Home > News & Events

News from Shop Local & Bridge

  1. News from Us
  2. News from Members
  3. Events
  4. Press
  5. Strategy: Dollars & Sense
  6. Profile Stories
  7. New Software Features & Updates
  8. Training Calendar
  9. Training Videos
  10. Jobs
  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
+ Bridge in the News - Bridge in the News

2,076 Results:

July 26, 2023 Kitchen and Table Countertop Natural Utensil Caddy
Chalk 22936 picture
Kitchen and Table Countertop Natural Utensil Caddy
July 26, 2023
Summer events must embrace the charm of pastel color palettes, outdoor settings, and an abundance of freshly picked fruits and veggies. This space-saving caddy centerpiece, handwoven by master artisans from organic forest vines, may hold all of these items, together with your preferred wine, silverware, and napkins, as well as a floral or veggie bouquet arrangement, to make a tabletop display. This can only mean that summer has finally come.


CALAISIO
natural elegance, extraordinary ...
Read More
July 25, 2023 NEW IN · VERMONT COLLECTION
Chalk 22946 picture
NEW IN · VERMONT COLLECTION
July 25, 2023
Summer tablescapes leave the table and turn to the kitchen. The kitchen linens Osteria match the environment perfectly.

Get to know Osteria.  View Post
July 25, 2023 A Promise of Adventure
Chalk 22944 picture
A Promise of Adventure
July 25, 2023
Freshly painted for the season, this horse is sure to be the most popular choice during those hectic seconds when the gates to the merry-go-round open and picking the best carousel horse seems critically important. Vibrant, colorful roses, striking gold tassels and a stance which holds the promise of an adventure complete the scene. View Post
July 25, 2023 Thanks for the Memories, by Laurie Gates
Thanks for the Memories, by Laurie Gates
July 25, 2023
I chuckled when I was asked to author this column, as I have been known to have the last word from time to time. As I prepare to leave the industry that has given me so much (I eagerly accepted the opportunity to work in the gift and home area in 1986), I can vividly recall the excitement I felt when I first entered the creative space that we get to live and work in every day. I have been exposed to scores of creative people; I met and worked with artists and buyers who were inspired and ...
Read More
July 25, 2023 How We Make Our Graphics
Chalk 22942 picture
How We Make Our Graphics
July 25, 2023
Many of our graphics start as sketches.  In this example, I drew a sketch of what we need to show brands and sales reps. We need to communicate visually that their showroom products need to be displayed on their retailer’s website.  

I started with a sketch on a Times newspaper page, and then reproduced that in Apple’s Pages program.  Pages is a bare-bones program that can help one make visual diagrams. (Photoshop is my preferred program for visual projects.)

The...
Read More
July 25, 2023 Orrefors @ 125
Chalk 22941 picture
Orrefors @ 125
July 25, 2023
EMON MAASHO, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF ORREFORS, NORTH AMERICA, is representative of the exciting trajectory in this 125-year operation. The über-exec joined the New Wave Group in 2013, a time when Orrefors and Kosta Boda (OKB) were underperforming assets in the portfolio. "Our crystal brands are national treasures and a part of Swedish history," Maasho affirms. And he wanted a front row seat in their revitalization. Maasho was placed in charge of the new hotel and restaurant division ...
Read More
July 25, 2023 Queen Elizabeth: A New Reign
Chalk 22940 picture
Queen Elizabeth: A New Reign
July 25, 2023
QUEEN ELIZABETH WOULD CERTAINLY APPROVE. Herend's Queen Elizabeth Collection, which includes a ten-piece tea set, bonbon, and corgi Fishnet figurine, is targeted not just to Anglophiles and fans of the Queen, but to anyone who wishes to own a beautiful, unique piece of Herend, says Kimberley Kimball, president, Martin's Herend Imports. "When the Queen passed last year, the Herend manufactory sought out our input about their idea of creating some commemorative pieces celebrating her 70-year ...
Read More
July 25, 2023 This and That
This and That
July 25, 2023
I have a stack of virtual news clippings that either struck my fancy, taught me something new, or just made me shake my head in bemusement. On their own, they may not be enough for me to make a point, but together they have a thought-provoking synergy (and I'm sure I'll figure out what that is by the end of this column).

Our industry has been negatively affected by the loss of American manufacturing after we entered a long stretch of automation and outsourcing in the late 1970s; every ...
Read More
July 22, 2023 Pass the Apps 🍡
What Threads can teach us about leveraging our existing network when launching a new service.
Chalk 22932 picture
Pass the Apps 🍡
What Threads can teach us about leveraging our existing network when launching a new service.
July 22, 2023
Threads, a new Twitter-like service from Meta, the owner of Instagram, launched this month and almost immediately attracted 40m active daily users. The service’s growth has since stalled and now has just over 10m daily users, but that is still commendable. The Wall Street Journal shared that this impressive launch was largely possible because Meta used its built-in network of one billion Instagram users. This user base helped it overcome the “cold start” problem of acquiring ...
Read More
July 21, 2023 70% of Brands offer Free Shipping vs. 13% of Stores
Chalk 22930 picture
70% of Brands offer Free Shipping vs. 13% of Stores
July 21, 2023
My team researched 40 brands' websites and 200 indie stores' websites.

