News

Nature's Expression develops bi-annual newsletter to support retailers with up-to-date information regarding new products, buying trends, tips on successful retail selling and more!

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Watch out for the next newsletter in March, 2008!

Bi-annual Newsletter

September - December 2007

Volune 2 • Issue 2

Always Searching

We at Nature¹s Expression are always on the lookout for the perfect amethyst geode. We have found many that are almost perfect but they often have some small flaw on them. For example, in order to determine the quality, the miners place a hole in the geode and look inside with a little light bulb. If it is dark enough they will spend the next day or two chiseling it out of it¹s basalt home in the side of a hill. If not, it usually just becomes what they refer to as druze or clusters. In some tragic cases they accidentally break a perfectly expensive geode and it falls into the category of druze. Since they have been at this for many years they seem to know that they can get about the same price for druze as for a geode but there is a better market for the whole pieces, hence their tragedy moments when the geode breaks.

On searching for the perfect geode, I once traveled to the mines in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. However, neither the quality nor prices were any different between the mine and the warehouses where the majority of it is sold. This is mostly because the warehouse owners own many of the mines and they set the price.

In the picture you will see one of the larger dealers who owns his own mines. They cut, polish and prepare their own geodes and put them on display where I have a better chance of finding the prefect geode. But even in this huge warehouse after hand selecting the best for Nature¹s Expression I come home with only a few. The same goes for the citrine geodes which are actually amethyst that has been heated to 550 degrees Centigrade in an oven. These have a tendency to crack so the price is usually higher. They seldom heat the very best amethyst so it is even harder to get the best citrine geodes. Nevertheless we try our best to bring the finest specimens to our customers.

Author: Greg Stump, CEO

HEY! Whatever happened to that Pesky Sales Rep?

If you mean Sarah Acton (formerly Pearson) - the one who you may have seen at a show, or who may have shown up at your shop, or even answered the phone when you called Nature's Expression - well, I've been working from home since January and covering BC.

The company has had many changes over the years and I have been lucky to be a part of them for past nine. Nature's Expression has allowed me to grow and has been very supportive in many ways. I write this to say goodbye to all of those across the country whom I may have met, talked to or even had the pleasure to visit with in your shop. If you remember me, you can be certain that I remember you and have heard all about your success from my colleagues.

Although I will miss many aspects of Nature's Expression - from the retired couple in small-town Nova Scotia, to practicing my French at the Montreal show, visiting laid-back shop keepers on Vancouver Island and everyone in between - I am off on my greatest adventure yet. I am having Baby #2 at the beginning of December and will be a stay at home Mom for awhile. I'm hoping that my skills acquired at NE will aid in changing two sets of diapers, coping with sleep deprivation, and removing stains from clothes, walls and even the cat. Yikes! Perhaps I need some more training!

Until our paths cross again, or for those who don't know me, until we meet for the first time, I wish you all great success! I also hope that Nature's Expression will continue to be a part of your business wherever you may be.

Sincerely, from That Pesky Sales Rep,

Sarah

Author: Sarah Acton, Former Sales Rep

What is Colour Energy?

Sunlight is our main source of light, heat and energy. Not only does sunlight sustain all life on Earth, it also supports the Earth itself. It provides plants with the energy for photosynthesis, which in turn sustains the lives of all animals and humans.

Sunlight consists of energy in various forms and we utilize many of these energies in our daily lives; however, we seem to put little emphasis on the visible light rays. By holding a prism towards the sun, we can break down the visible spectrum into seven different beams of colour.

Colour and light are inseparable. Each colour in the visible light spectrum has a different wavelength and vibrational frequency, which affects us differently.

RED has the longest wavelength and the slowest vibrational frequency, which we recognize as warm and stimulating, whereas VIOLET has the shortest wavelength and the fastest frequency, which we recognize as cool and calming.

We receive light (colour) information primarily through our eyes, which then stimulates the retina and its cells, rods and cones. Since light and its constituent colours physically affect our glands and hormones, they will also have a marked influence on our moods and feelings.

Science has proven that certain colours calm the mind while others stimulate mental activity. We need light energy for nourishing our brain, our emotions and our physical body. Light can also enter through our skin and our breath. As well, we can receive additional colour energy through a balance of various coloured foods, herbs, vitamins, aromatherapy, sound, minerals, clothing, decor and colour bathing.

Author: Susanne Murphy, Colour Energy Corporation (Customer of Nature¹s Expression)

Coach's Corner

What Colour Am I?

Fall is almost upon and as we breathe in the last few rays of the warm summer sunshine, it is a time to reflect on summer and build strategies to encourage those fall purchases. You may recall in past issues, that I talked about the importance of recognizing mood in our customers (sunshine is one of those mood influencers). This article will focus on the colour energies that live in our personalities.

