Shop Local Search: online store

A brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo so that retailers reading the magazine know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift registries.
The retailer doesn

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:00 PM • March 18, 2025

Sketch showing how we feed indie store 4x more purchases 🥗

Sketch showing how we feed indie store 4x more purchases 🥗

While at lunch, I sketched out a comparison between an indie store that doesn’t use Shop Local’s wedding registry software vs. an indie store that does. I show why a retailer using our software likely receives 400% more orders. Conversely, I believe a store not using our software is selling just 25% of what it could be.

The reason our software produces more orders is that it retains more customers along the sales funnel—from finding the registrant’s gift list, to

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 3:49 PM • March 2, 2025

$81 trillion mistake caused by human error

$81 trillion mistake caused by human error

We track the benefits of automation, and this human error caught my eye. An employee at Citigroup incorrectly typed in a refund amount, and it nearly cost the bank $81 trillion. The bank spotted this error and stopped it. The bank replied that it's adding more automation to its processes to avoid such mistakes.

While the stakes aren't as high for our indie stores, each day we see our 1,500 indie retailers manually entering product data into their POS and online stores.

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 6:20 PM • February 28, 2025

Sketch It Out 📝

Sketch It Out 📝

The Wall St. Journal recently shared how Skechers has become a major shoe player by marching to its own drumbeat.

Started in 1992, Skechers is the third largest seller of shoes in the world. But the company's history goes back even further: the founder's first company, LA Gear, which flamed out, was started in the 1980s.

Skechers grew by focusing on comfy and affordable shoes and didn't sign expensive promotion deals with active athletes. (It does partner with ex-

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 2:36 PM • February 27, 2025

Mississippi Indie Store Avoids $6,034 on Labor Costs

Mississippi Indie Store Avoids $6,034 on Labor Costs

We are pleased to announce that J Dabbs Designs has joined Shop Local to grow its online registry business after being referred by sales rep Sonny Melder. Founded by owner Jenny Dabbs, J Dabbs Designs offers interior design services, gifts, bridal registry, large scale furnishings, and more.

The store instantly received great benefits:

Customers and registrants can shop 6k+ products online.
The store avoids 9 weeks and $6,034 on

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:02 AM • February 26, 2025

Problem: An indie store has to juggle four different companies

Problem: An indie store has to juggle four different companies

The problem an indie store faces is it needs to juggle many software services, including these four:

The software that runs their online store.
The software that runs their online gift registry.
The software that gets them product data. (They get the products’ pictures and prices from this service.)
The software to placeholder wholesale orders.

The above requires four different companies. Reasons?

No company makes an online store and wedding registry software

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 5:12 PM • February 17, 2025

New Feature: Gift Registry Benefits Page

New Feature: Gift Registry Benefits Page

Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: We've added a new Benefits page to share the benefits and features of your registry service.

The Benefits page displays real statistics that are specific to your Online Store. These stats, like total number of registries serviced over the years and number of brands & products, help build trust—higher numbers better reflect your store's expertise and are more appealing to potential customers and new registry sign-ups.

The

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 5:24 PM • January 21, 2025

Printers & Stationers Avoids $7,473 and 11 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store

Printers & Stationers Avoids $7,473 and 11 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store We are excited to announce that Printers & Stationers has joined Shop Local to grow its online wedding registry business! 🎉 Referred by sales rep Bitsy Sherlock at the Atlanta market, the store was able to sign up and launch a new online store with a gift registry service—before even leaving the market.

The store instantly received great benefits:

Customers and registrants can shop 7.4k+ products online.
The store avoids 11 weeks

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:47 AM • January 20, 2025

Vista Alegre and Orrefors Promote Their Shop Local Service

Vista Alegre and Orrefors Promote Their Shop Local Service

We're happy to see Vista Alegre and Orrefors promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's February/March 2025 issue.

A brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo so that retailers reading the magazine know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift registries.
The retailer doesn't need

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:12 AM • January 20, 2025

Automation Is the Future of Retail

Automation Is the Future of Retail Today’s The Wall St. Journal shares that Walmart seeks to automate much of its business. Automation reduces costs and often makes customers happier because it lowers prices and speeds up processes.

Try to Automate Everything
Indie stores need to follow in Walmart’s footsteps ASAP and automate as much as they can, including:

Product information, pricing, pictures, and more (including website listings). (Inventory.)
Stock.
Marketing offers.

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 4:15 PM • January 15, 2025

New Top 10 Tuesday Email for Registrants 📧 🎁

New Top 10 Tuesday Email for Registrants 📧 🎁 We're excited to share a new weekly email that your Online Store can send to your registrants.

Every Tuesday, a registrant can receive a “Top 10 Wedding Gifts” email showcasing a list of a brand’s top 10 products. The email features items they can easily add to their registry. The Top 10 Tuesday email highlights a different brand each week until the wedding day.

In the example shown, we see a registrant received a Top 10 Wedding Gifts ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 7:12 PM • January 12, 2025

Help a Friend and Get a $500 Finder's Fee

Help a Friend and Get a $500 Finder's Fee Get a $500 Finder’s Fee When You Sign Up a Retailer for a Shop Local Online Store ~ Plus Your Retailer Receives $500.

Please send your referral to Shop Local.

Terms:

Merchant must be new to Shop Local.
Merchant must have a brick-and-mortar store location.
Merchant must Sync with two Syncing Brands.
Merchant must have the Online Store and Registry active.
Merchant must log in to their account.

Read more of post

Amy Stavis at Tableware Today 12:13 PM • November 21, 2024

Saying I Do to the Registry by Jason Solarek

Saying I Do to the Registry by Jason Solarek Our e-commerce platform helps 1,500 indie stores sell $22 million a year. Perhaps surprising is that more than 90% of these orders are wedding registry gifts. Our stores offer tens of thousands of goods for sale online with the lion’s share being wedding gifts. Why are wedding registry sales 90% of online sales while non-gift orders account for just 10%? Because much of the non-gift registry cake is eaten by new entrants – brands selling direct and big tech ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:50 AM • November 17, 2024

Tableware Today December / January 2025: 'Saying I Do To The Registry' and September 2024 Leaderboard

Tableware Today December / January 2025: 'Saying I Do To The Registry' and September 2024 Leaderboard

I was happy to receive the new December/January 2025 issue of Tableware Today in the mail. In my Leaderboard column, I explain the importance of wedding registries to indie stores. I also share the top performing wedding registry retailers, brands, and products from September 2024.

