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2009-04-20T06:46:00.005-04:00

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The 3/50 Project - Saving The Brick & Mortar Stores Our Nation Was Built On

2009-03-27T07:35:00.006-04:00

Former retailer, consultant and G&DA columnist Cinda Baxter launched The 3/50 Project to promote shopping at locally owned businesses. Originally debuted on Baxter’s blog, the project now has its own website.

“We ask consumers to think about which three stores they would miss if they disappeared, then remind them to return there,” explains Baxter. “Shoppers have become so rooted in thinking about the essentials that they've forgotten about the little gift store on the corner whose owner remembers their name.”

“Fifty comes from the idea that if even half the employed population spent a mere $50 per month in locally owned retail stores, those purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue,” she continues. “That's a huge impact for a relatively small investment.”Which leads to a third number on the flyer, sixty-eight—the dollar amount that remains in a community's economy for every $100 spent in locally owned stores. By contrast, only $43 per one hundred remains local when spent in national chains; little or no revenue results from online purchases.

Baxter designed a free flyer for retail participants to download, print on a color printer, then hand to constomers with their purchases. “The idea is to look customers in the eye, put this right in their hands, and say ‘thank you for shopping in a locally owned store,’" she says, "rather than just pop these in the bottom of a bag and hope someone sees them.”

Retailers you can print a flyer that you can hand out to your customers, friends and acquaintances that explains the project and encourages them to support their local retail stores.

Shopkeeping Basics

2009-03-17T07:06:00.008-04:00

In an effort to save some money on shipping ($130 to be exact) I picked up an order yesterday instead of having it sent to the store. On my way back to Syracuse I got off the NYS Thruway, took the "back way” home and stopped at a few independent stores to see what was happening.

WOW. If these retailers don’t get their act together they won’t make it through the year. To be fair, I only visited 4-5 shops and I am sure that for every 4 that were dragging there are 4 that are doing it right, but here is what I found:

One store looked so tired I wanted to stop and remerchandise the shelves right then and there. The last time I had been in this store was about 2 years ago, and you know what? Almost EVERYTHING was still in the same place. I don’t think one department had been moved. This store has nice inventory – they aren’t selling junk and for the most part, the shelves are well stocked. It would serve the owner well to 1) move several of the key departments around and freshen up the floor plan 2) remove faded items from the sale area – no one wants a sun-striped faded journal, even for $2. 3) Spend 30 minutes walking around the store and straighten up the shelves; the things that were in disarray did not get that way just that morning. 4) Try to have testers for each lotion fragrance, and 5) throw out the hand written signs and make some that reflect the store’s image on the computer. Or at least have someone with outstanding handwriting make them on cards with the store’s name/logo.

The last store I stopped at was an upscale book store. It was a mess. They had put their sale table right inside the front door and tings were piled on it like a garage sale. There were more sale items upstairs, but it was so picked over that what was left was overwhelmed by the space it was in. Those things need to be consolidated and moved. The community bulletin board was a disaster; there were so many things thumb tacked to it that you couldn’t find anything on it if you wanted to. A book written by Thom Felicia (who just bought a home in the area) was “displayed” on a shelf in the middle of the home & garden section with a small sign next to it announcing a related event – unfortunately they only had 1 copy of the book and 2 reminder post cards to take home. The book was lost in the shuffle with the other stuff that was strewn on the same shelf. I find it hard to believe this stellar display was so successful that all the books sold but one and that everyone picked up a card. That display should be well stocked in the center of the store, or in a promotional spot near the entrance. Also, it would have been nice for someone to have at least said “hello” in the 15 minutes I was in the store.

Retailers can not afford to be sloppy. People are choosy where they spend their money and what they spend it on. If you’re not making it easy for people to shop or projecting the best image you can, your sales will reflect it. Seems pretty basic doesn’t it?

Social Networking Spotlight

2009-03-10T05:56:00.004-04:00

Tuesday March 10 offers up the first ever Social Networking Spotlight for members of Rick Segel's The Retailer's Advantage. Are you curious about Social Networking? Does your business have a Myspace page, a Twitter account, an effective blog? Do you need any or all of this? Join us for an introduction to the basics of social network marketing, and what every business needs to know before joining the online conversation. The event is live, you can submit questions before or during the event, but if you aren't available tonight at 8 EST you won't miss out, you can listen to the recording at a later date. Not a member of the The Retailer's Advantage yet? Click here for more information.

