An update of a popular blog post from November 28, 2011 “I personally recommend this” are powerful words in the interaction between a salesperson and a customer. (OK, not as powerful as “free,” but we need to stay in business!)  Shoppers are eager for ideas about what to buy, and as specialty shop retailers we… Read More

Heart on Main Street was a newly launched program when I first wrote about it just over three years ago. The non-profit had announced that its mission would be helping independent retailers and locally-owned businesses evolve and thrive within their local communities. According to founder Patrick Keiser, they planned to do this by providing tools,… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from February 8, 2011 I read in a fashion magazine about the common practice of allowing employees to take home beauty product samples received from manufacturers hoping for free publicity. The editor of this publication decided to ask her staff for $1 per item, with all proceeds going… Read More

This year marks the 40th anniversary of All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, a book of essays about life by Unitarian Universalist minister Robert Fulghum. While some of the lessons he shares – take a nap every afternoon comes to mind – may not be applicable to our lives as shopkeepers,… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from May 20, 2013 You have probably used color blocking in your visual merchandising without realizing that you are applying ‘color psychology” to your displays. According to Michael Dillon, “Color psychology has emerged as a powerful tool in shaping customer perceptions, emotions, and purchasing behaviors. Color harmony enhances… Read More

Do you ever have days when you wish you could clone yourself? An independent retailer always seems to have too much to do – routine management tasks, buying, social media posts, advertising, merchandising, and assisting customers. Add to that the time it takes to respond to requests and problems (or even just to answer the… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from August 8, 2011 When I first wrote about Jason Solarek’s online wedding registry platform, Bridge was only one year old. There were about 30 brands represented in the database, and the fledgling company had just been selected as a finalist in the British Airways Small Business Competition… Read More

There are few national chains admired for their innovative approach to retailing – but most people would agree that Trader Joe’s is unique in the crowded field of American grocery stores. There are several things Trader Joe’s does differently that independent retailers might want to emulate: We are fortunate to have one of only three… Read More

An update of a popular blog post from December 3, 2018 Here’s a great idea for an in-store or online promotion: combine cause marketing with BOGO, the tried-and-true “buy one, get one free” concept, to offer Buy One, Give One.  A few big companies have been doing this for years, specifically the shoe company TOMS.… Read More

How often do you visit the other stores and restaurants in your business area? It’s easy for most of us to get so caught up in the day-to-day drama of running our own shop that we don’t appreciate what our local colleagues have to offer. Promoting together, especially under the buy local theme, is a… Read More