......

Saying I Do To Registries

Our e-commerce platform helps 1,500 indie stores sell $22 million a year. Perhaps surprising is that more than 90% of these orders are

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:49 AM • November 17, 2024

2 Brands Promote Shop Local in Tableware Today

2 Brands Promote Shop Local in Tableware Today We're happy to see Vista Alegre and KostaBoda promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's December/January 2025 issue.

A brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo so that retailers reading the magazine know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift registries.
The

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 3:38 PM • November 11, 2024

Your Potential is Unlimited …Let’s Not Let Software Limit It

Your Potential is Unlimited …Let’s Not Let Software Limit It I saw this pricing by an e-commerce provider and thought it was not smart on their part. They are placing lots of limitations on a merchant, including the amount of sales a store can receive, the number of staff a store can add, and the number of products a store can offer.

Shop Local places none of these limitations on merchants. All our plans allow a merchant to add unlimited staff and unlimited products and sell any amount it wishes. We want them...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 11:00 AM • November 7, 2024

Workshop: How to Add a Link On Your Official Website Leading to Your Shop Local Account

Workshop: How to Add a Link On Your Official Website Leading to Your Shop Local Account You’re Invited 💌

Great news: We are hosting a free, workshop to help you get more orders and wedding registries.

You're invited to join us. We'll help you add a link from your official website to your Shop Local account.

When is the workshop?

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 @ 10:00 am EST

Why attend?

When you have a link on your official website, customers can more quickly find your Shop Local Online Store and Registry service.
Registrants

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 1:03 PM • October 30, 2024

Millie Tucker Saves $22,527 and 33 Weeks Per Year in Labor by Using the Shop Local Service

Millie Tucker Saves $22,527 and 33 Weeks Per Year in Labor by Using the Shop Local Service We are thrilled to announce that Millie Tucker has joined Shop Local to grow its online business! 🎉 Offering thoughtful, personalized gifts for family, friends, and home, Millie Tucker has chosen Shop Local as its gift registry provider to help meet the needs of growing gift and registry demand in the Edmond, Oklahoma area. The store is working to establish a new registry program and will soon be opening their new storefront.

By joining Shop Local, the store ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:54 AM • October 11, 2024

Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries

Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries This article, which will appear in the December/January 2025 issue of Tableware Today, explains the importance of wedding registries to indie stores.

Our e-commerce platform helps 1,500 indie stores sell $22 million a year. Perhaps surprising is that more than 90% of these orders are wedding registry gifts. Our stores offer tens of thousands of goods for sale online, with the lion’s share being wedding gifts. Why are wedding registry sales 90% of online sales ...Read more of post

Amy Stavis at Tableware Today 10:54 AM • October 10, 2024

Let's Lead Together by Jason Solarek

Let's Lead Together by Jason Solarek Money is tight for many indie retail shops. Owners often ask themselves: What brands and products should I invest in to get the best return for my business? We have an answer to this question. Welcome to the Leaderboard. In each issue through this new column, TOP OF THE CHARTS, I’ll be sharing with you the best performing wedding registry brands and products according to my company’s data. There’s something for brands and sales reps as well: we’ll...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 2:07 PM • October 8, 2024

Table Matters Saves $30,983 and 45 Weeks Per Year in Labor Due to their Shop Local Store

Table Matters Saves $30,983 and 45 Weeks Per Year in Labor Due to their Shop Local Store We are pleased to announce that Table Matters has joined Shop Local to grow its online business. Nestled in the heart of the Mountain Brook Village, Table Matters offers gifts, home goods, tableware, bridal registry, and more.

By using their Shop Local Store, Table Matters saved $30,983 and 45 weeks in labor on website product maintenance. Through the Syncing service, the store will expand its online collection of fine gifts and home accessories. ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:04 PM • September 24, 2024

2 Brands Promote Shop Local in Tableware Today

2 Brands Promote Shop Local in Tableware Today We're happy to see Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's October/November 2024 issue.

A brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo so that retailers reading the magazine know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift registries.

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 3:56 PM • September 24, 2024

Tableware Today Column by Jason Solarek 📝

Tableware Today Column by Jason Solarek 📝 I'm happy to share the first column in an on-going series to appear in Tableware Today magazine. This article, which appears in the magazine's current October/November 2024 issue, explains our inspiration for the Leaderboard--a new tool to help retailers, brands, and sales reps.
..............

TOP OF THE CHARTS
LET'S LEAD TOGETHER by JASON SOLAREK

Money is tight for many indie retail shops. Owners often ask themselves: What brands and products
should I ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:36 AM • August 29, 2024

Tableware Today October / November 2024: 'Let's Lead Together' article and July 2024 Leaderboard

Tableware Today October / November 2024: 'Let's Lead Together' article and July 2024 Leaderboard

Great news: Tableware Today, the bi-monthly print magazine dedicated to our industry, will be publishing our Leaderboard results on the last page of each coming issue.

This article below will appear in the October/November 2024 issue of Tableware Today and explains our inspiration for the Leaderboard.

You're invited to see the monthly Leaderboard results here: https://www.shoplocal.org/leaderboard

..............

TOP OF THE CHARTS
LET'S LEAD

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 8:45 AM • August 20, 2024

Shop Local Globally 🛍️🌎

Shop Local Globally 🛍️🌎 As I was looking for inspiration for an intro for our weekly team report to combat my writer's block (props to Jason because I don't know how he comes up with something new every week), I came across a Forbes article about Ace Hardware celebrating 100 years in business. The article's title caught my attention, so I decided to give it a read.

