News from Bridge about e-commerce, gift & bridal registries, products, and stores

Featured News New Retailer 101 Training: June 6 Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Featured News
New Retailer 101 Training: June 6 Tuesday, June 6, 2023 For Retailers: Get your Shop Local Store Ready to Sizzle for the Summer

We invite you to join us for a new Retailer 101 training. In this webinar, we’ll show you how to increase sales and save time.

Webinar dates from which to pick:

COMPLETE: Tuesday, May 23 at 10 am EST, or
Tuesday, June 6 at 9 am EST

In this seminar, you will learn how to:

Setup and update your Shop Local Store.
Make the most of your e-commerce and gift registry software.

...
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» RSVP

Featured News Sales Rep 201 Training: June 7th Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Featured News
Sales Rep 201 Training: June 7th Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Let's get ready for the summer shows and meetings with retailers. You're invited to the Sales Rep 201 Training.

Please pick your 201 training date:

Complete: Wednesday, May 24th at 10:00 am EST
Wednesday, June 7th at 9:00 am EST

Our Sales Rep 101 Training shared WHY the Shop Local platform is needed. Our 201 training shares HOW, and offers this:

Shows how your name, telephone, and email appear to your retailer in their Shop Local Store.

...
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» RSVP

Featured News Get $300 for Hitting "Send"

Featured News
Get $300 for Hitting "Send"

April 12, 2023

Would you like to help your stores and make $300?

Here’s How:

Before May 31, 2023, send an email to your retailers inviting them to join you on Shop Local's e-commerce platform. We’ve written for you a sample email template you can send to them. Please find that template below. You can copy this template and send it using your email program (Outlook, MailChimp, etc.).
When you send your email, please BCC coaches@bridge.org or forward it after you send it.

May 26, 2023 Data, Filters, and Search Walk Into a Soundbar

Data, Filters, and Search Walk Into a Soundbar

May 26, 2023

Apple announced last month that it's launching a new classical music app. What’s novel about the Apple Music Classical app is how it lets music fans more easily search thousands of variations of the same song. For example, let’s say you want to find a Johann Sebastian Bach song. Over the past 300 years, many musicians have done ‘covers’ of his works, and there are variations by conductor, music, year, etc., thereby producing thousands of variations. Existing software ...
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May 26, 2023 Tableware Today: 4 Brands Promote Bridge's Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: 4 Brands Promote Bridge's Shop Local Platform

May 26, 2023

We're happy to see four brands promote Bridge's Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's June/July 2023 issue.

The brands promoting Shop Local include:

Bordhallo Pinheiro
Carmel Ceramica
Mary Jurek
Vista Alegre

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown. When a brand offers our Brand Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product ...
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May 25, 2023 Wine store collapse stains retailers

Wine store collapse stains retailers

May 25, 2023

The New York Times shares a salacious story about Sherry-Lehman, a world-famous wine shop. The story recounts how the retailer was hit by tariffs, online competitors, and COVID shutdowns. It had borrowed excessively, which many retailers do. At first, it reads like a Bed Bath & Beyond obituary. But then the owners veered into the criminal realm. They sold rare wine to new customers that belonged to existing customers, in other cases didn’t deliver what was sold, and ...
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May 24, 2023 New Feature: Registrants Can Promote Your Store via Text Message 📲

New Feature: Registrants Can Promote Your Store via Text Message 📲

May 24, 2023

Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: Registrants can now invite friends to open a registry at your store. The new "Help a Friend" feature on registry lists allows registrants to send a text message to their friends with an invitation to open a registry.

In the example shown, we see a registry list at Luxury Gift Shop. In the "Help a Friend" box, the registrant can click the "See Details & Invite Friend" link to refer their friend to your registry service....
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May 16, 2023 Syncing Costs a Retailer Less Than a Penny

Syncing Costs a Retailer Less Than a Penny

May 16, 2023

We do the following seven things for a retailer that Syncs products. The retailer pays $0.00/month because the Syncing brand pays for the service.

We Sync an unlimited number of the brand's products to the retailer's Shop Local Store. The retailer doesn't have to touch Dropbox or Excel.
We give the retailer the ability to download any of the Synced product data (pictures, pricing, etc).
We send an email to the retailer highlighting new introductions, price changes, and archived

May 15, 2023 “Business is Human”

“Business is Human”

May 15, 2023

Today’s Times contains a Staples ad that speaks to the value humans provide in operating a business. The ad pushes back against software- and computer-automated service.

While we run a software platform, we agree with Staples. Clients that sign up for a Shop Local account get a free coaching call by a real person based here in the United States. Thereafter, our coaching staff uses one-on-one training, including telephone calls and Zoom video meetings, to help them get the best ...
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May 15, 2023 We Got Sole 🩴

We Got Sole 🩴

May 15, 2023

About 15 years ago, I bought a pair of Crocs sandals in Myrtle Beach, SC. Not only were they hot pink, but the insole was traffic cone orange. My buddies hated them, but oddly others loved them. The sandals were affordable (maybe $20), comfortable, and a conversation starter.

According to last week’s The New York Times' profile on Crocs, I’m one of tens of millions of happy Crocs owners. This happiness is profitable:

Crocs’ sales have almost doubled since 2019.

