This economy is turning around.

Are you in position to capitalize when consumers start opening their wallets?

This is the first of what I expect will be a long series of signs of economic improvement.

This week, the Wall Street Journal reported and many others reported that new home sales increased dramatically in June from May.

New-home sales soared in June from the previous month, the third increase in a row and supplying fresh evidence the housing market is beginning to recover from its long crisis.

Sales of single-family homes increased by 11.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 compared to the prior month, the Commerce Department said Monday.

Once consumers move into their new homes, guess what they’ll need?  Televisions. DVRs. Phone and Internet service. Cable or satellite service. A stereo system.

I ask again, are you ready for the coming consumer onslaught? What are you doing to prepare yourself and your company? Are you working on product branding and messaging? Are you improving your position in your category? Are you concentrating on your customers and learning more about what they want from your products?

Perhaps most importantly, have you continued talking with your consumer base during the downturn? It’s almost impossible to generate speed (and sales) from a stopped position. Unfortunately, many of marketing and communications programs are at exactly such a standstill. Too many of you are still battening down the hatches. This is a limiting mindset, and precisely the the approach leads to less creativity and a more limited position in the market.

Retail sales will turn around sooner rather than later.  Begin preparing now, before it’s too late.