From Local Roots to Global Reach
The title of the article, "From Local Roots to Global Reach," resonated with ...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 1:08 PM • August 16, 2024

Updated Feature: A Member Can Easily Track a Wholesale Order Without Leaving Its Own Account

Updated Feature: A Member Can Easily Track a Wholesale Order Without Leaving Its Own Account FOR BRANDS AND RETAILERS
Your Shop Local Store has an updated feature: You can now easily view the whereabouts of a wholesale order. A member can view if the order has shipped, the carrier (e.g. UPS, FedEx, etc.), and the expected delivery date.

If you're a retailer, you can view the status of multiple shipments from different brands on one page. Without this feature, you'd need to visit, say, five different brand websites or carrier websites, log in, and search...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 3:38 PM • August 14, 2024

Caroline & Company Saves $11,585 and 17 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store

Caroline & Company Saves $11,585 and 17 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store We are pleased to announce that Caroline & Company has joined Shop Local to grow its online business. Serving the Acadiana area for 27 years, Caroline & Company offers gifts, children’s clothing, home decor, furnishings, and more.

By using their Shop Local Store, Caroline & Company saved $11,585 and 17 weeks in labor on website product maintenance. The store will expand its online collection of gifts and home decor through ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:38 AM • July 29, 2024

Tableware Today: Vista Alegre Promotes the Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: Vista Alegre Promotes the Shop Local Platform We're happy to see Vista Alegre promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's August/September 2024 issue.

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:08 PM • July 24, 2024

Speranza Design Gallery Saves $10,837 and 15 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store

Speranza Design Gallery Saves $10,837 and 15 Weeks in Labor with their Shop Local Store We are pleased to announce that Speranza Design Gallery has joined Shop Local to grow its online business. Founded by Alex Lubarsky, Speranza Design Gallery showcases unique, modern designs to serve as a go-to for contemporary gifts, decor, and beyond.

Speranza Design Gallery saved $10,837 and 15 weeks in labor on website product maintenance by using their Shop Local Store. Through the Syncing service, the store will expand its online ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:51 AM • July 23, 2024

Our Retail Predictions Featured in Tableware Today Magazine

Our Retail Predictions Featured in Tableware Today Magazine Tableware Today’s Editor Amy Stavis invited me to pen the Last Word column for the August / September issue. I start by comparing e-commerce trends for selling automobiles to selling dinner plates. Online sales in both industries have swelled in the last 25 years. (I entered the e-commerce business at the right time—in 2001.)

I predict that 70% of wedding registry gift givers will never set foot in a physical store by 2030. Currently, that number is at ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 5:11 PM • June 29, 2024

MacKenzie-Childs in The Wall St. Journal

MacKenzie-Childs in The Wall St. Journal The Wall St. Journal profiles light, outdoor planters and gives a green thumbs up to a MacKenzie-Childs’ planter.

MacKenzie-Childs, a Shop Local brand partner since 2016, uses our Syncing service to display this planter and more than one thousand other products in its authorized dealers’ online stores.

Visit their Shop Local account:
https://mackenziechilds.myshoplocal.com/Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:07 PM • June 21, 2024

Whittington Gifts & Decor Saves $9,339 and 13 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Whittington Gifts & Decor Saves $9,339 and 13 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local We are pleased to announce that Whittington Gifts & Decor has joined Shop Local to grow its online business. Located in the heart of Starkville, MS, Whittington Gifts & Decor offers a unique and fun shopping experience with a great selection of products for bridal registries, men, babies, kids, and general gifts.

Whittington Gifts & Decor saved $9,339 and 13 weeks in labor on website product maintenance by using the Shop Local platform....Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 10:12 AM • June 13, 2024

The Gift Shop Saves $10,354 and 15 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

The Gift Shop Saves $10,354 and 15 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local We are pleased to announce that The Gift Shop in Thomasville, GA, has joined Shop Local to grow its online business. The Gift Shop is a Thomasville tradition offering fine gifts, elegant home decor, and exceptional small-town, individualized service.

The Gift Shop saved $10,354 and 15 weeks in labor on website product maintenance by using the Shop Local platform. Through the Syncing service, the store will expand its online collection of fine gifts and home ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 1:34 PM • June 7, 2024

Duluth Kitchen Co. Saves $1,168 and 2 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Duluth Kitchen Co. Saves $1,168 and 2 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local Shop Local welcomes Duluth Kitchen Company in Duluth, MN. Duluth Kitchen Company has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. This locally owned store offers a wide assortment of kitchen tools, gadgets, and gourmet food items.

The Duluth Kitchen Company brings specialty kitchen to Duluth. Located on the shore of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota, Duluth is a favorite destination. Visitors come to enjoy the beautiful scenery, shop, dine, ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 6:11 PM • June 4, 2024

Workshop: How to Add a Link On Your Official Website Leading to Your Shop Local Account

Workshop: How to Add a Link On Your Official Website Leading to Your Shop Local Account Great news: We are hosting a free, monthly workshop to help you get more orders and wedding registries.

You're invited to join us. We'll help you add a link from your official website to your Shop Local account.

When are the workshops?

Thursday, August 22, 2024 @ 10:00 am EST
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 @ 4:00 pm EST
Thursday, October 17, 2024 @ 10:00 am EST

Why attend?

When you have a link on your official website, customers can more quickly

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 2:14 PM • May 27, 2024

Tableware Today: 2 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: 2 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform We're happy to see Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's June/July 2024 issue.

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 12:46 PM • May 18, 2024

Health is Wealth: Healthy Websites 🍎

Health is Wealth: Healthy Websites 🍎 Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this article reflect personal opinions and observations based on experiences with website design and retail services. The content is intended to provide insights and suggestions for improving transparency and measurement in the industry. It is not intended to disparage or defame any specific company or service provider. While the author draws comparisons between the website design industry and the food industry, all claims are general ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 10:51 AM • May 8, 2024

Sabi Boutique Saves $3,020 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Sabi Boutique Saves $3,020 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local Shop Local welcomes new member Sabi Boutique in College Station, TX. Sabi Boutique has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. This fashion, accessories, and home decor shop is a destination for women to indulge and pamper themselves.

