An expert in today’s WSJ estimates that 30% of Amazon reviews are fake. In addition, Amazon gives its Vine users free products to post reviews. I’m thinking 40% are suspect.
The article shares that customers value a product with more reviews and a lower average rating than a product with fewer reviews and a higher average.
The service ReviewMeta allows one to test an Amazon page for fake reviews. Fakespot is another fake review service.
Glassworks offers personalized platters, frames, and more handmade by Museware. Their customized wedding platters and scrolls are our top sellers. Stop in and see the selection.
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September 24, 2019
September 24, 2019
Have you started thinking about what you're serving Thanksgiving dinner on this year?
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September 14, 2019
September 14, 2019
Think that e-commerce-only stores have it made? Guess again. Everlane's CEO says that online-only stores often lose money, and that omni-channel is the sweet spot. See the interview and article:
In a region known for its grapes, Susan and Brian Friguliette, bravely decided to give us beans, coffee beans that is. Their love story blossomed into living their dream and their passion for coffee. We have been selling Keuka Lake Coffee for 13 years. Over this time it’s become our top coffee brand. Customers love that they are they a local roaster but, the diverse selection of roasts and flavors has kept Keuka Lake Coffee fans coming back for refills. We asked Susan and Brian to share how ...
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August 29, 2019
August 29, 2019
Amazon and Chinese companies have teamed up to bypass Main Street and ship goods directly to doorsteps. This is hurting American manufacturing as well as local city governments. To accomplish this, they're misleading Americans by putting out press releases that cherry-pick statistics.
Follow these 3 steps to see the issue at hand:
1. In an Amazon press release last week, Amazon claimed:
"Independent third-party sellers – primarily small and medium-sized businesses – ...
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I developed Bridge Network, an e-commerce platform, that is not included in this article. Here are some things I have learned over the last 20 years of e-commerce development:
1. The article’s ranking criteria includes themes and templates. I believe you don't need an assortment of templates to have a functioning (or successful) e-commerce site. Just look at ...
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July 22, 2019
July 22, 2019
Think your rent is too high? Ask Barney’s. San Francisco, Miami, and Manhattan rents amongst others are toppling retailers, shares today’s WSJ.
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July 18, 2019
July 18, 2019
Since we're in the middle of wedding season, we think now's the perfect time to remind you of all the golden gifts we have!
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July 17, 2019
July 17, 2019
What is your abandoned cart rate? This and other factors arose in a shipping survey conducted by BigCommerce.
Some survey findings:
+ Fifty-eight percent stopped shopping certain retailers because of a negative shipping experience.
+ Amazon Prime has set a high bar with free two-day shipping. In the past 12 months, 84 percent of global survey respondents made an online purchase specifically because it offered free shipping, and half said they avoid shopping with retailers that don’t offer free ...
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July 15, 2019
July 15, 2019
You can't say that we don't have fun while at Market! ?We're happy to be back at the shop today following an eventful week in Atlanta. We can't wait for you to see all the new goodies we have arriving at the shop!
(What do you all think about these cute hats?!) ??
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July 12, 2019
July 12, 2019
What if we could remove all the no’s and can’ts? I think we can :)
See you at tonight’s seminar to share how.
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July 10, 2019
July 10, 2019
We just LOVE these Bed Stu bags! What do y’all think? Should Barbara Stewart Interiors start carrying the line? Comment below.
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July 10, 2019
July 10, 2019
Can I get a BIG WOW this morning?? I just spoke to my customer service Rep for Lenox Corp. and found out their CEO, Mr. Ryder, has discontinued all of Lenox's fine crystal stemware!!! Whaaaaat!!! He is reducing SKU's and thinks fine entertaining is out! Well I beg to differ! I think fine dining is on the incline after a slight reprieve. And to top it off, they did not inform us of this decision so we could have a chance to fulfill any orders that we have to complete our Bride or customers ...
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July 8, 2019
July 8, 2019
From everyday to eclectic -- we have any fine gift you could think of.
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June 24, 2019
June 24, 2019
“If the shoe fits, wear it,” goes the old saying, and today’s Times shares the state of indie shoes which may sound familiar to indie gift shop owners. This story seems to be ‘a fit’ for our industry, too.
I recently visited a Footlocker and noticed they had moved the Nike shoes to the back of the store. Why? Nike, with all of its stores and direct to consumer website promotion, is now a competitor and Footlocker is trying to reduce its reliance on Nike. To that affect, I went to the Nike ...
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June 17, 2019
June 17, 2019
Rachel Cordaro started off with just a few cards in our MacKenzie-Childs Department. Our customers loved them! We quickly expanded her selection and her art pieces have developed quite the following! Rachel’s brand is now one of our top 50 vendors!! Out of the 1,000s of brands we carry her art and vision is really speaking to our guests! We love supporting local artists and are thrilled by Rachel’s success. Our MacKenzie-Childs manager asked her some behind the easel questions to find out about ...
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This month’s HFN magazine shares a letter that I wrote to the editor. In the letter, I encourage the industry to team up and push back against Amazon and big online entities in order to ensure our long-term survival. I welcome your feedback on it.
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Fifty-four percent of people looking for a product go directly to Amazon.com, shared a front page story in this week’s Wall St. Journal. This 54 percent is not good for nearly anyone in our ...
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May 30, 2019
May 30, 2019
Sometimes thinking inside the box is a really good idea....just sayin'.
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May 15, 2019
May 15, 2019
We are so pleased to have Hannah and Cameron registered at The Boutique and we will be thinking of them as they celebrate this weekend!!
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