Carl Jung was a psychologist (like Freud) who researched and theorized that our personalities are predisposed to specific types of thought and behavioural patterns. These patterns or habits are continually shaped during our lifetime. It is important to understand that each of our customers will also make buying decisions based on their thought and behavioural patterns, and most importantly their personality type.

The Insights Discovery system (more information is on my website at www.plannedtransitions.com ) is a robust and rich learning process that can help us understand our key strengths, weaknesses, communication style, etc. Included in this process is also ³colour mapping² to our unique and individual dominant personality traits. There are essentially 4 colour energies within our personalities. These personality types are specific to how we perceive the world, our decision-making process, where we get our energy from, and how we interact in the world. Likely you have heard the expression ³she¹s very extroverted or he¹s such an introvert². Extroversion and introversion can be defined as where we get our energy from i.e. extroverts love to think out loud whereas introverts have a more inward orientation to the world they like to think things through before speaking out loud.

It is important to understand that while we may have a dominant extroverted side, this does not mean we are not introverted. Jung believed that our personalities are dynamic and in order to create a balance, extroversion sits on one side of us, while introversion sits on the other we will move back and forth between these. The Insights Discovery team from Scotland worked with the Jungian Institute in Switzerland to bring this rich learning tool to the world, and as part of that, they ³colourized² our personalities. Here is a breakdown of the colours:

Fiery Red extroverted thinking. These types of customers are very bottom-lined focused. They are usually in a hurry and pay little attention to detail other than the price and whether something does what it is advertised to do. They are very purposeful shoppers.

Cool Blue introverted thinking. These are shoppers who like a quiet time to look around. They appreciate information cards or merchandizing aids that tell them the ³technical² aspects of the products.

Sunshine Yellow extroverted feeling. This is the customer that walks in and greets you as though they have known you forever. They love the shopping experience as long as it is exciting and includes people, socialization and conversation. These folks sometimes forget why and what they came to buy because they can become so engrossed in ³visiting² with you or your store.

Earth Green introverted feeling. Again this is a "soft" customer, not so different from the blue energy person, but perhaps less edgy. This shopper is very interested in how this product will satisfy the needs of the person they are buying it for. They will engage in conversation with you, and will be concerned that they are not bothering you.

Now the very interesting part of this is that, we are a combination of these colour energies as our personalities are usually shaped around one or two more dominant traits. This means that our customers will be interacting with us (and us with them) from several colour energies. A red, yellow customer will be in a hurry, but more engaging in conversation and laughter. A blue, green customer will want the information, but not want to trouble you for it. They will want to be sure that if the person does not like the gift, that it can be returned without a problem.

Learning to read the personalities of your customers (and your staff) will help you to support and engage them in a way that works for them and you. Conversations will get easier and your ability to perceive what might be important for them will become much easier. Of course, your personality will matter as well. We each have our most difficult person in life and yours might walk into your store today. Take time to ³assess² what colour energy might be useful for you to flex into so that you can adapt your style and connect with your customer. This is one of those gifts that will last a lifetime.

Author: Linda-Ann Bowling, Professional Success Coach
Linda-Ann Bowling is a Certified Professional Success Coach. Contact her today to explore how the Insights Discovery program can help you impact your bottom life, increase your sales, and make the buying experience of your customers absolutely unique!

She can be contacted at plannedtransitions@shaw.ca or 604.626.4806

Starry Forecast - September to December 2007

As the sun begins to cast longer shadows and the evening air turns crisp we know that fall is here and with it, a feeling of abundance. All creatures recognize the growing season and this time of harvest and thanks. Mid September finds us wanting to purchase things that will make us more attractive, so jewellery, skin care products etc will be on the minds of your consumers.

However, with Saturn in Virgo for the next long while there will remain a certain caution and careful choosing that will be apparent. Product information and "shelf talkers" will help them decide which products deserve their attention. The harvest moon in Aries at the end of September will set the stage for more energy and hopefulness for all. Fill your windows with the bright colours of fall to encourage a little extra spending. These colours say buy and hoard for the dark days of winter.

From mid October until the beginning of November, Mercury goes retrograde so be sure all communication is very clear. Finish those left over issues and ideas and double check the orders you planned to make for the holiday season.

By then the days are crisp and it is time to change the window and in store displays for the festive season. Energy lags a bit from mid November through December, so bright reds and cheery greenery will brighten the spirit. It is important to stand out from the rest and a creative display and unique stock is the way to do it. The full moon, just before Christmas and after Winter Solstice, will have us thinking of home, family and with those we love. At this time and throughout the year we want you to know that your business and loyalty is appreciated.