THE INTERIOR DESIGN COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO FIGHT CANCER!

                                                             

                                              

THE INTERIOR DESIGN COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO FIGHT CANCER! 

DESIGNERS AND SHOWROOMS TEAM UP WITH GCT MARKETING FOR A SALE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY- JUNE 6TH, 2014 – GCT Marketing (GCT), alongside James Rixner (Rixner), and Bjorn Bjornsson (Bjornsson), the nation’s top interior designers, are hosting an online design sale with the goal of donating $20,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). This first-of-its-kind online event brings some of the biggest showrooms in the interior design industry together to fight breast cancer, including Baccarat, Neidermaer, Baker, Christopher Guy, Samad Rugs, Century Furniture, Arteriors, and many more.

Countless luxury pieces are available beginning June 6th at showhousesale.com, where GCT Marketing will donate twenty percent of its proceeds from every sale. GCT Marketing and BCRF invite all to shop for a cause and help raise funds to find a cure.

BCRF was founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993, and since its inception has raised over $500 million to fund breakthrough breast cancer research in the areas of tumor biology, genetics, metastasis, prevention, treatment and survivorship. BCRF invests 91 cents of every dollar in research and awareness programs, and holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and an A+ rating from Charity Watch. 

"I am firm believer in all the positive outcome of giving back.  This unique opportunity allows me as a designer to exercise contributing to a cause in an innovative way. As a supporter of all cancer research this particular charity holds a special place for me." Says James Rixner, Interior Designer, ASID

“It's important for Bjornsson Design as well as a privilege to be part of this charitable organization. We here at Bjornsson Design believe in giving back to the community as we have done many times. We hope that this sale brings together the funds that are greatly needed.” Says Bjorn Bjornsson, Interior Designer, ASID.

 “With so many people we know personally afflicted by this disease, we feel that we should do whatever we can to contribute to this cause. We are an advocate of businesses making money while giving back to the community, creating a circular momentum that allows for natural and inclusive growth. Let’s make our brands relevant by helping solve current issues.” said Christian Turnier, Founder and Principal, GCT Marketing.

About GCT Marketing

GCT Marketing is recognized as an innovative marketing company helping strengthen the design community by creating a unique collaborative environment to increase a brands’ power and exposure. GCT creates and launches brands, builds social and digital platforms, and develops marketing strategies.

About Showhousesale.com

 “Showhousesale.com” is an e-commerce platform dedicated to providing top products from show-houses curated by today’s top designers. Products already curated by designers give clients the benefit of designer taste, without the cost. 

About Bjorn Bjornsson Design

Bjorn Bjornsson Interior Design is a full service firm guiding projects from space planning to preliminary and construction phases, custom furniture design and interior decorating. Bjorn is involved in all aspects of the projects, working in partnership with his clients to create spaces that truly reflect their own style.

About James Rixner Inc.

Interior Designer James Rixner, an architectural aficionado, came to New York with a Master’s Degree in Urban Design. He switched professions and successfully established himself as a trend setting designer over the past 35 years. James has developed a sophisticated style that always amazes. His interiors epitomize refinement, elegance, serenity, and suitability. Equally comfortable working with antiques, chic mid-century furniture, or up to the minute contemporary pieces, his projects

Contact

To learn more about this merger, please contact

Christian Turnier, Media Relations

Christian@gctmarketing.com
sales@showhousesale.com

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Behind the Scenes, The Show-house Saga: James Rixner

"Design Showcase Houses are breathtaking homes in which every living space has been given a makeover by an interior design or landscape professional. The annual events are eagerly awaited events by design junkies nation wide, myself included." Bonnie MacCarthy

James Rixner, a five-time featured Kips Bay Showhouse participant and a three-time participant of Holiday House Showhouse, has been featured in major shelter publications including Traditional Home, New York Spaces, Interior Design and The New York Times Magazine Design Section.