Research Findings
  • 70% of tabletop and giftware brands offer free shipping.
  • Only 13% of indie stores offer free shipping.
  • Brands on average charge $115 to receive free shipping.
  • Retailers often charge $191 to receive free shipping. 
Read our research report:
https://www.shoplocal.org/news.cfm/22883/70-of-Brands-Offer-Free-Shipping

Conclusions
  • Retailers are at a major disadvantage when
...
Read More
July 21, 2023 JK Adams and Mepra Are Ready for Syncing
Chalk 22928 picture
JK Adams and Mepra Are Ready for Syncing
July 21, 2023
We are pleased to announce two new Syncing brands are ready: JK Adams and Mepra.
  • JK Adams makes very cool wooden items, including charcuterie boards, serving trays, and rolling pins that I like.
  • Mepra produces cutlery, cookware, and serveware of the highest quality.  All Mepra products are made in Italy. (Who doesn't love 'Made in Italy'?)
Syncing products from these brands is free for your business.  There is no charge. (The respective brand pays for ...
Read More
July 20, 2023 Garden & Gun: Nice to See Vietri and Shop Local Retailers
Chalk 22926 picture
Garden & Gun: Nice to See Vietri and Shop Local Retailers
July 20, 2023
We were happy to see our partner Vietri in this month’s Garden & Gun magazine. 

Vietri, a premium designer of Italian home goods, ran a pretty advertisement in this month’s issue. The ad features 15 dealers throughout the South where one can buy Vietri.

Of the 15 stores listed, 47% (7 stores) use Shop Local's Store to more easily sell Vietri.

These retailers use our Online Store service: ...
Read More
July 19, 2023 New Feature: Add Your Title and Role to Your Profile
How to add your title/role at your company to your Shop Local profile.
Chalk 22917 picture
New Feature: Add Your Title and Role to Your Profile
How to add your title/role at your company to your Shop Local profile.
July 19, 2023
Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: You can now add your company role or title to your Team profile. 

Please follow these steps to update your company role and title (desktop instructions): 
  1. Log in to your Shop Local account.
  2. Roll over Management in the main navigation, then click My Team under the "My Business Profile and Settings" section.
  3. On the Team page, find your Team member entry. In the "Actions" column, click the pencil &
...
Read More
July 18, 2023 Picnic Perfect
Chalk 22910 picture
Picnic Perfect
July 18, 2023
It's time to enjoy a meal outdoors and with our tin picnic plates we make it easy for you. They come packed 4 to a reusable tin box, enjoy your meal, then put the used plates back in the tin box to take home and clean without making a mess of your picnic blanket and basket. Shown here is the Turkish Garden design, also available in Blue pagoda, Ming, American Ships, Lowestoft Rose, Blue Dragon, and Lotus Blossom.  View Post
July 18, 2023 To Kill a Mockingbird
How a company's sales and growth can be affected by the message it conveys to customers.
Chalk 22914 picture
To Kill a Mockingbird
How a company's sales and growth can be affected by the message it conveys to customers.
July 18, 2023
Allbirds stock is down 95% since its November 2021 initial public offering. People may say the company launched the wrong products (did you buy one of their puffer jackets?) or tried to grow too quickly.  I believe there is a larger reason: you can’t scale a company by leading with an environmental message—which is Allbirds’s pitch. Consumers rank saving the planet as one of their least pressing concerns when making a purchase. The leading factors consumers look for when ...
Read More
July 15, 2023 Thank You for Attending Our Workshop
Chalk 22903 picture
Thank You for Attending Our Workshop
July 15, 2023
On Thursday morning we helped our brands and retailers see how the platform operates first-hand.  We helped retailers sign up and Sync with member brands. 

A special thank you to Jonathan Pearson (Kitchen 2 Table), Brooks Terry (Babcock Gifts), Neil Peters (Carmel Ceramica), Sonny Melder, Greg Candler (Cuisinart), our friends at Sara & Beth Gifts, Inside Irwin’s, and Vineyard’s Gifts, and many others ☺️ View Post
July 13, 2023 Meet Vietri Founder Susan Gravely At A Lecture/Book Signing August 2nd!
Chalk 22899 picture
Meet Vietri Founder Susan Gravely At A Lecture/Book Signing August 2nd!
July 13, 2023
In celebration of vietri’s 40th anniversary, Susan Gravely, vietri Founder and CEO, has written a memoir and a cookbook.The 240-page book features 52 recipes straight from the kitchens of Susan’s dearest Italian friends. In addition to these treasured family recipes, each chapter tells the story of how Susan met each friend and the meals and memories they have shared together over the years. The book also includes glimpses into these friends’ beautiful Italian homes and gardens...
Read More
July 12, 2023 The Maccarello Collection
Chalk 22893 picture
The Maccarello Collection
July 12, 2023
Maestro artisan Gianluca Fabbro combined his love for fishing with his passion for art when creating Maccarello, the ideal collection for waterside dining. View Post
July 11, 2023 KITCHEN LINENS · OSTERIA COLLECTION
Chalk 22888 picture
KITCHEN LINENS · OSTERIA COLLECTION
July 11, 2023
Uniquely textured with a micro waffle weave, Osteria’s mix of colors brightens any kitchen with a warm and welcoming look.

Improve your summer linens with Osteria. View Post
July 10, 2023 70% of Brands Offer Free Shipping
Chalk 22883 picture
70% of Brands Offer Free Shipping
July 10, 2023
Shop Local analyzed the websites for the top-40 selling brands in the tabletop and giftware industry. We assessed what promotions and discounts, such free shipping, brands offer. Shop Local did this because a product's price, which is impacted by discounts, is often the leading factor when shopping online. 70% of the brands surveyed by Shop Local offer free shipping.

Brand Study Findings: 
  • Of the 40 brands, 28 (70%) offer free shipping. 
  • For brands that offer free
...
Read More

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
October 2024

Tableware Today: New Leaderboard Column from Shop Local
Tableware Today: New Leaderboard Column from Shop Local
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

...