Celebrating Valentine's Day

Christmas has left the building!

Many retail stores are now decorated in an array of pink, purple and red.  We can help you with tissue paper, plastic poly shopping bags, kraft bags, ribbon and cello.

But, how will you personally celebrate Valentine's Day with your loved one?  Perhaps an array of goodies (PMS bars) from Laurie's Sweets & Treats at Sophia and Ross Street or, go full-out and book your loved one a chocolate massage or chocolate mud wrap from Maple Hill Country Day Spa (located just outside of Barrie with a second location at Cedar Pointe on Thursdays.You would be a very lucky girl to get both. (Hint Hint!)

It's trade show season!!

January 2012.  Many of us are starting to get ready for trade shows.  CGTA, home shows, business to business shows. 

You should consider several things before participating in your next trade show.

• What does your trade show display say about you?  
• Are your banners up to date or are they ragged and worn out?  
• Do you have a booth displaying relevant, eye-catching information or products?  
• How does your booth compare to other displays?

In addition to your booth or display, remember that the people operating the booth represent your company. 
Ensure your representatives work to engage their audience - a smile goes a long way!  If your rep is sitting in a chair looking like they would rather be ANYWHERE else, your company is losing opportunities and even a fancy booth will not change this.

Taking Your Product Into Consideration - Store Fixtures

Do you consider your products when designing your retail space?  The type, size and weight of product needs serious consideration.  For instance, hoodies may appear to be a lightweight item, but, hang a few on a standard slatwall wall and you may soon have issues.  Hoodies are actually quite heavy when combines and will exert a large amount of pressure on slatwall brackets.  Books and other products will also add up quickly in weight.

The average slatwall panel is rated for 10 - 15 lbs of pressure per square, a rating that goes down as you move toward the end of each panel.  The slats can be reinforced with aluminum brackets to provide a rating of greater than 40 lbs (up to 60lbs) per square, but aluminum inserts can be quite costly.  To maximize the use of unenforced slatwall, be sure to stagger weight on different slats.  In other words, do not put all your brackets on the same slat.  This will assist in a more even weight distribution.

Racks, hangers, brackets, gridwall and other store fixtures also have weight load recommendations.  To ensure you are buying the best systems to display your product, talk to your local store fixture supplier about the products you plan to display.

Reusable Bags are a Bacteria Breeding Ground!

Ever buy groceries and bag them using reusable bags?  Did your groceries include meat, diary or vegetables/fruit?  Chances are that, at one time or another, bacteria from one of these products was left behind to grow in the bag.

Bacteria is usually invisible but that does not mean it is not there.  Avoid cross-contamination and wash your reusable bags regularly to prevent and remove bacterial growth (or any other nasty stuff).  I find the gentle cycle on the washer works well.  Hang to dry or dry on very low heat.

With proper care, reusable bags will last a long time and eliminate the use of thousands of single-use plastic bags.

Cool Temps and Your Garage!

The temperatures are falling and winter will soon be here.  Many of us have already put away the summer patio furniture, garden accessories and more.  Now its time to put the bikes, golf and other warm-weather sports equipment away as well.  With winter, comes hockey season, and with hockey season, comes skates, helmets and other equipment.  Overall, winter means one jam-packed garage!

One method to combat the clutter is garage organization.  A series of special slatwall fixtures, designed for a variety of purposes, will help you organize and declutter.  You will even have room to move in a one-car garage! 


This horizontal bike rack also has storage basket for helmets and hooks for things like bike pumps and locks.  A vertical bike rack is also available.


The golf rack organizer allows you to hang 2 golf bags and 2 pairs of shoes.  The basket is handy for golf hats, balls or other golf accessories.

The multi-use sports rack is perfect for holding a variety of balls, soccer or baseball cleats and bats.  Mitts can also be stores upright.

The hockey sports organizer allows storage of skates with a basket for helmets and other accessories above.  This unit is also designed to hold hockey sticks.

These accessories are designed for use with GarageWares PVC slatwall system which is designed to support 60 lbs per square foot.  Traditional MDF slatwall supports a much lower weight of only 10 -30 lbs per slat.  But, these accessories will fit any slatwall system - just watch your weight load distribution.  With just a few accessories,you can make your garage into a functional and organized space.

To view the complete line, please visit our indoor garage at Unit 8 - 166 Saunders Road, Barrie .  www.facebook.com/garageorganization