Amazon experienced a 29% surge in unique visitors from September to December, according to data provided by Nielsen, while eBay experienced flat numbers for the last four months of the year. Amazon reached 66.472 million unique visitors in December, up 9% from November and up 8.8% from December 2008.
eBay is currently at 2005 levels in terms of unique visitors after peaking in 2006. As the following chart shows, eBay had topped out at 66.193 million unique visitors in December 2006 and hasn't broken the 60 million mark since August 2007. eBay had 51 million unique visitors to its site in December 2009, down 0.27% from November and down 11% from December 2008.
Maybe that is why EBay is asking sellers and buyers to answer surveys. They need to find out what is wrong. If they decide to listen, they will change and bring back the old EBay, when selling on it was FUN!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Year of Turquoise
According to the Pantone Color Institute. . .
This will be the year of turquoise. The blue-green hue is considered to evoke calm and compassion, but its warm and cool shades mix well with all skin tones.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says most
people respond positively to turquoise, and it has a universally flattering appeal
for men and women.
“We look at the psychology of the color,” Eiseman said. “This year specifically, we
were very certain that turquoise was a strong trend and narrowed it down to the
best, most representative color for both fashion and home.”
Andrews agreed, saying that a true turquoise or more subdued teal is a fresh
complement for spring. He suggests incorporating a teal handbag into a spring
wardrobe if you're shy about wearing bold colors.
“Most women don't have a teal handbag,” he said. “Teal works great with neutrals,
and it opens the door to play with color. The bag can be your accent.”
IS THAT WHY SOME OF FIESTA'S RETAIL OUTLET THAT CLOSED OUT OF TURQUOISE A YEAR OR MORE AGO HAVE STARTED CARRYING THAT COLOR AGAIN?
VERY INTERESTING.
This will be the year of turquoise. The blue-green hue is considered to evoke calm and compassion, but its warm and cool shades mix well with all skin tones.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says most
people respond positively to turquoise, and it has a universally flattering appeal
for men and women.
“We look at the psychology of the color,” Eiseman said. “This year specifically, we
were very certain that turquoise was a strong trend and narrowed it down to the
best, most representative color for both fashion and home.”
Andrews agreed, saying that a true turquoise or more subdued teal is a fresh
complement for spring. He suggests incorporating a teal handbag into a spring
wardrobe if you're shy about wearing bold colors.
“Most women don't have a teal handbag,” he said. “Teal works great with neutrals,
and it opens the door to play with color. The bag can be your accent.”
IS THAT WHY SOME OF FIESTA'S RETAIL OUTLET THAT CLOSED OUT OF TURQUOISE A YEAR OR MORE AGO HAVE STARTED CARRYING THAT COLOR AGAIN?
VERY INTERESTING.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Fiesta Chartreuse Vase Traveling the United States. . . .
Have you heard of this????
There is a Fiesta® Chartreuse medium vase (which has been named by someone as "Charry" - I assume by someone at HLC) is traveling the United States visiting friends, landmarks, & favorite places. According to my source, Charry has travelled over 11,000 miles since it started its' travels last October. So far, it has travelled through Ohio, Virginia, South Dakota, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, California & Washington.
Follow Charry on his travels across the United States and see where he will travel to next next. I hope he comes to visit me!
Charry's Journey
There is a Fiesta® Chartreuse medium vase (which has been named by someone as "Charry" - I assume by someone at HLC) is traveling the United States visiting friends, landmarks, & favorite places. According to my source, Charry has travelled over 11,000 miles since it started its' travels last October. So far, it has travelled through Ohio, Virginia, South Dakota, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, California & Washington.
Follow Charry on his travels across the United States and see where he will travel to next next. I hope he comes to visit me!
Charry's Journey
Friday, January 1, 2010
What's New!
When I saw how long it had been since I posted on my blog, I was surprises. Unfortunately, time just gets away from all of us and it has obviously happened to me.
Here are some tidbits I have encountered over the past several months that may be of interest:
Marigold Platter
The follow up piece for the 75th Anniversary collection is a 19.25 inch serving platter. This beautiful Marigold piece is a great complement to last year's three piece baking bowl set!
