Shop Local, an e-commerce platform for indie retailers, reported that it's helping indie stores rank on page one of Google in 56% of states for wedding gift purchases. The findings are based on a recent study that Shop Local conducted regarding wedding registry purchasing. 

Study Findings:

• For 28 state searches, Shop Local Stores appeared on page one of Google. This represents 56% of all states. When just calculating the states in which Shop Local has clients (48), the percentage grows

Read the full article: 

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/shop-with-ai-how-to-start-bc19c27f?st=vFSeEh&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Shop Local, an e-commerce platform, reported that it's helping indie stores rank on page one of Google in 48% of states for wedding gift purchases. The findings are based on a recent study that Shop Local conducted regarding wedding registry purchasing. 

Study Findings:

• For 24 state searches, Shop Local Stores appeared on page one of Google. This represents 48% of all states. When just calculating the states in which Shop Local has clients (48), the percentage grows to 50%.
• In these 24

In a recent Tableware Today article, I implored retailers to 'build their robot.' I encouraged them to invest in technology to automate their processes. I told them how larger retailers like Amazon and Walmart are spending heavily on technology, and that is the best spot to get long-term ROI. Yet, there is another area that indie stores can target to boost profit, and it requires less time and money than spending on technology. 
 

Low Prices > Pretty Website

We've recently discovered

Each month, our Leaderboard reports the best performers from among 1,500 indie stores, 3,000 brands, and 300,000 products with no man hours. Leaderboard results are automatically tallied and published on the first of each month; it’s as if I have an omnipotent robot that does this work for me. Automation like this is crucial to running a successful business. 

Amazon, Walmart, and other retail giants spend massively on automation because this will decide the winners. In 2025, retailers will

The Wall St. Journal reports on Walmart's progress against Amazon.  

Article highlights:

• Walmart delivered 2.5b items on the same day in 2023.
• Walmart delivered 5b items on the same day in 2024.
• E-commerce generates 18% of Walmart's revenue but is not profitable. (This is much like Amazon, which didn’t report a profit for the first 10 years. Walmart is running its online business at a loss.)
• Walmart relies on its own driver fleet named Spark, which it started in 2018, to deliver goods. (The

Each month, our Leaderboard reports the best performers from among 1,500 indie stores, 3,000 brands, and 300,000 products with no man hours. Leaderboard results are automatically tallied and published on the first of each month; it’s as if I have an omnipotent robot that does this work for me. Automation like this is crucial to running a successful business. 

Amazon, Walmart, and other retail giants spend massively on automation because this will decide the winners. In 2025, retailers will

The Wall St. Journal shares this weekend that Walmart has automated 50% of its fulfillment process, bringing down fulfillment costs by 40%. This 40% in savings will thereafter be used as a pricing advantage against indie stores (and retailers of any size). 
 

Walmart, like Amazon, is spending billions of dollars to accomplish this. The goal is to spend $1b today to save $1m tomorrow on labor and sell $1m more tomorrow. Long term, these numbers snowball and are in Walmart’s favor.

Last

Last week, I wrote about the desire for Big Retail (i.e. Amazon, Walmart, and other large retailers)  to automate all parts of their supply chain. This weekend’s The Wall St. Journal shares that Amazon will spend about $105b on AI this year.  (Alphabet will spend $75b and Meta $65b.)

AI is an automation tool.  Indie stores will be expected to offer many of these tools because Big Retail does. But, as the article notes, these tools are very expensive and indie stores don’t have the

• Product information, pricing, pictures, and more (including website listings). (Inventory.)
• Stock.
• Marketing offers.
• Communications to customers (

• For 31 state searches, Shop Local Stores appeared on page one of Google. This represents 62% of all states. When just calculating the states in which Shop Local has

These retailers using Shop Local located in Louisiana appear on page one of Google: 

1. John Ward Interiors & Gifts in Alexandria (appears twice 😊)
2. Pieces of Eight Gifts in Lafayette (appears twice 😊)
3. JADE in Metairie
4. Adler's in New Orleans
5. Friend and Co in New Orleans

How we conducted this study:
We Googled "wedding registry Louisiana."

Study Results:

• 5 merchants using Shop Local registry software appeared on page 1 of Google. 2 merchants appeared twice. There are 10 "organic 

• Main Cabin Plus. Included a free checked bag, a more spacious seat, and boarding earlier. 
• Main Cabin Select. Included an even earlier boarding time and made it easier to change my flight. 
• First Class. Included the largest, most comfortable seat, priority boarding, two checked bags, and better drinks and food. 

• In 2014, e-commerce was 6% of retail sales.  In 2023, it was 15%. 
• Target fulfills almost 100% of online orders in-store and Walmart half of online orders in-store. 

• They save money on fees, such as shipping. 
• They can get the item faster. (Delivery may take a few days.) 
• When doing returns,

1. Occasions Tampa in Tampa
2. My Favorite Things in Tallahassee

• 2 merchants

1. The Kitchenary in Lafayette
2. John Ward Interiors & Gifts in Alexandria
3. Pieces of Eight Gifts in Lafayette

1. Wooden Indian in Rehoboth Beach
2. Mod Cottage in Rehoboth Beach