James is taking on a new show-house project: Mansionin May! Mansion in May Showhouse is taking place at Blairsden- a mansion that was constructed in 1897-1903 in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey benefiting the Morristown Medical Center. 

This time James is taking on a major challenge-the biggest room he has ever done for a showhouse!

Many are debating if this may be interior designer James Rixner’s grandest show house design. (Illustrated in red in image)

“The grandeur and historic significance of BLAIRSDEN attracted particular designer interest this year,” said Mansion in May Design Co-Chair, Nancy Alfano of Bernardsville. Working with her are Design Co-Chairs Suzanne Van Fossan of New Vernon and Judie Hofmeister of Stirling. Said Van Fossan, “Over 152 design proposals were submitted from well-known designers located throughout the New Jersey-New York metropolitan area, and Pennsylvania. Mansion in May always attracts prestigious designers, but this year has been exceptional.” 

James has teamed up with top showrooms such as, Baccarat celebrating their 250^th year anniversary, Christopher Guy, Colombo Mobili, Elizabeth Sadoff Art Advisory, Alan Schatzberg  and Beacon Hill. 

This glamorous vignette is set to dazzle the crowds as designer James Rixner helps raise funds for the expansion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit & Autism Center at the Gryed Children’s Hospital Morristown Medical Center.

Mansion in May will be open to the public May 1st, 2014.  Restoration and decorating work at the mansion is proceeding rapidly. “With over 30,000 square feet of house and 53 interior design spaces to complete, our designers have a short time frame in which to translate their concepts into beautiful reality,” said Hofmeister. 

Mansion in May is the preeminent designer show-house in the New Jersey-New York area, attracting over 25,000 visitors to the event, typically held every other year. As a fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center, the event is known for presenting the area’s most unique and historic mansions, restored through the work of top interior and landscape designers.    

General Admission

Self-guided tour (approx. 1.5 - 2 hours)
Hours: 10am - 3pm, every day in May
Last ticket sold at 3pm

Ticket Pricing
$40 per person, February 1 - April 30
$50 per person, May 1 - May 31

Purchase Options
Online: February 1 - May 31
In Local Stores: April 1 - April 30
At the Door: May 1 - May 31

Sources:
www.GCTMarketing.com
www.jamesrixner.com
www.baccarat.com
www.colombomobili.com
www.mainsioninmay.org
www.esadoff.com
www.alanschatzberg.com
www.vandenloom.com
www.beaconhill.com/

What Our Customers Dream Of...

What our customers dream of is a beautiful white and perfect christmas. 

Reality sometimes is not as pretty.

Are you communicating enough with your Customer?

Retailers are still not addressing the foreseeable issues and will have to deal with a lot of unhappy customers. From my experience people are more likely accept an unpleasant situation when given enough time to adjust rather than having it be a surprise.  Getting ahead of the problem may aggravate the client but will most likely ensure the client stays loyal to your brand.

-Almost 28% of respondents said that they would not shop again with a retailer that failed to deliver on time.

UPS, FedEx, and many other shipping and mailing services have setup alerts and ways for their customers to be in the know if there are any delays or disruptions. Shouldn’t we all follow the same model and include a message on websites or have a sign up to getting updates on deliveries?

Some other advantages:

• Collect more emails as people will want possible updates 
• Interact with a customer and build a relationship
• Show up your competition by being the problem solver

Why does this matter?

Branding is not only about nice logos and cool colors; it is about customer service and how your brand handles curve balls. Showing initiative and caring about the clients happiness (even when it is bad news) shows that you are serious about your brand and care fo the customer's satisfaction.

“This is about managing customer expectations, and improving retention through clear messaging and delivering on promises. 

Last year, stats show that during December at least 225,000 parcels each day failed to arrive when promised, while 60% of people shopping online last year had problems with delivery of their item.” 

http://econsultancy.com/

Resources:

FedEx

http://emails.fedex.com/m/p/fdx/login.asp?ref=splash&country_code=US

USPS

http://about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/

UPS

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/about/news/service_updates/20131205_centralgeneric.html