Time. It's a concept that permeates every aspect of our lives, either consciously or not. From the small moments of our daily routines to the grandest, long-term plans, time shapes every facet of our lives.
“Yesterday is gone…”
It's weighed heavily on me recently, consuming my brain space in a desire to understand it in its entirety. To share, here is a short (but not at all complete) example of the train of thought from a night this week surrounding the idea of "time...
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Ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote in the Dialogue Republic, “A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem.” This statement led to the phrase “Necessity is the mother of Invention." These words could very well describe Shop Local and how we came to exist. Over time, some have suggested the phrase could be tweaked to read “necessity is the mother of reinvention." This phrase also parallels Shop Local's ethos of supporting...
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The Wall Street Journal recently shared how the used car market has improved in the last 20 years because much of it is now conducted online. When car buyers use the web, they’re more likely to save money (about 2%) and dealers can, in theory, make more with dynamic pricing (about 2%) thereby giving each party a win. Unlike 20 years ago, when we didn’t have smartphones, today 95% of used car purchases start online. While 31% of used car purchases were completely in-person, ...
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Why only 30% of wedding gift givers will come into a store in 2030--and how we can help prepare for that
July 23, 2024
Tableware Today’s Editor Amy Stavis invited me to pen the Last Word column for the August / September issue. I start by comparing e-commerce trends for selling automobiles to selling dinner plates. Online sales in both industries have swelled in the last 25 years. (I entered the e-commerce business at the right time—in 2001.)
I predict that 70% of wedding registry gift givers will never set foot in a physical store by 2030. Currently, that number is at about 50%. If we do in fact ...
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Work With the Nation's Leading Brands and Indie Shops to Support Main Street
Shop Local is a fast-growing e-commerce and gift registry platform providing services to leading independent retailers and premium brands. Based in New York, NY, Shop Local is seeking candidates to support the existing software and build out new services that will change the retail industry.
We are a small dev team who works in a full stack fashion. There are many opportunities to sharpen your skills as well as ...
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How online trends in the used car market parallel those in the wedding registry market. Online gift giving predicted to increase at the expense of in-store giving by 40% by 2030.
How online trends in the used car market parallel those in the wedding registry market. Online gift giving predicted to increase at the expense of in-store giving by 40% by 2030.
May 7, 2024
Jinjoo Lee in The Wall St. Journal shares how the used car market has improved in the last 20 years because much of it is now conducted online. When car buyers use the web, they are more likely to save money (saving about 2%), and dealers can, in theory, make more with dynamic pricing (about 2%)—thereby giving each party a win. Unlike 20 years ago, when we didn't have smartphones, today 95% of used car purchases start online. While 31% of used car purchases were completely in-person,...
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At Shop Local, it's our job to help find ways to grow your online business. Part of that job is researching different registry software to see if it could be a good fit for your store.
If you offer a gift registry service, you may have heard of MyRegistry. MyRegistry is a third-party universal registry service that seemingly integrates with your primary website, stating that they "offer a suite of technology solutions [for retailers] that boost revenue, engage customers, and reduce ...
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21 ways Gift Reggie is making it difficult for gift givers, registrants, and merchants
April 3, 2024
Our registry service handles 80,000 gift and wedding registries. We often come across other registry software and can see how it's affecting the merchant that is using it.
While eating breakfast and browsing the web via my phone, I recently came across RFD, a merchant in Albany, NY, that uses Gift Reggie (an app that is added to a Shopify Store).
I observed 21 problems while reviewing the merchant's registry service. I initially wrote the issues down on a paper tablecloth...
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We'll be at the AmericasMart show Tuesday, July 16 – Friday, July 19, 2024. We'd love to meet with you and hear about your business.
Are you an existing Shop Local client?
If so, we put together the following materials for sales reps and brands. Please share these materials with your retailers. Please print these for use during the show:
1. Explanation Materials
A flyer showing featured Brand Syncing partners. We have 114 partner brands. You'll likely see your brand on
Sign Engine Ears is your premier destination for personalized and unique custom signs in Memphis. We specialize in crafting bespoke signage that perfectly reflects your brand's identity and vision. Our custom signs are designed to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. Whether you need interior or exterior signs, we offer a diverse range of solutions to meet your specific needs. With our dedication to quality, innovation, and attention to detail, Sign Engine Ears ensures that ...
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We'll be at the Dallas Market Center show Wednesday, January 10 - Friday, January 12, 2024. We'd love to meet with you and hear about your business and what you're seeing.
Trade Show Materials
We put together the following materials for sales reps and brands. Please share these materials with your retailers. Please print these for use during the show:
1. Explanation Materials
A flyer showing featured Brand Syncing partners. We have 115+ partner brands. You'll likely see
We'll be at the AmericasMart show Wednesday, January 17 – Friday, January 19, 2024. We'd love to meet with you and hear about your business and what you're seeing.
Trade Show Materials
We put together the following materials for sales reps and brands. Please share these materials with your retailers. Please print these for use during the show:
1. Explanation Materials
A flyer showing featured Brand Syncing partners. We have 115+ partner brands. You'll likely see
What universal standards can teach us about simplicity regarding e-commerce platforms.
September 25, 2023
When Apple launched its new iPhones this month, one of its most noteworthy updates was replacing its Lightning charging cable with a USB-C. This was not a voluntary move or extension of Steve Jobs’s love of simplicity. Apple changed it because the European Union required them to, according to Ben Cohen in The Wall St. Journal. Now, just about every mobile phone in the world (forget just little ol’ Europe) will have one charging solution (USB-C).
How limited resources can motivate teams to accomplish goals and breed solutions.
September 3, 2023
India last month joined three other countries in the exclusive club that has put a craft on the moon. What’s unique about India’s accomplishment is that it did this at a fraction of what the U.S. spends on space exploration, shares Ben Cohen in The Wall St. Journal. While the U.S.’s NASA program has a $24b budget, India’s ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) budget is just $1.3b. India, which started its space program in 1963, is able to do more with less because of ...
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My colleague Josh shared this poem with us. I like the parable about doing things for others. At Bridge, we support the poem’s view by building a platform that helps growing indie businesses. We build solutions for problems (“chasms”) that existing customers have knowing that future businesses that join us (“the youth”) will benefit from these digital bridges. To our team: Thank you, Bridge Builders.
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 ...
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I have been writing a blog for my fellow independent retailers for many years now (there are over 750 entries so far). Jason has suggested that I add these Specialty Shop Retailing posts to my shop's Bridge feed every Monday, so I'm going to try to do that. In the meantime, I invite you to take a look at some of the past entries - and to watch for "Savvy Store Solutions," my bimonthly column in Gifts and Decorative Accessories magazine. I want us all to be successful!
&...
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In this new webinar for sales reps, I share why your retailers are struggling online and underselling your lines. I share how you can help them and boost your commissions by 18%.