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  1. News from Us
  2. News from Members
  3. Events
  4. Press
  5. Dollars & Sense
  6. Profile Stories
  7. Updates
  8. Training Calendar
  9. Training Videos
  10. Jobs
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December 13, 2023 Big is getting small
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Big is getting small
December 13, 2023
The average retail footprint is the smallest it has been in 17 years, shares today’s The Wall Street Journal.  

Macy’s plans to open 30 mini-Macy’s, which are about 80% smaller than a normal store, by 2025. 

This trend bodes well for our indie shops: many are already in a modest retail footprints. 

Read the full article: 
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/the-american-store-is-shrinking-7603e979
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December 12, 2023 20% Of Consumers To Buy Holiday Gifts at Independent Retailers
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20% Of Consumers To Buy Holiday Gifts at Independent Retailers
December 12, 2023
A recent study conducted by Jungle Scout reports that many consumers prefer to support small and local businesses for their holiday shopping. 20% reported they will buy holiday gifts from indie stores, up from 10% last year. The report ranks independent retailers in 4th place for in-store shopping, surpassing Costco, Walgreen's Best Buy, Sam's Club, Macy's and Home Depot. 

The article shares 53% of consumers bought online from independent stores on Small Business Saturday as reported by ...
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December 8, 2023 THANKS FOR 50 YEARS by MARSHA DAUTCH
THANKS FOR 50 YEARS by MARSHA DAUTCH
December 8, 2023
I recently saw a car with the license plate: WHYWRK. I had a sad feeling for the driver, who perhaps wasn’t as lucky as I to have the best job in the world – getting paid to shop for the most beautiful goods in the world – which I am now retiring from. After 40+ years as a buyer of tabletop and gifts in Buffalo, I have the opportunity to put the dishes away, polish the flatware, and store the stemware. As a small specialty store, we’ve been through our share of ups and ...
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December 8, 2023 Kate Spade New York @ 20
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Kate Spade New York @ 20
December 8, 2023
Kate Spade New York tableware and accessories has for two decades held a singular spot on retail shelves and on customers’ tables thanks to a timeless charm and chic stylings. Even after 20 years, the fun, fresh, playfully sophisticated, and refreshingly original collections from Lenox occupy a unique niche in the tableware pantheon. 

Kate Spade’s contribution to fashion cannot be understated. She became synonymous with fashionistas everywhere when she started her fashion ...
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December 7, 2023 Tableware Today Interview - Colin Riggs + Ned Voelker
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Tableware Today Interview - Colin Riggs + Ned Voelker
December 7, 2023
It’s a 40th anniversary for the company founded by Colin Riggs (left) and Ned Voelker’s parents, Abigail and Ed Voelker. Over the last four decades, the entire family has created a curated collection of handmade tableware and giftware for the nation’s independent store retailers.
................................

Congratulations on a milestone 40th year in business. Are you surprised Abigails has endured?
Ned Voelker: We are surprised. It’s a tribute to Ed and Abbie ...
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December 7, 2023 THE BLUES OF THE GRAYS
THE BLUES OF THE GRAYS
December 7, 2023
I have a friend who recently took a job with a respected women’s clothing retailer after 13 years of retirement. My friend, Leslie, a former school teacher, wanted to be of use and knew that retail was a great opportunity for seniors. She was all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed her first week. She loved that the manager asked her to try on clothes she liked and then suggested outfits that would look good on her. Leslie even purchased a few of those suggestions, couture she never would have ...
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December 4, 2023 RetailDive Reports Online and Mobile Sales are the Winner for Black Friday 2023
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RetailDive Reports Online and Mobile Sales are the Winner for Black Friday 2023
December 4, 2023
According to a recent RetailDive report, online and mobile purchases for Black Friday sales were the strongest, with smartphone sales leading at 54% of online sales. The article states consumers spent a record $9.8 billion online on Black Friday, according to data from Adobe Analytics. That’s up 7.5% from last year.

Industry experts forecast that consumer spending will be up 2-3% year over year. The National Retail Federation projects 3-4% year over year. Consumers are cautious about ...
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November 29, 2023 December retail sales are often 17% higher than other months
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December retail sales are often 17% higher than other months
November 29, 2023
Read the full article: 
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/22/business/economy/holiday-economy.html# View Post
November 27, 2023 “Black Friday” is named after workers not showing up, shares The Wall St. Journal
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“Black Friday” is named after workers not showing up, shares The Wall St. Journal
November 27, 2023
The article also shares that Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving), which was launched in 2005, is now the biggest online-shopping day of the year.   View Post
November 20, 2023 Retailers Offer Sales to Counter Declines
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Retailers Offer Sales to Counter Declines
November 20, 2023
Major retailers are facing sales declines, shares The Wall St. Journal.  Bath & Body Works is down 2.6% and Container Store Group is down 19%.  

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cfos-review-holiday-promotions-as-consumer-spending-cools-65e4548b?st=zcan85g78v83z0m&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink View Post
November 15, 2023 Le Creuset Makes The Wall St. Journal Gift Guide
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Le Creuset Makes The Wall St. Journal Gift Guide
November 15, 2023
Le Creuset is one of our clients and partners.

Read the full article: 
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/best-affordable-holiday-food-wine-gifts-2023-62846533?mod=mhp View Post
November 14, 2023 SCAM ALERT: Don’t Click on Facebook Ads About AI
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SCAM ALERT: Don’t Click on Facebook Ads About AI
November 14, 2023
Small businesses are getting hacked via Facebook ads, shares Today’s The Wall St. Journal.  The ads purport to offer Google’s AI engine Bard, but instead steal the business’s social media account access. 