This year Fiesta introduces the second of three celebratory pieces leading up to the 75th anniversary of the brand in 2011...It's a 19.25 inch Serving Platter! This is in addition to last year's introduction, the 3 pc. Baking Bowl Set , three perfectly large nested shapes, are now available! You had better get them while they last because these pieces in the newly unveiled anniversary year color - Marigold - for a mere 75 weeks. So after September 1, 2009 the Marigold baking bowls will no longer be available. The Marigold serving platter will be officially retired on September 1, 2010. Order yours today!
Evergreen
Word on the street is the Evergreen is the color on the chopping block for 2010. There has been no official word of the new color (other than it will not be pink of any shade) or what color will retire, but many of the large retailers have already discontinued Evergreen, so time will only tell. Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, Evergreen just never hit the right spot. It seems like HLC is trying to recreate colors that were short run, limited edition colors, such as juniper, lilac and chartreuse, but have failed so far in their attempts. . .at least with evergreen and heather. Lemongrass does seem to be a hit so far.
Iced Tea Spoons & Hostess Sets
Some of the latest licensed accessory pieces to hit the chopping block, appear to be the iced tea spoons and hostess sets. I have it direct from HLC that the iced tea spoons have been officially discontinued. The hostess sets appear to be headed in that direction, at least in the solid colors, if the rumor I heard is true. Only time will tell. You can purchase both of these items from www.ladishes.com.
I hope all of you have a Wonderful, Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Here are some tidbits I have encountered over the past several months that may be of interest:
Marigold Platter
The follow up piece for the 75th Anniversary collection is a 19.25 inch serving platter. This beautiful Marigold piece is a great complement to last year's three piece baking bowl set!
This year Fiesta introduces the second of three celebratory pieces leading up to the 75th anniversary of the brand in 2011...It's a 19.25 inch Serving Platter! This is in addition to last year's introduction, the 3 pc. Baking Bowl Set , three perfectly large nested shapes, are now available! You had better get them while they last because these pieces in the newly unveiled anniversary year color - Marigold - for a mere 75 weeks. So after September 1, 2009 the Marigold baking bowls will no longer be available. The Marigold serving platter will be officially retired on September 1, 2010. Order yours today!
Evergreen
Word on the street is the Evergreen is the color on the chopping block for 2010. There has been no official word of the new color (other than it will not be pink of any shade) or what color will retire, but many of the large retailers have already discontinued Evergreen, so time will only tell. Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, Evergreen just never hit the right spot. It seems like HLC is trying to recreate colors that were short run, limited edition colors, such as juniper, lilac and chartreuse, but have failed so far in their attempts. . .at least with evergreen and heather. Lemongrass does seem to be a hit so far.
Iced Tea Spoons & Hostess Sets
Some of the latest licensed accessory pieces to hit the chopping block, appear to be the iced tea spoons and hostess sets. I have it direct from HLC that the iced tea spoons have been officially discontinued. The hostess sets appear to be headed in that direction, at least in the solid colors, if the rumor I heard is true. Only time will tell. You can purchase both of these items from www.ladishes.com.
I hope all of you have a Wonderful, Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
New PayPal Fees - What Next?????
PayPal Adds Fees, Sneakily
By Jared Newman
Aug 7, 2009 12:22 pm
When it comes my personal finances, I like to stay informed, so imagine my dismay when PayPal quietly tacked on fees for a service I'd previously enjoyed for free.
As a writer, a significant chunk of my earnings come through PayPal. For all parties involved, it's faster and more convenient than sending a check. I hold a personal account, rather than a premium one, which means I previously didn't have to pay any fees as long as the money was transferred directly from another PayPal user's account balance.
But when money started rolling in last month, I noticed that a fraction of it (2.9 percent, plus 30 cents) wasn't making the jump from my employers' accounts to my own. In June, PayPal had started charging for payments classified as "Goods" or "Services," even if you have a personal account. It's possible to send money for free as a personal transfer, but this is only intended for friends and family.
As I explained to Charlotte Hill, PayPal's PR manager, the fees themselves don't really bother me. PayPal can run its business as it pleases, and I have every right to take my business elsewhere. What's really infuriating is that there was no warning about the new fees, and no notification once they were instated.
