How Shop Local helps 3 retailers rank on page 1 of Google in Louisiana
April 11, 2024
Indie stores have the best chance of ranking highly in Google when they use Shop Local. Merchants know this because of their page 1 rankings and how they beat big-box stores in search tests, such as for Louisiana results.
These Shop Local retailers located in Louisiana appear on page one of Google due to their Shop Local Store:
It’s a 40th anniversary for the company founded by Colin Riggs (left) and Ned Voelker’s parents, Abigail and Ed Voelker. Over the last four decades, the entire family has created a curated collection of handmade tableware and giftware for the nation’s independent store retailers.
................................
Congratulations on a milestone 40th year in business. Are you surprised Abigails has endured? Ned Voelker: We are surprised. It’s a tribute to Ed and Abbie ...
Read More
What the retail industry can learn from Google and Amazon teaming up on technology standards.
September 19, 2023
Google, Amazon, and an array of home appliance companies are teaming up to make it easier for you to dim your home’s lights and lock your front doors. They are adopting a standard called Matter that allows devices to communicate and work together, shares The Wall St. Journal. This allows a giant like Amazon, creator of Alexa devices and Ring doorbells, and Tuo, a small home device tech creator, to use the same platform yet keep their internal, proprietary code base. This standard is like a...
Read More
In a 2007 article in The New Yorker, Atul Gawande, a surgeon and an author, advocatedthat more hospitals use checklists. He cited many medical studies showing how checklists save lives (and money). Implementing one checklist, a hospital "…prevented forty-three infections and eight deaths, and saved two million dollars in costs." The startling part: the list was only five steps long! In other words, people don’t consistently follow...
Read More
When I flew home yesterday from Charleston, while most people were seeking relief from their sunburns and reminiscing about their vacations, I was delving into The Wall St. Journal’s profile on Tracy Britt Cool, an ex- Berkshire Hathaway star. Mrs. Cool’s new company Kanbrick invests in businesses with $10m - $50m in revenue. What does Mrs. Cool look for when investing in a company? People and moats.
At Bridge, we’re reading Jim Collins’ Beyond ...
Read More
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Future Bridge Spokesperson?
Today's Wall St. Journal shares that Target stores saw a 20% increase in revenue--more than the chain had seen in the last 11 years combined. How did it do it? Target converted many of its physical stores into 'mini-warehouses,' where they can ship goods or have customers do curbside pick up.
What does this mean for indie stores? Stores will have to become more efficient in receiving online orders, which make up 40% of retail these ...
Read More
Imagine if a mob of people came into your store with no intention of buying and blocked real users from entering. That is what Microsoft and Amazon are doing to our digital storefronts.
This is a screenshot of my inbox with error alerts on Friday morning. Microsoft (to power its MSN search engine) was hitting our sites hundreds of times per minute. This scraping takes up bandwidth from real users and customers. It stops customers from being able to make purchases at indie stores ...
Read More
Many of us will be with our family and friends this Thursday. I'll take a moment then to give thanks to all the indie retailers that enrich our communities. I'll thank the indie designers that fill our stores and homes with beautiful products.
When I'm in my friend's kitchen, someone may say they need a new spatula from Amazon, or after dinner ask Alexa to turn on Amazon TV. When they do, I'll consider those actions in light of the holiday. I'll share why this is important to consider.
Amazon is increasingly using robots to deliver goods and services. One could say that Alexa is a robot minus the body. As Amazon grows, we're facing a glut of empty Main Street shops and layoffs. This reminds me of the Terminator movie series in which robots wreck destruction on human civilization.
We just need Arnold Schwarzenegger to star in an Amazon delivery commercial. "I'll be back," he says, "to pick up your return."
PS - Curious about claims on robot-killing jobs? Check out Presidential...
Read More
September 26, 2019
September 26, 2019
Amazon is launching eyeglasses to help it better view your world, shares today’s WSJ. The ‘invite only’ strategy made me laugh. Oddly, our local Amazon delivery guy rings my doorbell by anything but invitation only. I don’t use Amazon, but he rings it daily when he has packages for other apartments. Alexa, please have your delivery people stop bothering neighbors. :)
View Post
August 13, 2019
August 13, 2019
We are so excited that Alexandra and J. D. are now registered with us!! See their beautiful selections here on our website or come by the shop! Call us at 478-272-6767 for more information!!
View Post
June 25, 2019
June 25, 2019
Today’s Times covers deceptive practices on the web. That shopper “Alexandra” that just bought that dress? She doesn’t exist.
Bridge members may recall that in Bridge 1.0 we output featured purchases. Every single featured purchase was real. Bridge embraces honest, factual marketing strategies.
E-commerce is going to double in the next seven years, predicts FedEx. When that happens, how prepared will your business be? How will you prepare your website, your staff, your shipping procedures, your pricing, and your sales expectations?
When e-commerce grows that much, who will control the market? How will customers shop? Via their mobile? Via Alexa? If e-commerce is the dominant form of shipping, how will your online product selection and prices be kept up to date online? If online ...
Read More
May 21, 2019
May 21, 2019
Inspired Design’s jewelry is one of Mindy Alexander’s favorite lines, and she would know good quality jewelry when she sees it. She’s been dubbed the jewelry expert at Barbara Stewart Interiors.
View Post
May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019
I spy with my little eye Mindy Alexander on WNKY! Bowling Green, KY is flourishing and our team at Barbara Stewart's and the Corner Studio is excited to see our community growing.
Bridge is based in the East Village—across the East River from Long Island City where Amazon planned to get $3 billion in government tax breaks to build a new office. It promised 25k “high paying” jobs. Notably, one in five store fronts in the East Village are empty. The reasons for this vacancy vary. I’m not sure if Amazon abandoning its new HQ was a win for America but a loss for the East Village or maybe a win for both. I wish to see my local community grow and America grow. I hope NYC can ...
Read More
January 16, 2019
January 16, 2019
Look who is on her way to Barbara Stewart Interiors! Susan Stewart Hoechner and Mindy Miller Alexander are back from Atlanta Market, and they couldn't leave this painting behind. Can you blame them?! ?
View Post
January 14, 2019
January 14, 2019
We were SO THRILLED for our friends at Kalaty Rugs for winning this year's America's Magnificent Carpet Award at Atlanta Market! Barbara Stewart and Susan Stewart Hoechner established their partnership with Joseph Kalaty years ago, and have enjoyed working alongside such an amazing rug company ever since. Congratulations, Kalaty Rugs! Nolan Miles, Mindy Miller Alexander, Tim Minor
View Post
January 5, 2019
January 5, 2019
Amazon may start a bank—and become a competitor to JP Morgan. Imagine if Macy’s or Walmart owned a bank. When a customer makes a large purchase, would that make them more appealing than your business? Financing an engagement ring?
Amazon already offers third-party backed credit cards (Chase), cash cards, and a digital wallet, and it’s exploring adding financial integration with its Alexa platform.