Marketing Infant and Toddler Toy Product

The uniqueness of the infant and toddler toy market is that you are marketing a product to three distinct customers: the child, the parent and the retailer. Each has a different criteria for wanting the product. Perceived value is the target for each level.

A retailer’s eye is looking for innovation & outstanding play value with the highest standards of quality and safety, all at extremely competitive price points.

The parents are looking for whimsical, fun, wonderful learning toys. Award winning products are proven to be customer’s favorites at affordable pricing. Licensing also adds value; it reassures parents that their child will like the toy because they know who his favorite licensed characters are.

The design of the toy must start with the child and his/her needs. Bright colors, unique textures, sounds and movement tied to real world items will encourage the child to widen her/his own world.

As with any product you must develop a marketing plan. Every marketing tactic used, no matter how mundane should be listed in the plan.

Current market conditions
All markets are in a continuous state of flux. New businesses are blossoming to take advantage of this constant change. Catch your competitors napping and you can make inroads into their market share. Your company must be able to react quickly to market changes. Be sure to reevaluate your strategy once a year. Choose a market segment that your product will thrive in, find that niche.

Competitive analysis.
Who are the successful players in your market segment? What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong.

Positioning
As with other products, toys are sold in specialty stores, department stores, and mass markets. You must choose your market from the beginning and stick to it. Fine-tune it.

Marketing tactics
Product— Develop product within a schedule to keep the competitive edge. All business is dependent for growth on new products, a line will die without them. Have a schedule so there is always something in the pipeline. Consumer feedback helps this direction. Achieving Brand recognition is the key. Try not to allow your reps to place only one of your products with a customer, brand presence is key, Your line should be represented well.

Pricing— A Key factor. The cost of your inventory must be your top priority.
You base your entire business on the prices you obtain from your
factory. Surprises cannot be passed on to the customer.

Distribution— In house sales or outside representatives.
Own the warehouse or use a public warehouse.
The ability to get more product quickly will be in a better position to get
any incremental business.

Advertising— Plan a spending budget and decide which route is better for you:
Trade publications, Direct Mailings, Award winning programs, Editorials.

Public Relations— Have a first rate press kit prepared with: business history, personal history, awards, Articles written about your company or products, any radio or TV appearances. Be diligent in contacting feature editors of newspapers and magazines with interesting news and stories about your company and its products. Editors and producers have space/time to fill and they are busy, if you have done your homework they are likely to use it when the need arises.

Trade Shows
Participation in Trade shows is a must, but choose them wisely, they are expensive. Always have a show special discount or other incentive to induce customers to order at or during a trade show. Develop a top notch web site with links to E-businesses that carry your product.

Customers
They are your number one source of new business. Keep them informed with a quarterly newsletter. Let them know about your new products, the trade shows you are attending and the publicity you have received. Advise them of your advertising schedule.

Create a dialogue with your customers. They are key in developing new products, keeping up with the competition’s latest marketing ploys and new products. Customers are the prime incubator for focus groups. They will help you develop new products and packaging.

If you listen carefully your customers will make your company a success.

Source: www.babyshopmagazine.com

Chocolate - Between An Aphrodisiac or Better Sex

The saying may go, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach", but what about women? It is a long standing tradition to present a woman with a box of chocolate as a romantic gesture. Is it simply because women love chocolate or does the root of this tradition go deeper?

What is An Aphrodisiac?

An aphrodisiac is reputed to "put you in the mood for love" and the name comes from the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. It is possible that the aphrodisiacal qualities come from our own mindset and expectations. First of all, we get a certain amount of pleasure from consuming chocolate. For one, the melting point of chocolate is slightly below human body temperature so it melts in your mouth. That in itself is a stimulating experience but what about the substances found in chocolate? And what are the roots of chocolate as an aphrodisiac in history? Those are a lot of useful information but as you would expect, there are conflicting arguments on whether or not it is an aphrodisiac.

Chocolate is An Aphrodisiac in History

One report said that the Aztecs considered all chocolate an aphrodisiac. Because of this, all foods made with chocolate were strictly forbidden to women. However, another report stated that the Aztecs and Mayans were the first to recognize the potency of this food, celebrating the harvest with festivals of wild orgies. Both could be true (and may be) but it seems to me that if they were having wild orgies, they would want the women to eat it. From the time the first coca beans were harvested by the Mayans, there has been the belief that chocolate has a euphoric impact on the body’s senses. The conquistadores saw the Emperor Montezuma of the Aztecs consuming a large quantity of cocoa in the form of a beverage called chocolatl before entering his harem. May be, the Aztecs apparently considered it an aphrodisiac.The invading Spaniards spread the Emperor’s belief that cocoa was an aphrodisiac and brought it to Europe. This belief was also shared by one of history’s most famous lovers, Giacomo Casanova.

There are people throughout history who also believed in the stimulating qualities of chocolate. In 1624 Johan Franciscus Rauch, a professor in Vienna, condemned chocolate as an inflamer of passions and urged monks not to drink it as he wanted to ban it in the monasteries. It is said that Madame du Barry, courtesan and mistress of Louis XV, always served her lovers a cup of chocolat before they were let in to her bedroom, and that the great lover and alchemist Casanova, who drank his cioccolata at Cafe Florian in Venice, considered chocolate more stimulating than champagne and called it the "elixir of love". Montezuma supposedly drank a cup of chocolate before entering his harem.

