Here at Shop Local, we’ve seen brands try to cut out indie stores. We’ve seen big-name companies close accounts in good standing and raise minimum annual purchase amounts in the toughest of times in order to cut out indie stores. Well, now some of these brands are back with hat in hand.
Bridge has something that every store needs, but doesn’t really want: product data. We get stores to trust us that they need our product data for 64,000 products from 109 brands. They really don’t want the data—they want the sales from it. The data itself is worthless, but the sales from it are invaluable. Do you know who also has this issue? Funeral directors. Last week's Wall Street Journal shares that mortuaries are leveraging bonsai trees, setting up bouncy castles, ...
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July 26, 2019
July 26, 2019
TOOLS TO ROCK YOUR POSTS by DIANE SEIDLE
If youโre a long-time merchant, you probably never considered that youโd have to become a content creator. Here are several tools that make creating content easier than ever; not only do they help produce posts, in many cases they even supply the creative ideas.
Of all the available tools, Canva is the beast of content creation. I wrote about it in this column several years ago and still use it to create awesome social media posts for Facebook, Twitter, ...
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January 29, 2018
January 29, 2018
One of my favorite quotes from a retailer about the last edition of Specialty Shop Retailing is this one: โI have read, highlighted, marked up and re-read this book so many times it groans when I pick it up!โ Itโs been so much fun for me to hear from shopkeepers around the world about how helpful they have found the first three editions of my book, which sold over 40,000 copies and were translated into Russian. I am very happy to announce that the fourth edition has just been published as a ...
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November 18, 2017
November 18, 2017
Loved seeing the ode to Mottahedeh with one of our saying trays placed at each seat. True statement perfect for this night of honorees!
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We know you would never show up empty handed to a dinner invitationโฆ And we have the perfect hostess gift, the โkeepsake dishโ its not too much and not too little. With over 50 to choose from, there is a saying for every occasion; from wisdom, encouragement, love, family, knowledge, passion and even humor.
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December 30, 2015
December 30, 2015
What does a running store have in common with a home goods boutique? Both are struggling to compete against vendors selling direct. Nike is increasingly hurting indy athletic shops by selling direct. In the home goods world, many brands are doing the same to their retailers.
When you read the article about Nike, many of these same quotes could come from players in our home goods industry:
Retailers are having trouble balancing their physical store and their online stores, according to a survey summed up by HFN's Allison Zisko.
One sore spot is returns. Excerpt:
Eighty five percent of retailers noted the high cost of online returns to a store, particularly when the item is not carried in that store. And when returning to a fulfillment center or supplier, retailers incur incremental freight costs, the possibility of shipping-related product damage, as well as a lost opportunity for a...
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