Taste Test McCafé

2009-03-09T21:32:00.007-04:00

If you’ve seen the new commercials for McDonald’s McCafé, you know that MacDonald’s is now serving cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas - hot or iced. What you might not know is that every Monday you can get your caffeine fix for free! That’s right, FREE. Order one small size specialty coffee and it’s on the house, no purchase necessary, offer valid as the company rolls out the new drinks. Ask at your local store if/when the promotion is available as it wasn’t advertised anywhere in my area but it is definitely “on” here in Central New York.

I’m not starting a debate on quality/taste, and I’m not advocating giving up your local roaster or favorite independent coffee shop, but it’s interesting to watch McDonald’s respond to Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and the economy.

Guest Interview with T.J. Reid

2009-03-03T06:21:00.004-05:00

Members of The Retailer's Advantage have the opportunity to hear T.J. Reid speak for free tonight. T.J. Reid is one of America’s most respected and “in-demand” retail speakers. Her seminar topics list is overwhelming, her motivation and tireless work ethic is remarkable, and her consulting talents are legendary. She’s the author of the “What Your Mother Never Told You…” series, which covers retailing, fashion and promotions. Don’t miss this powerhouse interview at 8 pm EST. Members who can't listen in at 8 can listen to a recorded version after the event at their convenience. Not a member of The Retailers Advantage? Click here and join today!

Silent Partner

2009-02-26T07:18:00.003-05:00

Question: "To keep my store open in this scary economy, I need 24-hour access to a Business Partner/Problem Solver/Master Merchandiser/Promotions Pro/Sales Guru/Good Listener.
Oh…and could I get him for under $50 a month?"

Answer: all the expertise you need to stay afloat and even prosper in good times and bad is now only a mouse-click away.

Retailers today have a tough row to hoe. You toil days, nights, and weekends with few breaks, very little support, and more hassles than you can shake a (New! Improved! 50% Off!) stick at. Of course, you love this life. But sometimes (like, say, during a recession when business is sluggish and the media is blaring non-stop bad news) you’d appreciate a helping hand. A little sage advice from someone who really knows his stuff. A trick-of-the-trade or two—or ten—that will help you save your store.

Is that too much to ask?

No! It’s not. That’s why The Retailer’s Advantage website exists—and why we’re issuing you this exclusive invitation to join us.
http://www.ricksegel.com/cmd.php?Clk=2874159

Make no mistake: Plenty of people are still spending money out there. Visit http://www.ricksegel.com/cmd.php?Clk=2874159 to learn how to get them to spend it in your store.

We all know people aren’t spending like there’s no tomorrow right now. So what? They still need food and clothing and furniture and pet treats and anniversary gifts. They’ve got to buy these things from someone, right? It might as well be from you. Created by international retail expert and best-selling author Rick Segel, The Retailer’s Advantage is a private educational resource website that will help you WOW more customers into your store and persuade them to buy more than they planned or you even expected them to buy. (Isn’t that the best, especially when they had no intention of buying a thing.)

And that’s not all. It will also teach you the latest and best ways to do business (both online and off), motivate employees, and improve your internal operations. Last but certainly not least, it will offer you the chance to bond with other retailers who face the same struggles you face.

Members get the full benefit of Segel’s 25 years of experience in the retail industry. They get 24-hour-a-day access to countless innovative ideas, a wealth of practical advice from seasoned experts, on-line seminars with industry pros, and a community of retailers you won’t find anywhere else on the web.

This is not a silver bullet, it's a tool and it's only as good as the effort that you put into it, but even if you implement just one great idea, your subscription will more than pay for itself. Join now.
http://www.ricksegel.com/cmd.php?Clk=2874159

Start Planning Today for Tomorrow

2009-02-25T12:06:00.009-05:00

"To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business" - J.Paul Getty

I had the opportunity to attend a terrific seminar this morning geared toward small business owners sponsored by M&T Bank. The discussion revolved around the “Risk Barometer” and the 6 mistakes that many businesses make – in my opinion most seemed to be caused by procrastination, ignorance, failing to plan, or the “that can’t happen to me” way of life.

