An update of a popular blog post from August 28, 2023 This year Pink Friday will fall on November 20 – as always, one week before Black Friday. This promotion of small business is sponsored by The Boutique Hub, which invites you to “join thousands of small business retailers across the country for a day… Read More

Those of you who regularly read my writing for retailers know how much I love trade jargon, and I’ve just learned a new term: the daily sales flash, also known as day-over-day (DoD). DoD statistics compare sales to the same day one year earlier (adjusting for the day of the week), or a specific day… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from March 2, 2010 I just received a little publication called Made Magazine from the Fair Trade Federation. The organization, which is based in North Carolina, was just fifteen years old when I first wrote about the concept of fair trade in this blog – so this seemed… Read More

Capital campaigns for non-profits usually center around new buildings and major projects – but one of the arts groups I support just announced a multi-million dollar fundraiser with the theme “people first.” This is a good reminder for us as shopkeepers that although merchandise, promotions and profits matter, the most important element of running a… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from November 12, 2018 NeeDoh squishies are making quite a splash in the gift world at the moment (when I wrote about this 8 years ago, it was fidget spinners that were the rage). As one would expect, there are countless manufacturers now coming out with new styles… Read More

Many of us struggle with posting regularly on social media. There often just aren’t enough hours in the day, or fresh ideas at hand. But one way to expand your offerings is through UGC, or user-generated content. UGC can be defined as “any text, videos, photos, or reviews about a product or brand created by… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from April 18, 2018 If your shop is incorporated, you are most likely an S Corp or C Corp.  You may not have even heard of the option of being a B (for benefit) Corp, which is not surprising — because this relatively new type of corporate status… Read More

A package of products from a new vendor just arrived that contained an impressive marketing flyer.  “Hi, Orange Tree Imports!” it stated at the top. “We picked this item just for you.” What followed was a photo labeled “Your Next Best Seller” as well as a QR code that leads to further recommendations.  A personalized… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from December 13, 2010 The customer may always be right (or not), but the customer is not always cheerful.  One of the day-to-day challenges facing store owners and our employees is how to deal with a surly shopper.  Here are five techniques I hope you’ll find helpful: 1.… Read More

Why is it important to work with a variety of vendors, and to carry merchandise sourced from different countries? Recent issues with tariffs, shipping, and supply chain issues have shown how difficult it can be when one country of origin or vendor becomes unreliable or more expensive. Diversity also builds strength in your product mix,… Read More