WWW.NRF.COM

A retailer's resource...

NRF.Com is the online home of the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world's largest retail trade association. The NRF is a nonprofit foundation created in 1981. It aids in the development of educational programs, as well as conducting research and promoting the stature of retail nationwide.

Some outstanding features of www.nrf.com include the following:

• A "book store" that links to amazon.com as well as recommendations for books in such categories as: international retailing, fashion and visual merchandising.
  
  
• "Headlines" which is a one-stop source for all of the day's retail headlines complete with archives.
  
  
• A "government relations" section that focuses on legal and legislative issues affecting the retail industry within government.

The National Retail Federation website is aimed primarily for retailers in the apparel industry. If you are looking for information on upcoming trade shows, retailing organizations as well as an online source for Stores Magazine, www.nrf.com is worth logging on to.

Reviewed by FIDM R&RC staff member Diana Valdez.

Title: I.D. The International Design Magazine

Publisher: F&W Publications Inc.
1507 Dana Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45207
(513)531-2690
ISSN: 0894-5373
Published: bi-monthly -- except in May, June, November and December
Web Site: www.idonline.com
Subscription Rate: $60.00 per year

Do you want to know what's new in the evolution of car design? What about fashion designers who are carving their own design niche -- and going independent? Or a textile designer creating retro-modern rugs and pillows?

Whatever is cutting-edge and innovative in the world of design- I.D. Magazine has it. Comprised of reports on interiors, book reviews and the latest in video games, this magazine is cleanly laid out, informative and fun.

Why not check out the 'Annual Design Review' - I.D. Magazine's consensus covering the newest in consumer products, graphics, furniture, student work and more. So pick up a copy of I.D. Magazine today - a wealth of design inspiration awaits.

Building Brands...

When you see a particular brand name does it make you want to taste it? Drink it? Wear it? Buy it? In Brand.New we are shown how products are identified through their branding. Companies such as Levi-Strauss, Diesel, and Coca-Cola are examples discussed by sociologists, designers, and historians. Analyzing consumer behavior and creating a successful brand image are conveyed in a few ways within this book:

• A business' perception as a brand. Two important areas discussed are the impact of a product forgotten by consumers and the risks associated with branding such as not meeting a customers expectations.
  
  
• The shopping environment. How the marketplace evolved into the department store and suburban mall and how this has impacted purchasing behavior.
  
  
• Self-identification. The product a consumer chooses not only establishes a relationship with that article but also defines his or her lifestyle and personality.
  

Brand.New gives a global illustration of brands, designs, and consumer habits. If you are interested in advertising, marketing and product design, brand.new is of great significance.

Reviewed by FIDM R&RC staff member Roseanna Garcia.