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Here
are some of the services COVR
is presently offering to its members:
Mentoring Program
COVR is offering a mentoring program -
FREE! as a members-only benefit. We may not have all the
answers but we guarantee you that we will do our best to provide
help when needed and a sympathetic ear if you just need to
vent. We've all been there! Sometimes you just need
someone to run an idea past. Other times you feel the ship is
sinking and there is no help on the horizon. Do we keep
riding the waves and hope for the best or what? "Or what" is the
answer! Contact the COVR office
to be connected to the most appropriate mentor. Be sure to
mention that your inquiry is regarding the COVR mentoring program,
as well as what types of help you're interested in. We'll
forward your inquiry to the Mentoring Chairperson and get you
connected with the correct person for the advice you're interested
in.
COVR members only are invited to utilize this program.
Non-members should be prepared to pay a consulting fee to COVR's
seasoned professionals, estimating between $50 to $100+ per hour,
upfront for each consulting professional.
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Retail Assistance:
Contact: Candace Apple, Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore,
candaceapple@phoenixanddragon.com,
or fax 404/255-8700
Contact: Jean Haller, Journeys of Life,
jehaller@journeysoflifeonline.com
Contact: Sandi Liss, SoulJourney, (our Wiccan/Pagan expert),
sandi@souljourney.com
Contact: Kimberly Perkins, Elysian Fields
Books & Gifts,
kimp@elysianfieldsonline.com |
Website/Internet Assistance:
Contact:
Caryn Colgan, Good Spirited Company,
covr@goodspirited.com |
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Mailings/Newsletters/Events Assistance:
Contact: Cathy Levine, Circles of Wisdom,
info@circlesofwisdom.com
Contact: Sandi Liss, SoulJourney,
sandi@souljourney.com
Contact: Michelle Payton, The Left Side,
theleftside@aol.com
or fax 614/785-9819
Contact: Pat Walker, The Aquarian Bookshop,
aquarianbk@aol.com
or fax 804/358-1635 |
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Email Program Assistance:
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Wholesale/Marketing Assistance:
Contact: Suzanne Mancinelli, Dryad Design, LLC,
dryad@dryaddesign.com
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Psychic Services Assistance:
Contact: Lynn Merritt, Mystical Horizons,
psykik1@sbcglobal.com |
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Alternative/Health Services:
Contact: Bob & Barb Huttinga, The Healing
Center,
bigsky@pathwaynet.com
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New Age Retailer's Retailer Roundtable programming at INATS West
2004
featured, from left to right, panelists Candace Apple of Phoenix and
Dragon Bookstore in Atlanta;
New Age Retailer Editor-In-Chief Ray Hemachandra;
Jean Haller of Journeys of Life in Pittsburgh, Pa.;
and David Cronin of Changing Times Books & Gifts in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Retailer and Vendor Newsgroups
As part of your
membership, you are entitled to enrollment in either the Retailer or
the Vendor Newsgroups. These lively and active groups are
discussion forums for subjects that concern you,
such as displays; vendors for hard-to-find items; employee benefits;
marketing and advertising; packaging; the community; and so much
more! It's a place to air your views and concerns with
like-minded individuals. |
I have learned about many topics in New Age/metaphysical. Being more mainstream
than most others, I have much to learn and having the value of people as
"seasoned veterans" is priceless. And when people ask questions that I can
answer, I feel grateful for how much I have learned already! I have been thrilled with COVR from the moment I joined and feel the newsgroup
is THE best benefit of membership (although I would be hard pressed to find
anything "Worst" about it). It is an honor to be in the company of such varied
members who share such wonderful goals
and philosophies.
Debbie, Deborah Ann's Rainbow, Dennisport MA
Vendor Discounts
The COVR Discount Program is our first step in bringing
exceptional products at a discounted price to our membership.
Vendors are invited to encourage the sales of their products to the
Retail COVR Members by offering discounts or incentives.
Click to see Vendor Discounts
that
vendors are currently offering. As a current member of COVR
you are welcome to offer other COVR Members any type of
incentive or discount you'd like. We will help you
promote it. Don't miss out on these opportunities to market
your products. Please contact the
COVR office to participate in this program.
If you currently are offering a member discount or incentive,
please note that we will need you to confirm your program by
September 1st for it to continue for the next year. Discounts
will stay posted until August 1st of the current year unless you do not renew
your membership or if you request a change, or withdraw your offer. |
Christopher Penczak poses with his
COVR Visionary Award, INATS-West 2004.
2004 Vendor/Retailer Survey Results
After the June 2004 INATS show in Denver, COVR
conducted a survey of Vendors and Retailers that attended the show.
Quite a bit of time and energy went into compiling the results,
which were forwarded to the INATS, LLC management. COVR would like
to express a heartfelt thanks to all those that responded to the
survey, which will help to fashion an improved INATS show in coming
years. Click to see the
Survey
Results. |
COVR Visionary Award winners 2002
COVR Retail Focus Group - for Product Evaluation
The COVR Retail Focus Group places a Vendor's product in the
hands of five or more Retailers, at no cost to the Retailer, in
order to get feedback on the product. Feedback in the areas of
pricing, packaging, promotion, and more, comes back to the Vendor
from various parts of the country, and an overall picture of the
product's potential success can be obtained. This is an
extremely cost-effective way for a Vendor to test market a new
product before introducing it to the general public. The
Vendor's form includes a place to ask additional specific questions
concerning the product to assure that the information received will
be most beneficial for that particular product.
Advantage to Vendors:
Wholesalers/manufacturers receive information from a retailer’s
perspective, allowing them to make revisions on product, pricing,
positioning, advertising, merchandising, etc. to increase their
likelihood of success. It is
a great way to improve a product, and get
quotes for advertising efforts as well.
Advantage to Retailers:
Retailers receive additional profits through free product without
any out-of-pocket costs. This program also offers retailers an
opportunity to see new products before they are introduced, and to
provide a positive service to the Visionary community.
Download Detailed Explanation of
this Program
Download Focus Group Form for
Retailer
Download Focus Group Form
for Vendor/Wholesaler |
One of the worst things that can happen to small
business people is to become isolated and feel they are operating alone in their
marketplace - especially in the New Age Market. COVR provides me an excellent
connection to other business owners all over the country who are running
businesses just like mine. We have developed a close community and keep in
frequent contact via the COVR email list. We answer each other's questions and
help new members quickly become members of our circle. I would be lost without
this incredible support. My deepest and most heartfelt gratitude is extended to
my COVR family!
Patrick Spahr, Ten Thousand Joys, Fredericks, MD
Paul Cohen of Monkfish Publishing and
Ray Hemachandra of New Age Retailer, INATS West 2004.
Naqshbandi Sufi master and Islamic Supreme Council of America
chairman
Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani graced INATS East 2005
and the Dances of Universal Peace event held during the show.
Member Directory
When you join COVR, you are automatically sent
a copy of the Member-to-Member listing. We encourage you to
use it as the great marketing tool it is. It is frequently
updated as new members join, so feel free to request it as often as
you wish, as long as you're a member. |
Wiccan author Christopher Penczak and book publicist Lisa
Braun
at the New Age Retailer booth, INATS West 2004.
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