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.
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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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I got to thinking about the generational make-up of today's workforce when I realized all the folks I interviewed in the current issue are well-experienced, older workers with decades of expertise and know-how, who are still creating and innovating with alacrity. (Yours truly included.)
There was a time when you entered the labor force, worked until a certain age, and retired. Now, more and more people are working into their golden years, a trend that's expected to continue fueled by aging ...
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How technology hurts the entertainment industry just like Amazon hurts the retail industry.
August 1, 2023
Over the last three decades, Hollywood and many that rely on the entertainment industry have embraced ordering goods over Amazon.com. Recap: Amazon is a technology company that often cuts costs by replacing humans with code and robots and bypasses local red tape like, um, taxes and labor rules. Hollywood writers, producers, and ticket goers embraced a technology company that made their lives easier but often at the cost of others (aka retail workers).
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 ...
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HEREND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS BRILLIANT WHITE PORCELAIN SINCE 1826. ON THE EVE OF THE HUNGARIAN MANUFACTORY’S 200TH ANNIVERSARY (YES, WE’RE A TAD EARLY), WE SALUTE HEREND’S GOLD AND WHITE DINNERWARE DESIGNS, IDEAL EXEMPLARS OF CLASSIC ELEGANCE.
HEREND IS KNOWN AROUND THE GLOBE AS ONE OF PORCELAIN’S finest producers, a favorite of royalty, aristocracy, and folks like you and me who appreciate unparalleled quality and exquisite craftsmanship. Herend’s smooth white ...
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If someone has an American flag flying on their porch and Amazon boxes often at their doorstep, maybe they should take the flag down and put up a Chinese flag. Amazon appears to be profiting by cutting out much our domestic retail community and instead helping Chinese businesses. And don’t expect Amazon to pay much in local taxes either.
This past weekend’s WSJ shares how third-party sellers, many of them from China, have flooded Amazon with spurious listings, leaving ...
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In Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0, which the Bridge team is currently reading, the author Jim Collins confesses that he missed a key ingredient 25 years ago when he wrote the first edition. He states that he now realizes the most important part of achieving a great company is: getting the right people 'on the bus.’ I agree. Fourteen and a half years ago (long before I opened this book), I was lucky enough to pick up the right ‘passenger:' Moshe replied to my job posting (...
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We send an email to customers after they make a purchase on a retailer's website. The email thanks the customer for shopping local. A customer replied with this message:
From: Sherrie **********
Subject: Re: My pleasure
Date: January 7, 2022 at 3:51:33 PM EST
To: Jason Solarek
Mr. Solarek,
I cannot tell you what a pleasure it was to receive your email today. It was nice to see a CEO reach out to a customer in appreciation. In today’s busy world, that just doesn’t ...
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Gold is definitely trending in home décor—particularly with folks seeking a luxe lift in challenging times. Perennially appealing, gold is transformative; it renders a design elegant, classic and luxurious.
After years of research, Beatriz Ball has developed a proprietary process to create modern metallic finishes that are easy-care and practical, as well as jaw-droppingly beautiful. Paired with lively surfaces and unexpected shapes, they are a re-invention of metalware that will...
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May 22, 2018
May 22, 2018
Happy Tuesday from all of us at Brown's Jewelry. Drop by to see us if you're in downtown Vidalia. Don't forget to vote in the Georgia primary because every election is gonna be determined by the folks who show up. Have a great day!
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March 15, 2018
March 15, 2018
FUN, INEXPENSIVE, AND WE BET YOU KNOW LOTS OF FOLKS THAT COULD USE IT!!
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February 26, 2018
February 26, 2018
This is The Clementine Hunter Collection. Her paintings are seen in The Smithsonian Institution, The American Folk Art Museum. Come check out the collection today with us here at Rickey Heromans.
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February 23, 2018
February 23, 2018
Timeline Tips for Your Wedding Registry By Emily Lasnier
Discover when it's time to create your wish list.
There are a lot of different things that go into wedding planning, and it can be stressful to figure out when to take care of each task. There are certain vendors that youβll want to book right away, as their calendars often fill up in advance. However, something like creating your gift registry can be harder to pin down on a calendar because thereβs no risk of it being unavailable. There ...
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November 29, 2017
November 29, 2017
What keeps Santa warm during that long Christmas Eve journey? It's not the milk and cookies! Perhaps he has one of our monogrammed flasks tucked into his coat pocket. We know he has a few wrapped up for the good folks on his list, since they make perfect gifts!
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November 25, 2017
November 25, 2017
This Small Business Saturday - and every day - we encourage you to get out there and visit your favorite local Salisbury retailer. These wonderful folks are out there ready to help you find the perfect gift this season!
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June 27, 2017
June 27, 2017
New items, new markdowns, and lots of cool air conditioning! We've got folks bringing birthday, anniversary, and personal gift lists spending 20 minutes to two hours upstairs in our overstock room. If you can't find it upstairs, then check with Sandra downstairs for jewelry, home decor, an incredible bridal registry, and customer service like no other!
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May 20, 2017
May 20, 2017
Vista Alegre featured in today's Wall St. Journal. Congrats.
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January 5, 2017
January 5, 2017
From the NY Times, Thursday Jan.5, 2017
Start-Ups Hope Couples Say βI Doβ to Online Wedding Planning
Planning a wedding remains a largely traditional pursuit. For many couples, it is a frustrating months long project that requires sifting through masses of details and costs on venues, services and products. Now, a variety of start-ups are trying to cut down on that information overload by harnessing new technologies to capture a slice ...
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September 22, 2016
September 22, 2016
My recent column from Tableware Today Magazine: Using Facebook Messenger
More than 89% of users access Facebook on their mobile devices and check Facebook an average of 14 times a day. These folks have an intimate relationship with Facebook Messenger. Did you know you can create personal relationships with your customers by reaching out to them on Facebook Messenger? Are you even using Facebook Messenger in your business? And what exactly is Facebook Messenger anyway?
We were happy to see this nice fan mail from Serendip, a gift store in Norfolk, VA that uses our software:
"We think the world of Bridge. You are soooo smart. You seem to think of everything and provide excellent training and support. We could not be happier with our choice of Bridge. Thanks for everything. Today's training was just what we needed!"
Laura Slaymaker Serendip 2112 Debree Ave. Norfolk, VA. 23517 757-624-3920
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