There were many valid points brought up during the event, including questions like what happens to your business if you were to become disabled (or worse) tomorrow? Sure we all have some vague idea of what would happen, but is that scenario valid? What you think would happen and what is legally and financially possible could be very different things. What happens to your employees if you can’t run the business? If you want to sell your business do you know what its worth? And not just what you *think* its worth – that doesn’t fly with the IRS; you need a credible business valuation. What about leaving your business to someone in your will? Do you know the tax consequences of that? Do you know how to lessen the penalties for your beneficiaries? If you have a business partner and you should not be able to work – then what?

When you own your own business it’s very easy to get caught up in daily operations and sometimes the bigger picture legal/financial stuff seems like things that can wait, or things that only larger companies have to worry about, but that is just not true. Take time NOW to meet with your bank to discuss how they can help you plan for your store’s future and educate yourself on what you should be doing to truly “take care of business”. Don’t wait until you want to sell, retire, or have an emergency to find out that a few things have slipped though the cracks – by then it’s too late.

Michelle Obama’s Style- a Lesson in Buying and Merchandising

2009-01-21T12:31:00.001-05:00

If you’ve been watching Michelle Obama over the past year, and especially in the past few weeks, you have seen her signature look (i.e. brand) that effortlessly conveys an image of fresh, confident, and forward thinking style. What you may or may not have thought about is that you can apply her style philosophy to your store.

Not only does Mrs. Obama skillfully mix and match colors, mainstream and avant-garde designers, she effortlessly combines a higher priced article with an affordable accessory – just like you can set up a vignette in your store focusing on a higher priced line accented with lower priced merchandise. With our cool economic climate you need to show people that your “look” is not out-of-reach. Her stunning lemongrass inaugural outfit by Isabel Toledo was paired with olive J. Crew gloves, and forest green patent heels by Jimmy Choo - hardly bargain basement, but the point it she certainly wasn’t prancing down Pennsylvania Avenue in a pair of $1000 pumps! What makes her style successful is that whatever is chosen, it’s quality – whether it’s a $75 item or a $750 item, it’s well made, well designed and there is value to the purchase.

Michelle Obama is not afraid to seek out fairly unknown designers and reach toward the future with a new artist, new line, or new designer and again this is something that we as entrepreneurs can do also. As you go to market devote some time to the “hand made” sections and the “one of a kind” shows. Go to a local gallery and see what artisans might be interested in selling wholesale on a limited scale. Make it a point to bring in merchandise that fits your store that is from a young designer, from an unknown designer, from a new company, or from a small company.

Sure, a lot of shop owners are already buying and merchandising like this, but are we doing it enough? Are we doing it well? Can we do it better? Yes we can.

What's in Your Closet?

2009-01-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting conversation with a neighboring retailer yesterday. We were discussing inventory, left over holiday merchandise and markdowns in general. I was shocked to find out that she thinks nothing of packing up holiday items that are 3 OR MORE YEARS OLD and saving them for the following year! These are not one of kind items; she was talking about are every day, mass produced "stuff". I have to say, I was blown away by this concept. I asked her why she didn’t clearance it out, bundle some items together into gift sets to sell, or donate items to local charities for their gift shops or silent auction. Her response? “I’ll mark things down, but I’m not going to loose money or give things away.” At this point I knew I talking to a hobbyist and not a businessperson.

When you hang on to items as if they were a member of your family you ARE losing money! Inventory that sits, and sits, and sits taking up shelf or storage space is NOT making you money and it eventually reaches a point that it never will.

Take a look at you completed inventory sheets/reports. How old are some of your slow sellers? 6 months? A year? More? Then it's time to broom them out. Take these dogs (yes, at this point they are dogs) and mark them to SELL – don’t mess around with 20% go for a big discount, create an attractive sale area (please don’t just pile it on a shelf) and get these things out of your store. Free up some shelf space, storage space and most importantly free up some cash for new merchandise that will excite you and your customers.

