Ten years ago, we created a key part of the software that helps our retailers, brands, and reps.
Prior to Bridge Store, we had to make unique sites for these businesses and this was slow and expensive. Then we created Bridge Store, a template-based website with a shared code base. This enabled us to much more quickly and cost efficiently setup online accounts and stores.
The success of Bridge Store is evident in user growth: a decade ago we had just a handful of retailers and ...
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I’m writing to sadly share that my dad Don Solarek passed away last week. He was quiet, thoughtful, and would gladly walk in New York City from the Battery to Harlem.
Don always had time to chat with me, share a story, give a lesson, and encourage me. He helped me with my paper route at 6 am when it was 3º in Rochester. He came to every high school cross country race and wrestling match—which were often held around 3:30 pm. Likely not ...
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I visited the New York’s Post website--to get my fill of New York gossip--and I was shown a massive advertisement from a leading tabletop brand. (I have covered the brand's logo with yellow rectangles for the privacy of the brand.) Before visiting the Post's site, I had visited this brand's website. The ads appear because the brand has hired some advertising platform to track me around the web, show me ads, and direct me back to its DTC (direct to consumer) site.
Macy’s will be moving its flagship store and building a massive tower on the site. Then it may move back in or permanently leave site.
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February 5, 2020
February 5, 2020
Gartner shared this advice for managing your company's marketing efforts:
Strategy for the partner marketing program, and how it aligns with the overall brand marketing strategy.
Funding and talent resources dedicated to driving and administering partner marketing relationships.
Campaign modes, or the balance of approaches to partner marketing. “To” campaigns provide information about a brand’s product and service for partners to use internally. &ldquo
Jay Strongwater's navy and white accents add a fresh accent in every room of your home. The dappled white glass vase is wrapped in a garland of cream and cobalt hand-painted enamel flowers sparkling with hand-set crystals. The Holland vase is a beautiful object itself, and when it’s holding a fresh bouquet.
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January 24, 2020
January 24, 2020
Sharing the second page of our 2020 Capdeco catalog with a very comprehensive layout of all the accessories/serving pieces available in the entire collection.
Pick your design.
They all come boxed therefore perfect for GIFT.
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January 23, 2020
January 23, 2020
It makes me very happy when my customers are inspired by the new collections and post on their Instagram accounts.
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Atlanta Seminar Offers Selling Strategies for Independent Stores Casafina and Vietri will host Bridge’s Jason Solarek in their respective showrooms
Allison Zisko // Editor in Chief
January 15, 2020
Jason Solarek, Bridge CEO, and Matt Hullfish, Casafina’s national sales manager, at a seminar last year.
ATLANTA—Tabletop brands Casafina and Vietri are collaborating with e-commerce platform provider Bridge on two training sessions at the International Gift & Home ...
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January 13, 2020
January 13, 2020
Wells Fargo wants to become a technology company, shares today's WSJ, which mirrors the trend of many businesses in many industries. They are strengthening their technology--or risking being left behind. A similar trend is occurring in retail. But some retailers don't get it. Walmart infamously invested in Bonobos pants instead of a tech company, only to sell Bonobos recently at a loss.
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January 8, 2020
January 8, 2020
Are brands bypassing stores? A new survey says 'yes' they are: 40% of Americans shopped directly from a brand in the past year, according a Diffussion survey.
Shoppers are choosing to bypass stores because the brands are undercutting them on prices, and offering faster and cheaper shipping.
How are brands getting in front of customers? Answer: Facebook and Instagram. A shopper visits a retailer's website for brand X, then Facebook puts a tracking pixel on the shopper, and then ...
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Bridge has made it easier for you to share your news and events.
You can now more easily add pictures to news posts, and then edit and rearrange the pictures.
In the example shown, I'm sharing news about our Vietri seminar in Atlanta. I added a picture to the post, as well as marked it as an event, set a location, and added an RSVP button.
Here is how to share news or an event:
Visit your Bridge home page. Look for the 'What's on your mind?' field. Enter in your news or
In the ‘age of Amazon,’ is your store a liability or asset? Walmart is banking on stores being the physical nexus points of the web.
Did your e-commerce business lose money last year, and you fret over this? Most indie store owners do, but losing money on e-commence is the name of the game as catching up to Amazon’s 25-year head start will take years and lots of losses. Proof: Walmart’s e-commerce operations lost $2b last year, shares the WSJ. Most indie stores will not be able to pursue this ...
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Are websites a waste? I'll thank they are and I'll explain. But first, it's important to note that websites are different from platforms. A website is something for which your business is solely responsible. A platform is a digital service to which you subscribe that you are not solely responsible. You may add content and pictures, etc. but you do not manage the technical aspects. You likely use platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Airbnb.
I believe that Constant Contact is falsely promoting it is offering a free online store. I say this because the free service allows you to offer just 3 products and you must display a big advertisement for Constant Contact. Most retailers offer hundreds or thousands of products. A super small number of stores can offer just 3 products online. In addition, most stores don't want a big advertisement at the bottom of their website. Yet, if one were to visit Contact Contact's website services page...
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This graphic from the cover of ‘The Business Book’ caught my eye. Bridge helps businesses eliminate unnecessary steps, and it’s beneficial to lay out all the steps Bridge helps retailers skip.
Without Bridge’s Smart Products service, retailers would go through the following steps when adding a product to their website:
1. Realize they need a product on their website.
2. Google the product.
3. From the Google results, identify the correct product.
4. Download the ...
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December 5, 2019
December 5, 2019
20% Off Holiday Sale At Cheeks!
Start the Holiday shopping season at Cheeks! All clothing at Cheeks in Squirrel Hill is 20% off now until Sunday Dec. 8th. Then next week all sleepwear is 20% off at both locations from Monday, Dec. 9th to Sunday, Dec. 15th. Stop in and start crossing names off your list!