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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With our retail members in the throes of the holiday season, it was nice to read an article by Retail Dive providing some insight into Q4 2022. Retail Dive, a retail industry publication, informs readers that big-box stores share much of the same friction as our indie retailers do. I appreciated the acknowledgement that independent stores may feel disruptions quicker and may even have an edge on providing a more superior customer experience to gaining loyalty. The good news is that there are ...
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Do you love a great deal on a t-shirt or TV? Sure, we all do. Yet, sometimes when we shop, the lower the price we pay, the less we pay: people. People that make the goods (factory workers) and people that sell the goods (aka indie store owners) are the victims in the discount-pricing rush.
Today’s Times shares that making a bathing suit in Sir Lanka costs about $4 per unit while in Portugal it may cost $16. In NYC, the minimum wage is $15/hour—making production in NYC ...
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Stores and brands sometimes ask us: How does Bridge compare to Faire?
I thought we'd compare the two service providers.
Similarities: Bridge & Faire
Audience. Both service the retail industry. In particular, both service brands and retailers. Bridge also services sales reps, and Faire tries to steer clear of them--which is one reason reps don't like Faire much.
Delivery method. Both are online platforms.
Service offered. Faire is a wholesale marketplace. It
Come to Alioto’s to receive the personal attention and experience that you cannot get at the big box stores. We can assist you with your decision-making process for all the items you want to register for, from fine china and crystal to casual dinnerware and glasses, sterling silver placesettings to everyday silverware, frames, bar ware, home decor, and the list goes on. If you want it and it is available, we will find it for you!
See some reviews from brides:
“Sera and her ...
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This is our 'Save Local' seal. Save Local has a double meaning: one can save money by shopping locally and they can support local businesses.
Shopping online may result in shipping charges. When shopping local, one can skip the shipping charges--and receive the item instantly.
A hallmark of indie stores is that they are often in walkable areas. For this reason, the sticker has a shoe and a bicycle. When one shops at big box stores, one often doesn't walk. They drive. Similarly,...
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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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May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019
According to Google, Bridge is helping indie stores beat big box stores in the gift registry SEO race. In a study of searches by state, Bridge ranked above Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Dillards in Google's results.
Bridge conducted this study by using Google 'Incognito Mode' to search for: South Carolina Gift Registry Alabama Gift Registry Georgia Gift Registry
In the attached Google results screenshot, Iโve highlighted Bridge's stores in green, Target in orange, Dillard's in purple, and Bed ...
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March 5, 2019
March 5, 2019
Private label keeps growing for the big box stores: Walmart is launching a new one that includes dinnerware. This will put pressure on indie brands because it shrinks their market and margins. Walmart will likely promote its own brand in gift registries over the indie brand.
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August 13, 2017
August 13, 2017
Laura, who owns Ivy House in Texas, will save $7,000 in credit card fees this year. That's enough to take her family to Italy on vacation or buy five Apple computers for her staff.
How did she save this money? Laura asked me to review her credit card statements. I found that the credit card processor was charging her too much.
I then showed Laura that she could save $7,000 per year if she moved to Bridgeโs processing. She gets the same or better in-store processing services and saves $7,000.
Laura, who owns Ivy House in Texas, will save $7,000 in credit card fees this year. John, who owns the store Glass Bazaar in Tennessee, will save $4,000. That's enough to take a family to Italy on vacation.
How did they save this money? I helped Laura and John cut their credit card processing fees. I like helping stores lower their fees because it helps strengthen their ability to compete with big box stores and Amazon.com.
John had this to say:
"We are happy with the credit card processing ...
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June 8, 2017
June 8, 2017
Do customers ask you why your items cost more than items at big box stores? Do u wish u had a breakdown of costs and the quality that goes into items? Today's Times shares how some manufacturers breakdown the costs for fabrication in order educate consumers about quality materials.
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December 2, 2015
December 2, 2015
A word of advice to retailers that lament losing $3 on shipping charges: let's instead celebrate getting the order. :) Most stores offer free shipping on all items (per my article here ) The goal is to get the sale and eat the shipping cost. If you can charge anything for shipping, consider yourself lucky. Let's consider this example: For a $100 item, a customer pays the retailer $10 to ship the item and it's costing the retailer $13 to ship it. The retailer may think it lost $3, but in ...
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December 1, 2015
December 1, 2015
Indy retailers are losing the battle to get their part of the online market, according to today's WSJ. Indy retailers online sales year over year didn't grow nearly as much as big box stores' sales. Specialty shops' sales grew 7% while the big box stores grew by 4x that (30%).
How can we help indy stores get their share? We need to give them better websites that are filled with more products. We need to give them tools that help them better share news and sales, and connect with their customers ...
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November 27, 2015
November 27, 2015
Target and Best Buy are offering free shipping on all orders, reports today's WSJ. Walmart requires a purchase of $50 or more. The article says that more big box stores are trying to turn their physical stores into distribution centers.
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November 17, 2015
November 17, 2015
Do big box stores demand better terms than indy stores from indy manufacturers? Yes, and that is why we salute Etsy for asking big box stores to sign a pledge to be less demanding and help indy manufacturers. Please find the article from HFN here:
Today's HFN magazine shares Bridge's progress with helping independent retailers. Bridge would like to thanks its members for helping everyone make it to this milestone.
Article:
Bridge and its Tabletop Partners Reach a Milestone
Bridge founder expects to reach $1.2 million by year's end
Posted on November 6, 2015 by Allison Zisko
Big Boxes Retailers to Tabletop: Hand Over Your Playbook
The pressure on the tabletop industry continues even for those that have sold out to doing business with Target and big box stores. The stores can't take cover in these football-field size stores; these stores are now requiring them to hand over their playbooks. Allison Zisko writes in this week's HFN:
Targetโs newest private-label tabletop initiative, which has vendors negotiating directly with Targetโs sourcing arm rather than its team of ...
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