Since then, the use of chocolate as part of the mating ritual has been firmly established. More recently it has been shown that not only does chocolate increase the sexual appetite but also produces a sense of elation similar to an orgasm.

Chocolate’s psychotropic properties

People in history have found chocolate to be an aphrodisiac, but why? It has only been in recent times that scientists have unravelled chocolate’s psychotropic properties and the effects it has on us. Neither of these properties by themselves provides the connection between eating chocolates and heightened sexual pleasure. It is in fact the rush of endorphins produced by eating chocolates, particularly dark chocolates, which is most similar to the bliss associated with a healthy sexual relationship.

Phenylethylamine

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring amino-acid which some consider to have aphrodisiacal effects and is even said to be able to "cure" hangovers. Phenylethylamine is a substance which is released naturally in the human body when you're in love. P phenyl-ethylamine, which is known to stimulate the release of dopamine into the pleasure centers commonly associated with an orgasm.

Dopamine and Serotonin

Other stimulants present in chocolate are dopamine and serotonin, which alleviate pain and encourage a good mood. Serotonin, a chemical naturally produced by the brain, which is known to reduce anxiety and produces feelings of pleasure in a similar way to sunlight. Serotonin is most commonly associated with the effects of marijuana or getting ‘stoned’ (you would have to eat 25lbs of dark chocolate at once to achieve the same effect).

Caffeine and Theo-bromine

Chocolate has been found to contain modest amounts of the stimulants caffeine and theo-bromine, (much less than in coffee or tea). Theo-bromine, a chemical stimulant frequently confused with caffeine, but has very different effects on the human body. It is a mild, lasting stimulant with a mood improving effect. Its presence is one of the causes for chocolate's mood-elevating effects. (Note - In chocolate, theobromine exists in doses that are safe for humans to consume in large quantities, but can be lethal for animals such as dogs and horses, as they metabolize theobromine more slowly.)

Addition

In addition to this scientific evidence, a great deal of behavioral research has been done to study the sexual behavior of women who eat a lot of chocolate and those who don’t. The conclusion of this is that women who consume large quantities of chocolate have more satisfying sex lives. However the reverse correlation could also be assumed where women with satisfying sex lives tend to eat more chocolate.

Despite the fact that the relationship between sex and chocolate can’t be proven with 100% certainty, the scientific evidence combined with behavioral studies provides a compelling argument for cocoa’s impact on our sexual drive - it is convincing enough for chocolate to have become a part of the daily diet!

Tips For Divorcing Parents

No step-by-step manual can give you a guarantee on how to raise kids blissfully through divorce. Every situation - and every family - is different. There are, however, some commonsense guidelines that may make adjustment a little bit easier.

Here are some suggestions to make the process less painful for your child. Parents will need to interpret them in their own ways; honesty, sensitivity, self-control, and time itself will help to begin the healing process. Be patient. Not everyone's timetable is your own.

Make that an ongoing process

Encourage your child to talk as openly as possible about his or her feelings - positive or negative - about what has happened.

It's important for divorcing - and already divorced - parents to sit down with their children and encourage them to say what they're thinking and feeling. But you'll need to keep this separate from your own feelings. Most often, children experience a sense of loss of family and may blame you or the other parent - or both - for what they perceive as a betrayal. So, you'll really need to be prepared to answer questions your child may raise or to address concerns he or she may have.

Make talking with your child about the divorce and how it's affecting him or her an ongoing process. As children get older and become more mature, they may have different questions or concerns that they hadn't thought about previously. Even if it seems like you've gone over the same topics before, keep the dialogue open.

If you feel like you get too upset to be of real help to your children, ask someone else (a relative, maybe) if he or she can talk to your child about it. Group programs for children of divorce, often run through schools or faith-based organizations, are an excellent resource for children going through this process.

It's natural for children to have many emotions about a divorce. They may feel guilty and imagine that they "caused" the problem. This is particularly true if they heard their parents argue about them at one time. Kids may feel angry or frightened. They may be worried that they will be abandoned by or "divorced from" their parents.

Some children will be able to voice their feelings, but depending on their age and development, others just won't have the words. They may instead "act out" in angry ways or be depressed. For school-age kids, this is usually evident when their grades start to drop or when they begin to develop a lack of interest in activities. For younger children, feelings often are expressed in play, as well.

Many kids see a drop in grades and reduced participation in outside activities in the months prior to and the year after a separation. Although children may struggle with a divorce for quite some time, the real impact of divorce is usually felt over about a 2-year period.

It may be tempting to tell a child not to feel a certain way, but avoid that temptation. Children (and adults, for that matter) have a right to their feelings. If it seems that you're trying to force a "happy face," your child may be less likely to share his or her feelings with you.

Don't bad-mouth your ex-spouse in front of your child, even if you're still angry or feuding.

This is one of the hardest things to do. But it's important not to say bad things about your ex. It's equally important to acknowledge real events. If, for example, one spouse has simply abandoned the family by moving out, you need to acknowledge that that has happened. It isn't your responsibility to explain the ex-spouse's behavior - let him or her do that when he or she is with your child.

Try not to use your child as a messenger or go-between, especially when you're feuding.

A child doesn't need to feel that he or she must act as a messenger between hostile parents or carry one adult's secrets or accusations about another. Wherever possible, communicate directly with the other parent about matters relevant to your child, such as scheduling, visitation, health habits, or school problems.

