Retailer Features

Permanent Botanicals: Make Your Profits Blossom!

Smarty Plants J M. H. Schwanke, a floral industry expert, believes the word "permanent" is a better qualifier for the stunning and gorgeous variety of flowers, bushes and greenery sold by many wholesalers. The care... more »

Party Your Way to Profits

Trend drivers Your customers are entertaining now more than ever. Anecdotal evidence points to more cozy parties, intimate gatherings and events. Today, entertaining is all about creating memorable moments rather than "jumping through gastronomic hoops... more »

From Smiles to Sales

Why humor is a hit Humor sells. Arguably nobody knows this better than retailer Rosanne Brown whose store, Venice Stationers, caters to a retirement community in Venice, FL. Brown finds a little light-heartedness always works.... more »

Global Goods

Socially responsible consumerism The way Laura Wendell tells it, when customers buy her store's offerings, there are three factors that work together to seal the deal: the products are beautiful; they are functional and well-made;... more »

The Sweet Smell of Success

Everybody Loves Flowers There's a simple reason Americans spent around $7 billion dollars on flowers last year: Everybody loves them. "Everybody loves to receive flowers and be around them," says Paul Goodman, a financial consultant... more »

Clean, Green Profits

Decoding the lingo Lucas Heldfond sees it every day. The owner of Spring, a store in San Francisco that specializes in "green" products, says that green has increasingly become a buzzword in consumers' consciousness.Ruby Gonzalez... more »

Green Mission, Green Success

Meeting a Triple Bottom Line Green Island Earth Friendly GoodsTraverse City, MI231.933.8465GoGreenIsland.com Sean and Lori Burns give a lot of thought to every product they stock in Green Island, their store in Traverse City, MI.... more »

Walk the Walk: How to Green Your Store

When Shannon McDaniel took over a well known Los Gatos, CA clothing and home furnishings shop in late 2007, preserving much of the store's longtime appeal was a goal. Another important goal was to make... more »