Sabi Boutique saved $3,020 and 4 weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to expand their online store’s home decor and tabletop ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 6:33 PM • April 22, 2024

Olive Branch Gardens Expands Mackenzie-Childs Assortment and Saves $2,740 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Olive Branch Gardens Expands Mackenzie-Childs Assortment and Saves $2,740 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local We are pleased to announce that Olive Branch Gardens in Wallace, North Carolina, has joined Shop Local to grow their online business. Olive Branch Gardens is a florist and gift store with a limited selection of MacKenzie-Childs products on their primary Shopify website.

Olive Branch Gardens saved $2,740 and 4 weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to expand their online store assortment and offer a ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:58 AM • April 15, 2024

Exponentially Better: The Math Behind Our Shopping Platform 🔢

Exponentially Better: The Math Behind Our Shopping Platform 🔢 In 2007, while sitting at the pub Moran’s with a beer, I drew a sketch on a napkin that would change our business. I drew a software model that would allow an indie store to instantly show (and sell) thousands of products online—without any labor. (The secret sauce: The respective brand would do the product update work for the merchants.) The immediate goal was to help my two retailers more efficiently load products onto their websites (and save me the ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 6:39 PM • April 8, 2024

Success Story: FairyTales Saves $2,740 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Success Story: FairyTales Saves $2,740 and 4 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local We are pleased to announce that FairyTales in Lombard, Illinois, has joined Shop Local to grow their online business. FairyTales is a family-owned store that offers home décor, unique gifts, collectibles, apparel, and more.

FairyTales saved $2,740 and 4 weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to expand their online store assortment and offer a gift registry program.

FairyTales, Inc. is ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 3:30 PM • March 29, 2024

Home Tonic Saves $4,120 and 6 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local

Home Tonic Saves $4,120 and 6 Weeks in Labor with Shop Local 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...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:57 PM • March 26, 2024

Tableware Today: 2 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: 2 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform We're happy to see Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's April/May 2024 issue.

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them

...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 4:49 PM • March 11, 2024

Shop Local Saves Adler’s $44,907 and 64 Weeks in Labor

Shop Local Saves Adler’s $44,907 and 64 Weeks in Labor We are pleased to announce that Adler’s, a jewelry and gift store in New Orleans, Louisiana, has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. Adler’s saved $44,907 and 64 weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to revamp the Gift Registry service they have maintained since their early days.

For over 100 years, Adler's has held its position as the leading jeweler in ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:09 PM • March 10, 2024

Drive Local: Join Shop Local and Get a Free Tesla 🚗

Drive Local: Join Shop Local and Get a Free Tesla 🚗 No one likes to pay for gas—just ask Tesla drivers. Chris Kornelis, a reporter for The Wall St. Journal, shares this week how he switched to a Tesla to save $100 a month ($1,200 a year!) on gas.

This story is important to us because if someone will pick a car to save $1,200 a year, we should be able to find what they need to save in order to pick Shop Local’s Online Store. Let’s learn from Chris and his Tesla choice.

Making Replacement ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 4:18 PM • March 1, 2024

Shop Local Saves Breed & Co. $37,435 and 53 Weeks in Labor

Shop Local Saves Breed & Co. $37,435 and 53 Weeks in Labor We are pleased to announce that Breed & Co., a retail store in Austin, Texas, has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. Breed & Co. made the decision to switch from their previous registry provider and recreate their registry program using Shop Local. Since revamping their registry program 3 weeks ago, Breed & Co. has saved $37,435 and 53 weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform.

With...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 6:53 PM • February 20, 2024

Success Story: How Cotton Bale Market Saved $1,748 with Shop Local

Success Story: How Cotton Bale Market Saved $1,748 with Shop Local We are pleased to announce that Cotton Bale Market, a retail store in Mer Rouge, Louisiana has chosen the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business.

Cotton Bale Market is a favorite local Home Store and Gift Shop. They offer a wide variety of items for decorating, gift giving, and more. Cotton Bale Market also offers a complete wedding and shower gift registry service that simplifies gift-giving for any special occasion.

By joining Shop Local, ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 10:54 AM • February 15, 2024

Success Story: Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup Saves $11,797 Using Shop Local

Success Story: Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup Saves $11,797 Using Shop Local We are pleased to announce that Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup, a retail store in Natchitoches, Louisiana has chosen the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business.

Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup is an interior décor and gift store offering a mix of traditional and non-traditional design styles. Located in the building where Natchitoches’ Historic Hotel once was, customers visit Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup to find exclusive gifts, seasonal...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 12:26 PM • February 6, 2024

The Square Gift Co. Gift Shop Saves $955 and 1 Week in Labor Using Shop Local

The Square Gift Co. Gift Shop Saves $955 and 1 Week in Labor Using Shop Local We are pleased to announce The Square Gift Co. has joined the Shop Local community of retailers. The Square Gift Co. is a retail store in Fulton, Mississippi. The store owners, Jessica Howell and Keely McMillen recently placed an order with Casafina. When their shipment arrived, it contained a flyer promoting Shop Local. The flyer helped them more easily market and sell what was in the box online. The Square Gift Co. currently has a Shopify online store but was ...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 3:56 PM • February 1, 2024

New Feature: Six Week Boarding Plan

New Feature: Six Week Boarding Plan FOR BRANDS AND DISTRIBUTORS

Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: We created a six week boarding plan to help you increase your sales as quickly as possible.

About this feature:

The six week schedule shows the boarding steps that will be completed each week to add your brand as a Syncing brand.
This schedule plans for your brand to use the Syncing and Wholesale services.
By week six (or sooner), you'll have your products on the platform and in your

...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 5:21 PM • January 31, 2024

Atkinson Floral Saves $1.8k Using Shop Local

Atkinson Floral Saves $1.8k Using Shop Local We are pleased to announce that Atkinson Floral has joined the Shop Local community of retailers. Atkinson Floral is a florist and gift shop in Atkinson, NE. The store owner, Curie Mincer, has owned and operated the business since 2016. Over the course of time, she has expanded the florist shop gift area and added a gourmet coffee shop. Her passion for her business and her community led her to expand her services to include a gift registry program, which is lacking in ...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 4:33 PM • January 18, 2024

The Persnickety Pig Saves Time and Money With Shop Local

The Persnickety Pig Saves Time and Money With Shop Local We are pleased to announce that The Persnickety Pig, a retail store in Cadiz, Kentucky, has chosen the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business.

