Ready… Set… Open (Part 2)

What’s in a name? If you are in retail, everything! The name of your store is the cornerstone of your brand. It will immediately suggest what folks will find inside or online. Not only that,... more »

Creating customer relationships

A woman came up to me after my keynote at a conference the other day asking how she could compete against online retailers. She relayed a story about how she spent time getting a shopper... more »

Editorial: Prompting civil discussion

Unless you live under a rock, you’re well aware of the controversy and turmoil of late surrounding racial-driven protests and marches. Some protestors feel statues and monuments of Confederate generals or officials are celebratory of... more »

Maximizing Your Retail Real Estate: 5 Tips to Strengthen Your Store Merchandising

Effectively managing a retail store is no easy task. After all, you have a long list of things to maintain, oversee, accomplish and constantly seek out to ensure your business is strong and healthy. One... more »

Making the first move in promoting conservation

Aquarium and zoo stores are often thought of as places to buy a T-shirt or a piece of plush for the children, but rarely as an extension of conservation education or a place that animal... more »

A Distinctive Story

Distinctive Gardens in Dixon, Illinois looks different than in years in past, largely because of what owners Bud and Lisa LeFevre are calling its new “Shop Story” concept. Each seasonal shop story focuses on one... more »

Retailers welcome Supreme Court free speech ruling on credit card swipe fees

The National Retail Federation welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that First Amendment free speech rights should be considered when determining how merchants show consumers credit card swipe fees that drive up the price... more »

5 Tips to Strengthen Your Store Merchandising

Effectively managing a retail store is no easy task. After all, you have a long list of things to maintain, oversee, accomplish and constantly seek out to ensure your business is strong and healthy. One... more »

To Post or Not to Post, that is the Question….

“Oh my gosh look at that photo of that dress, shoe, living room, place setting, sofa, vase, necklace, earrings (or fill in the blank with whatever it is you are drooling over at the moment).... more »

ADI holiday shopping predictions

About six weeks ago, Adobe made some holiday spending predictions for 2016, including: Black Friday will hit $3 billion for the first time Just 5 percent of customers will drive 35 percent of revenue Price-conscious... more »