Hill protested. An e-mail did go out, she said, and there were news articles and a post on PayPal's official blog.
Well, not really. Coinciding with the new fees, PayPal started allowing people with premium accounts to make personal transfers for free. That's great for users who do a lot of business on eBay, for instance, because they no longer have to pay for transfers to friends and family. Thing is, that's all PayPal talked about when the changes took place. The news articles Hill cites make no mention of new fees.
I did get an e-mail along the lines of what Hill showed me, but it says nothing about changes to the fee structure for the sale of goods and services. If you want real confirmation that the fees changed in early June, you'll have to look for grumblings on random Internet forums. (Of course, this is nothing compared to some of the previous controversies PayPal has stirred up among customers.)
"We didn't want to make a huge formal communication out of this pricing change, because we weren't really adding any fees, and we were hoping it would be a more useful experience for people," Hill said.
Maybe, but in any situation where you're taking more money from customers - even if it's a small amount - a formal communication is what they deserve. Otherwise, you're just being underhanded
By Jared Newman
Aug 7, 2009 12:22 pm
When it comes my personal finances, I like to stay informed, so imagine my dismay when PayPal quietly tacked on fees for a service I'd previously enjoyed for free.
As a writer, a significant chunk of my earnings come through PayPal. For all parties involved, it's faster and more convenient than sending a check. I hold a personal account, rather than a premium one, which means I previously didn't have to pay any fees as long as the money was transferred directly from another PayPal user's account balance.
But when money started rolling in last month, I noticed that a fraction of it (2.9 percent, plus 30 cents) wasn't making the jump from my employers' accounts to my own. In June, PayPal had started charging for payments classified as "Goods" or "Services," even if you have a personal account. It's possible to send money for free as a personal transfer, but this is only intended for friends and family.
As I explained to Charlotte Hill, PayPal's PR manager, the fees themselves don't really bother me. PayPal can run its business as it pleases, and I have every right to take my business elsewhere. What's really infuriating is that there was no warning about the new fees, and no notification once they were instated.
Hill protested. An e-mail did go out, she said, and there were news articles and a post on PayPal's official blog.
Well, not really. Coinciding with the new fees, PayPal started allowing people with premium accounts to make personal transfers for free. That's great for users who do a lot of business on eBay, for instance, because they no longer have to pay for transfers to friends and family. Thing is, that's all PayPal talked about when the changes took place. The news articles Hill cites make no mention of new fees.
I did get an e-mail along the lines of what Hill showed me, but it says nothing about changes to the fee structure for the sale of goods and services. If you want real confirmation that the fees changed in early June, you'll have to look for grumblings on random Internet forums. (Of course, this is nothing compared to some of the previous controversies PayPal has stirred up among customers.)
"We didn't want to make a huge formal communication out of this pricing change, because we weren't really adding any fees, and we were hoping it would be a more useful experience for people," Hill said.
Maybe, but in any situation where you're taking more money from customers - even if it's a small amount - a formal communication is what they deserve. Otherwise, you're just being underhanded
Thursday, August 20, 2009
EBay's New Photo "Theft" Policy - Good Grief
Here is an article I read - verbatim. Here is the link if you would rather look at it directly:
http://naamah-darling.livejournal.com/411410.html
Starting on August 31st, eBay is going to institute a new policy where photos you upload to any listing are put into a "catalog" of online images that any eBay user can then use for their own listings. The default setting for this is opt-in, which is a problem if you, like me, consider your photographs your property and want to control how they are used and by whom. A copyright notice is posted with a link to your user profile, but no additional information is given, and the link is quite small.
Since the default setting is opt-in, and eBay has not sent messages out about this, a lot of people are going to be caught flat-footed by this new policy.
Again, the default for this setting is YES, you have opted in. Meaning "Yes, I will allow eBay to make my photos available for anyone to use."
If you do not want eBay to make the photos you upload to all of your future auctions available to other users in a sort of catalog process, you need to go change your settings now, before August 31st. If you opt out after then, any photos you upload between the 31st and when you opt out will still be eligible for inclusion in their "catalog."
