Google’s search engine has always performed in mysterious ways, using complex and every-changing algorithms that determine what comes up first in any given search.  There are specialists who make their living assisting businesses with SEO, which is short for search engine optimization — the art of making sure that a potential customer lands on your… Read More

With apologies to Jim Henson, today it really is easy for a shop to be “green”. There are so many tools available to us that there is no excuse not to take advantage of them.  And since most of us don’t sell merchandise that is essential to daily living, minimizing the carbon footprint of our… Read More

One of my favorite articles for New Age retailers suggested starting the day by smudging the store, and burning a candle with a slip of paper under it listing the day’s sales goals. Although these are not traditional approaches, I appreciate the fact that they acknowledge that preparing to unlock the door in the morning… Read More

Chalkboards are a classic form of changeable signage, and the simple black and white look of chalkboard calligraphy is quite in fashion at the moment. But the drawback to chalkboards is frankly the fact that they use chalk, which smudges easily and can be accidentally or intentionally erased. We recently discovered that smart retailers are… Read More

It’s great fun to call a customer to say that he or she has won a prize in a store contest or drawing. And if you aren’t doing promotions in your store that involve prizes, you’re missing a good way to build up your customer list.  Just be sure to include a line on the… Read More

Repetition is pleasing to the eye, and multiples of almost any item can make a great backdrop for a merchandise display. If you don’t have enough of one product to hang dozens in the back of your window, take a trip to a Dollar Store.  For $24 you can get two dozen of just about… Read More

Do you have boxes of old invoices and other financial records taking up valuable space in your shop’s storage area?  If you’ve been in business for over four or five years (to say nothing of our store’s 40 years), you probably have accumulated a lot of paper. We have always kept 7 years worth of… Read More

Is your store in need of a makeover?  In order to get a fresh start, the owners of the failing bakeries featured in the TV show Save My Bakery relinquish control to the “Queen of Cakes”, Kerry Vincent.  Like all reality shows, this Food Network series exaggerates what is possible in 48 hours – but… Read More

Sending an email blast to your customers doesn’t do any good if your message doesn’t get opened.  And yet even with a permission-based list of people who have asked to receive emails from your shop, you would be doing well to get an “open rate” of 20%.  Mailchimp is a large email marketing service, and… Read More

It took me aback to find my trusty Rolodex on display in a museum on my recent trip to NY. Happily it was in an exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt highlighting good design, not obsolete technology. But still, it made me realize that it might be time for a new approach to the challenge of… Read More