If you find neglected, forgotten items in your store that are faded or broken write them off and throw them away. And before you think “Oh I can’t do that!” ask yourself this: if you were shopping would YOU buy something in that condition? Everything in your store is a representation of your brand, so be discriminating when it comes to what is on your shelves.

Count Your Chickens

2009-01-13T08:10:00.000-05:00

And your candles, your cards and your ceramics. Inventory is a time consuming and tedious job, but there are some fringe benefits. Not only do you get the back room and storage areas cleaned up and organized, but you just might find some merchandise hidden away that you forgot you had! As you clear out left over holiday stuff and fill in the holes around your store from the holiday season in general, these “hidden treasures” will help tie you over until you can put out spring or you can use some of the things you find to create a “Spring Preview” – you can preview the season, not necessarily new spring merchandise by using inventory you already have with some new or freshened up props. Completing your inventory also reminds you of what you already have so you don’t overbuy a category at market and allows you to make sure your buying dollars are going where they are needed most.

Along with counting your merchandise take a look at your supplies, boxes, bags, ribbons, and office supplies are often on sale this time of year so if you can grab a bargain it’s a good time to stock up and save some money. Make note of what you used for the past holiday season so this year you start 4th Q with everything you need at the cash wrap and in the back room.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-13T08:02:00.000-05:00

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

As exciting as it is to decorate your store or revamp your website for the holidays by January things are looking a little tired and it’s refreshing to start a new year.

I’ve spent the past 2 weeks doing inventory, cleaning, changing displays, planning our 2009 events and planning for the NY market at the end of the month. This is a great time to think about what did and did not work for 2008 and make notes so past mistakes are not repeated, past successes are repeated and systems and infrastructure are improved. If you haven’t done this already, grab a cup of coffee or tea, a notebook and get writing while everything is still fresh in your mind.

Pantone Announces Color of the Year for 2009

2008-12-09T13:45:00.000-05:00

For all of you who follow trend, or are planning your buying and displays for next year, you might want to take note of Pantone's 2009 Color of the Year.

Warmth and optimism are poised to sweep the fashion world next year, as Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2009 will be Mimosa, aka Pantone 14-0848. "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.”

Pantone said the flowers of the mimosa tree, as well as “the sparkle of the brilliantly hued cocktail” are key to this color that “coordinates with any other color, has appeal for men and women, and translates to both fashion and interiors.”

Keep this color in mind as you plan your buying and displays for the coming year. You can show people how to incoporate trends and be up-to-date wihtout totally redoing a color scheme or an entire room, just by adding accents in the trend color, to their homes.

Ready, Set, GO!

2008-12-01T06:24:00.000-05:00

It’s December 1st, we’ve gotten through Black Friday and the first official selling weekend of the Holiday Season. I hope things went well in your store, and if for some reason your weekend didn’t live up to your expectations now is the time to figure out what worked, what didn’t and how you can improve.

It’s also time to make sure you have a plan in place to keep up the momentum and the excitement level in the store. What going on in your shop this week? Are you featuring a special item? Is that item prominently displayed in the store with the appropriate signage? Do you sell gourmet food in your store? And if you do, do you have samples out so people can try & buy? Move some displays around or re-merchandise an existing one, when people who shopped you last week come in this week you want them to see something different.

Don’t forget to use your email mailing list to send out a brief email about your store specials, services you may be offering for the holidays (shipping, gift wrap etc) and holiday store hours. This is an inexpensive way to reach a lot of people and most importantly you are reaching people who like your store and have given your their email address so you can keep them informed. There are a lot of stores both big and small, brick & mortar and on the internet, that are vying for your customer’s attention – keep your name in front of them! We have 3 and a half weeks until Christmas – make the best of them!

Holiday Images

2008-11-19T08:05:00.000-05:00

A few colorful holiday images from around the shop. We went with traditional theme colors of red and gold this year; still decadent, but a comfortable and familiar look for a season that might not be as lavish for people as it has been in the past.

Gourmet gifts such as the dip mix triangles are proving to be popular this year, and at a reasonable $5 each they are a great add-on to a cheese board/utensil set, a bottle of wine, a gift basket, or tied on a package. Many of our customers are pet owners so this year we are offering sets for "Cat Crackers" and "Dog Biscuits". Each set includes one dishtowel printed with a recipe for a pet treat, one coordinating solid towel, and a cookie cutter. A super gift for only $16!

