According to Robyn Waters, it’s a myth that trends can only be spotted early by überhip Bohemian types who are ever so much cooler than everyone else. She ought to know. As Target’s former VP of Trend, Design, and Product Development, Waters helped a dowdy regional discount chain become a national fashion destination. Today she consults for many different companies to help them stay ahead of the curve. The Trendmaster’s Guide features her favorite tips and examples for understanding and anticipating trends. Every letter from A to Z offers an insight to help readers navigate the unknown and prepare for whatever their costomers want next. It’s a quick read that packs a lot of insight between "A is for antennae" and "Z is for Zen." Anyone can use the tools in The Trendmaster’s Guide to become more aware of the world around them. Even if you weren’t born with a trendspotting bone in your body, you don’t have to be a follower forever. No one these days can afford to just be catching on when others are already moving on. Waters stresses that recognizing and reacting to trends is a learned skill, and it can be acquired without spending time in the streets of Milan or the high schools of Orange County. If you’ve ever witnessed a trend unfolding and said to yourself, "I should have seen this coming," there’s hope. You too can become a trendmaster.

When the space drama Battlestar Galactica debuted on ABC in 1978, it was expected to be the most popular new program of the year. Instead, it was attacked as a Star Wars rip-off and canceled after a mere 17 stories. The author acknowledges the show was full of dramatic cliches and scientific inaccuracies, but despite these shortcomings, Battlestar Galactica was a dramatically resonant series full of unique and individual characters, such as Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) and ace warrior Captain Apollo (Richard Hatch). The author contends that Battlestar Galactica was a memorable attempt to make science fiction accessible to mainstream television audiences. The brilliant work of artist John Dykstra brought a new world of special effects to network television. Battlestar Galactica also skillfully exploited legends and names from both the Bible and ancient mythology, which added a layer of depth and maturity to the weekly drama.

Whether you are thinking about becoming an independent retailer or are already running your own business, there are some tricks you need to know. Big retailers like Macys and Bloomingdales use tricks of the trade to boost productivity, sales, and profits. You can learn and use these techniques to compete with them and to maximize your stores sales and profits. Joanna Bradshaw, who has served at the highest executive levels with several of Americas best known and most successful retailers, and has also enjoyed a career as an independent retailing entrepreneur, explains the challenges you will face as a shopkeeper today. She walks you through the process of creating the proper foundation for your store and helps you master invaluable skills for your success. Youll learn how to create a successful business plan; develop and convey a mission statement; harness your strengths to achieve a competitive advantage; refine and differentiate your products and store; and use innovative cost-effective ways to promote your business. This easy-to-understand guide is filled with practical information and keen insights distilled from decades of experience in all types of retail venues: department stores, specialty stores, outlets, and big-box retailersas well as with start-ups, turnarounds, and liquidations. Get the tools you need to Be a Millionaire Shopkeeper.

What do the Bionic Woman, Captain Action, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have in common? They're action figures--and part of the hot new area of collectibles! COMPREHENSIVE. From the A-Team to the X-Men, Big Jim to the Little Mermaid, Desert Patrol to Waterworld, Marvel Superheroes to Masters of the Universe, The Official Price Guide to Action Figures lists more than 8,000 different figures from hundreds of series--with separate introductions to each series and its significance, history, and collectibility. SPECIAL SECTIONS. An on-target market review, a step-by-step look at how an action figure is created--from conception to sculpting to production, and a history of Kenner (a major manufacturer of action figures for the past twenty years). PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. Helpful tips from the experts on starting, building, and maintaining an action figure collection. WRITTEN BY EXPERTS. Stuart Wells III is the former executive editor of Collectible Toys & Values and Triton: Comics, Cards, and Collectibles, monthly magazines covering all types of action figures. Jim Main is the editor and publisher of Action Figure Collector and Barracks: The G.I. Joe Collectors Magazine. FULLY ILLUSTRATED. The Official Price Guide to Action Figures is packed with more than 600 photographs for easy identification. HOUSE OF COLLECTIBLES. Serving collectors for more than thirty-five years