Outset Media - games, puzzles and a whole lot more!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Communications Update

The success of any distributor/retailer relationship requires much more than just great products. It requires a common goal, trust, great service, product knowledge, and a whole lot more. At the heart of all of this, however, is effective communication. At Outset Media, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of our communications. And, while communications is a work in progress and constantly evolving, as your account representative, I have to say that I really like where we are right now as a company. Take a look.

Company Communications

Outset Media 2012 Games, Puzzles and More catalogue

You should have received this catalogue in the big, blue binder. There are over 400 new items to choose from this year! .PDF versions of the catalogue can be downloaded at http://www.outsetmedia.com/for-retailers/download-catalogs

2012 Fall Flyer Program

If you are a toy retailer, this is a pretty good way to go for inexpensive advertising. It’s free! All you have to do is agree to stock the products in the flyer. The flyer will be circulated to Canadian Living magazine home subscribers in the December edition. Deadline for sign-up is September 7th, 2012. Call me for an information package.

OutsetMedia.com

The Outset Media website has been completely renovated! Taking over two years in the design process, the goal was to make our website fun and informative without being a mass of confusing clutter…much easier said than done. While visiting, please try to complete the short survey for the “Retailer Login” page in the “For Retailers” section. This section is nearing completion and your feedback will help us determine what features retailers will find most useful.
Visit us at http://outsetmedia.com/

Also, be sure to visit these other websites from Outset Media:
Visit us at http://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/
Visit us at http://www.professornoggin.com/
Visit us at http://www.thegameofwhat.com/

Coming Soon to OutsetMedia.com! – Product videos for EVERY Outset Media product!
These will be posted to our website by September 4th.

Facebook – Outset Media

http://www.facebook.com/OutsetMedia
This Facebook page includes retailer and consumer information about Outset Media brands. Retailer and consumer postings are encouraged and welcome.

Twitter – Outset Media

http://twitter.com/outsetmedia
This includes retailer and consumer information about Outset Media brands. Retailer and consumer postings are encouraged and welcome.

Account Representative Communications

Facebook – Paul Albhouse

http://www.facebook.com/paul.albhouse.9

This is completely new. As your account representative, this is where I post information that I think my retail accounts and their customers should know about. It includes information about Outset Media branded products in addition to products that we distribute in the Canadian market. Retailer and consumer postings are encouraged and welcome. It’s new, so I need friends like you to “Like” my Facebook page so I don’t get lonely.

Twitter - Paul Albhouse

Follow me on Twitter: @phouse123
https://twitter.com/phouse123
Twitter is also something new for me so please ignore the sad number of followers that I have so far. The idea is to get messages out to you quickly and, at the same time, keep it short and sweet. If you use Twitter, I also need followers like you so I don’t get lonely.

Paul’s Blog

This is where I post EVERYTHING! It is informative but lacks the social networking advantages of linking to you and your customers the way that I can with Facebook and Twitter. Retailer and consumer postings are encouraged and welcome.http://www.omgamesandpuzzles.blogspot.com/

So, there you have it. I know it is a lot of information to digest but if you invest a little time now to participate in the aforementioned media and follow along on a somewhat regular basis, you could potentially see some real dividends down the road. Remember, customers in your area may be participating right now - perhaps even some of your customers - and in today’s economy, any opportunity to reach out to them cannot be ignored.

Paul Albhouse
Canadian Account Representative
Outset Media Corp.

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Welcome to my Blog!

As your account representative, I am always looking for the best way to stay in touch with my customers in a way that will provide you with the most up-to-date information on our games and puzzles as quickly as possible. Take publicity, for example. We often find out on very short notice that some of our advance publicity has materialized into a significant story in a newspaper or magazine or even on television or radio. That is information that can have an immediate and dramtic effect on your sales. This is information that you need to know fast!

The blog is also useful for letting you know what is really hot, what is selling out, or what's new. For relaying information to you in an efficient manner that can actually save you a lot of time, it's really hard to beat. The trick is making it readable and interesting enough for you to take that time. For this reason I will only email the link to the blog when there is something significant. Otherwise it's no longer news, it's just more SPAM for you to deal with.

I hope you will find the blog convenient and informative. As always, if you have any questions about the blog, the games or the puzzles, call me or send me an email. It's always a pleasure to hear from you.

Some more picks!

