We love it when our suppliers make their closeouts and overstocks available to our shop instead of selling them to T J Maxx or Marshall’s.  The fact that customers can find products at these discount outlets very similar to the ones we’re offering at full price makes us independent retailers look bad, and cheapens the… Read More

We all learn from our mistakes — hopefully! Neil Patel, who describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur,” has compiled a list of the 17 things he wishes he’d known when he went into business.  He offers them up in a blog entry on Geekwire so that you can avoid making these mistakes yourself. Here are… Read More

The Buy Local mentality is alive and well among our neighboring businesses here on Monroe Street in Madison, WI.  About 40 of the shops, restaurants and service providers on our street offer informal discounts for those who work on Monroe Street (or own their own business). The vast majority offer 10% off goods or services,… Read More

We recently spoke with the owner of Full Compass Systems (retailers of professional audi/video equipment) and she told us that her staff gets as much as four hours of product training a week, all year round.  You can imagine how knowledgable these sales associates are about every item they sell.  Got a question?  They’ll have… Read More

Christmas is just two months away, so it’s time to make a list — and check it twice — so that you can succeed in creating some special seasonal spirit for your customers.  Although shopping in December can be stressful, the original touches that independent businesses and local shopping areas add to the season often… Read More

Hiring great employees is essential to retail success. Our sales associates are the key to providing excellent customer service, and efficient “back of house” staff members are mandatory for the smooth operation of the store.  Although salary is not the only factor in attracting and retaining good employees, you want to make sure that your… Read More

I don’t read Playboy, but I found myself standing in front of this display in the airport wondering if I should try a copy.  Why? Because it would only have cost me 60¢.  Someone at Playboy (perhaps Hugh Hefner himself) had decided that 60¢ was my threshold for buying something I really didn’t want or… Read More

How do you know when an idea has run its course? Whether you are looking at your store’s basic concept, a major line or category, or even an individual item — it is valuable to know when it is time (to really mix my piscine metaphors) to cut bait.  Jumping the shark, or continuing beyond… Read More

American Express has chosen Shop Small as the theme for November 26, this year’s Small Business Saturday. Last year’s premiere event, held on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, was a huge success.  Over 1 million people “joined the movement”, largely through American Express’s use of social media such as Facebook.  And better yet, participating stores… Read More

Walking down a shopping street in Scandinavia, you immediately get a sense of what is in each shop — because a sampling of merchandise is often displayed outside on carts and racks in front of the store.  This proved to also be true at Milwaukee’s Discovery World, where a display of green and blue snakes… Read More