We sometimes forget that retailing is really very simple: you need to have what the customers want, be wherever they are when they want to buy it, and to make all your transactions as simple and enjoyable as possible. We sometimes lose track of these principles when we get caught up in the technology and… Read More


One of the keys to surviving this difficult economy is making wise use of every inventory dollar — and that of course means turning slow moving items into cash by clearing them out. Because my nickname is Orange, we’ve always called our spring clearance sale Orange’s Lemon Sale. (One of my fellow retailers once admired… Read More


Facebook fans are having fun with “25 Random Things” lists, and it’s high time that shopkeepers got in on the action. So here are 25 random — and not so random — things you may not know about retailing.  Feel free to add your own in the Comments section below!  1. According to the U.S.… Read More


Can you guess the source of this quote?  “Many businesses also underestimate the importance of an actual “Open” sign. However, it’s vital that you clearly communicate to potential customers that you are open and ready to serve them. If your store is dark or obscured from easy view, passersby may assume that you are closed… Read More


Working in one of Jack Mitchell’s clothing stores must be wonderful.  He and the other members of his family have made an art of making their employees feel appreciated, including personal touches such as knowing the names of everyone’s children and pets, recognizing their accomplishments, and doing everything possible to make them feel appreciated. Jack… Read More


Successful shopkeeping means paying attention to so many details.  For example, what does your restroom say about your store? This one, at a branch of the women’s clothing store Chico’s, says: we will never, ever run out of paper towels.   Is this really the main message they want to convey?  By using the customer… Read More


I have just ventured to the seamy side of the wholesale gift market…a closeout show.  Have you ever wondered where the dollar stores go to buy their merchandise? It certainly isn’t the Atlanta Gift Show or the New York Gift Fair, where vendors try to outdo each other with the newest, brightest and best merchandise.… Read More


Forget New Year’s resolutions, the Rose Bowl, or black-eyed peas as New Year’s traditions.  In our shop, New Year’s means one thing: inventory.  It’s all hands on deck to physically count everything that is still on hand after the holidays.  To avoid a mutiny, we now do inventory on the Sunday after New Year’s Day,… Read More