In order to opt out of this so-not-okay process, do the following. I've broken it down exhaustively. Hopefully your eBay pages look like mine.
1) Go to your eBay summary page ("My eBay").
2) On the left-hand side, there are three tabs that say "Activity," "Messages," and "Account." Hover over the "Account" tab.
3) A drop-down list will appear. Move your mouse down to "Site Preferences" and click.
4) You will be taken to a page with a list of site options for selling, shipping, and listing. About the sixth from the top is "Share your Photos." Click on the word "show" on the right hand side next to this option.
5) The box will expand, and if you are opted in, "yes" will appear. If you are opted out, "no" will appear. A small "edit" link will appear below the "show" link. If you want to change the settings, click "edit."
6) You will be taken to a new page with the following text: If you'd like to opt-out of this program, please do so by checking this box and clicking the "submit" button below.(If you opt-out before August 31, 2009, none of your photos will be considered for inclusion in this program unless you opt back in at a later time. If you opt-out after August 31, 2009, any photos we select for inclusion in this program prior to your opt-out may continue to be used in the catalog)
7) If you want to opt out of the program, check the ticky box on the left-hand side next to the text, then go down and click the "submit" button.
8) You will go back to the settings screen you were just on, and there will be a green checkmark and a confirmation message. Go down to the "Share your Photos" option again and click "show." Your setting should now appear as "no."
I am sure that this will be a useful feature for some people, for some items, but the automatic opt-in is not okay with me at all, as I don't want my photographs used to illustrate someone else's auction for a different item, not for any reason whatsoever.
I thought you should all be warned. Please spread the word. This is a slimy, underhanded thing to do, and I hope it bites them in the ass.
ETA: It appears that this might not be affecting everyone, but I urge you to go check your settings anyway. Mine was defaulted to "yes." Maybe it's a browser thing, I don't know, but y'all should probably go make sure.
http://naamah-darling.livejournal.com/411410.html
Starting on August 31st, eBay is going to institute a new policy where photos you upload to any listing are put into a "catalog" of online images that any eBay user can then use for their own listings. The default setting for this is opt-in, which is a problem if you, like me, consider your photographs your property and want to control how they are used and by whom. A copyright notice is posted with a link to your user profile, but no additional information is given, and the link is quite small.
Since the default setting is opt-in, and eBay has not sent messages out about this, a lot of people are going to be caught flat-footed by this new policy.
Again, the default for this setting is YES, you have opted in. Meaning "Yes, I will allow eBay to make my photos available for anyone to use."
If you do not want eBay to make the photos you upload to all of your future auctions available to other users in a sort of catalog process, you need to go change your settings now, before August 31st. If you opt out after then, any photos you upload between the 31st and when you opt out will still be eligible for inclusion in their "catalog."
In order to opt out of this so-not-okay process, do the following. I've broken it down exhaustively. Hopefully your eBay pages look like mine.
1) Go to your eBay summary page ("My eBay").
2) On the left-hand side, there are three tabs that say "Activity," "Messages," and "Account." Hover over the "Account" tab.
3) A drop-down list will appear. Move your mouse down to "Site Preferences" and click.
4) You will be taken to a page with a list of site options for selling, shipping, and listing. About the sixth from the top is "Share your Photos." Click on the word "show" on the right hand side next to this option.
5) The box will expand, and if you are opted in, "yes" will appear. If you are opted out, "no" will appear. A small "edit" link will appear below the "show" link. If you want to change the settings, click "edit."
6) You will be taken to a new page with the following text: If you'd like to opt-out of this program, please do so by checking this box and clicking the "submit" button below.(If you opt-out before August 31, 2009, none of your photos will be considered for inclusion in this program unless you opt back in at a later time. If you opt-out after August 31, 2009, any photos we select for inclusion in this program prior to your opt-out may continue to be used in the catalog)
7) If you want to opt out of the program, check the ticky box on the left-hand side next to the text, then go down and click the "submit" button.
8) You will go back to the settings screen you were just on, and there will be a green checkmark and a confirmation message. Go down to the "Share your Photos" option again and click "show." Your setting should now appear as "no."
