Local Small Business Receives National Award for Using Technology & Social Media to Increase Sales

Press Release

Chester, VA - The inaugural ICON Honors Awards debuted this past Saturday in Atlanta, during the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, honoring gift and home industry companies and individuals for innovation and achievement. The sold-out event, attended by more than 900 guests, kicked off with a performance by Grammy Award-winning musician Michael McDonald. It closed with a keynote speech from noted retailer Stew Leonard Jr., founder of the Stew Leonard's grocery chain in the Northeast. The program was co-sponsored by AmericasMart Atlanta, the Gift & Home Trade Association and HFN-Home Furnishings News. ICON honorees were selected by distinguished judges drawn from the international retailing, design, branding and merchandising arena.

Among those who received ICON Honors awards at the event were local small business owner Elizabeth Howard. Mrs. Howard owns the reputable invitation, stationery and gift boutique, The Cordial Cricket, located in Chester, Virginia. Elizabeth left her retail store in Virginia to attend the Atlanta Gift Market knowing that she was a finalist for the inaugural ICON Honors after being contacted by representatives from AmericasMart. She had no idea, however, the tremendous recognition she was about to receive from her industry peers.

Mrs. Howard and her company, The Cordial Cricket, received an ICON Honors Innovation Award for using technology to increase sales. This comes as no surprise to customers and colleagues who know Elizabeth and the creative ways she markets her small business. During what many would say is the worst economy ever, Mrs. Howard managed to increase her sales from 2008 to 2009 by 67% annually and continues to see sales growth of 18-25% over the prior year during each month of 2010. This after reducing her marketing expense to almost nothing. The Cordial Cricket uses varied means of technology to market both their brick-and-mortar and online stores, increase their name/brand recognition and for reputation management. They have successfully increased their email newsletter subscriber base by 100% in the last year, their number of fans on Facebook by 1400% in one year and currently have over 1,400 followers on the social network Twitter. Their regularly updated blog has been featured nationally as well. This formula is obviously working for The Cordial Cricket based on the results stated.

“We have created a presence in the minds of our customers, our industry and the media both locally and nationally by using social media responsibly, consistently and professionally.” stated The Cordial Cricket’s owner Elizabeth Howard. “Because many of these technology related marketing tools are free or very inexpensive, we have been able to reduce our traditional marketing expense dramatically and realize growth in sales that is unheard of in retail.” said Elizabeth.

The Cordial Cricket was one of eleven honorees at the inaugural ICON Honors, which also included nationally known retailers such as Kirkland’s and Anthropologie.

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized alongside some of the most successful retailers in the country. It was a very surreal moment for myself and my company as an independent retailer.” said Mrs. Howard. The Cordial Cricket, which celebrated its fifth year in business in February of this year, plans to continue using its current technological methods of advertising to grow sales. Their use of technology and associated results have certainly set the bar high for future award nominees in this category. Mrs. Howard has been featured both locally and nationally discussing her company’s successful use of social media and is frequently asked by other retailers to consult with them on this topic, which she says she truly enjoys doing.

About The Cordial Cricket
In business since 2005, The Cordial Cricket is the premier invitation and gift boutique in Central Virginia. Their mission is to provide the most stylish selection of custom invitations, stationery and gifts for adults, brides and children, along with entertaining and social etiquette guidance. The Cordial Cricket also offers a gift/bridal registry. The Cordial Cricket is located in Festival Park in the Village of Chester, Virginia at 3524 Festival Park Plaza, Chester, Virginia 23831 and may be found online at www.thecordialcricket.com or you may read their blog at http://thecordialcricket.blogspot.com/. They can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thecordialcricket and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cordialcricket.