you upload it to the Photo Gallery?

Thought for the Week
Have you ever thought how too many couples marry for better or for worse, but not for good?

As always - take great care... and let us know if there is anything we can do.

Dennis & Moonyeen