Rotarians introduced to world of online retail sales blogging

Rayne Rotarians were introduced to the world of online retail sales Thursday, March 12, as Amy Schwarzenbach described the creation of Commandress.com, a fashion and style blog for professional women.
The morning’s guest speaker is a contributing writer to the blog created and edited by her sister, Abigail J. Politzer, a wardrobe stylist and personal shopper. Politzer is a former labor and employment attorney who wrote dress codes.
Her sister, Amy, whose professional background is legal recruiting for a law firm and career counseling , is a contributing writer.
Online shopping has evidently mushroomed as Schwarzenbach noted 78 percent of American adults have purchased online items. She noted that 71 percent of online shoppers believe they have found better deals online.
She also noted that 46 percent consult a blog before making purchases.
The attraction of retailers to online blogs, he explained, is due to the lower expense of operation.
Schwarzenbach explained that the blog site generates commissions from the retailers when an interested reader uses a link on posted on the blog and is whisked to retail sites selling the products featured. Every time a reader clicks and buys from a linked retailer, the blogger receives a commission
The commission-generating links are the result of the blog site connected to an “affiliate marketing” a mechanism by which the Internet funnels blog readers onto retail sites.
In other business, Crowley Rotarians Gene Williams and Mary Zaunbrecher reviewed plans for the District 6200 conference to be held in Crowley April 16-17.
The members of the Rayne club have volunteered to assist at a “food fest” to be held at the Rice Festival Building on Friday evening, April 17. The Rayne club and 18 other community clubs will be offering conference attendants a variety of foods to sample. The Rayne club will be offering frog legs.
The Rayne club will also provide welcome baskets to three Rotary dignitaries and their spouses who will be staying at the Best Western Inn in Rayne.
Rotarians Ken Arceneaux and Rose Schexnider reported on their participation at the President Elect Training Session (PETS) gathering in Jackson, Miss.