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Coffee for Millennials

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I recently ordered some coffee from the Death Wish Coffee Company.  I’m not kidding. This new company is quickly establishing itself in the market, particularly among younger buyers  including the fast-growing Millennial generation. Death Wish is a long way from the Folgers that Mrs. Olson pitched on TV back in the 1970s. Like many companies, coffee sellers are changing the way they package and market their products to appeal to the new wave of younger buyers.

With a logo that includes a skull and cross bones the coffee they sell pushes the limits of caffeine, nearly doubling the standard dose included in most store brands. This coffee is, well… serious. And I suspect Millennials will soon make it their brand of choice. Read more →

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It’s About Marketing

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January 11, 2016,

Pick any industry and you’ll find that marketing is often at the foundation of its success.  If you think about all the marketing you’re exposed to in your everyday life it’s almost overwhelming. Marketing can be subtle or it can in your face.  Some marketing is stealth and sneaks in the back door, while other types just kick the front door open.  The good news, it all works.

Marketing is all around us.  It’s on T-shirts.  It’s on billboards. It saturates all types of media. And, it infiltrates even the most discrete forms of communication.  It’s insidious… but necessary. Think about it.  If you don’t tell people what you are selling (I.e., marketing) then they won’t come to you to buy it. Read more →

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Busy Equals Happy

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In cities all across the country, quality employees are becoming harder to find. So, if you’re having a difficult time retaining your best employees, a good strategy may be to just make them work a little harder.

The retail work environment, particularly in museum and institutional stores, can be laid-back even with a steady stream of customers.  But for some employees, this unique pace may not feel challenging enough for them.
Read more →

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Looking Back and Ahead

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December 28, 2015

It’s hard to believe that 2015 is quickly sliding into our rear-view mirrors. In many ways, it was yet another year of retail as usual. I’m sure for many museum stores the end of the year looks much like the beginning of the year.  Some stores within museums and institutions can be somewhat protected from seasonal changes with their business rising and falling based on the strength of the attendance of their institutions.

But as we peek around the corner at the new year some of that insulation may wear thin. Every facet of larger institutions could come under review if budgets get tight or if existing business and operating models are overhauled.

Read more →

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Boutiques of the Most Excellent Kind

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December 21, 2015

I find myself again immersed in all the holiday excitement, shopping and traffic. Even with the prospect of crowds of shoppers, lines at the airport, and fatigued UPS and FedEx drivers everywhere I turn, it’s still an exciting time of year for me. In spite of the chaos, it’s also a good time to stop and take stock. This year, I decided to make a special effort to step back and really look at what’s important to me – family, friends and the values I hold dear. Read more →

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5 (or more) Reasons to Go Grey

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December 14, 2015

Depending on what market you’re in, you may be finding that good employees are in short supply. As the economy heats up, the demand for retail-level employees is starting to create problems throughout all industries. To maintain your roster of employees, especially throughout the holiday season, you may have to get creative as you search for the newest member of your team.

Certainly, you can try all the usual avenues for finding new hires. Craigslist, the local want ads, the job board at your local college and referrals. But don’t forget that your best employee may be coming from a different direction. Read more →

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Where’s My Email?

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December 7, 2015

As an avid museum- goer, I have to be on dozens of museum mailing lists. So where’s my e-mail?

With Thanksgiving a fading memory, we are now squarely into the holiday shopping season. And, it’s no secret that online sales are challenging brick and mortar stores for retail supremacy. A survey conducted by the National Retail Federation shows that more than 151 million people shopped either in a store or online. Online shopping even has gained an edge over in-store shopping, with the survey showing 103 million people shopped online, while 102 million people shopped in stores. Obviously, a big number of people are shopping in both places. Read more →

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14 Ways to Go from Ordinary to Extraordinary

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November 30, 2015

 Your store isn’t just about what you sell – it’s about how you make your customers feel. People want to spend time in places they enjoy, and customers of specialty retailers have higher expectations around what that experience should be. The way you deliver that experience is through exceptional customer service.

Here are 14 tips you can take advantage of to make every interaction with your store an extraordinary one. Read more →

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The Future of Retail

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November 23, 2015

I have to admit that shopping at Sam’s Club is not exactly a glimpse into the future of retail. 500,000 square feet of concrete floors and metal shelves doesn’t sing out cutting-edge. But recently, they added a machine that’s provides a look at a possible future. The machine is about half the size of a pop vending machine, and it sits quietly near one of the aisle end caps… until you walk by it. When it senses motion, as you approach, it perks up and in a friendly and very lifelike voice asks, “Would like a free sample?” Samples of nearly every food item or vitamin product are an anticipated event for kids and many adults during a Sam’s Club visit. These machines are part of the adventure as well. If you decide you want a free sample, you simply scan your membership card and out pops the free sample du jour. Read more →

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What is that?

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November 16, 2015

Recently, I was driving down the highway and on one of those large signs that report traffic conditions, there was a message asking motorists to keep an eye out for a white SUV and it gave the license number. At the top of the message was it read “Blue alert.”

I’ve heard of Amber alerts, red alerts, yellow alerts, silver alerts, and even a local alert called a Medina Alert. But what’s a blue alert?  My next step was to check out Wikipedia when I got to my destination. Read more →