Read the full article: https://www.wsj.com/tech/google-sues-to-block-ai-ads-preying-on-small-businesses-5e9c01d5?st=0t2f67ii9ekpuyd&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink
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November 11, 2023 Holiday Season Advice: Offer Discounts Now
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Holiday Season Advice: Offer Discounts Now
November 11, 2023
The Wall St. Journal shares that holiday sales will likely be weak.   The article gives these signs:
  • Railroad traffic is light. 
  • Stockrooms are full.  
  • There are fewer holiday job openings than last year. 
  • Consumers have less cash. 

Read the full WSJ article: 
https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/five-economic-signs-youre-smart-to-procrastinate-on-holiday-shopping-this-year-2de9ed0f
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November 8, 2023 TikTok Shop Is Teaming Up With U.S.-based Shippers
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TikTok Shop Is Teaming Up With U.S.-based Shippers
November 8, 2023
Tiktok’s shopping service is teaming up with ShipBob and Newegg to help it store and ship purchases made via the social platform, shares The Wall St. Journal.  

Read the WSJ article: 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-brings-logistics-to-the-e-commerce-dance-b43d884d?st=twl1o44eyreceo0&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink
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November 6, 2023 Why Dimensions In Product Descriptions Are Important
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Why Dimensions In Product Descriptions Are Important
November 6, 2023
Today’s The Wall St. Journal shares a funny story about the importance of displaying product dimensions in e-commerce. 

This article shows the value of a brand.  If the teakettle in the article shown had a Le Creuset logo, we’d know it was regular size.  Tip: Look for trusted brands when shopping online. 

The article doesn’t touch on this, but this dimensions problem also relates to POS systems.  There is a trend among retailers to output their ...
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October 26, 2023 Affiliate Marketing: TikTok, Amazon, and Your Indie Shop
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Affiliate Marketing: TikTok, Amazon, and Your Indie Shop
October 26, 2023
TikTok and Amazon are battling in the retail space. TikTok wants to be a retailer, and Amazon wants to be more of an influencer platform.  These two share the same goal: get users to share a product link, recommend the product, and get a cut of the sale, shares The Wall St. Journal.

This article and these companies speak to the power of affiliate marketing. One of Amazon’s long-standing secret growth weapons has been affiliate commissions, and influencers are a well-known ...
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October 23, 2023 Beatriz Ball’s Organic Pearl Frames: For Treasured Memories
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Beatriz Ball’s Organic Pearl Frames: For Treasured Memories
October 23, 2023
Photos capture such beautiful moments and memories.

A tarnish-free Beatriz Ball frame of hand-polished metal enhances your favorite photo, and is a brilliant addition to any mantle, desk, or bedside table. Makes a thoughtful present for any occasion, and with a precious personal photo included, it is sure to make a meaningful connection with the recipient.

Pearl borders have long been a popular motif for articles of home décor. Beatriz Ball’s ORGANIC PEARL is a new spin of ...
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October 11, 2023 Loyalty Programs
How restaurants, hotels, and tableware brands are using loyalty programs--and what indie stores can learn from this.
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Loyalty Programs
How restaurants, hotels, and tableware brands are using loyalty programs--and what indie stores can learn from this.
October 11, 2023
Perk-y
I recently read about a new loyalty program and wondered what we could learn from it. The founder of Eater and Resy, Ben Leventhal, has started Blackbird, a loyalty program service designed for indie restaurants, reports The New York Times (Read the article). Using the Blackbird app, a diner receives a perk for eating at a restaurant. The retailer sets tiers for which the user qualifies for the perk. For example, a restaurant, Nat’s on Bank in New York City, gives tier 1 customers ...
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October 4, 2023 A Date With Calendars 📆
How online calendars can help retailers manage and save time.
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A Date With Calendars 📆
How online calendars can help retailers manage and save time.
October 4, 2023
One of the main problems that businesses have is efficient use of time. A retailer (or brand or sales rep) seeks on a daily basis to manage their time and optimize results. (I was reminded of this while reading a The Wall St. Journal article about time management for the family.) Businesses use a variety of tools to manage and save time, including email, texting, and Zoom. 

Shop Local helps businesses in their quest to save time. We offer businesses a variety of services to help ...
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September 27, 2023 Tableware Today: Babcock Gifts Shares Inspiration
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Tableware Today: Babcock Gifts Shares Inspiration
September 27, 2023
Marion Samuel, who manages Babcock Gifts, a Tennessee-based gift shop, pens Tableware Today’s Last Word column in this month’s issue. She shares how they have grown over the last 50 years and run their store.

I was pleased to see her tout the store’s Bridge software. Babcock Gifts, which has been a client for 10 years, uses Bridge’s Shop Local gift registry service and Brand Syncing service. Using our service, they showcase 400+ couples’ gift registries online ...
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Next page

Press: Shop Local & Bridge in the News
Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries
Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries
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Tableware Today: New Leaderboard Column from Shop Local
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August 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Florida Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Florida Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Tennessee Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Tennessee Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Louisiana Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Louisiana Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Delaware Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Delaware Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Pennsylvania Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Pennsylvania Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
March 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get Sales Leads in Mississippi
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get Sales Leads in Mississippi
March 2024

Shop Local Merchants Are 60% of Google Page 1 Results in South Carolina
Shop Local Merchants Are 60% of Google Page 1 Results in South Carolina
March 2024

Shop Local Merchants Are 50% of Google Page 1 Results in Georgia
Shop Local Merchants Are 50% of Google Page 1 Results in Georgia
March 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get More Sales Leads than Big-Box Stores Using Google
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get More Sales Leads than Big-Box Stores Using Google
February 2024

Shop Local Retailers Rank on Page 1 of Google in 60% of States
Shop Local Retailers Rank on Page 1 of Google in 60% of States
February 2024

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