Once only considered appropriate for traditional tailored menswear, tweed exploded on designer runways during the New York Fashion Week. Jackets and full-skirted suits were vibrant in colors as diverse as creamy, neutral, yellow and even bronze. Oscar de la Renta went one step further when he covered a silver tweed coat with crystal embroidery.

Watch for this traditional fabric to hit home decor as Elle Decor magazine identified tweed as a true up and coming trend by showing it in a series of silk, wool and cotton swatches for interior accents.

Moving the indoors out

Homeowners are being drawn to live outdoors and consider this space their 'extra room.' Well, a room needs furnishings, so that drove the desire to own movable furniture that could be pushed onto the deck, the 'ultimate' deluxe grills and elaborate gardens to complete the mood.

One would think that during the winter, the outdoor room would again become, well, outdoors . . . and people would have moved back in from the cold. Apparently not so! The Wall Street Journal reports that ice-skating rinks, small greenhouses, deep hot tubs, downsized snow-making machines and sledding runs were all the rage for the home in some communities.

The outdoor furniture industries are promoting the idea of year-round living both under the sun and the snow clouds. Greenhouse sales are up 60 percent in five years, the Journal says.

Consumers want Simplicity in Purchasing

The world is looking a bit brighter for American consumers who are starting to venture out and shop again. This is the news according to the study from WSL Strategic Retail, a New York-based marketing consulting firm titled, "How America Shops 2004: Pushing Back."

The priorities have changed, so have their expectations. Simplicity is important and what they buy needs to be important - not just frivolous.

WSL reports that consumers' new habits have given a boost to "super-sized or specialized" retailers. People like big stores that carry everything, warehouse clubs (Costco and Sam's Club), the Internet and dollar stores that are expanding their merchandise selection.

10 Innovation Proverbs for Leaders, from Joyce Wycoff

1. PEOPLE do innovation.

2. Innovation means doing something that hasn't been done before. By definition there is risk involved. No risk; no innovation.

3. Innovation is a win-win process. It creates new value for the customer and the organization.

4. Innovation is a team sport. Teams are built around a common objective and trust.

5. Innovation requires risk. Risk-taking requires trust.Trust requires honesty and openness.

6. Innovation requires energy. Energy comes from challenges that excite the imagination.

7. Innovation is about creating the future. Cost-cutting and downsizing are about fixing the past.

8. Innovation is not just a rah-rah word or fad. It is an investment in the future that requires new processes, time, energy, commitment and resources.

9. Innovation requires new information -- from co-workers, customers, suppliers, competitors and from the world.

10. Innovation requires time -- time to think, time to tinker, time to talk about possibilities and ideas.Down-to-the-second controls can kill innovation.

One final thought

Generational differences are clearly seen in this humorous experience shared by a friend: "Working as a computer instructor for an adult-education program at a community college, I am keenly aware of the gap in computer knowledge between my younger and older students.

My observations were confirmed the day a new student walked into our library area and glanced at the encyclopedia volumes stacked on a bookshelf.

"What are all these books?" he asked.

Somewhat surprised, I replied that they were encyclopedias.

"Really?" he said. Someone printed out the whole thing?"

Published: April 7, 2004

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