I am sure that this will be a useful feature for some people, for some items, but the automatic opt-in is not okay with me at all, as I don't want my photographs used to illustrate someone else's auction for a different item, not for any reason whatsoever.
I thought you should all be warned. Please spread the word. This is a slimy, underhanded thing to do, and I hope it bites them in the ass.
ETA: It appears that this might not be affecting everyone, but I urge you to go check your settings anyway. Mine was defaulted to "yes." Maybe it's a browser thing, I don't know, but y'all should probably go make sure.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
New Fiesta Accessory Item - Tumblers
FIESTA® WELCOMES TERVIS TUMBLER TO ITS COMPREHENSIVE LINE OF LICENSED PRODUCTS Tumblers Featured in Signature FIESTA Colors
Newell, W.Va.—(July 1, 2009)—The Homer Laughlin China Company™ announces an exclusive licensing agreement between its brand of FIESTA® Dinnerware and Tervis Tumbler; FIESTA insulated tumblers will make their debut in Tervis’ booth at the Gourmet Housewares Show in San Francisco, August 8 – 10, 2009, booth #3355.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of Tervis Tumbler to the FIESTA family of licensed products,” says Rich Brinkman, FIESTA Dinnerware. “Like the dinnerware brand, Tervis enjoys a strong customer following. The partnership is a natural extension of our quality line of licensed products, which now includes everything from cutlery, to glassware, linens, flatware, and more. The insulated tumblers truly round out the brand.”
Sharing a similar long-term history of American-made products, Tervis Tumbler, headquartered in North Venice, Florida, has been producing insulated tumblers since 1946; FIESTA Dinnerware has produced its colorful dishes since 1936 (and Homer Laughlin has been in business since 1870).
“We expect the partnership between us to be an overwhelming success,” says Laura Spencer, CEO, Tervis Tumbler. “FIESTA is a well-respected brand name that represents the American-made tradition that we too pride ourselves on. This, in addition to a shared expectation of exceptional quality, will bring an exciting product to new and existing customers alike.”
Known for the company’s stylish designs that are full of personality, Tervis’ line for FIESTA will feature the signature ‘dancing lady’. Additional items will be available in various multi-colored ‘wrap’ styles that envelope the inner lining of the insulated tumblers.
FIESTA insulated tumblers will be sold in the following five sizes: 12 oz. (the size of a double old fashioned glass), 10 oz. JR-T® (which is slender and tall), 16 oz. (the most popular size), 17 oz. mug, and 24 oz. Big-T® (cleverly designed to fit into a standard sized drink holder).
Tervis Tumblers are virtually indestructible and guaranteed for life. They are microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.
Double-walled insulation keeps hot drinks hotter or cold drinks colder; longer than traditional drinkware. The tumblers are constructed of a material that resists scratching and discoloration, won’t retain odors like most plastics and offers the clarity and brilliance of glass, yet is safe and practically indestructible.
Look for FIESTA tumblers and ice buckets in stores and online as early as Fall 2009 and online at www.homerlaughlin.com and www.tervis.com. Retail price is as follows: tumblers range from $15 to $24; Ice Bucket $50.
About Fiesta® DinnerwareDesigned by Frederick Hurten Rhead in 1936, FIESTA® Dinnerware is now the most collected china in the United States and among the most collected china in the world. It has been featured on many popular TV programs, including ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover and the Today Show. The product was discontinued in 1973 and reissued in 1986 with new contemporary colors to mark its 50th anniversary. Its unique Art Deco style has landed FIESTA® Dinnerware in the collections of numerous museums from the Smithsonian Institution to the Andy Warhol Museum.
About The Homer Laughlin China Company™The Homer Laughlin China Company™, headquartered in Newell, West Virginia, is the largest domestic producer of china dinnerware in the United States. The company’s distinctive FIESTA® brand is featured on dining tables across the country and coveted by a large, enthusiastic group of collectors. For additional information, please visit the Homer Laughlin™ Web site at www.hlchina.com.