Expect resistance and difficulties in helping your child adjust to a new mate or the mate's children.

New relationships, blended families, and remarriages are among the most difficult aspects of the divorce process. Of course, a new, blended family doesn't eliminate the impact of divorce. The research is quite clear that children in these new families continue to experience problems similar to those who remain with a single parent. So, it's important to assure children that they still have a mother and father who care for them.

Also, help your child to blend into a new family structure. The initial role of a stepparent is that of another caring adult, whom your child needs to respect as a responsible adult. You can't expect your child to accept a stepparent as another parent right away, though - that will take time.

Seek support groups, friendships, and counseling. Single parents need all the help they can get.

Support from clergy, friends, relatives, and groups such as Parents Without Partners can help you and your child adjust to separation and divorce. It often helps kids to meet others who've developed successful relationships with separated parents - children can often help and confide in each other, and adults need special support through these trying times.

Whenever possible, kids should be encouraged to have as positive an outlook on both parents as they can. Even under the best of circumstances, separation and divorce can be painful and disappointing for many children. And, of course, it's emotionally difficult for the parents, too. So it's understandable that, despite their best intentions, some parents might broadcast their pain and anger.

But parents who can foster a positive adjustment and good times, even during difficult circumstances, will go a long way toward helping their kids - and themselves - adapt and move on.

Source: www.kidshealth.org

Opening a Baby Product or Maternity Store

Small Business Tips for Start-up Retailers in the Juvenile & Pregnancy Product Industry

Let me state at the very outset that unless you have extensive retail experience, it will take you 12 to 18 months of planning and execution before you will be opening your doors to the public with a sign that says "Open For Business".

Store Character

The first step in setting up a store is to define the "character" of the store. This is a tougher proposition than it seems. To help you in determining the character of your store, I suggest visiting stores similar to the one you have in mind, especially those in other cities. Study their layout, product mix, lighting, floor coverings, pricing, use of wall space, window displays, and promotions. Make a list of what appeals to you and what does not. Visit well, make your visit worthwhile. Study them with an "observe & learn" attitude. If you are thorough in defining the character of the store you envision, you will come up with a good idea about the product mix you would like to carry. Determine whether to carry juvenile and/ or youth furniture, maternity, toys, and clothing, as well as the percentage of each category you wish to include in your inventory.

Size and Location

Size and location are two very significant factors that will determine many other aspects of your store. A store of under 2000 sq. ft would be considered small (one crib and case goods display alone will take up 60/80 sq. ft. of space). Remember you will need to allocate approximately 20% to 30% of the total space for aisles, common areas, etc.; otherwise, you will end up with a very cluttered look. Most baby product stores are 2000 to 7000 sq. ft. In terms of location, your three basic choices are to be mall based, within a strip plaza or in an independent building. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. As baby product stores are considered "destination" stores, you do not have to rely on mall traffic for your survival.

Have you ever noticed how shoe stores are located close to each other? An independent retailer I know says that the main reason for his success is that his specialty baby furniture store is located in a strip plaza about 100 yards away from a Babies 'R' Us. He has adjusted his inventory to offer specialty products, but at prices that are not significantly higher than those of his mass merchant competitor. He also relies on Babies 'R' Us marketing and promotions to get customers to his store. If you are not savvy in adjusting your product mix however, a move like this will destroy you. You also want to locate your store in an area of town where young people live. Do not open a store in an area just because it is close to where you live; open the store where your prospective clients are.

Leasing Suggestions

Unless you already own a store property that is ideal for a Baby Products store - we highly recommend that you initially RENT the space. Sign the lease for as short a period as possible, but make sure you have multiple options to renew the lease for predetermined periods and rates of rental. Besides the basic rent and utilities, find out if there are any other charges that you would be responsible for. It is not uncommon for business tenants to have to pay certain common fees or for garbage disposal. If you are considering purchasing an existing store, I suggest that you find the reason or reasons why the owner is selling the store. Verify the reasons he/she gives you by checking with neighboring store owners or others in the community. Any decision to purchase an existing store MUST be accompanied by a complete audit of accounts for the past 5 years. A competent accountant will be able to guide you to determine an adequate purchase price based upon the cost of inventory and the profitability of the store.

The success of any small business startup rises significantly when its owner has good standing and a relationship with a banker, accountant, and handyman.

Purchasing a Franchise

There are definite advantages to purchasing a franchise but...like anything else in life...there are no free lunches. The five primary benefits of becoming a part of the franchise operation are:
1. They help set up the store;
2. training is provide to help you manage the operation;
3. the guidelines about inventory takes the guessing out of such choices;
4. they assist in marketing and advertising; and
5. they provide tested computer programs for operations.

Ask the franchise company as many questions as you can. IF you are going to join their group, they better have the answers. IF they don't — move on! Inquire about the factors that dictate their decision on selling other franchises in your area and whether you, an existing franchise owner, will be given the first opportunity to purchase other franchises in your city or region. Compare to other franchises in order to understand the pros and cons.

Unless you purchase a franchise, you will be free to determine the layout, design and other aspects of the store. Select a name for your store (each letter in the name adds to the cost of signage), incorporate to limit personal liability and try to purchase used store fixtures and fittings. Used display cases, lighting and even slat walls are available in almost every city at less than half the cost of new equipment. You will be surprised by the selection and variety found at used store fixture and furnishing places.

