In October of 2001, I walked into William-Wayne & Co. in New York City with no appointment. I asked for the owner, was introduced to the co-owner, and suggested he build a website. The two owners, William and Wayne, agreed to discuss it further with me and we scheduled a meeting. Nine months later, William-wayne.com was born.
We’ve updated the website since then, but the fundamentals have stayed the same.
It all started with William & Wayne &...
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How Shop Local's software quickly populated the online store for a favorite Newton, PA retailer
March 29, 2024
We are pleased to announce that Home Tonic in historic Newton, Pennsylvania, has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. This home furnishings, accessories, gifts, and design shop is conveniently located between New York City and Philadelphia. They are a favorite of Bucks County residents and visitors.
Home Tonic saved $4,120 and 6 Weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to expand their online ...
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How Amazon privatizes public spaces for its own profit
February 14, 2024
This is a daily sight on 8th St. in the East Village of New York City, a spot historically chockablock with indie, brick-and-mortar shops. This is an Amazon truck and freelancers who have taken over the street (it’s a no standing zone) and sidewalk as their own. This is one way Amazon sells things for less: it turns public streets and sidewalks into its “warehouses” and “stores.” Imagine you’re a local business with a roof and rent. You can’t compete ...
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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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We are pleased to announce Villeroy & Boch products are ready for Syncing.
Villeroy & Boch joins our network of 115+ premium brands that Sync products with 1,300+ fine indie stores.
Since its founding in 1748, Villeroy & Boch has grown into a leading, global, lifestyle brand offering dinnerware, drinkware, flatware, and home decor. They continue to leave lasting impressions all over the world with their fine products that include popular ...
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How we can honor those that came before us in the retail industry.
March 2, 2023
The founder of Juan Pollo Chicken, Albert Okura, passed away last week at the age of 71. Mr. Okura envisioned Juan Pollo, a fast food chain with 25 locations in Southern California, as a household name that would someday sell the most chicken in the world. He believed in this so much that he bought the site of the original McDonald’s restaurant, located in San Bernardino, CA, in 1998—not to turn it into a Juan Pollo restaurant but rather into a museum to honor his fast food industry....
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An East Village Artist’s Death Prompts a Reflection on the State of Indie Retailers Today
…….
While thumbing through the Times, I noticed a smiling young woman’s picture in the obituaries. In the black and white photograph, she's standing on a fire escape with a historic building and a bridge in the distance. I was initially attracted to Ronni Solbert’s 1959 picture, yet I was even more drawn in by what I noticed next to her photo: a children&...
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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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I was disappointed to learn that one of my favorite men's shops had been robbed not just once--but twice. Rothmans, a legendary store on 18th St. and Park Avenue in New York City, is a fun destination grab a t-shirt or a tuxedo. This shop's convivial spirit has been dashed by smash-and-grab robbers that use a flash mob approach. The issue of more crime affecting retail is not limited to men's shops. New sources reported today that even trains in Los Angeles rail yards are being ...
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Last February e-commerce company Shopify Inc. replaced the “Ottawa, Canada” dateline that began its press releases and earnings reports with a strange new one: “Internet, Everywhere.” The geographical shift came at the insistence of Shopify’s founder and chief executive officer, Tobi Lütke, who tends to view such matters through the prism of cold, hard logic. In May 2020, only a few months into the pandemic, he’d made the early, seemingly rash decision to...
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I spotted this tequila advertisement today in New York City. The first thing that came to mind was not spring break, but rather a riff on the ad’s tagline. I thought, “ ‘Independent store’ does not mean selling alone.” Bridge helps more than 800 independent stores team up to share products and resources. We make running an online business easier. We give them a ‘shot’ at winning online. That’s something we can drink to.
Today’s Times shares some of Amazon’s steps during the pandemic to grow its empire.
I used to tell retailers that they don’t know it, but they’re now in: the software business. I missed something in that statement. They are also now in the warehouse business. Websites and warehouses go hand in hand. They’re flip sides of the same coin.
As e-commerce grew, all the major retailers should have been growing their warehouse space. For example: if ...
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Sadly, we learned of this hack LAST week when it actually happened in...wait for it...April 2019–almost a year ago.
I predict that hacking is going to happen to more and more brands and stores in our industry. I think these victims will either turn over most online operations to a third party—or close due to costs. I know of a jewelry ...
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I’m writing to sadly share that my dad Don Solarek passed away last week. He was quiet, thoughtful, and would gladly walk in New York City from the Battery to Harlem.
Don always had time to chat with me, share a story, give a lesson, and encourage me. He helped me with my paper route at 6 am when it was 3º in Rochester. He came to every high school cross country race and wrestling match—which were often held around 3:30 pm. Likely not ...
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September 30, 2019
September 30, 2019
Exciting News!
COSTA NOVA AND CASAFINA ANNOUNCE A NEW SHOWROOM AT 41 MADISON AVENUE IN NEW YORK CITY The renowned Portuguese tableware brands COSTA NOVA and CASAFINA announce a new showroom at 41 MADISON AVENUE in New York City. Situated in the heart of the Flatiron District, the building welcomes tabletop professionals and chefs from around the globe to preview new offerings from the industry’s finest brands. The new space will display collections from both brands with an emphasis on the ...
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August 29, 2019
August 29, 2019
Amazon and Chinese companies have teamed up to bypass Main Street and ship goods directly to doorsteps. This is hurting American manufacturing as well as local city governments. To accomplish this, they're misleading Americans by putting out press releases that cherry-pick statistics.
Follow these 3 steps to see the issue at hand:
1. In an Amazon press release last week, Amazon claimed:
"Independent third-party sellers – primarily small and medium-sized businesses – ...
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I went into a small shop in New York City yesterday and admired all their nice tableware. It offered mugs, cups, plates, drinking glasses, and vases—all items that are great for gift registries.
The store was empty. I thought it may be a good time ask the store manager if the store offered an online registry. He replied "yes." I was surprised because there was no signage in the store that said it offered a gift registry. I shared with him what Bridge is and explained that we...
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July 2, 2019
July 2, 2019
Good news: your indie store just gained some ground on Amazon.
About 60% of Amazon sales are via third-party sellers. They pass thru what it calls the 'marketplace.' These Amazon purchases have not historically been taxed because the purchase is made from a business in one state and shipped to another state. But that loophole started to close last year when the Supreme Court ruled that states can collect tax on these types of Internet purchases.
Many state laws have acted on that Supreme ...
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February 4, 2019
February 4, 2019
So honored to be included among Matouk’s “Linen Leaders’ dinner” tonight In New York City. Many heartfelt thanks to our loyal customers, and an outstanding staff, through which we have achieved the position of top 40 stores in the nation selling @matouklinens !!
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September 4, 2018
September 4, 2018
I am so convinced the NY Times is schizophrenic. On Saturday a special 8-page editorial section highlights the plague of empty storefronts in New York City. On Sunday, a paid insert states: The Death of Retail is Overrated. This is for the new outpost of RH, formerly Restoration Hardware now re-branded. So I guess to get people to buy furniture you need a rooftop park and restaurant, a barista bar & wine terrace, art gallery and atelier on 6 floors. Okay, whatever it takes I suppose.
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