The Persnickety Pig is home to eclectic gifts, antiquities, gourmet foods, and more. They offer a comprehensive wedding and shower gift registry service that takes the stress out of gift-giving for any special occasion.

By joining Shop Local, the store instantly receives great benefits:

Customers

...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 3:55 PM • January 12, 2024

Serenite Home Saves $18k Using Shop Local

Serenite Home Saves $18k Using Shop Local We are pleased to announce Serenite Home has joined the Shop Local community of retailers. Serenite Home is a retail store and design studio in Daphne, Alabama. The store owner, Laura Downing, recently relocated her business from California. Her passion for interior design led her to expand her services to include a retail store with home furnishings, gift and tabletop offerings.

Within a very short time, Laura had a live Shop Local Store:

By Syncing with brands,

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:51 AM • November 27, 2023

Tableware Today: Three Brands Promote Shop Local

Tableware Today: Three Brands Promote Shop Local We're happy to see Vista Alegre, Bordallo Pinheiro, and Carmel Ceramica promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's December/January 2024 issue.

In the advertisements, the brands displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Brand Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 2:00 PM • November 6, 2023

Store Owner Saves $3,000 by Choosing Save Local Service

Store Owner Saves $3,000 by Choosing Save Local Service Nur Boutique, an indie store in California, signed up for a free account last week. The store used the Brand Syncing Service to send Sync requests to top brands.

Less than a week later, Nur Boutique is now synced with 4 brands: Bugatti Italy, Pampa Bay, Rosenthal, and Versace by Rosenthal.

By Syncing, the store has 3,326 products listed on its Online Store.
When customers visit the site, they also see a news page with posts shared by the store's synced

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 7:46 AM • October 4, 2023

A Date With Calendars 📆

A Date With Calendars 📆 One of the main problems that businesses have is efficient use of time. A retailer (or brand or sales rep) seeks on a daily basis to manage their time and optimize results. (I was reminded of this while reading a The Wall St. Journal article about time management for the family.) Businesses use a variety of tools to manage and save time, including email, texting, and Zoom.

Shop Local helps businesses in their quest to save time. We offer businesses a ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 12:38 PM • September 27, 2023

Tableware Today: Vista Alegre Promotes the Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: Vista Alegre Promotes the Shop Local Platform We're happy to see Vista Alegre promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's October / November 2023 issue.

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Brand Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's entire product catalog online.
The retailer's customers can buy the products and add them to gift

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 1:31 PM • September 26, 2023

Are You a Brand? Shopify Isn’t For You

Are You a Brand? Shopify Isn’t For You Brands may consider using Shopify for their online operations. It’s important to note that brands can’t do many things with Shopify. A key Shopify problem for a brand is that the brand has to have separate “stores” for retail and wholesale customers. The reason is that Shopify doesn’t know what to charge the customer because it doesn’t know if it’s a general public shopper (that pays retail) or a retailer (that pays ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:57 AM • September 13, 2023

Tuesday, November 7th: New Features Webinar

Tuesday, November 7th: New Features Webinar For All Members:

You're invited to our next New Features Review webinar on Tuesday, November 7th at 4 pm EST.

You’ll learn:

About new features included in your Online Store.
How to save time using these new features.
How to use the features to sell more.

Members are invited to ask questions about new and existing features. A Shop Local coach will answer questions and show live examples of answers.

Why attend?

Save time.

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 2:15 PM • September 12, 2023

Store Owner Saves $1,000 by Choosing Save Local Service

Store Owner Saves $1,000 by Choosing Save Local Service H Mercantile, an indie store in Louisiana, signed up last week for a free account.

The store owner heard about the service from their Ivystone sales rep and signed up online.
In just a few minutes, the store used the Brand Syncing Service to Sync with Casafina. It instantly had data for 955 products to create an online store and gift registry filled for free.
The owner saved $1,000+ in labor on adding products to a website.
The

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 5:09 PM • September 10, 2023

Zero Sum Networks ⚔️

Zero Sum Networks ⚔️ Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this article are intended to stimulate discussion and reflect personal observations about business strategies in competitive industries. This article is not meant to make definitive claims about any specific company or its practices, and no direct comparisons between specific businesses should be construed as factual statements. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to form their own opinions based on their individual ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 3:53 PM • September 8, 2023

Tuesday, October 3rd: New Features Webinar

Tuesday, October 3rd: New Features Webinar For All Members:

You're invited to our next New Features Review webinar on Tuesday, October 3rd at 4 pm EST.

You’ll learn:

About new features included in your Online Store.
How to save time using these new features.
How to use the features to sell more.

Members are invited to ask questions about new and existing features. A Shop Local coach will answer questions and show live examples of answers.

Why attend?

Save time.
Sell

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 12:08 PM • September 8, 2023

$500 Give-Get Promotion

$500 Give-Get Promotion FOR SALES REPS

We'll pay you and the store both $500 each.

Shop Local will pay you $500 for referring a retailer.
The retailer just needs to open a free Online Store.
You can sign the retailer up, or the retailer can sign up.
Shop Local will give the retailer a $500 credit.
The retailer can use the $500 towards a paid Gift Registry feature.
A retailer can choose to just use the free services and not a paid feature. It can choose to use the $

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:12 AM • September 4, 2023

New Milestone: 1,300+ Retailers Use Our Online Store

New Milestone: 1,300+ Retailers Use Our Online Store We're happy to share that we've reached a new milestone: more than 1,300 indie retailers use our Online Store. As a reference, in 2015 just 100 stores used the platform.

Thank you to all our retailers and brand partners for making this growth and success possible.

