New Outdoor Rep For Michigan & Indiana

Madison, WI – Outdoor cookware manufacturer, Rome Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Marc Nigg to their roster of independent reps for the outdoor sports industry. Marc will be joining forces with longtime Rome rep, Don Schuller in the great lake states with a primary focus on accounts in Michigan and Indiana.

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Marc comes to Rome with over 20 years in the outdoor industry and is an avid camper, hiker and alpine and nordic skier. Some of the other lines represented by Marc include Chinook, Manzella and Terramar.

A family business since 1964, Rome Industries, Inc. is known for their niche selection of unique and fun campfire products such as Pie Irons and marshmallow roasting forks.

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Rome Teams With Nielsen Outdoor To Broaden European Distribution

Madison, WI - Family camping cookware manufacturer, Rome Industries has reached a European distribution agreement with the Danish manufacturing company, Nielsen Outdoor Solutions. With an offering of Danish designed firepits, grills and smokers, Nielsen Outdoor Solutions currently reaches a diverse account base of European dealers in the outdoor and bbq market. Combined with Rome’s classic cast iron Pie Iron sandwich cookers, roasting forks and grilling accessories, the two companies offer European dealers a complete package for open fire cooking and relaxation.

Distribution territory of the Rome brand of products by Nielsen includes all of Scandinavia and Europe excluding the Benelux countries, UK and Ireland which are distributed by Qvist Cookware & Grakka Ltd, respectively. Prior to this agreement, Rome cookware was distributed in Scandinavia and Germany by Danish Outdoor. Managing director of Danish Outdoor, Jacob Andersen will be employed by Nielsen Outdoor Solutions as an advisor and strategist of the Rome program.

Michael O’Russa, Rome’s director of sales and marketing says “Jacob has developed a robust dealer network for Rome in Scandinavia over the past few years and I’m thrilled that he will be working closely with Nielsen Outdoor as we introduce our unique range of outdoor cookware to the rest of Europe. “

A family run business since 1964, Peoria IL based Rome Industries is best known for their wide selection of fun & original cookware for open fire use.

For more information contact:
Rome Industries, Inc. (800) 818-7603, www.romeindustries.com.
Nielsen Outdoor Solutions 45 70 20 76 74, www.baal-grill.eu/
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Rome products in the Nielsen booth at the recent Spoga show in Germany

ACE Hardware

Wednesday, October 21st is ACE Hardware Day at AmericasMart in Atlanta. if you're an Ace dealer, stop by our showroom and check out our unique line of outdoor cookware and distinctive garden decor.

As an Ace drop ship vendor, all orders written in the Rome showroom will receive exclusive booking specials.

Showroom Location:
TheGardens
Building 2 West Wing, 9th floor
#B-54

You may also place your order with our sales rep group, Total Marketing at:
tel 800-323-0780
fax 800-852-8916
TeamTotal
AmericasMart

and let's not forget simplicity

I just finished reading this gem of a piece by Iconoclast's Nissa Hanna on the value of both visual and emotional simplicity in today's market.

Last month, while browsing the booths at the International Home and Housewares Show, I noticed a strong theme: simplicity.

Spotted on the showroom floor: Sagafrom's minimalist self-watering plant container; Simple Human's shower dispensers, which edit the visual clutter of personal care products (and their packaging); and tabletop trends kickin' it earthenware-style with rustic and raw designs.

In this economy, is it any surprise that consumers are craving a redirect to simplicity? A recent survey by Euro RSCG found that shopper mindsets in the U.S., U.K. and France are shifting to a desire for "voluntary simplicity" (Financial Times 4.8.09). Whether personal bank accounts are affected or not, there's a sense that the accumulation of stuff is part of what got us into this mess.

Luckily, simplicity is a value that can be telegraphed to multiple marketing opportunities, whether product design, packaging or positioning. To start, offer the consumer an escape — mentally, emotionally, physically, visually — from the disorder of the economic downturn.

I often think of Rome cookware as having just the right amount of simplicity to make the products easy for anyone to use, yet with enough twists to the designs to keep them interesting and unique. That's probably one of the real appeals to our line and a key areas of continuity for what we're doing.

Iconoculture, Inc.

Staycation 2.0

While it would be crazy talk to say that the economy is buzzing along, it does seem like the few bright spots are in the outdoor industry. All signs indicate that staycation 2.0 is on it's way. Remember, the staycation is not just the backyard, it's local & state parks and visits within a day's drive. Campground pre-bookings are up all over the country & camping product sales are holding their own so far.

"Chain Stores Ring Up Early Camping Sales
Chain stores brought in $99M, down 17% in units and 18% in dollars from last February. As in specialty stores, nearly every category declined this month, with apparel categories falling the hardest. Positively, sales growth came out of water bottles, recreation tents, rectangular sleeping bags, camp cookware, water purification and hiking boots, suggesting that camping and outdoor vacations continue to resonate with cash-strapped consumers in early 2009."
source: Outdoor Industry Association

Rome's Good Chimin' Promotion

Dealers - We have a great promotion for first quarter wholesale orders.

Free Solid Brass Rome Windchime for every $200. (at dealer cost) ordered

Value of individual windchimes range from $8.00 - $15.00 dollars wholesale! That’s $16. - $30 of pure profit at retail for every chime.

We choose the windchimes. They’ll be selected from our item #s 502, 503, 504, 508, 509, 512, 513

No limit on chimes. For example, If you order $1,500 you’ll receive 7 free chimes.

When writing an order, put the code “CHQ1Promo” on the paperwork. We’ll add up the order and determine how many free chimes you qualify for.

Our solid brass windchimes are a tremendous value when we sell them – just think about what a deal they are when they’re free.

The chimes are on page 10 of the catalog and here http://romeindustries.com/bells.html

Bookings must be made between 01/27/09 – 03/31/09
All orders must ship by 04/01/09

To order contact your local rep or call Tait in our sales department at 800-818-7603.