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At what point do you start listening to Christmas songs on the radio and at home? WNIC started later this year but why is it after all these years the sound of Nat King Cole singing the Christmas Song is still so good? And December 26 should be a new holiday: No Christmas Music Day.

TNG is hiring but like many other companies, the right applicants aren’t showing up. With the unemployment rate hitting 9.8% last month and the U6 rate still at 17% (those unemployed but not looking), economists are now saying it could take up to 5-7 years to get back to full employment (5-6%). Companies run more and more complex software (we run SAP) and if one can’t learn how to use it, one can’t get hired.

Still another problem is our education system. I interviewed someone last week and the person didn’t know what 1% of a dollar was. Reading and math skills are so low in the USA, no wonder China and the rest of Asia are rolling forward with a big smile.

I spoke to my buddy J.J. at CND and she informed me that they are making a million bottles a month of Shellac and they are getting caught up. I gave her my Christmas gift list and the only item on it was to be in stock in 2011. Let’s see if Santa can deliver. Oh, 12 new shades are in production and we might see them in January. Ho-Ho-Ho.

Costco is no longer selling Apple products. Google just launched their own e-book reader site to compete with Amazon. Border’s wants to buy Barnes & Nobles (looks like a done deal) and Oracle wants to eat HP’s lunch. Business in 2011 will be cut-throat and even billion dollar companies are at risk.

CNBC highlighted the spa business last week. Notably the spa business is still down and the days of “overindulgence” seem to be long gone. 50-minute massage treatments are more popular than ever.

UPS and FEDEX just announced another 5% increase in their shipping rates for 2011. I remember when a one pound package costs $1.23 to ship. It will shortly be $5.00 and doesn’t even count the cost of the box or handling fees. We are still keeping Nailco Gold free shipping at $99 for 2011. Both UPS and FEDEX are the big winners.

Would you rather be the last driver going through a yellow light or the first driver waiting for the red light to turn green. And why is that when there are four lanes, no matter what, when the light is red, that the driver will do whatever to get into an empty lane?

Krispy Kreme sales and profits are finally up. The big question is anyone eating donuts and/or bagels anymore? Both seem to be consumed less with the economy down.

Mexican food and burger joints are all the rage. Low cost dining with big portions. Just what America needs. BTW: Put fresh chips and homemade guacamole in front of me, there is no stopping.

MSU got the Capital One Bowl after their amazing 11-1 record. Oh well, at least we get to play Saban’s team and we really need to clobber them to make a statement for 2011. Is Rich Rod long for U-M?? Us Spartan’s certainly hope so!

Happy Tuesday!

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Happy Tuesday!

Don’t ask why but OPI Holiday is the hottest salon gift item of the season. We sold out open stock and collections twice and were lucky enough to get yet another shipment for next week. We will have both 12-pc collections in limited numbers (120 each) so with the biggest month of the year fast approaching, call today to reserve.

But OPI isn’t letting the rush of Christmas spoil its debut of 2010. Of all their "off season" collections that they have introduced, perhaps the most exciting is their much anticipated Alice in Wonderland collection coming in January.

The collection is only four shades, but what fun four shades they are:

I have no idea how OPI connected with Disney or how they are going to spend more than $1 Million promoting this but I do have an idea that this collection will be ultra hot. We doubled our allocation and we’re not even sure that’s enough.

We are going to open pre-sell to Nailco Gold customers in December (visit our website for more info then). With everyone Mad as a Hatter this collection brings much needed fun and frivolity.

Thanks So Muchness OPI.

Happy Tuesday!

We got it right this time.

I just received my preview copy of The Industry Source magazine September/October issue. The magazine replaces the tng worldwide magazine introduced this past January.

As mentioned earlier in a previous blog, we made the determination that our customers know us as The Industry Source so this is our first transition back to the way it was. The new cover is stunning and features our new logo exclusively for the magazine and thebeautybook.

tng worldwide remains our corporate name. You will continue to see this on our invoices, boxes and website.

The stores, thebeautybook and our exclusive sales division all revert back to The Industry Source. The online shopping site also reverts back to theindustrysource.com.

The September/October issue also premiers the launch of phase two of our Nailco Gold program. We are testing $99 free shipping for the month of September for our members. This matches the lowest we have ever gone for offering free shipping.

Phase two also launches Nailco Gold member-only deals. We are now customizing virtually all our deals to give you the lowest possible price. Unlike previous sale prices in which all customers could get the sale price, we are now rewarding our members by giving them exclusive-only deals. Best of all, membership to Nailco Gold is still free.

Come January, phase three of Nailco Gold will launch. While I can’t leak any details yet, I will say you will be extremely excited. In the meantime, enjoy the new magazine when it arrives in your mailbox over the next few days and please share your comments.

Happy Monday!