I have been writing a blog for my fellow independent retailers for many years now (there are over 750 entries so far). Jason has suggested that I add these Specialty Shop Retailing posts to my shop's Bridge feed every Monday, so I'm going to try to do that. In the meantime, I invite you to take a look at some of the past entries - and to watch for "Savvy Store Solutions," my bimonthly column in Gifts and Decorative Accessories magazine. I want us all to be successful!
&...
Read More
August 6, 2018
August 6, 2018
Have plans next Monday morning? Make some time to hear retail expert Carol Schroeder speak at 10:30 am EST at NY NOW.
Details: Successful Selling in Today's Experience Economy Monday, August 13, 2018: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
The consumer trend towards preferring to spend money on experiences instead of things is not limited to just Millennials and Gen Z shoppers - so it’s important to think about how to market your store to these customers. Proving a delightful shopping experience is essential. And ...
Read More
April 23, 2018
April 23, 2018
What happens if you store receives an order from a manufacturer and needs to send it back? Just ask Carol Schroeder. Her book Specialty Shop Retailing has a suggested form to handle these mess ups. You can even download the form on her website.
View Post
March 19, 2018
March 19, 2018
I agree with Carol about making a non-linear store plan. As an example, William-Wayne, which has two locations in NYC, has almost serpentine pathways around the stores that are chockablock with goods. The longer a customer is in the store, the better.
View Post
February 17, 2018
February 17, 2018
Would you think that an award-winning indie store owner is also a poet and Danish translater? Well, that’s our friend Carol Schroeder. We’re reading her book Specialty Shop Retailing and we were happy to learn more about her on her references page. She’s a deep soul.
View Post
February 16, 2018
February 16, 2018
A special thanks to Carol Schroeder for recommending Bridge in her latest book Specialty Shop Retailing. ............................
One of my favorite quotes from a retailer about the last edition of Specialty Shop Retailing is this one: “I have read, highlighted, marked up and re-read this book so many times it groans when I pick it up!” It’s been so much fun for me to hear from shopkeepers around the world about how helpful they have found the first three editions of my book, which sold over 40,000 copies and were translated into Russian. I am very happy to announce that the fourth edition has just been published as a ...
Read More
January 29, 2018
January 29, 2018
What should your business do in 2018? The first step: get this new book from indie store owner and author Carol Schroeder. In this 4th edition of this famous series, Carol tackles the Amazon topic, new ways to succeed in this era, and even offers downloadable forms.
Carol Schroeder, a shop owner that writes about retail, suggests in her weekly column that stores give up and let Amazon and other online entities eat their lunch. Upon reading this, I had to ask: "pardon me?"
Carol appears to be wearing a troglodyte's writer cap. Steer clear of her advice. Bridge encourages you to use the most efficient tools to get online, get found in Google, and sell.
Excerpt from Carol's column:
"...Most of us didn't go into retailing in order to handle faceless orders ...
Read More
August 26, 2013
August 26, 2013
A HUG FOR TODAY
by Carol Schroeder
Monday, August 26, 2013
"Positive people power is fundamental to overall success of any business." This simple message is at the core of the book, Hug Your Customers, by Jack Mitchell -- a work that is now celebrating its 10th anniversary, but contains ideas for customer service that are timeless. Jack Mitchell and family own the most successful independent retail stores in the country, Mitchells of Westport. He fosters a culture of
August 8, 2011 If you feature products on your website, you know that it can take a lot of time to keep the photos and information current. The Bridge is an innovative approach to solving this problem for retailers, connecting brands, shopkeepers and customers online by "stocking...
Read More