Financial Aspects

This topic is so large that ALL the factors can not be covered in an article like this. Only general guideline and tips can be offered in a piece like this. In broad stroke terms, suffice it to say that the MONEY aspect should be divided into two categories:
1. Capital expenditures for setting up the store and purchasing inventory.
2. Operating expenses that would cover the cost of rent, salaries, utilities, advertising and marketing, etc.

Here are a few general thoughts that a new store owner should consider:

• Spend more on purchasing inventory than on decorating the store, but make sure your space is visually appealing as this helps sell.
• Have at least six months operating expenses available in ready funds when opening a new store.
• Be prepared to work 60 to 80 hours a week.
• Hire additional help as sales increase.
• What ever monthly expenses you project, the real outlay will be 25 to 50% more...it's like when building a house, unforeseen expenses will pop up!
• The most overlooked expense is health insurance cost for yourself and your family.
• One of the best investments is to buy a quality accounting and inventory control software.
• Negotiate with banks to get the best rates for processing credit card payments. Remember, they are vying for YOUR business. Do not be intimidated. Let them know you're shopping for the best deal.
• Identify slow moving inventory and try to sell it at cost or even slightly below cost. The capital tied into such items is not earning you anything. As a matter of fact, If you have borrowed to purchase some inventory...this is costing you!
• Consider advertising an investment, not an overhead. Allocate a certain percentage of your total sales for advertising and marketing. Do not let a smooth talking sales person exceed your preset limits. Deal with reputable vendors. If they dont' return your call for potential business, they certainly won't return your call when there's a problem.
• Take advantage of prepayment discounts or other special offers — any such savings go directly towards your bottom line.
• Incentivize your sales staff with commissions and bonuses. When they put out extra effort in servicing the customers it will create good will, customer loyalty and positive word of mouth advertising.
• Sell excess and slow moving inventory on the internet through eBay and other such sites.
• One tip that a friend of mine gave me in running my business was to maintain two bank accounts. ALL sales deposits to go into one account. All payments to go out of the second account after transferring funds into the "payables" account. His wisdom was to get the banks to assist you in keeping broad stroke tabs on the income and expenses.

Important Addendum

There is this dynamic Interior Designer from Denver who is a business colleague of mine. She also recently started a high-end baby business (design, manufacturing and print). I sent her this article for review and input. Besides editing it, she brought to my attention the benefits of creating a business plan after doing the initial investigation. She explained, "taking the time to work through the business plan helped me focus in order to stay on the right path. Even though it's not much fun and I fought it every step of the way, it truly helped me focus on what I wanted and didn't want my business and passion to become. The research alone will help you sell your vision to a banker or investor if necessary. It will also help you establish your story and know everything about the business inside out. She added, "....... encourage your readers to locate a reliable free source who can help review the plan and offer valuable input, specifically a professional individual who isn't partial (i.e. family or friends). Besides the SBA being an option, the Small Business Development Center in Denver was easier to reach and meet with. I found the latter source able to provide sound advice without the sugar-coating that one would receive from a friend or family member, and at the same time give it to me straight without intimidation that other sources offer too freely. Yes, we all need to know the perils, but those of us who are serious, need a source that is on our side - one who is willing to back you when the commitment is there to make it happen no matter the day or situation. "

I can not over stress the need to have as detailed a business plan as possible. In each city there are business resource centers at the Chambers of Commerce, Colleges/ Universities or Small Business Associations that can help you in refining your plan. Many of these services are available to you at no cost. Utilize such resources and you won't be disappointed.

Source: Naresh Dewan, Publisher of Baby Shop magazine, www.babyshopmagazine.com

Harry Potter Book 7 -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

download teaser (8.19 M)

The Meaning of Hallows

Hallow is a word usually used as a verb, meaning "to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate, to venerate". However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the word hallows appears as a noun. In modern English, the word is used as a noun in "All Hallows' Day" or "All Saints' Day," which is the day after Hallowe'en or "All Hallows' Eve". Hallows can refer to saints, the relics of saints, or the relics of gods. One story where hallows play a crucial role is in the grail legend, where the Fisher King is the guardian of the four hallows, which include the Grail itself, the serving dish/or stone, the sword or dagger, and the spear. Many scholars have since identified the connection of these four hallows with four treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan, which include a chalice (Grail), a baton or wand (spear), a pentacle (serving dish), and a sword.

There has been much speculation from many Harry Potter fans about whether the grail legend might play a part in the final Harry Potter book. Many Harry Potter fans have seen a connection between the four founders of Hogwarts, their relics, and the four hallows in the grail legend. It is known from the books that Godric Gryffindor's relic is a sword, Helga Hufflepuff's relic is a cup (chalice), and Salazar Slytherin's relic is a locket (pentacle), presumably leaving Rowena Ravenclaw's relic as a spear or wand. In addition, many scholars have argued that the four hallows in the Grail legend symbolize the four natural elements (earth, fire, water, and air). J. K. Rowling has explicitly stated that the four Hogwarts founders represent the four natural elements. Presumably Helga Hufflepuff and her house Hufflepuff connects with earth (the house's symbol is a Badger), Rowena Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw with air (the symbol is a bird), Salazar Slytherin and Slytherin with water and Godric Gryffindor and Gryffindor with fire (fire is often associated with protection from evil in Harry Potter, for example it is used to combat Inferi). This solidifies the connection between the four founders and the four hallows in the Grail legend. It is also known that Harry Potter must find four horcruxes, and that Voldemort wanted a hallow, or relic, from each of the four founders.

