When a business offers a website, it's a costly venture. A business, such as an indie store, brand, or sales rep group, will build the site and then have to maintain it. On a day-to-day basis, it has to ensure the pages load quickly. This often requires the business use image-optimization software to reduce the page size and a CDN (content delivery network) to get the content closer to the visitor's geographic location. These costs add up.
Bridge and Shopify both bundle many services under a ...
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March 20, 2020
March 20, 2020
As you know, the health and safety of our employees at Annieglass is one of our core fundamentals. As the impact and seriousness of COVID-19 evolves, and to help contain the spread of the virus, Santa Cruz County has determined that we need to shelter in place.
As of Tuesday, March 17 we have closed our California studio and offices until April 7, 2020. The health and safety of our employees and their families is very important to us. Please understand that this means that any orders in ...
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Market buildings are looking down the barrel of a gun. To find out why, check out my article in this month's Tableware Today.
THE LAST WORD
CHART YOUR FUTURE BEFORE BIG TECH DOES
by JASON SOLAREK
Market buildings are starting to take digital seriously. Why, finally? Because Amazon is nipping at retailers’ heels? No. Because Zola is stealing indie stores’ registry business? No. Sadly, the main thing that’s brought markets up to speed has to do with their own dollars and ...
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July 26, 2019
July 26, 2019
Irony: old analog retail is literally being replaced by new tech. Today’s WSJ shares that retail space that used to belong to Lord & Taylor’s midtown flagship may become Amazon’s NYC office space. In the East Village, Facebook’s HQ recently took over Kmart’s entire third floor, shrinking Kmart from three floors to just two. That’s a 33% contraction, which mirrors the contraction of physical retail and the growth of digital platforms like Amazon and Facebook. Note: Lord & Taylor, Kmart, and many ...
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July 24, 2019
July 24, 2019
Amazon makes returns easy. Macy's has followed suit and now does the same. What are you doing to make returns easier?
Check out this handy chart showing what department stores do for delivery and returns. Ninety-two percent of stores send a shipping confirmation email, but only 31% tell you the estimated delivery day. Regarding returns, 69% email a customer that a package has been received, but only 38% email a customer when the refund has been processed.
There is a 'Cold War' battle going on between Amazon and Walmart, if you haven't noticed. Both are building platforms that soak up every other business and its products into their respective ecosystems. Walmart is late to the game, but its been on a binge recently buying Art.com and now its partnered with a sport apparel company Fanatics.
As a reference, Facebook, Instagram, and Bridge are all platforms.
What platforms are you on? What is your strategy to chart this battle? Are you a Walmart or...
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May 9, 2018
May 9, 2018
FOR RETAILERS:
Please find our updated pricing for the Bridge service here. This updated pricing will take effect July 1st, 2018.
In some areas, Bridge is giving your business notably more. For example, in April of 2017 Bridge offered your business 10 Smart Brands for $59. In May of 2018, Bridge is providing your business with the product data from 40 Smart Brands for $49. In sum, you can receive 400 percent more product data yet pay 17% less.
If you are unsure how this affects what you'll pay ...
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February 24, 2018
February 24, 2018
We're happy to share that Bridge is giving retailers access to 500% more Smart Products for free. If you're subscribing to a paid plan, you're now just paying $.01 per item.
Please check out this chart comparing our pricing from last year vs this year.
2018 Pricing Highlights: + Bridge is giving retailers 500% more Smart Products for free.
+ With $49/month plan, Bridge is giving retailers 200% more products for free and we reduced the price 17%.
+ Retailers can sync with 20 Smart Brands (or about 6...
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January 4, 2018
January 4, 2018
"Alexa, what is in my gift registry?" may be the question of 2018.
Is your store prepared to take on Amazon and Google in their race to be the voice assistant for your brides?
Our goal is help you chart these waters.
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December 21, 2017
December 21, 2017
Is your company a leader or a laggard? Check out this L2-created interactive chart sharing what retailers are doing right--and wrong.
Retailers are ranked in 6 areas: 1. Content & Commerce 2. Data & Targeting 3. Localization 4. Loyalty 5. Mobile 6. Omnichannel
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November 7, 2017
November 7, 2017
Curious how your Bridge store ranks in terms of keeping up with trends? This month’s HFN shares the areas that businesses can invest in to succeed online. I’ve drawn a red dot next to the features our software already offers. I put a checkbox next to the features that we’re doing next. Have a suggestion about what you’d like to see your site offer next? Let us know :)
Ps- Thanks to Erica Nolan at Blueport Commerce for the chart.
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July 16, 2017
July 16, 2017
"Websites are dead. The future belongs to platforms." This was my take away from a meeting with Coton Colors in Atlanta. A Coton Colors marketing director recalled how when she was at McGraw Hill publishers were aghast when someone said "Printed textbooks are dead." I think that declaring anything dead sounds a little dramatic, but it can be prescient and help people understand a larger trend.
The attached line chart graphic is something that I did a few months back. One of the chart lines ...
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May 18, 2017
May 18, 2017
Thanks to Shannon Brown and Nambé for hosting Bridge's first annual Bridge Brand Conference. Good to see u Virginie, John, Holli, Kelly, Damon, Deane, Michele, Angie, Joanna, Jennifer, Araxi, Anna, and Jonathan. And a special thanks to Diane Seidle for helping chart the course.
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March 3, 2017
March 3, 2017
Curious what decisions go into processing an order? Here is a handy chart that shows how orders are processed by Bridge Stores.
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May 5, 2016
May 5, 2016
When retailers think of their competition, they often think of domestic players. Well, now foreign retailers can be added to that list. Today's WSJ reports that import duties have been reduced and it's now easy to buy up to $800 in goods from abroad. For example, previously a $300 purchase would have from $100 to $300 of duties added. A $300 purchase became $400 to $600. Now zero would be added.
Indy retailers can take advantage of this by bringing in more goods from overseas to sell to their ...
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April 7, 2016
April 7, 2016
New MacKenzie-Childs Bath Linens at Glassworks and Cheeks! MacKenzie-Childs' signature pattern is ready to make a splash. The bold Courtly Check Towels and Robes, made of 100% cotton terrycloth, feature black and white stripes and checks trimmed with bright chartreuse. Give your bath an instant makeover and turn scrubbing up into something spectacular. The Robes are also perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea and a new novel.
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September 7, 2015
September 7, 2015
Inspired by Gothic cathedrals Vista Alegre's Chartres crystal stemware features beautiful etched ornamentation.
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September 3, 2015
September 3, 2015
Inspired by Gothic cathedrals Vista Alegre's Chartres crystal stemware features beautiful etched ornamentation.
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