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:31 PM • September 3, 2023

Jugaad’a Do What Jugaad’a Do 🚀

Jugaad’a Do What Jugaad’a Do 🚀 India last month joined three other countries in the exclusive club that has put a craft on the moon. What’s unique about India’s accomplishment is that it did this at a fraction of what the U.S. spends on space exploration, shares Ben Cohen in The Wall St. Journal. While the U.S.’s NASA program has a $24b budget, India’s ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) budget is just $1.3b. India, which started its space program in 1963, is able to do ...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 11:14 AM • August 25, 2023

Tableware Today: 3 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: 3 Brands Promote the Shop Local Platform We're happy to see three brands promote the Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's August/September 2023 issue.

The brands promoting Shop Local include:

Bordallo Pinheiro
Carmel Ceramica
Vista Alegre

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown.
When a brand offers our Brand Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the brand's

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 10:31 AM • August 7, 2023

Cross Promotions: Seeing Green

Cross Promotions: Seeing Green I’m at Sweetgreen, a salad-focused restaurant, and I spotted this sticker on the preparation window. Sweetgreen is promoting Sullivan Street Bakery. Why would it dare do that? I believe it’s because it benefits Sweetgreen: people use a brand’s name to quickly deduce information, such as quality and value. People know that Sullivan Street Bakery is good. And, even if they don’t know it, they know that a bakery provided it and that it’s ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:33 AM • July 21, 2023

70% of Brands offer Free Shipping vs. 13% of Stores

70% of Brands offer Free Shipping vs. 13% of Stores My team researched 40 brands' websites and 200 indie stores' websites.

Research Findings

70% of tabletop and giftware brands offer free shipping.
Only 13% of indie stores offer free shipping.
Brands on average charge $115 to receive free shipping.
Retailers often charge $191 to receive free shipping.

Read our research report:
https://www.shoplocal.org/news.cfm/22883/70-of-Brands-Offer-Free-Shipping

Conclusions

Retailers are at a major

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 6:33 PM • July 20, 2023

Garden & Gun: Nice to See Vietri and Shop Local Retailers

Garden & Gun: Nice to See Vietri and Shop Local Retailers We were happy to see our partner Vietri in this month’s Garden & Gun magazine.

Vietri, a premium designer of Italian home goods, ran a pretty advertisement in this month’s issue. The ad features 15 dealers throughout the South where one can buy Vietri.

Of the 15 stores listed, 47% (7 stores) use Shop Local's Store to more easily sell Vietri.

These retailers use our Online Store service:

Babcock Gifts: https://babcockgifts.

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 2:26 PM • July 17, 2023

Thursday, September 7th: New Features Webinar

Thursday, September 7th: New Features Webinar For All Members:

You're invited to our next New Features Review webinar on Thursday, September 7 at 4 pm EST.

You’ll learn:

About new features included in your Online Store.
How to save time using these new features.
How to use the features to sell more.

Members are invited to ask questions about new and existing features. A Shop Local coach will answer questions and show live examples of answers.

Why attend?

Save time.

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 5:24 PM • July 6, 2023

Tuesday, August 1st: New Features Webinar

Tuesday, August 1st: New Features Webinar For All Members:

You're invited to our next New Features Review webinar on Tuesday, August 1st at 4 pm EST.

You’ll learn:

About new features included in your Online Store.
How to save time using these new features.
How to use the features to sell more.

Members are invited to ask questions about new and existing features. A Shop Local coach will answer questions and show live examples of answers.

Why attend?

Save time.
Sell

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 12:37 PM • July 6, 2023

Shop Local by the Numbers

Shop Local by the Numbers

70k Gift Registries Handled
$140m+ Sold for Indie Merchants
113 Brand Syncing Partners
1,252 Retailers Using Our Online Store
18% Sales Increase with Syncing
85% of Top-selling Tableware Brands Are Clients

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:14 AM • July 6, 2023

$300 Give-Get Promotion

$300 Give-Get Promotion FOR SALES REPS

We'll pay you and the store both $300 each.

Shop Local will pay you $300 for referring a retailer.
The retailer just needs to open a free Online Store.
You can sign up the retailer or the retailer can sign up.
Shop Local will give the retailer a $300 credit.
The retailer can use the $300 towards a wholesale order with a Syncing Brand or $300 towards a paid Gift Registry feature.
Shop Local covers 100% of the above bonuses.

...Read more of post

Winnie Marvel at Bridge 9:59 AM • June 16, 2023

For Sales Reps: Help Your Stores at the Dallas and Atlanta Shows

For Sales Reps: Help Your Stores at the Dallas and Atlanta Shows For Sales Reps:

Next week is the Dallas trade show and next month is the Atlanta show. As you may know, I was a sales rep for 5 years. I owned a retail store, Magnon Jewelers, which was founded in 1890, for 37 years. Due to this, I know that preparing for the trade shows is a daunting task. Was I ever truly ready? :)

Let's help you and your stores make the most of the upcoming trade shows.

During the trade shows, Shop Local will pay you to help...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 1:53 PM • June 13, 2023

New, Live Monthly Training Series ~ Starts Thursday, July 6

New, Live Monthly Training Series ~ Starts Thursday, July 6 For All Members:

We’re launching a new, live training series. In this new monthly webinar series, you’ll learn:

About new features included in your Online Store.
How to save time using these new features.
How to use the features to sell more.

Members are invited to ask questions about new and existing features. A Shop Local coach will answer questions and show live examples of answers.

Why attend?

Save time.
Sell

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:23 AM • June 2, 2023

Acquisition

Acquisition In Andrew Chen’s book The Cold Start Problem, he breaks the network effect into three parts: engagement, acquisition, and economize. At Shop Local, we rely on the network effect and its three parts. I feel that we’re succeeding in terms of engagement but need improvement in acquisition.

Engagement
We use the 64,000 products in our Syncing service to engage 1,200 our retail clients. We email them new intros, price updates, archived items for these ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:21 AM • May 31, 2023

Training Video: For Sales Reps ~ How Shop Local Promotes Sales Reps

Training Video: For Sales Reps ~ How Shop Local Promotes Sales Reps In this webinar for sales reps, I show how Shop Local's e-commerce platform promotes sales reps.