Fast Fact

• The last chapter was written back in 1999; it dealt with "what happens to the survivors afterward"; the last word is scar; this chapter will still be tweaked
• The book will contain a lot of the back story of the Potters
• Aunt Petunia has never performed magic, and never will, but there's more to her than meets the eye; the letter left with Harry on the doorstep was not the first one Dumbledore sent Petunia
• The Sorting Hat is not a horcrux, but there's more to it than what we've read in the first books
• "Ravenclaw will have their day"
• No book character has returned from the future
• There is significance to the fact that Harry has his mother's eyes
• Book 7 will be released on July 21, 2007
• There is a frighteningly large universe of Harry Potter fan sites which, among other things, collect and analyze interviews with JK Rowling

Continuing Storylines from Previous Books

• Harry comes of age (for wizards) when he turns 17, and is therefore entitled to perform magic outside of school and to obtain a licence to Apparate. His friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and many of his classmates, already turned 17 during the sixth year, and Neville Longbottom turns 17 on July 30 - the day before Harry does.

• There is no explanation at the end of Half-Blood Prince as to the true identity of the mysterious "R.A.B.", who claimed to have stolen one of Voldemort's Horcruxes with the intent to destroy it, while replacing it with a fake that was recovered by Harry and Dumbledore. The most likely candidate is Regulus Black, who Rowling said was "a fine guess" for R.A.B.'s identity in an interview.

• Kreacher, the former Black family house-elf who passed into Harry's ownership with the death of Sirius Black, may make an appearance; Rowling told the filmmakers of Order of the Phoenix to include the character in the movie, because he is "very important".

• Rowling stated on her web site that there is something "significant—even crucial" about why Dumbledore had James Potter's invisibility cloak in his possession.

• J. K. Rowling said in 2001 that Harry might get another pet at some point. Although Buckbeak may have filled this role (Harry obtained possession of the Hippogriff after the death of Sirius Black, albeit under Hagrid's care), she also hinted that Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, might have another role.

• Rowling wrote the last chapter of the book some time ago, to give her an ending to work up to. The last word of the seventh book, according to Rowling, is currently "scar", but she has also said it may change, along with the whole last chapter she has previously written. This last chapter contains details of what happens to each surviving character:

"This is the thing that I was very dubious about showing you... This is the final chapter of book seven. This is really where I wrap everything up, it's the epilogue. And I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school - those who survive - because there are deaths - more deaths coming. It was a way of saying to myself, 'Well, you will get it, you will get to book seven one day. And then you'll need this!' So I'd just like to remind all the children I know who come around my house and start sneaking into cupboards that it's not there anymore - I don't keep it at home anymore for very, very, very obvious reasons. So there it is." – J. K. Rowling

• Rowling has stated that there will be no Quidditch matches in Deathly Hallows.

• We will learn something very important about Lily in Deathly Hallows:

Now, the important thing about Harry's mother - the really, really significant thing - you're going to find out in two parts. You'll find out a lot more about her in book five, or you'll find out something very significant about her in book five, and you'll find out something incredibly important about her in book seven." – J. K. Rowling.

• Rowling has long said that the fact that Harry's eyes resemble his mother's is important.

• Severus Snape has been an important and enigmatic character throughout the books, as his true loyalty has always remained unclear. It is to be anticipated that as a surviving major character, his loyalty will be settled in the final confrontation of the book.

• She has stated we will learn more about Peter Pettigrew and Dumbledore and their respective families.

• Because Harry convinced Remus Lupin and Sirius Black to spare Peter Pettigrew's life in the third book, Pettigrew owes Potter a yet unpaid life debt.

• At the Edinburgh book festival, Rowling mentioned that something more would be revealed about Petunia Dursley. Nothing of note occurred in book 6, so this remains to be discovered.

"..there is a little bit more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye...She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."

Rowling repeated this comment at the Radio City charity reading in August 2006. Rowling has clarified by stating that Aunt Petunia will not perform magic.

• Rowling has said that some non-magical character will perform magic late in life in desperate circumstances. However, Petunia will not be the one to perform magic (see above).

• Also at Edinburgh, Rita Skeeter was mentioned: "She is loathsome . . . but I can't help admiring her toughness. . . . There is more to come on Rita"

• On Dolores Umbridge, "It's too much fun to torture her not to have another little bit more before I finish"

• Rowling has said that Ginny Weasley is quite powerful, that we have seen a taste of that in the past, and we will see it again.

• Viktor Krum is set for a reappearance.

• The two-way mirror given to Harry by Sirius Black and his flying motorbike will return. In fact, Rowling has mentioned in one of her FAQs that the two way mirror "will help more than you think". Rowling refused to comment whether Sirius himself might in some way reappear, but she has also said that there was a reason why he had to die.

• Dumbledore was said to have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes when told that Voldemort had restored his body using Harry's blood, at the end of Goblet of Fire (Ch. 36). Rowling has confirmed that this is "still enormously significant".

• Someone from Harry's class, not Harry, Ron, or Hermione, and not who most readers would expect, will become a Hogwarts teacher. This seems to indicate that Hogwarts will indeed re-open, though possibly not until after the main events of Deathly Hallows have occurred.

