A recent study conducted by Jungle Scout reports that many consumers prefer to support small and local businesses for their holiday shopping. 20% reported they will buy holiday gifts from indie stores, up from 10% last year. The report ranks independent retailers in 4th place for in-store shopping, surpassing Costco, Walgreen's Best Buy, Sam's Club, Macy's and Home Depot.
The article shares 53% of consumers bought online from independent stores on Small Business Saturday as reported by ...
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How restaurants, hotels, and tableware brands are using loyalty programs--and what indie stores can learn from this.
October 11, 2023
Perk-y
I recently read about a new loyalty program and wondered what we could learn from it. The founder of Eater and Resy, Ben Leventhal, has started Blackbird, a loyalty program service designed for indie restaurants, reports The New York Times (Read the article). Using the Blackbird app, a diner receives a perk for eating at a restaurant. The retailer sets tiers for which the user qualifies for the perk. For example, a restaurant, Nat’s on Bank in New York City, gives tier 1 customers ...
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How we can celebrate indie stores and promote sales by hosting a Save Local event.
February 23, 2023
When one thinks of shopping locally, some consider it an act of charity. One may pay more and get less selection. That’s not a recipe for success. In contrast, the world’s most successful retailers, Walmart and Amazon, operate on just the opposite principles: low prices and massive selection. When I’m in Walmart's Panama City Beach location, it’s so massive I feel like I’m in the Giants' stadium. Amazon sells 12m items on its website (350m if you count the third-...
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How to let customers know that your store will call them to receive payment for their order.
January 17, 2023
Some Bridge merchants do not accept credit cards online. The merchant calls the customer (after they placed the order) to collect the customer's credit card information. For merchants that do not accept cards online, your Bridge has an updated feature that makes it easier for customers to expect a call from the store. A customer will now see a banner with a green telephone icon on the final checkout page. The banner displays this message:
In the early 2000s, the board game Cranium became a hit. The game combined elements of Scrabble and Pictionary with the goal of helping more people enjoy playing a game. Richard Tait, who created Cranium and sold it to Hasbro in 2008 for $77.5m, passed away in July. Like Mr. Tait, I had been a paperboy, but he went beyond what I ever offered: he came up with a new service that sold breakfast sandwiches along his newspaper route. He increased profits and made customers happier. ...
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While walking on 9th St. in Manhattan, I noticed an American Express sidewalk decal. This decal inspired me to create a Bridge sidewalk decal for indie stores.
I think that stating 'shop local' or 'shop small' misses many of the key desires by shoppers. I think that customers want low prices, lots of selection, and fast delivery. Those are the reasons they shop at Amazon and at other big box stores. Ask yourself: would you shop at a store that has less selection? Higher prices? Slower ...
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We value your support and need it now more than ever!
With this in mind, we're sharing this exclusive American Express Card Member offer with you. You can get $5 back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $10 or more at an eligible small business.
Enroll by 7/19/20 and you can get rewarded up to 10x (up to $50) if you spend by 9/13/20.*
So, drop by and say hello or visit us online (this ...
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Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018
Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018
Across the country, Small Business Saturday is celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a way to encourage support of small, local businesses. In 2010 American Express launched Small Business Saturday, and in 2011 it became a day officially recognized by the US Senate. By 2013 more than 1,450 Neighborhood Champions signed up to rally their communities, and last year shoppers supported their neighborhood businesses like never before with more than $14.3 billion spent at small, independent...
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June 26, 2018
June 26, 2018
We canβt win them all. Last week the Supreme Court helped indie retailers by allowing states to charge tax on more web orders. This week, it didnβt help us by siding with American Express.
The end result of these two decisions is that indie stores will likely receive more orders but but still have to pay AmEx its higher interchange fees.
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March 30, 2017
March 30, 2017
Today's Times reminds us that stores can charge an extra processing fee when customers use a credit card. Previously, your store's signed Visa/MasterCard/American Express merchant agreement and state law prevented you. Now you're in the clear on both accounts to exercises your right to charge what you'd like.
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November 27, 2013
November 27, 2013
Special American Express Offer for Small Business Saturday, this weekend. Get $10 back when you spend $10 or more.