Watch:
https://vimeo.com/831046510/40df3560d4

View a PDF of the slides:
https://bridge.myshoplocal.com/docs/BRC/Shop-Local-for-Sales-Reps---How-Shop-Local-Promotes-Sales-Reps---May-2023.pdf

Why watch?

See how your name and contact information appear in a retailer's Online Store.
See how your we allow retailers to place wholesale orders via

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:27 AM • May 30, 2023

Training Video: For Retailers ~ Beginner Training

Training Video: For Retailers ~ Beginner Training In this new webinar, I show you how to setup your Shop Local Online Store.

Watch:
https://vimeo.com/831046253/663b67a03d

View a PDF of the slides:
https://bridge.myshoplocal.com/docs/BRC/Shop-Local-for-Retailers---Beginner---May-2023.pdf

Webinar includes:

What is Shop Local.
Why 1,200 stores use Shop Local.
Who is building Shop Local.
Logging in to your account.
I'll walk you through your Success Checklist steps 1 - 4:
- Bookmarking

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 1:59 PM • May 26, 2023

Data, Filters, and Search Walk Into a Soundbar

Data, Filters, and Search Walk Into a Soundbar Apple announced last month that it's launching a new classical music app. What’s novel about the Apple Music Classical app is how it lets music fans more easily search thousands of variations of the same song. For example, let’s say you want to find a Johann Sebastian Bach song. Over the past 300 years, many musicians have done ‘covers’ of his works, and there are variations by conductor, music, year, etc., thereby producing thousands of ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 12:33 PM • May 26, 2023

Tableware Today: 4 Brands Promote Bridge's Shop Local Platform

Tableware Today: 4 Brands Promote Bridge's Shop Local Platform We're happy to see four brands promote Bridge's Shop Local platform in Tableware Today's June/July 2023 issue.

The brands promoting Shop Local include:

Bordhallo Pinheiro
Carmel Ceramica
Mary Jurek
Vista Alegre

In the advertisement, the brand displays our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logo so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown. When a brand offers our Brand Syncing service, a retailer can instantly display the ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:05 AM • May 15, 2023

We Got Sole 🩴

We Got Sole 🩴 About 15 years ago, I bought a pair of Crocs sandals in Myrtle Beach, SC. Not only were they hot pink, but the insole was traffic cone orange. My buddies hated them, but oddly others loved them. The sandals were affordable (maybe $20), comfortable, and a conversation starter.

According to last week’s The New York Times' profile on Crocs, I’m one of tens of millions of happy Crocs owners. This happiness is profitable:

Crocs’ sales have almost

...Read more of post

Jim Flattum at Bridge 5:31 PM • May 11, 2023

New Retailer 101 Training: June 6

New Retailer 101 Training: June 6 For Retailers: Get your Shop Local Store Ready to Sizzle for the Summer

We invite you to join us for a new Retailer 101 training. In this webinar, we’ll show you how to increase sales and save time.

Webinar dates from which to pick:

COMPLETE: Tuesday, May 23 at 10 am EST, or
Tuesday, June 6 at 9 am EST

In this seminar, you will learn how to:

Setup and update your Shop Local Store.
Make the most of your e-commerce

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 1:18 PM • May 11, 2023

Ferrari vs. Shop Local

Ferrari vs. Shop Local This car is fast ... Our Online Store is faster

Shop Local’s Syncing service instantly shows new products in a retailer’s Online Store. The service is free for the retailer. The brands pay for the Syncing service.

Josephine Dillon at Bridge 6:36 PM • April 12, 2023

Help Your Retailer for $1.40?

Help Your Retailer for $1.40? FOR BRANDS

A medium coffee at McDonald’s is $1.99. When a brand syncs with a retailer on Shop Local, it costs the brand $1.40 per month.

For $1.40, we do these seven things for our brand partner:

We sync an unlimited number of the brand’s products to the retailer's Shop Local Store. All updates, including price changes and new introduction launches, happen in real time. The retailer never has to

...Read more of post

Winnie Marvel at Bridge 11:56 AM • April 12, 2023

Get $300 for Hitting "Send"

Get $300 for Hitting "Send" Would you like to help your stores and make $300?

Here’s How:

Before May 31, 2023, send an email to your retailers inviting them to join you on Shop Local's e-commerce platform. We’ve written for you a sample email template you can send to them. Please find that template below. You can copy this template and send it using your email program (Outlook, MailChimp, etc.).
When you send your email, please BCC [email protected] or

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 1:51 PM • April 4, 2023

New Feature: Easily Navigate Between Orders

New Feature: Easily Navigate Between Orders Your Online Store has a new feature: We've made it easier to navigate between orders placed on your Online Store. The Order Details page now has forward and backward arrows so you can navigate between orders with one click.

Previously, to see another order, a merchant had to click on the back arrow in the browser, find the order it wished to view, and then click it. The merchant would repeat these steps every time it wished to view a different order.

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 3:49 PM • March 29, 2023

New Feature: Gift Givers Page for Registries

New Feature: Gift Givers Page for Registries Your Online Store has a new feature: We've made it easier for you and your registrants to view information about a registry's gift givers. There is now a dedicated Gift Givers page that displays purchases grouped by the gift giver.

Traditionally, orders are organized by date. This page groups orders by the gift giver. The page outputs a registry’s gift givers’ emails and addresses on one page making it handy to manage thank you notes...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:46 PM • March 27, 2023

New Feature: More Easily Access Key Product Content

New Feature: More Easily Access Key Product Content Your Online Store has a new feature: We've made it easier to access important product-related services and content. This feature reduces the number of clicks needed to perform actions and access pages.

In the Master Bar of your Store, there is now a Products icon. This icon’s drop down includes many of the popular product-related services your business likely uses. Previously, you would need to visit the Management home page to view many of...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 5:19 PM • March 20, 2023

Tableware Today: 5 Brands Promote Bridge Shop Local

Tableware Today: 5 Brands Promote Bridge Shop Local We're happy to see five brands promote Bridge Shop Local in Tableware Today's April/May 2023 issue.