Over 70 new Cobble Hill Puzzle Company jigsaw puzzles for the 2012/13 season – If your customers appreciate quality puzzles, they will love Cobble Hill Puzzles. The selection in this line is impressive indeed, with something for all ages and abilities. Visit www.cobblehillpuzzles.com to see our best selection yet! Retailers listed on the website are members of the Cobble Hill Puzzles Partnership Program. Consumers can shop for puzzles at these stores and be fully confident that they will enjoy the finest selection of Cobble Hill Puzzles in their region.
Create Your Own Puzzles - This series of puzzles for children is a runaway hit! This series now offers excellent quality pencil crayons and a giant 24"x36" floor puzzle with 10 Jumbo Crayons! They are puzzles as well as creative projects for rainy days. We now have a promotional poster that retailers can use to help promote the series. Call for details.
MindTrap card games - From the world-renowned MindTrap® comes a series of impulse-priced card games. There are three titles in the series: Left Brain Right Brain, Brain Cramp and Shadow Mysteries. These games make great stocking stuffers, birthday gifts, and travel games. Packaged for easy pegging, and shipped in displays for easy shelf merchandising. Order now for September shipping!!!
Qwirkle - Qwirkle is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but this game also requires tactical manoevres and well-planned strategy. Earn points by building rows and columns of blocks that share a common shape or colour. Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces with matching attributes. The player with the most points wins! 108 wooden blocks. Every now and then a game comes along that really is for all ages. Qwirkle is one of those games. Ages 6 and up for 2 or more players. $29.99 MSRP (ships 6 to a carton)
Q-bitz - Q-bitz from Mindware: Race to claim the Q-bitz card by being first to arrange your cubes in the identical pattern. Next, roll your cubes to match the pattern and, finally, recreate the pattern from memory! Includes 120 cards, 4 wooden trays and 4 sets of 16 cubes. 2 to 4 players. MSRP $29.99. This is a game that you can show someone how to play in under a minute! Demo this game and you will sell it constantly.
White Mountain Puzzles - Outset Media is the exclusive Canadian distributor for this extremely popular, quality line of puzzles. There's some great images for the summer season too! Ask me to email the catalogue .pdf file to you!
Mindware Markers/pkg of 24 - Don't let the reasonable price fool you. These are surprisingly good quality markers, fine tipped, washable and non-toxic. MSRP of $6.99. Ships in cartons of 10 packages only. A great add-on sale to the Mindware Colouring Books and Extreme Dot to Dot Books.
What? - Another great party game from Outset Media. Perfect for parties and gatherings of 5 or more players, players write comical answers to the three different scenarios listed on each card. Gut busting fun for ages 14 and up. Visit the new website at http://www.thegameofwhat.com. Also, visit the new Facebook page dedicated to What? at http://www.facebook.com/TheGameOfWhat
Royal & Langnickel - Paint by Numbers and Engraving Art - Since we introduced this line at the CGTA Gift Show and the Alberta Gift Show in August, the sales and re-orders have been non-stop...and that's before the Christmas shopping even started! The keys to success for this line are quality, presentation and value. Give this line a nice location in your store and you will have happy customers coming back time and again for more.
Extreme Dot to Dot - The Extreme Dot to Dot books from Mindware have been an outstanding success since the first two titles, Explorers and Animals were launced in the Spring. So it wasn't too much of a surprise when Mindware released two brand new titles at the end of September. The two new titles are Legends and Lore and Prehistoric (Dinosaurs). They arrived in our distribution centre on Friday, October 22nd. Like the Mindware Colouring Books, these are not books for young children. I would recommend them for anyone who loves to doodle or draw, ages 12 and up. MSRP $12.99 each.
Keva Contraptions Catapult from Mindware. I can't see how this product can miss. If I was a kid today - and to a certain extent I still am - I would absolutely have to have this. (A Predator Drone equipped with a Hellfire Missile would be my first choice, but they are beyond the budget of most parents.) For ages 7+ and with an MSRP of $29.99
Big Sneaky Floor Puzzles from Patch Products - These floor puzzles have very strong sell-through. With the addition of the 3D Puzzles and the My First Floor Puzzles, retailers can offer their customers a great selection of quality kids puzzles. The key, like with most products, is in the merchandising. Do a floor stack or have a significant number of facings on the shelf and you will see great results. Ages 3+ (2+ on the My First Floor Puzzles) with an MSRP of $14.99 ($16.99 for the 3D Puzzles).
TWIG - Wondering what makes Twig blocks so special? It's not the green conscious design and packaging, the colors, or even the shapes, it's your hands and mind in concert with the finest materials for amazing building. Equally appealing in the playroom, in your office, or on the coffee table. Twig is design for everyone. Made from Rubbertree wood after the natural life cycle for the tree is completed. A sustainable and eco-friendly product. • Twig - Modern building blocks designed for learning, fashioned for fun. • Constructed of all highly renewable materials. • Each Twig set consists of 72 wooden pieces and a cotton drawstring storage bag. • All precision-cut blocks are compatible with one another. • Limitless combinations for open-ended play. MSRP $54.99. ages 3+. Parents’ Choice Gold Award 2009. Creative Child Toy of the Year Award 2009. Dr. Toy Best Green Product 2009. Exceptional Parent Magazine's Top Toy Picks for 2009. 2009 Grandkids Superproduct Award.
Dizios - It’s a domino game with a colorful, dizzying twist! Tiles are placed down one by one to create a flowing piece. Players take turns placing tiles with matching edges; points are earned according to the pieces on the board your tile touches. Includes 71 glossy chipboard game tiles. Includes rules for 3 different solitaire games as well. Highly recommended! Mensa Select 2010 Award Winner! MSRP $26.99. Ages 6+
Imaginets from Mindware - Boost their fine motor and visual thinking skills with Imaginets! The sturdy wood carrying case features durable hinges and rope handles that are perfect for little hands. Inside, brightly-coloured magnetic blocks can be arranged on the boards to replicate any of the 50 full-color design challenges, including animals, faces, vehicles and more. Plus, the magnetic board surface doubles as a dry-erase board, so kids can decorate a backdrop for their creations! MSRP $34.99. Ages 3+
CrossCribb - Let's face it, Cribbage is huge, and this board game variation includes rules for 1 to 6 players! This game has had tremendous staying power over the years, and with good reason!