CSN Mondays - Huge Fire Pit Sale

Hey everyone, we wanted to take some time to announce a great sale that’s happening over at FirePitsCentral.com. There’s nothing better than spending cool summer and spring nights outside with friends. That’s why we’re offering some of our best selling fire pits at unbeatable prices. We’re featuring a ton of Landmann Pits – a leading manufacturer of leisure products – at huge discounts. Usher in warm weather with these cool, outdoor items. Check them out here and we’ll see you next week with more sales!

Tuesday's Top Ten - In-Green-Briated: Ten St. Paddy's Gifts

Whether you’re stringing the roof up with lights, hand making hundreds of Valentines, organizing an egg hunt, or spookifying the yard, getting into the ‘holiday spirit’ can be pretty taxing sometimes. But thankfully, today, all you need to truly celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is the color green and a nice cold one.

That’s why CSN Stores has assembled a list of our newest, quirkiest green accents and a collection of our most popular beer trinkets and accessories. From green kitchen essentials to classic Guinness prints, we have everything you’ll need to have a merry St. Patty’s Day. Enjoy!

10: George Kovacs - Mushroom Green Table Lamp - $54 (csnlighting.com)
This modern, funky lamp from George Kovacs is sure to be the centerpiece of any St. Patty’s Day gathering. It’s also a fun office accent that will certainly make coworkers green with envy.
9: Libbey - International Beer 12 Piece Drinkware Set - $26.49 (cookware.com)
8: Ashton Sutton - Moss Green Large Vase - $89 (csnstores.com)
This vibrant green vase is beautifully handcrafted in Europe and is perfect for housing flowers on St. Patrick’s Day and all through spring.
7: Art and Cook – Green Kitchen Tools Collection – From $8.99 - $13.99 each (cookware.com)
6: International Traveller - Shiny Green Dots Hardside Rolling Suitcase - $108 (luggage.com)
This trendy suitcase is perfect for the Irish traveler or any flyer that loves the color green.
5: CHH Inc. - Chess Board in Green & White - $44.98 (everygameroom.com)
4: Krups – BeerTender - $199 (csnstores.com)
What St. Patrick’s Day celebration is complete without a free flowing adult beverage? This affordable beer tender features an electronic cooling system that keeps the keg at the ideal serving temperature.
3: iittala - Kartio Glassware Set Moss Green - $92.80 (allmodern.com)
2: Alessi - Whiskey Glass - $21 (cookware.com)
Toast the patron saint of Ireland in the best way possible with this elegant, crystal whiskey glass from Alessi.
1: Jack Daniel's Lifestyle Products - Pub Mirror - $89.95 (csnmirrors.com)
No home bar is complete without this authentic, hardwood Pub Mirror from Jack Daniel’s Lifestyle Products. The famed brand is subtly etched into the glass for a classic, old town bar look and feel.

CSN Mondays - Fatboy Bag Launch

Fatboy, internationally known for their modern, innovative beanbag chairs, has just debuted their first line of trendy bags. A huge hit in Europe already, they are now available in the U.S. and can be found here at CSN Stores.com.

These colorful, unisex bags combine elements from the aviation and extreme sports industry with strong materials and eco-friendly coatings. Parachute buckles, seatbelts, scuba diving zippers and noiseless Velcro are just a few examples of why the Fatboy bags are so unique and popular. For example, the brand new Jumper Bag straps to your back like a parachute and is constructed of a durable, lightweight coated-nylon fabric. The Eetwie, with it's cool shoe sole bottom, is also made of highly waterproof material and is a must-have for boaters and kayakers alike.

Check out these two bags and the rest of the collection here. Check back next Monday for more product launches and spotlights. Thanks for reading.

Tuesday's Top (Five) - Top E-Tail Trends

Following a full analysis of over 200 of their online stores, CSN has released its Top 5 E-Retail Trends for Tackling Tough Times. The list includes everything from mood-elevating, yellow accents to fight the recession blues, to ergonomic and modern home office furniture. Here are the Top Five Trends:

5: More Telecommuting = More Home Offices. Some employment experts say nearly 50 percent of companies are looking at telecommuting options for 2009. In response, sales of desk accessories at CSNOfficeFurniture.com have increased by more than 20 percent; while sales of ergonomic accessories, office organizers and storage accents all went up by around 100 percent.

4: Spring Greening with Eco-Friendly Finds. Meeting the demand for ‘green’ and ‘eco-friendly’ ideas, CSN recently added hundreds of innovative eco-friendly finds to their online stores. From toilet seats to trash compactors, these new products prove that ‘greening’ your home can be easy and affordable.

3: Staying Mellow with a Yellow Twist. The color industry’s trend-setter, Pantone, declared yellow the new “in” color for 2009 and plenty of décor mavens, industry influencers and furniture manufacturers have embraced the trend. In response, CSN developed its ‘Say Yes to Yellow’ list of inspiring items designed to brighten up any room or mood.

