We place the year on the back of the shirt in the style of a sports jersey. The sports reference is a nod to us playing on the same team together to help indie stores.
(We didn’t do a 2020 t-shirt. Oops. Not many businesses wanted to commemorate the year of the pandemic.)
Thank you, Bridge team, for a successful 2023 ;)
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At the Dallas trade show this week, I’ll be sporting our new Shop Local t-shirt. In flight to the show, I’ll be reading how network effects help businesses, including retail shops. Indie shops and network effects go hand in hand. Retailers can effectively grow via network programs, including Bridge’s Product Syncing service and referral and affiliate programs. To learn how networks can help your business, I recommend picking up a copy of The Cold ...
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In the movie Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon, who plays a handsome MIT janitor moonlighting as a math savant (can one say, “Hollywood career vehicle”?), woos a young lady (played by the actress Minnie Driver) by outmaneuvering a few competing, obnoxious cads. When Damon’s character gets the girl's telephone number, he proudly shows it to the other guys and boasts, with his South Boston access, “How 'bout ‘dem apples?” I imagine Tim Cook imitating this...
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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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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 ...
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Some people like to sit on the sofa and eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. I roll my eyes at this because I’m very different: I like to read the Wall St. Journal’s Christopher Mims …while eating an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s on the sofa. This past weekend, Mr. Mims suggested companies may be reassessing where they source products, some even considering more domestic production. The motivation for this started a few years ago with the U.S.-China trade war, ...
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In the movie 'We’re the Millers,' a character played by Jason Sudeikis interviews a teen boy wooing Sudeikis’ teenage daughter. Sudeikis interviews the boy about his interests and compatibility with his daughter. (Watch the scene here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjkLKKgOMRY .) The boy’s neck tattoo reads “No Ragrets.” When Sudeikis inquires about this tattoo, the boy confidently claims that he has no regrets, to which Sudeikis asks, "Not even&...
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I recently bought a pair of jeans from the bike-lifestyle company Rapha. I find Rapha's stores, emails, and mission to be inspiring to Bridge, and I'll explain why.
First, you may ask, "What is Rapha?" Rapha is a product company that sells goods for biking, including shirts, shorts, helmets, and accessories. What is unique is the lengths it goes to foster a community (and sales!) by having a coffee shop in it, organizing riding events, offering members-only clothing...
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Jim Collins, in his book BE 2.0, explains how purpose and mission are important to companies. To help explain this, he uses the metaphor of crossing a mountain range and seeing a star on the horizon. Your purpose is to reach the spot on the horizon below the star. The current mission is climbing up the mountain you’re on. The next mission is climbing up the next mountain and so forth in order to get closer to the spot on the horizon. You will have many missions, and may never ...
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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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As a group, we're stronger. 'Me' websites, like those offered by Shopify, put businesses in a silo and isolate them. The store is left to fend for itself alone.
In contrast, Bridge is a social e-commerce platform that leverages the strengths of the group. We crowd-source product maintenance to show more products and sell more.
As such, be believe in: We > Me. This is 'the algebra of Bridge' ;)
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These days, ugly Amazon warehouses are beating up pretty retail stores. Many stores in 2020 had record online sales that made up 40% or more of revenue, but they are struggling because they had to bear the burden of retail stores. Retail stores cost more per square foot to rent, furnish, and maintain. They also cost more to staff. A warehouse person need not be a people person and a snazzy dresser; they can exhibit anger management issues and ...
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When we watch or read the news, we can see how important what we do is. We can see big and small retailers struggling to pivot to multi-channel Many stores had online sales that made up 40% or more of revenue, but they also had to bear the burden of retail stores. Retail stores cost more per square foot to rent, furnish, and maintain. They also cost more to staff: a warehouse person need not be a people person and a snazzy dresser; they can exhibit anger management issues and ...
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April 1, 2020
April 1, 2020
The link is up for anyone who wants to buy a T-shirt to support local Dublin small businesses! You can choose the business you want to support ($5 of your purchase of each shirt) before you check out! We would love for you to choose Colleen's! Every little bit helps...we are all in this together!!
Fall is here and temps are plunging. Time for some P.J. Salvage to warm you up! Pictured are the soft woven Snowed In Nightshirt and the Aspen Collection Beanie. Cheeks carries these items as well as pajamas, robes, slippers/moccasins, and more! Stop in at Cheeks and get warm!
New Harper & James Suction Cup Baby Dinnerware Sets At Glassworks!
Harper and James plates and bowls are made from high grade silicone and feature a suction base to prevent little hands from pulling. While all of the pieces look similar, they are slightly different from each other. Just like a tie dyed shirt, each of the pieces is one of a kind! All of the plates and bowls are BPA free, FDA approved, and dishwasher & microwave safe. Stop by Glassworks to see the Tiedye-Up gift sets. Click here to ...
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August 19, 2019
August 19, 2019
Maker Scarlett Markham is actually a former Parkleigh employee! She developed her line, Flour Pail Kids while working here. We thought our customers would be as amused by it as we are by Scarlett. Her quirky sense of humor mixes nostalgic icons with the edge of today to inspire her work. What could be more full of Rochester spirit than a tiny Genny Beer pin? Her Rochester icon t-shirts are also a stand out among others around town. When Scarlett isnβt designing or doing one of her jack-of-all-...
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June 20, 2019
June 20, 2019
New P.J. Salvage Stars & Skulls At Cheeks!
Cheeks just got a shipment of the new Stars & Skulls pattern from P.J. Salvage. Pictured are the Incredibly soft marled grey long sleeve, a perfect shirt for layering, and the comfy marled grey jersey short. A super soft banded grey pant and a black knit tank with mini-stud detailed skull are also available. Stop at Cheeks and find your size!