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E-Newsletters Archives

May 2006

Quick Overview

artisan bread Anyone who frequents their neighborhood Subway sandwich shop knows that the first of many imminent decisions is what variety of bread will form the foundation of their hoagie. In 2000, when the options expanded from the hackneyed white and wheat, the world’s largest sandwich seller revealed the leading edge of a coming bread renaissance. Over the next few years however, at the same time that American consumers broadened their culinary horizons, carbohydrates were condemned for expanding waistlines. As a result, bread consumption dramatically declined as other, often more exotic, healthy replacements were sought.

By 2004, the assault on bread had subsided and consumption was again on the rise. Unlike before, the shopping public was no longer satisfied with the humdrum loaves from the bread aisle that had sustained them for centuries. In the search for carb-conscious alternatives, many shoppers discovered flavorful breads laden of berries, nuts and whole-grains. To the delight of bakeries and grocery stores everywhere, the more expensive artisan varieties quickly found a home in America’s breadbox and drove an era of unprecedented growth in bread sales.

April 2006

Quick Overview

souvenir model boat “My parents went to New York, and all I got what this lousy t-shirt.” Sound familiar? It should! Well not “ New York ” and “t-shirt” per se, but the exclamation should at least ring a bell. With an estimated 85,702 U.S. establishments, the gift, novelty, and souvenir shop industry is huge, and no matter where you go, chances are you will come across several of these shops. This immense industry generates $21.4 billion, continues to grow annually, and employs more than 300,000. Wow!

The gift, novelty, and souvenir shop industry is highly fragmented; it is characterized more by the diversity of products than similarities among industry leaders. Classified among them are:

-balloon shops
-art crafts
-gift baskets
-party favors
-greeting cards
-souvenir shops
-trading cards (sports memorabilia)
-holiday decorations
-other novelty shops

In 2003, editors from Gifts & Decorative Accessories identified the top three most popular products sold: greeting cards (46%), holiday items (39%) and frames (38%).

Antique Shops 03/15/06

Welcome

Like many of us, exposure to the intricacies of antiques may have come from the 10 year old ever popular Antique’s Roadshow aired on PBS. This particular show has generated awareness and heightened America ’s interest in antiques. However, not until you step into an antique store do you get the intoxicating effect of nostalgia.

Antique stores are classified as less than glamorous “used merchandise stores” according to the US Census NAICS code 453310. The 2002 US Economic Census reports that there are 18,207 establishments classified as “used merchandise store.” A further breakdown of the NAICS code reveals that there are 6,032 establishments listed specifically as “antiques, items over 100 years old.”

Chiropractic Care 02/24/06

February 2006

Quick Overview

What do Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bob Hope, Cher, Tiger Woods, Van Halen and Whitney Houston all have in common? While they’re all celebrities in their own right, each of these has at one time been patients of chiropractic care. With evidence supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic care, the number of patients obtaining care has grown tremendously. In fact, an estimated 30 million people visited doctors of chiropractic (“DC’s”) last year. History has shown that as the demand for chiropractic care increases, the supply side (the number of "DC's") will grow as well. In 1970, approximately 13,000 doctors of chiropractic were licensed and 20 years later (1990) that number jumped to 40,000. Studies estimate that DC’s will double by the year 2010 to over 100,000. But just what sort of care is typically provided?

With approximately 80% of the population experiencing some sort of back pain, is it any wonder that the most common chiropractic care provided is related to the spine? In fact, at any given time some 31 million Americans experience back pain. Ouch! Even though chiropractic care typically involves diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders such as headaches, joint-neck-back pains…their scope extends far beyond neuromuscular disorders. As new research continues to unfold, chiropractors will also treat a variety of non-neuromuscular conditions like allergies, asthma and some digestive disorders. With roots tracing back to Ancient China and Greece (2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C), doctors of chiropractic have become pioneers in the field of non-invasive care.

So what’s in the future for chiropractic care? Wider acceptance of chiropractic, increased chiropractic research and greater health consciousness all assure chiropractic a future of expanding service

- Frank Salazar

Source : Stockdale Chiropractic - http://www.stockdalechiropractic.com/celebrities.htm

Source : History of Chiropractic Care - http://www.amerchiro.org/media/whatis/history_chiro.shtml

Source : Chiropractic: A Rapidly Growing Profession - http://www.acatoday.com/media/growing_profession.shtml

Source : Future of Chiropractic - http://www.amerchiro.org/media/whatis/careers/future_chiro.shtml

Convenience Stores 12/09/05