Congratulations
John & Holly!

We are pleased to announce the engagement of John Deery, one of the
principals of J.D. Associates, to Holly Frost. I'm sure you will join us in wishing them all the best that life has to offer.

Motivating Your Retail Staff in Slow Times

– Debbie Allen

KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET: Retail is a day-to-day business. Some days you are HOT and some days you’re NOT. Don't buy into the down economy.

This is not a bad economy—the U.S. will experience a 10 trillion dollar economy this year alone. There is a lot of money to go around! If you are doing the right things to market your business and staying in touch with your customers on a regular basis, they will return after your slow period of summer vacations, back to school, etc.… [Get the full story]

10 Steps to Merchandising

– Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

1. Change your displays monthly. Holidays and seasons only last so long, and promotional goods have a short shelf life. Display new arrivals first. If you ordered merchandise meant to go together, keep it together. You don’t want its first appearance to be diluted. Later, the few items that may be left can be grouped with new arrivals to give them a new look. If you ordered holiday candles from one vendor, mugs from another, and teas from another, wait for them all to arrive. Don’t put the candles out first as a sole item and lose the potential add-on-sale. [Get the full story]

Rick's Year-End Thoughts

– Rick Segel

As the year comes to an end, I feel so grateful for the most amazing year of my professional life. I did another speaking tour in Australia and both consulted and presented to a group of Saudi nationals in London where I learned a different way of looking at the world.…The Retail Awards Program in Massachusetts, that we started 9 years ago, honored a record 10 deserving retailers this year at the annual star-studded program. But the best part about the year was touching the lives of so many people and receiving the most wonderful notes, letters, and emails. [Get the full story]

From the President: Have You Been “Carded” Lately?

– Don Capman

A couple of weeks ago as I was standing in the express checkout line at the supermarket, a gentleman was making a cigarette purchase when the clerk asked for his ID. Appearing to be not a day under sixty and amazed that he was being “carded,” the man looked both annoyed and flattered at the same time. Incidentally, “express” checkout, I’m sure you will agree is a serious misuse of the word as I’ve waited longer in the so-called “express” line than the regular checkout. [Get the full story]