The brands promoting Bridge Shop Local include:

Bordhallo Pinheiro
Carmel Ceramica
Mary Jurek
Pampa Bay
Vista Alegre

In the advertisement, the brand displays either Bridge’s ‘B’ or our ShopLocal.org logo.

A brand shows the logos so that retailers know they can easily sell the products shown. When a brand offers our Brand ...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:11 PM • March 20, 2023

Updated Feature: Easily Connect with Your Sales Reps

Updated Feature: Easily Connect with Your Sales Reps Your Online Store has an updated feature: you can now more easily connect with your sales reps.

On a brand's home page, you can invite your sales rep to join you on the Shop Local platform. Your store can also edit or remove a sales rep assigned to a brand.

Connecting with your sales reps helps your store contact the right rep more quickly, sell more products, and work more efficiently.

Please follow these steps to access this feature:

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 8:41 AM • March 16, 2023

New Feature: More Easily Access Store Settings

New Feature: More Easily Access Store Settings Your Shop Local Store has a new feature: it's now easier to access settings for your Online Store. We've moved all of your Online Store settings to their own tab in your Business Profile. Previously, these settings were combined with other information on your Profile Home tab.

With this update, your store can easily see just your Online Store settings.

Your Online Store tab contains these sections:

Retail Purchasing Online
Retail

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:35 PM • February 26, 2023

Barnes & Noble Launches New Discount Subscription Service

Barnes & Noble Launches New Discount Subscription Service The Wall St. Journal reports that Barnes & Noble has updated its subscription discount program. Previously, it had one tier that was $25/year. Now, Barnes & Noble has a two-tier system. There is a free program that offers rebates based on what you spend, and a $40/year program that gives you rebates plus more discounts and some perks at its cafes.

The new memberships are meant to help the bookseller better compete with Amazon's Prime and Walmart+.

...Read more of post

Abby Ramos-Dottin at Bridge 12:44 PM • February 15, 2023

New Feature: Tour Your Site's Navigation Menu

New Feature: Tour Your Site's Navigation Menu Your Online Store has a new feature: Using blue boxes, we have created a tour to guide you through the software's important navigation features. Taking this tour will help you save time and better utilize your software.

The tour explains these links:

Home Page
Dashboard
Activity
Your Orders
Wholesale
Your Inbox
Account Management
Syncing
Add
Display Mode
Your Profile

Please follow these steps to access the navigation tour:

...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 7:37 AM • February 8, 2023

Promotional leaflet to go in shopping bag

Promotional leaflet to go in shopping bag When I bought a gift at Sugarboo & Co., the store placed this coupon in my shopping bag. I like this strategy. I saved this coupon and left it on my countertop. That’s good for the store.

Our Store software could do something similar. It could send to customers a coupon in their digital receipts. For example, let’s imagine a person makes a retail purchase off your online Store. The customer could receive a coupon in ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 3:09 PM • February 1, 2023

Tableware Today: 5 Brands Promote Bridge Shop Local

Tableware Today: 5 Brands Promote Bridge Shop Local We're happy to see five brands promote Bridge Shop Local in Tableware Today's February/March 2023 issue.

The brands promoting Bridge Shop Local include:

Bordhallo Pinheiro
Carmel Ceramica
Mary Jurek
Pampa Bay
Vista Alegre

Jason Solarek at Bridge 9:10 AM • January 27, 2023

Do You Agree Defaults Are Important? ✅ Yes ___ No

Do You Agree Defaults Are Important? ✅ Yes ___ No When you look at your driver’s license, it lists if you’re an organ donor. Twenty years ago, only 20% of people were donors, but today 80% are—thereby saving millions of lives. Did people become more kind? No, the question on the application was changed from opt-in to opt-out. People signing up for or renewing a license are now by default enlisted in organ donation. Lesson: the right default answer in medical care can save millions of lives. ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:58 PM • December 28, 2022

Referrals: Johnny Softwareseed 👨‍🌾 🍎

Referrals: Johnny Softwareseed 👨‍🌾 🍎 In the book The Cold Start Problem, Andrew Chen says that the 'network effect’ is really three effects:

The acquisition effect
The engagement effect
The monetization effect

In the beginning, a business seeking to build a network has to concentrate on acquiring users, even if they are non-paying. Companies often give away the service, especially software companies, and we can see that with Facebook, Slack, TikTok, and many others. &...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:39 AM • October 7, 2022

Receive $65,000 in value and pay $0

Receive $65,000 in value and pay $0 The Times' magazine recently reviewed the book summarizing service Blinkist. Blinkest claims to give members $89,000 in value (the combined value of books offered) for $8/month. That's a great deal for readers.

A great deal for retailers: Bridge gives retailers $65k in value for $0 month. Bridge offers approved retailers up to 65,000 products from 109 premium brands for $0 per month. We estimate that each synced product to their online store saves them $1 ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 11:18 AM • October 3, 2022

Are We Time Givers or Takers? ⌛️⏳

Are We Time Givers or Takers? ⌛️⏳ Scott Galloway, the NYU business professor and firebrand, pens a weekly, attention-grabbing article about business trends. In last week’s post, he noted the rise of the attention economy. (...Yes, my post is an attention-seeker writing about an attention-seeker writing about attention.) Comparing our current economy to those of the past, Mr. Galloway notes that today’s oil is time. He tracks the growth of digital companies like Netflix, Microsoft, ...Read more of post

Jason Solarek at Bridge 4:44 PM • August 26, 2022

Click Hear 🎧

Click Hear 🎧 Whenever I visit my 76-year-old mom in Myrtle Beach, SC, she picks me up and the oldies station is playing in her car. I’ve tried changing that dial, and one has a better chance of outmaneuvering tennis star Daniil Medvedev. I imagine the oldies music brings her back to her youth. I read a study that people’s favorite song is often when they were 17 years old. That’s right: the 'best songs’ may not be the best songs but rather ...Read more of post