2: Tattoo Your walls with Tapestries and Art. Mood-elevating tapestries and 3D art now make up 50% of the sales at CSN site TheWallArtStore.com, a significant increase from last year. These items offer consumers an affordable way to elevate the atmosphere in any room, without the hassle of a complete room makeover.

1: Do-It-Yourself Makeover. In response to the rising costs of materials and labor, CSN has seen the DIY category expand. Recently, they added over 60,000 new tools to their site, CSNSupply.com, to meet the high demands of DIY consumers.

CSN Mondays: CSN and our DIY Nation

Recently, CNBC and other news sources have reported on the increased significance of a DIY lifestyle during tough economic times. Reports suggest that, instead of hiring professionals, more and more homeowners are tackling indoor and outdoor chores, redecorating/remodeling projects, and minor household repairs in order to save in ’09. Some have gone so far as to say that, due to the popularity of this trend and the extent of the recession, the U.S. is growing into a ‘DIY Nation.’

For CSN Mondays, I wanted to spotlight a few initiatives CSN Stores, a top three online retailer, has recently launched in response to the DIY surge.

· Filling Out the Toolbox:
In order to accommodate all the new ‘Mr and Mrs. Fix Its,’ CSN recently added over 60,000 DIY essentials, from claw hammers to cordless drills and crosscut saws to crescent wrenches. We wanted to feature a selection that would appeal to the beginner, the expert, and everyone in between. That’s why, along with all the basics, we also have a wide array of top brand, project specific tools, like chain wrenches, for the more experienced handyman.

· Flooring Made Easy:
Putting in new flooring, a surefire way to improve a home’s retail value, has emerged as one of the more popular projects being ‘in-sourced’ this year. To help the DIYer, CSN created FlooringSelect.com, a brand new, hassle-free site that offers various flooring options at affordable prices. Traditionally a job left for professionals, we’ve streamlined the process on Flooring Select, so that the searching, selecting, and purchasing of new flooring for your home is as easy as ever.

· Sheds and Storage Results in Savings:
To appeal to the hardcore DIYer, CSN has increased their selection of sheds and garage storage equipment so that it is now the largest on the web. An organized and attractive home for your tools and DIY essentials will encourage a more proactive commitment to the do-it-yourself lifestyle. Also, no DIYer is complete without one.

Top Ten Tuesdays: The Ten Best Cleaning Products

The days when Americans had enough time to clean and care for their homes is being swept away by the reality of a recession that has forced many to work long hours, or even take on a second job. Weekends, which used to be perfect for cleaning, are now set aside for playing catch-up. Busier schedules means bad news for cleaning, as more appealing aspects of life such as spending time with the kids, getting exercise, or visiting friends takes precedent.

Luckily, cleaning technology has evolved to reflect the trends of the time-strapped workers of today. That’s why the knowledgeable and caring e-retail experts at CSN Stores have compiled the Top 10 Time Saving Tools to make cleaning and organizing your home easier, faster, and even safer. The items were carefully selected from over 1 million products, and more than 200 top-name Web sites. From UV Sterilizers and Odor Eating Soap Scrubbers to Pressure Washers and Pot Racks, the Top 10 will help wash away any cleaning-related stress, save time, and quickly and efficiently make your home look its best.

10. Southern Enterprises Arch Top Bathroom Space Savers in White and Black
9. GOODHOPE Trunk Organizer – Triple wide compartments make organizing your car trunk easier and safer.
8. Enclume Ceiling Bar Pot Rack and Accessory Shelf Pot Rack
7. PowerWasher 1300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer – For under $100, this electric home essential proves that pressures washers, a primary part of keeping your home clean, can be both appealing and affordable.
6. Euroblaster High-Powered Cleaner
5. GamaSonic My Flea Trap Ecological Pet Protector – Don’t let your home become another flea circus with this cordless, lightweight, and portable trap that can eliminate pesky pet fleas as quickly as overnight.
4. Frieling Smellkiller Red Zilo-Soap
3. Alessi Handheld Vacuum by Stefano Giovannoni – You’ll save time and clean less with a stylish and sleek handheld vacuum that swiftly eliminates even the toughest mess.
2. Honeywell HEPA Antibacterial UV Air Cleaner
1. Verilux Sanitizing Light Wand and Sweeper –This cord-free sanitizing wand or sweeper used the latest in UV technology to destroy germs, mold, and bacteria; quickly and quietly.

CSN Mondays - New Product Spotlight: The Embody Chair

Hey everyone, we are proud to announce that HermanMillerSeating.com is now carrying the brand new Embody Chair from Herman Miller. Take a look and read what makes this chair so great and groundbreaking.

"Designed specifically for people who interact with computers for long periods of time, Embody is a huge leap forward in seating. With a back that is “alive,” mimicking your spine to promote health-positive sitting, Embody creates harmony between you and your computer. In fact, Embody is the first work chair that supports your mind as well as your body, enabling you to focus, think clearly, and create."