OrganizingLA Blog

Bloomingdales To Compete With Macy's and Martha on May 4th?

While at Conference in Minneapolis last week, some organizing colleagues took the trip to Mall of America, the largest enclosed shopping mall in the United States.

Hearing about their shopping trips got us thinking about Bloomingdale's, and their new retail plan to compete with Macy's, their largest rival.  Is Bloomingdaless finally getting the drift that Macy's has Martha?

Bloomfield, Minnesota isn't the only location for extreme shopping.  Here in Southern California, our own South Coast Plaza boasts luxury brands, too.  Its Costa Mesa-stores generate revenues of more than a billion dollars per year, making it the highest-volume mall in the United States.  So it's no surprise that Bloomingdale's chose their location at South Coast for a new location, and a new home concept, according to Women's Wear Daily.

May 4th will ring in the new Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza.  Their new store will reveal a restructuring that will redesign their home department and do away with vendor shops, and lay out the 50,000-square foot home department by lifestyle instead.  This is an interesting strategy, because the chain hopes to build their stores around the Bloomingdale's image, and not around their brands, like most stores did in the 1990s.  Macy's continues the concept of branding themselves with vendor brands, like Martha Stewart.  We wonder who will win their strategy, and your dollars?

So, now that Macy's has Martha, might we see some high-end, hip organizing goodies at Bloomingdale's this Spring?  What do you think?

Los Angeles Professional Organizers Join Industry Leaders at National Conference

Organizing Galore was on the menu at the 19th Annual National Association of Professional Organizers National Conference this past week in Minneapolis.

Blogging about Conference while it was happening just seemed impossible.  So this week we plan on bringing you highlights from last week (as our client organizing sessions allow, obviously.)

Pictured here for last Thursday's unofficial Los Angeles Chapter photo are:  Ann Gambrell, Jean Furuya, Robin Davi, Hiroko Ono, Dorothy Breininger, Nadine Levy, Tanya Whitford, John Trosko, Debbie Gilster, Marcy Melton, Chantale Bordonaro, Tom Nevermann, Christie Gelsomino, Joanna Sletten, Linda Rothschild, Donna McMillan, Mishele Vieira, Claire Flannery, Barbara Rickets, Deborah Kawashima, Carol Hogg, Sheila McCurdy, Cindy Kamm, Toni Scharff, John Harris, Dina Durrer, Jodie Watson and a few, unnamed friends.

Related Posts:

• OrganizingLA and John Trosko's travel schedule

Alan Jackson - Country Music Star Has a Garage Sale

Starpulse is reporting that country music star Alan Jackson staged a garage sale this past Saturday at his home in Nashville, Tenn.

The singer/songwriter is a huge car enthusiast.  He hoped to sell his custom 1966 Cadillac wire wheels with tires, a Hummer H2 roof rack, four Aston Martin wheels with tires and a Harley-Davidson windshield.  He also will be selling off helmets, furniture and electronics from his home.

Jackson, 59 50, has had major smash hits on the country music charts.  His most recent song, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," debuted at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards.  The song honored 9-11.

Proceeds from Jackson's Garage Sale benefited the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home.

"Organize Magazine" To Debut on Nationwide Newstands June 15th

Beginning June 15th, newsstands across Southern California and the nation will debut a new magazine devoted entirely to organization.

Editor-in-chief Joyce Dorny, will over see the bi-monthly Organize Magazine.  They're calling it "doable organization projects for real people with real lives."  Content will focus on how-to ideas, product resources, advice/tips from professionals, and interviews with leaders in the industry.

Here's a sample of the July/August premiere issue, which focuses on summer vacation and travel organization:

• Organizational Guru: An interview with Peter Walsh of TLC’s Clean Sweep and author of the NY Times best-seller It’s All Too Much.
• Clutter Quiz: Take a quiz to find out where you are on the clutter scale.
• Vacation/Travel organization: How to prepare so nothing gets left behind.
• An Organized Car: Get ready for a summer road trip organizing Is for everyone! Learn how the whole family can get involved.
• Laundry Room: One woman’s quest for space in a challenging room.
• Common Organizing Mistakes: Save time by learning what not to do.

You can subscribe to the magazine for $20 bucks a year, by clicking here.

Source:  Wooden Horse Publishing

Ebay Profits Continue to Climb 52 Percent

Despite our thoughts that eBay is dead, the company announced profits are up.

"EBay, the online auction company, on Wednesday reported that its profit rose 52 percent in the first quarter after it raised fees on items for sale and held more auctions outside the United States."

"EBay offers goods for sale via auctions or for fixed prices. It makes money on listing fees and sales commissions. Auction revenue per listing rose 20 percent from a year earlier, helped by the fee increase, after a higher percentage of the site's visitors made purchases."

• Bloomberg News and International Herald Tribune Higher Fees Push Profits up at eBay.

Wood Organizing Products

Wood you make the switch and move away from plastic organizing products, if you could?

A down-to-earth client and I have been researching wood-based (or bamboo) organizing products, not necessarily because they're eco-friendly, they're beautiful, functional, and sturdy.

From PlayEngine in the UK, comes this incredible LCD TV (right) and computer monitor (left) made of bamboo.  The components on the cover, except for the buttons, are made entirely of bamboo. The electronic components are lead free and comply with CE and EU safety approvals.

From BusinessChairs.com, comes this Asian Pacific Hardwood Mat (right) perfect to save your carpet.  Bamboo is easier on flooring since bamboo mats don’t use spikes to hold themselves in place.  Made from all-natural products, unlike rubber chair mats which are made from petroleum based products.

Ballard Designs hosts these Grand Cru Wine Crates, crafted of fir with routered plank details and branded on all four sides with a charming label.

If wine isn't your thing, try these barn wood and chalkboard bins, from VivaTerra.  Contain those newspapers, toys and craft supplies in something more earth-friendly, (and stylish.)

This unfinished cedar binder from Wood Box Supply is so unusual, with it's different tones of wood. Ships with a standard 3-hole ring, functional for to-go restaurant menus, a business card carrying case, or household binder.

Wood you know of any earth-friendly, wood or bamboo products?  Please share.

• Source:  Oh Gizmo (story idea and photo)