We also have a great selection of ornaments and decorations, including these mercury glass orbs (shot from the back of the display) and the candy striped ornaments shown at the top of this post.

Holiday Open House 2008

2008-11-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

Our Holiday Open House was November 1st. This event officially kicks off our holiday season and unveils the holiday merchandise for the first time. We closed a few days prior to the event, papered the windows and cleaned, decorated, and created new displays.

We had a wonderful crowd join us for this special evening which featured goodie bags for the first 50 people thought the door, refreshments, champagne, special “event night only” sales and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Home Stylist Kristie Baird. Many thanks to our friends and family who helped with everything from manning the gift wrap station, to keeping the buffet stocked, to assisting at checkout and greeting guests– we couldn’t have done it without you!

Play by the Rules

2008-11-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

I recently closed the shop for 3 days, papered the windows over, totally flipped the store and decorated for the holidays. When the transformation was complete the paper came down for our annual open house.

Over all makeover went smoothly, but there was a common theme when I hit a few bumps – when things went awry, it was because I hadn’t followed my own rules. One thing that slowed me down was merchandise that had been received but not checked into the inventory on the computer. Other times it was items were checked in, but not priced. My store policy is to unpack, check the packing slip against the purchase order, receive the PO into the computer system, and tag the merchandise. When one of these steps is skipped it catches up with you!

Also I have a list of things that I generally try to do a week in advance, like stuff the give-a-way bags and make the signage for the buffet table. Neither of these was done ahead of time this year and consequently I was assembling the bags on event day and there were some mystery goodies on the buffet. Certainly not a tragedy, but some of the unlabeled food were items that we are selling for 4thQ so it was a missed marketing opportunity.

Moral of the story: even when you are rushed and under pressure stick to the basics and follow your rules – things will run smoother!

Townhouse Sale

2008-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

If you live in NYC or will be visiting during the month of November, THE CHARLOTTE MOSS TOWNHOUSE will be open until Tuesday, November 25th.

Starting on Monday, November 10th, the sale will be 50% off antiques and vintage pieces and 70% new pieces. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping!
20 East 63rd Street at Madison Ave, NYC.

Make a List, Check it Twice, and be Ready for the Holiday Season

2008-10-22T07:30:00.000-04:00

Next Saturday is November 1st, kind of an unofficial kick off to the holiday season. The ghosts and pumpkins are packed away and people are thinking about Thanksgiving and the holidays. Are you ready? Now is a good week to make sure your store is stocked up with the basic supplies, you don’t want to be caught short in the next few months.

Check your supply of gift wrap, tissue, bags, tape, boxes - do you have the all the sizes your need? If not, order them NOW. How is your supply of business cards, printing supplies, gift certificates/envelopes, register tape or receipt books, pens, breath mints (no one likes coffee breath!), kleenex, hand sanitizer for the cash wrap?

If you’re extending hours for the holidays are they clearly posted and have you let the community know about your new hours or are you just hoping people drive by and see your lights on?

These things may seem minor, but having everything on hand will make daily operations run smooth during the busiest time of the year for your store.

Christmas Isn't Canceled

2008-10-10T07:18:00.000-04:00

Many of you have probably already viewed Bob Negen’s 2-part video “They Haven't Canceled Christmas” but if you haven’t, please take a few minutes today and watch them. He offers store owners some words of wisdom for the upcoming holiday season.

Here is Part 1 of the video, and here's Part 2

There is also an accompanying article on the OneCoast website

The Independent Retailer Has Nothing to Fear From the Big Box

2008-10-07T08:40:00.000-04:00

Some retailers are worried about competing with the big box retailers and to them I would like to say as far as overall shopping experience, you have nothing to worry about. Yesterday I ran some errands and some of the things I needed were at large chain stores. I try to avoid these places unless I’m checking out product mix or displays, and yesterday’s experience was a clear reminder why. Sorry, but this rant is a long one.