• In an interview after the completion of the Prisoner of Azkaban film, she commented that director Alfonso Cuarón had "put things in the film that, without knowing it, foreshadow things that are going to happen in the final two books. So I really got goosebumps when I saw a couple of those things, and I thought people are going to look back on the film and think those were put in deliberately as clues." She has said that the scene between Professor Remus Lupin and Harry speaking on the bridge was especially important, yet not deliberate.

• There are indications that at least two of the main characters will die. In a June 2006 interview about the previously-written ending, Rowling stated that:
• "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die...A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil...They go for the main characters... well, I do".

• When further questioned in June 2006 about authors who kill off their main characters, Rowling said "I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, well, I'm going to kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels'".

• Rowling clarified that "Dumbledore is definitely dead", when asked by Salman Rushdie and others at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Rowling answered the same question three times, each time with increasing conviction.

• When asked what questions she should have been asked, she admitted that "the final book contains a couple of pieces of information that I don't think you could guess at", and declined to explain further. On 13 September 2006 she updated her website saying that when she was asked that question, her mind went blank. Since she couldn't make amends, she created a NAQ section of her website, in tribute to the girl who asked the question. In her NAQ section, she states:
• "Why did Dumbledore have James' invisibility cloak at the time of James' death, given that Dumbledore could make himself invisible without a cloak?"
• On 29 September 2006, she revealed that Severus Snape was not under the cloak the night of the Potters' death in the Rumors Section.
• Asked which five of her characters she would like to invite to dinner, she chose Harry, Hermione and Ron, but then hesitated before choosing her last characters, saying "See... I know who's actually dead", unsure whether she was permitted to invite those who are 'dead'.
• Lord Voldemort was voted best villain at the Big Bad Read poll. Responding to the news Rowling commented:
• "I hope those of you who voted for him in the big bad read enjoy reading about him in book seven, where he finally gets the leg room for which he has been aching all those years in exile."

source:
http://www.answers.com/
http://www.davestrailerpage.co.uk/

Valentine's Day Greeting Cards by Esther A. Howland

from http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/estherhowland.htm



Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland (1828-1904). Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". Esther Allen Howland was born in 1828 at 16 Summer Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was a pioneer in the American valentine manufacturing industry. It was after her graduation from Mount Holyoke College, in 1847, that she received her first English valentine. Fascinated with the idea of making similar valentines, she imported the necessary paper lace and floral decorations from England. She began taking orders for valentines, and was surprised to discover a demand for more than she could make by herself. She then recruited friends to assist her, and issued her first advertisement in a Worcester paper, The Daily Spy, on Feb. 5, 1850. The assembly line operation that began in her home eventually led to a thriving business grossing $100,000 annually. She retired in 1881, selling her business to the George C. Whitney Company.



The golden age for artistic, sentimental valentines was the period from 1840-1860. The advent of embossed, and then perforated lace paper for making valentines in England was enthusiastically acclaimed, and many were imported to America. The earliest paper lace developed in England was copied from handmade "real" lace, at first embossed by hand, later pressed by machinery. It was many years before such papers were produced in America, so that when Esther Howland began creating her valentines, it was still from lace-edged blanks purchased from England.



Esther Howland is credited with several innovations in valentine design. One was the small brightly colored wafer of paper placed to give contrast under the white paper lace; another was the built-up shadow box that became popular in the latter part of her career.

Chocolate -- In Popular Quotes

From http://ezinearticles.com

1. "Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate!" - Elaine Sherman, Book of Divine Indulgences

2. "Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar in four pieces with your bare hands--and then just eating one piece" - Judith Viorst

3. "Self-discipline implies some unpleasant things to me, including staying away from chocolate and keeping my hands out of women's pants." - Oleg Kiselev

4. "It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man." - Miranda Ingram

5. "Life is like a box of chocolates...You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump

6. "The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain." - Thomas Jefferson

7. "Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate." - Sandra Boynton

8. "If one swallows a cup of chocolate only three hours after a copious lunch, everything will be perfectly digested and there will still be room for dinner." - Brillat-Savarin

9. "It has been shown as proof positive that carefully prepared chocolate is as healthful a food as it is pleasant; that it is nourishing and easily digested... that it is above all helpful to people who must do a great deal of mental work." - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

10. "If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?" - Marquise de Sévigné

11. "Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits." - Baron Justus von Liebig

12. "Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius

13. "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love chocolate, and communists." - Leslie Moak Murray

14. "Forget love... I'd rather fall in chocolate!" - Author Unknown

15. "There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles." - Author Unknown

16. "My favorite thing in the world is a box of fine European chocolates which is, for sure, better than sex." - Alicia Silverstone

17. "After about 20 years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of that one. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate." - Mel Gibson in What Women Want.

Rose Colors Symbolize

From www.about.com

The color of a rose can have a very different meaning from what you intend. To ensure that your love understands what the roses you bestow mean, check this guide to rose colors and their meanings:

Red Roses
Red roses proclaim "I love you." They are the ultimate symbol of romantic love and enduring passion. Florists can't keep up with Valentines Day demand for red roses, which makes them especially expensive in February.

Pale Pink Roses
Pale pink roses connote grace, gentleness, and gratitude.

Light Pink Roses
A joy to behold, light pink roses express fun and happiness.