About Tervis TumblerTervis Tumbler prides itself on its high quality and durability and stands behind their products with a comprehensive lifetime guarantee – if anything should happen to the tumblers, they may be returned to Tervis for replacement at no charge. The company strives to uphold the same high standards of quality craftsmanship and customer relations today as it has for decades. Tervis tumblers are available in over 6,000 retail locations throughout the country, at four company-owned stores in Florida and on www.tervis.com. For further information, contact Customer Service at 866.TUMBLER or visit www.tervis.com.
Newell, W.Va.—(July 1, 2009)—The Homer Laughlin China Company™ announces an exclusive licensing agreement between its brand of FIESTA® Dinnerware and Tervis Tumbler; FIESTA insulated tumblers will make their debut in Tervis’ booth at the Gourmet Housewares Show in San Francisco, August 8 – 10, 2009, booth #3355.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of Tervis Tumbler to the FIESTA family of licensed products,” says Rich Brinkman, FIESTA Dinnerware. “Like the dinnerware brand, Tervis enjoys a strong customer following. The partnership is a natural extension of our quality line of licensed products, which now includes everything from cutlery, to glassware, linens, flatware, and more. The insulated tumblers truly round out the brand.”
Sharing a similar long-term history of American-made products, Tervis Tumbler, headquartered in North Venice, Florida, has been producing insulated tumblers since 1946; FIESTA Dinnerware has produced its colorful dishes since 1936 (and Homer Laughlin has been in business since 1870).
“We expect the partnership between us to be an overwhelming success,” says Laura Spencer, CEO, Tervis Tumbler. “FIESTA is a well-respected brand name that represents the American-made tradition that we too pride ourselves on. This, in addition to a shared expectation of exceptional quality, will bring an exciting product to new and existing customers alike.”
Known for the company’s stylish designs that are full of personality, Tervis’ line for FIESTA will feature the signature ‘dancing lady’. Additional items will be available in various multi-colored ‘wrap’ styles that envelope the inner lining of the insulated tumblers.
FIESTA insulated tumblers will be sold in the following five sizes: 12 oz. (the size of a double old fashioned glass), 10 oz. JR-T® (which is slender and tall), 16 oz. (the most popular size), 17 oz. mug, and 24 oz. Big-T® (cleverly designed to fit into a standard sized drink holder).
Tervis Tumblers are virtually indestructible and guaranteed for life. They are microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.
Double-walled insulation keeps hot drinks hotter or cold drinks colder; longer than traditional drinkware. The tumblers are constructed of a material that resists scratching and discoloration, won’t retain odors like most plastics and offers the clarity and brilliance of glass, yet is safe and practically indestructible.
Look for FIESTA tumblers and ice buckets in stores and online as early as Fall 2009 and online at www.homerlaughlin.com and www.tervis.com. Retail price is as follows: tumblers range from $15 to $24; Ice Bucket $50.
About Fiesta® DinnerwareDesigned by Frederick Hurten Rhead in 1936, FIESTA® Dinnerware is now the most collected china in the United States and among the most collected china in the world. It has been featured on many popular TV programs, including ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover and the Today Show. The product was discontinued in 1973 and reissued in 1986 with new contemporary colors to mark its 50th anniversary. Its unique Art Deco style has landed FIESTA® Dinnerware in the collections of numerous museums from the Smithsonian Institution to the Andy Warhol Museum.
About The Homer Laughlin China Company™The Homer Laughlin China Company™, headquartered in Newell, West Virginia, is the largest domestic producer of china dinnerware in the United States. The company’s distinctive FIESTA® brand is featured on dining tables across the country and coveted by a large, enthusiastic group of collectors. For additional information, please visit the Homer Laughlin™ Web site at www.hlchina.com.
About Tervis TumblerTervis Tumbler prides itself on its high quality and durability and stands behind their products with a comprehensive lifetime guarantee – if anything should happen to the tumblers, they may be returned to Tervis for replacement at no charge. The company strives to uphold the same high standards of quality craftsmanship and customer relations today as it has for decades. Tervis tumblers are available in over 6,000 retail locations throughout the country, at four company-owned stores in Florida and on www.tervis.com. For further information, contact Customer Service at 866.TUMBLER or visit www.tervis.com.
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