May 15, 2023 MEPRA Joins the Brand Syncing Service

MEPRA Joins the Brand Syncing Service

May 15, 2023

We are pleased to announce that famed Italian design brand Mepra is joining our Brand Syncing service.

Mepra offers cutlery, serveware, and cookware, and is known for its craftsmanship, quality, and innovative design.

We expect Mepra products to be ready for Syncing by June 15th. We'll keep members posted about the actual date as we progress with the brand's boarding to our platform.

Shop Local members interested in opening an account with Mepra in preparation can ...
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May 14, 2023 You'll Be Missed, Sam

You'll Be Missed, Sam

May 14, 2023

Sam Gross, who drew many cartoons for The New Yorker, passed away this month at the age of 89. I've been a The New Yorker cartoon fan for years, and often include them in the footer of our emails to clients.

I'd not thought of the people behind those cartoons, but it's people like Sam that labor over them.

Thanks, Sam, for making us smile.

Read Sam Gross's obituary:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/arts/sam-gross-dead.html
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May 13, 2023 Plates as wall decor

Plates as wall decor

May 13, 2023

This weekend’s The Wall St. Journal gives tips on using plates as wall decor.

View Post

May 13, 2023 Warby Parker: 60% of sales come from physical stores

Warby Parker: 60% of sales come from physical stores

May 13, 2023

Your physical store can be a great asset in this ‘Age of Amazon’—just ask Warby Parker.

Details:
- Warby Parker has 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
- Retailers report that online advertising costs have increased 15%-20% in the last two years, making physical stores more attractive.
- Brands report that in-store shoppers buy more per purchase.

I believe the The Wall Journal should have noted a caveat about using Warby Parker as a poster child ...
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May 12, 2023 “Bridge Green”

“Bridge Green”

May 12, 2023

I believe in what we do here at Bridge. That fervor manifests in me seeing our logo’s color all around me, including in last night’s Empire State Building lights. One day we hope to be the sponsor of that lighting ⚪️🟢⚪️🟢⚪️🟢🌃 View Post

May 11, 2023 Ferrari vs. Shop Local

Ferrari vs. Shop Local

May 11, 2023

This car is fast ... Our Online Store is faster

Shop Local’s Syncing service instantly shows new products in a retailer’s Online Store. The service is free for the retailer. The brands pay for the Syncing service.

View Post

May 11, 2023 New Feature: Your Emails Have a New Format

New Feature: Your Emails Have a New Format

May 11, 2023

Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: we've launched a new format of your emails notifying you and customers of orders. The emails now include product pictures, brand logos, registrant pictures, various font enhancements, and more.

Previously, the email format was basic text (no pictures or logos).

In the example shown, we see an Order Status Update email to a customer from The Cook's Station, a kitchenware store in South Carolina. In the email, we see the store's logo along...
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May 9, 2023 Salsa-fy 🌮: The Time is Ripe for Efficiency

Salsa-fy 🌮: The Time is Ripe for Efficiency

May 9, 2023

You've heard of Salsa-fy? It’s national, was started in Dallas, is used by 60,000 employees, and is used at more than 1,600 corporate locations. Salsa-fy helps businesses steer clear of trouble, offer the best value, and ensures profitability. You may interrupt me here and ask, “Jason, don’t you mean the software company Salesify?” No, I’m talking about the restaurant chain Chili’s and its approach to managing salsa, french fries, and its business. ...
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May 9, 2023 July is Independent Retailer Month

July is Independent Retailer Month

May 9, 2023

I was happy to learn that a group is promoting July as Independent Retailer Month. Shop Local supports indie shops and thinks this is a good idea.

In particular, I liked the marketing ideas on their Resources page, including these:

Bonus buck: Give customers a $1 coupon for every $10 they spend in your store in July. The coupon is redeemable in August.
Happy hour: Offer red, white and blue cookies/cupcakes with refreshments to promote the ‘independent’ touch. You

May 2, 2023 “Bridge Loop”

“Bridge Loop”

May 2, 2023

Enjoyed hiking in Utah and this 'Bridge' trail in particular ⛰️

At Bridge, we loop together brands, retailers, sales reps, and customers using our Shop Local e-commerce network. View Post

Bridge in the News

Bridge Helps Indie Stores Rank on Page 1 of Google in 76% of States
October 2022

HFN: Bridge Experiences Record Growth
August 2021

Press Release: Bridge Membership Surges 50%
July 2021

Four Trade Publications Report on Bridge's Growth
July 2020

HFN Editor Praises Bridge
March 2020

Seminars Offer Strategies for Independent Stores
January 2020

Tableware Today Article: Chart Your Future Before Big Tech Does
November 2019

HFN Publishes Jason Solarek's 'Letter to the Editor'
May 2019

HFN Shares Juliska is Joining Bridge
March 2018

HFN Reports Bridge's Product Syncing Service Helps Indie Stores
January 2018

Bridge Brand Conference
June 2017

HFN Magazine: Bridge Crosses $2 Million in Registry Sales
December 2016

News from Bridge

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Bonus ~ Through June 31, 2023

Bonus ~ Through June 31, 2023