If you are like most of us, last month you made a number of New Year's resolutions to improve yourself in some manner over the coming this year. In the U.S., the number one resolution was to become more fit. Americans don't seem to be doing very well with their diets: over one-third of the population is obese. Nonetheless we continue to promise ourselves we will lose weight, exercise more and spend less money.

It seems everywhere I turn I'm reading something about the importance of understanding that our marketing efforts should be directed to the female consumer. I've always thought this was a given. After all, what husband would dare challenge his wife on how she wants to decorate her nest? Women generally make the final buying decision so manufacturers should pay more attention to what they want.

If you're a Canadian furniture retailer, there's only one place you should be this weekend. That's in Toronto, attending the 39th annual edition of the Canadian Home Furnishings Market. It doesn't matter whether you're an independent owner/operator, a buyer, a store manager or a senior executive for one of the national chains - you need to be walking the halls of the International Centre.

Home Goods Online has launched its new Twitter feed - @HomeGoodsWriter - just in time for the 2011 edition of the Canadian Home Furnishings Market. Joining what may be the world's fastest growing social media network will help us get the word out faster - you'll get your need to know, just in time.