Deep Pink Roses
Deep pink roses say "Thank you."

Lilac Roses
Lilac roses indicate the sender has fallen in love at first sight with the recipient and is enchanted.

White Roses
Pure white roses symbolize truth and innocence. They also send other messages: "I miss you" and "You're heavenly."

Coral Roses
Coral roses express one thing with their passionate color: Desire.

Peach Roses
Peach roses speak of appreciation, gratitude, and also sympathy.

Orange Roses
Orange roses communicate enthusiasm and desire on the part of the sender.

Yellow Roses
Yellow roses indicate friendship and freedom -- so don't send them if your intentions are romantic and long-lasting. Yellow roses are also appropriate for sending congratulations to newlyweds, graduates, Texans, and new mothers.

Dead Roses
Regardless of the original color, dead roses say "It's over" loud and clear.

Birthday Flower Meaning

There are relationship between month of your birthday and the flowers.

January - Carnations And Snowdrops -
These flowers signify the qualities of passion, enthusiasm, consistency, perseverance, good health and adventure

February - Begonia , Primrose And Violet -
These flowers indicate towards the qualities of conventionalism, sincerety, security, peace of mind and food-lover

March - Jonquil And Violet -
These flowers reveal the qualities of being talkative, lively and intellectual

April - Daisy and Sweet Pea -
These flowers are known to point towards the qualities of being secretive and protective

May - Lily of the valley and Hawthorn -
These flowers show the qualities of a person who is faithful and extrovert

June - Rose and Honeysuckle -
These flowers point to the qualities like passionate, modest and perfectionism

July - Water Lily and Larkspur -
These flowers are known to reveal the qualities like elegance and romanticism -

August - Poppy and Gladiolus -
These flowers show the qualities of optimism and playfulness

September - Morning Glory and Aster -
These flowers signify the qualities of grace and variety

October- Cosmos and Calendula -
These flowers point towards the qualities like ambitious and respectable

November - Chrysanthemum -
This flower signifies the qualities like unconventional and independence

December - Narcissus and Holly -
These flowers indicate towards the qualities of compassion and sometimes egotism

Flower Meanings

Flower meanings and symbolisation were a key element to flower choice many years ago. In Victorian times, flowers communicated romantic messages. Sending flowers must be one of the most special ways to brighten up someones day. It made extra special if the flower meanings send a message too. As a fantastic way to personalize your present, choose the flower meaning that is closest to the message you're trying to convey and let your loved ones know that you wanted their gift to be extra-special. Here are a few of the more traditional ones.