My first stop was a craft store chain. I needed a large glass apothecary jar for a holiday display I am planning and I knew they carried them. So, coupon in hand I selected the jar and made my way to the checkout. The checkout was empty; in fact I didn’t even see a store clerk. I set my item on the counter and heard a “May I help you?” in the distance. I looked over and at the very last checkout, as far away from the store entrance as possible was a clerk at a register. I don’t know what she was doing in the corner; I could understand if it had been a cold day and she wanted to get away from the doorway, but it was a fabulous fall day in Central New York. Anyway, she rang in the transaction and attempted to wrap up my purchase. She started by wrapping the base in a plastic bag and muttered, “I don’t think this will do much good” (I silently agreed) then she tried to wrap one sheet of 11x14 paper around the jar and it didn’t even begin to fit or offer any protection. She put the jar with the paper in a plastic bag and as she picked up the lid to the jar she announced the she would “put this other doo-hickey in a separate bag” DOO-HICKEY?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I don’t know if she was trying to be cute (it didn’t work) or if this is how she talks on a daily basis. I took my poorly wrapped purchase and left. I have to be honest, if I wrapped up an item like that for one of my customers I wouldn’t blame them if they never stepped foot into the store again.

Next stop was to a national general merchandise store. I needed receipt books and they have the best price. I had stopped in last week and the place on the shelf where they should have been was empty, and as I walked down the aisle I saw that it was still empty. There was a red sticker on the shelf tag with yesterday’s date on it so I asked the clerk who was stocking shelves if the store had any of the receipts books. “no” she said “we are out of them” (ok, yes I could see that, I was hoping that they had some in the stock room) so I thought just maybe the date on the red sticker was the date the item was expected in and since that was today’s date I thought I would ask what the sticker meant. The clerk said “It means we are out of them” So I asked her if she knew when they would be in, and she simply responded “no”. End of story at that retailer, I had a few other things that I might have been able to get there, but I left.

Next stop was a discount food grocer. After ringing through my order I realized that I had left both my coupons and my shopper’s reward card in the car. I asked the clerk to suspend my order and set my cart aside while I got them. I returned in under 5 minutes and went to the front of the line and so when it was appropriate she could re-activate my order (already in the computer, no need to re-ring) and I could pay. She looked up from the register and with a blank stare said “Do you need something?” “Yes,” I replied “I need my groceries” and I pointed to my cart that was behind her. She reactivated my sale, I paid, and she pointed to a cart “There they are”. I looked in the cart and in addition to what I had bought there were several other items. “These aren’t mine” I said picking up 2 bottles of salad dressing. She stomped out from behind the register and said “We have re-shops - that’s what they are!!” Wondering why discarded itmes had been placed in my cart I said that I wanted to make sure that I had all my groceries (thinking that if they could add items in the 5 minutes I was gone they certainly could put a few things back too). She got indignant and grabbed my receipt and said “I have to do it”. Now, to me it would make sense to see that the items on the tape were still in my cart, and if there were any extras obviously they weren’t mine. Instead she looked at some of the things in the cart and saw that they were on the receipt so she said “its fine” and I said that I would double check to make sure. She again proclaimed that “we have re-shops” and went back behind the register in a huff. I politely reminded her that I had gone to the car for my coupons and I had not been gone more than 5 minutes, my cart was not a “re-shop” cart; it was simply waiting to be paid for. She rolled her eyes and said “I didn’t touch your groceries”. Oh boy . . . .

Final stop was a national department store to purchase a wedding present. Normally I would purchase something at an independent store or gallery, but this was for a business colleague of my husband’s and we didn’t know the bride. I thought I should stick to the bridal registry for this one. I made my selection, paid for it and was handed my purchase and told to “have a good one”. I wanted to ask “have a good what?” but I was preoccupied with the fact that I had just spent money on a wedding gift and the store clerk couldn’t even put it in a shopping bag. That’s right; I walked out of the store carrying a Lenox box. Nice. Can you imagine if I had the nerve to inquire about gift wrap?

I realize that these things are not a threat to national security, world peace or the ecosystem, we all know there are a lot more serious things going on, but would you ever act like this in your store? Most of what I complained about here is simple lack of manners and common sense, but in some cases it’s not the fault of the sales associate, it’s the store’s fault for not providing proper training. But, it amazes me that we as independent retailers go above and beyond everyday for our customers and these national chain bozos do as little as possible to provide basic service. I don’t think most of us could do this bad of a job if we tried.

