A Winning Game Plan
All-Stars Focus On Personal, Industry Growth During the Memorial Day weekend, I spent time touring Napa Valley wine country. A…
Browsing: Opinions
‘What’s The Difference?’
Success Requires A Convincing Answer Consumer indifference is a threat to independent retailers. All retailers are vulnerable when people don’t…
Check Yourself Out
For the past two years, SoulCycle has been my exercise of choice. I love everything about how I feel when…
An Emotional Experience
The premium kitchen cutlery industry has resisted radical marketing and merchandising change through the years. Perhaps with good reason. High-end…
So Much To ‘C’-Consider Candid, Constructive Collaboration
I’ve written in this space about the three C’s that make up the core of a full-fledged gourmet housewares store:…
Spark Joy
My best friend sent me a picture of her freshly-organized drawers. “I finally watched Marie Kondo. I am changed,” the…
Inspired Living
Let’s talk about home entertainment for a minute. No, I’m not talking about the plethora of bad reality shows that…
Food Focused
You keep hearing (and we keep writing) about how you should no longer simply try to sell more “stuff” to…
Serious Business
All-Star Success Takes More Than Passion It’s summer gift and gourmet market time, which means it’s time to recognize the…
It’s All In The Delivery
In a strange turn of events, I found myself on a fishing trip with Chef Michael Mina. An accomplished chef,…
You’ve Got A Friend
Technology. Friend? Or Foe? To many independent retailers, technology is the antithesis of such time-tested business virtues as handpicked assortments,…
Local Flavor
During a recent trip north of the border to Quebec City, I found myself standing in front of Pot en…
A Destination With Energy
On a recent visit to SoulCycle for 45 minutes of indoor cycling torture, an article posted on the wall caught…
Taking Stock
It’s inventory time — a time to assess what sold through, what’s left on the shelves and what the shopping…
Overcoming New Hurdles
In years past, independent gourmet housewares stores knew their competitors, who were often up the street or around the corner.…
What’s Your Story?
Allow me to wax nostalgic about retailing for a moment. Remember when the brand on the outside of a store…