Common Name	Meanings
Acacia	Beauty in retirement; Friendship; Concealed love: Chaste love
Aconite	Beware, a deadly foe is near
Agapanthis	Secret Love
Allium	Unity; Humility; Patience
Alstroemeria	Wealth; Prosperity; Fortune
Ambrosia	Your love is reciprocated
Amaryllis	Pride; Splendid Beauty; Timidity
Anenome	Forsaken; Expectations
Arbutus	Thee Only Do I Love
Aster	Symbol of love; Daintiness; Afterthought
Azalea
Baby's Breath	Pure of heart; Innocence
Bachelor's Button	Hope in love; Felicity; Delicacy; Single blessedness
Begonia	Beware
Bells of Ireland	Good luck
Bittersweet	Truth
Bluebell	Humility; Everlasting love
Bouvardia	Enthusiasm
Buttercup	Childishness
Cactus	Endurance
Caladium	Great joy and delight
Camellia	Gratitude; Perfection
Camellia (blue)	You're a flame in my heart
Camellia (pink)	Longing for you
Camelia (white)	You're adorable; Perfected lovliness
Camellia (red)	Unpretending excellance
Carnation	Fascination; Womanly love; Devoted love
Carnation (Red)	My heart aches for you; Admiration
Carnation ( Pink)	I'll never forget you; Woman's love
Carnation (Purple)	Capriciousness
Carnation (Striped)	Sorry I can't be with you; No; Refusal; Wish I could be with you
Carnation (White)	Innocence; Sweet and lovely; Pure love; Woman's good luck gift; You're adorable
Carnation (Yellow)	Rejection; You have disappointed me
Cattail	Peace, Prosperity
Chrysanthemum	Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend; Rest; Lovliness; Abundance; Wealth
Chrysanthemum (Red)	I love
Chrysanthemum (Yellow)	Slighted love
Chrysanthemum (White)	Truth
Crocus	Youthful gladness; Cheerfulness
Cyclamen	Resignation; Goodbye
Daffodil	You're the only one; Regard; Unrequited love; The sun shines when I'm with you
Dahlia	Dignity; Elegance; Good taste; Instability
Daisy	Innocence; Loyal love; I'll never tell; Purity; Gentleness; Romance
Delphinium	Flight of fancy; Ardent attachment
Dandelion	Faithfulness, Happiness
Fern	Secret bond of love; Fascination; Sincerity; Magic
Fir	Time
Flax	Domestic Symbol
Fleur De Lis	Flame; Burning
Forget-Me-Not	Faithful love; Undying hope; Memories; Do not forget; True love
Forsythia	Good nature; Innocence; Anticipation
Freesia	Innocence; Trust; Friendship
Galax	Encouragement
Gardenia	Purity; Sweet love; You're lovely; Secret love; Refinement
Geranium	Folly; Stupidity
Gladiolus	Strength of character; Sincerity; Generosity; Natural grace
Gloxinia	Love at first sight
Grass	Submission
Heather (Lavender)	Admiration; Solitude
Heather (White)	Protection; Wishes will come true
Hibiscus	Delicate beauty
Holly	Foresight; Domestic happiness; Defense
Honeysuckle	Happiness
Hyacinth	Games; Sports; Rashness
Hyacinth (Blue)	Constancy
Hyacinth (Purple)	Please forgive me; Sorrow
Hyacinth (Red / Pink)	Play
Hyacinth (White)	Lovliness; I'll pray for you
Hyacinth (Yellow)	Jealousy
Hydrangea	Thank-you for understanding; Frigidity; Heartlessness
Iris	Faith; Wisdom; Valor; Promise; My compliments; Hope; Message
Ivy	Wedded love; Fidelity; Friendship; Affection
Jonquil	Affection returned; Sympathy; Desire; Love me
Lakspur (Pink)	Fickleness
Lilac (Purple)	First emotion of love
Lilac (White)	Youthful innocence; Purity; Modesty; Virginity; Majesty
Lily ( Calla)	Beauty
Lily (Day)	Conquetry
Lily (Eucharis)	Maiden charms
Lily (Tiger)	Wealth; Pride; Prosperity
Lily of the Valley	Sweetness; Humility; Return of happiness
Longi Lily	Pure; Modest
Magnolia	Love of nature; Nobility; Dignity
Marigold	Grief; Cruelty; Jealousy; Sacred affection; Despair
Mistletoe	Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
Mimosa, Bloom	Concealed love; Sensitivity
Monkshood	Chivalry; Beware; A deadly foe is near
Moss	Maternal love; Charity
Myrtle	Duty; Affection; Home; Love; Discipline; Instruction
Narcissus	Stay as sweet as you are; Egotism; Formality
Nasturtium	Patriotism; Conquest; Victory in battle
Oleander	Caution; Beauty; Grace
Orange Blossom	Purity; Innocence; Eternal love; Marriage; Fruitfulness; Lovliness
Orchid	Love; Beauty; Refinement; Beautiful lady; Flower of magnificence
Orchid (Cattleaya)	Mature charm
Palm Leaves	Victory; Success
Pansy	Thoughtful reflection; Merriment
Peony	Bashfulness; Happy marriage; Prosperity
Petunia	Resentment; Anger; Your presence soothes me
Phlox	Our souls are united
Pine	Hope; Pity
Poinsettia	Be of good cheer
Poppy	Eternal sleep; Imagination; Oblivion
Poppy ( Red)	Pleasure
Poppy ( White)	Consolation
Poppy (Yellow)	Wealth; Success
Primrose	I can't live without you
Primrose (Evening)	Inconstancy
Queen Anne's Lace	Haven
Ranunculus	Radiant; Charming
Rose (Red)	Love; I love you; Respect; Courage
Rose (Pink)	Perfect happiness; Gentility; Grace; Please believe me
Rose (Deep Pink)	Thank you
Rose (Light Pink)	Admiration
Rose (Yellow)	Friendship; Joy and happiness; Jealousy; Trying to care; Gladness
Rose (White)	Innocence; Purity; Heavenly; Secrecy; Silence; Charm
Rose (Peach / Coral)	Enthusiasm; Desire
Rose (Orange)	Enthusiasm; Desire
Roses (Red & White)	Unity, Flower Emblem of England
Rose (Single Red)	Simplicity; I love you
Rose (Long Stemmed)	I will remember you always
Rose (Short Stemmed)	Sweetheart; Girlhood
Roses (Assorted Colours)	You're everything to me
Roses (Mature Blooms)	Gratitude
Roses (Single Full Bloom)	I love you; I still love you
Rosebud	Beauty; Youth; A heart innocent of love
Rosebud (Red)	Pure; Lovely
Rosebud (White)	Girlhood
Smilax	Loveliness
Snapdragon	Gracious lady; Deception; Presumption
Spider Flower	Elope with me
Statice	Sympathy; Rememberance
Stephanotis	Happiness in marriage; Desire to travel; Come to me
Stock	Lasting beauty; Bonds of affection; Promptness; You'll always be beautiful to me
Sunflower	Adoration; Pride; Sunshine
Sweet Pea	Delicate pleasures; Goodbye; Blissful pleasure; Departure; Thank you for a lovely time
Sweet William	Grant me one smile; Gallantry
Tulip	Perfect lover; Fame; Love; Passion
Tulip (Red)	Believe me; Declaration of love
Tulip (Yellow)	There is sunshine in your smile; Hopeless love
Tulip (Variegated)	Beautiful eyes
Verbena	Will you get your wish?
Veronica	Fidelity
Violet	Modesty; Faithfulness; Virtue
Violet (Blue)	I'll always be true; Watchfulness
Violet (White)	Let's take a chance on happiness
Viscaria	Will you dance with me?
Wallflower	Fidelity in adversity
Water Lily	Purity of heart
Wisteria	Welcome
Xeranthemum	Eternity; Immortality
Yarrow	Healing
Zinnia	Thoughts of absent friends
Zinnia (Magenta)	Lasting affection
Zinnia (Scarlet)	Constancy
Zinnia (White)	Goodness
Zinnia (Yellow)	Daily rememberance
Zinnia (Mixed)	Thinking / In memory of an absent friend