End of rant.

IndieBound Site Connects Consumers & Retailers

2008-10-02T06:37:00.000-04:00

"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for individuals to denounce the corporate bands which threaten to homogenize our cities and our souls, we must celebrate the powers that make us unique and declare the causes which compel us to remain independent" - excerpt from the Declaration of IndieBound

As you know there are many sites on the web that connect retailers, business people, and consumers but one was recently brought to my attention that I thought other business owners might want to look into: IndieBound, a community website for supporters of independent retail businesses.

Originally started by the American Booksellers Association the site has expanded to include coffee shops, movie houses, toy stores and more with new categories planned for 2009. It's mission is to support independent businesses, and celebrate what makes them unique. It's about reaching out, it's about raising awareness, and it's about taking pride in your community.

Might just be something you want to look into today . . .

Last Stop - The Charlotte Moss Townhouse

2008-10-01T23:00:00.000-04:00

Our final stop was at East 63rd and Madison - the Charlotte Moss Townhouse. The renovated five-story building is at once the interior designer's shop and showroom, as everything displayed, from beds to sconces to wallpaper, is for sale. Similar to a designer show house, the Townhouse's multiple floors and perfectly set displays provide the perfect backdrop for inspiration, learning and exploration in modern-day gracious living.

The associates on staff were more than willing to answer our questions regarding the merchandise and to share the story of the Townhouse; each seemed proud to be a part of the business. The atmosphere was formal, yet comfortable and inviting. If you have the opportunity to visit the Townhouse soon please do – it is another example of a unique shopping experience and unfortunately the store will be closing in mid-November as Charlotte focuses on other aspects of her empire.

Ralph Lauren NYC Flagship Store

2008-09-25T06:13:00.000-04:00

Even if you don’t sell clothing or high-end home goods there is something to be learned at the Ralph Lauren Flagship store. The store is housed in the former Rhinelander Mansion, one of the few remaining turn-of-the-century great homes in Manhattan. One of New York’s finest architectural treasures, the building was originally designed in the 1890s by Kimball & Thompson but was eventually abandoned by its owners and fell into disrepair.

In 1983, Ralph Lauren renovationed the mansion to re-create the classic opulence of the original structure. Take an hour or so to discover the antiques, fixtures, art and furniture, which are used to create a marvelous store setting. A perfect showcase for the timeless style of Ralph Lauren, the mansion’s décor and outstanding customer service create an unprecedented shopping experience.

Be sure to note the hand-carved staircase, it’s one of the largest in the US, crafted by European artisans on-site. Moldings were hand-cast to recreate the mansion’s authentic details, as in the men’s dressing room, which features musical instruments along the ceiling of what was once reserved as a music room. Antique Persian rugs, vintage objects and Vuitton trunks embellish rooms decorated with cashmere upholstery, camel hair drapes, authentic baccarat chandeliers and Lalique panels from the original Polo Lounge. Throughout the store each room is finished with exquisite artwork from the Ralph Lauren collection, including an expansive collection of 18th and 19th century oils, noteworthy photography, and the Home Collection floor features artwork on loan from local galleries, which changes each season. Don’t miss it! 867 Madison Avenue between 71st and 72nd St., 212-606-2100 Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu 10-7, Fri-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5.

Our next stop was the Charlotte Moss Townhouse.

Lexington Gardens

2008-09-19T12:53:00.000-04:00

You feel like you are in an actual garden even before you walk into the store – the full, colorful windows at Lexington Gardens are truly a breath of fresh air! Owners Rosa Szule and Michael Walter have filled their approximately 1,100 sq ft shop with amazing floral arrangements and a refined selection of garden-themed gifts. Not only does this shop excel at customer service and display, I think it really shows what can be done with a small-ish space, you don’t have to have a huge storefront to show and sell an expansive inventory, it’s all in how the space is used! We visited on a bright and sunny afternoon so the photos I took of the windows have a lot of reflection, but I think you can get an idea of just how beautiful the displays are. Our next stop was the Ralph Lauren flagship store.