Tag: retail

  • Niche Retailer TrollAndToad.Com Makes Inc. 5000 Again

    Clicks and mortar retailer TrollAndToad.com came in at #1063 in the Inc. 5000  fastest growing private companies in America for the second year with 285% revenue growth over the last three years. TrollAndToad.com is a the world’s largest retailer of collectible games. That is the very definition of niche. So these guys are successful retailers.…

  • A&R Scandal: Tower Books’ Michael Rakusin Replies

    Michael Rakusin, Director of Tower Books replied to Charlie Rimmer‘s letter. I’ve emailed a request to reproduce Michael’s email here, but in the meantime you can read it at Susan Wyndham’s Undercover blog. That way the conversation can allow trackbacks around the blogosphere. I look forward to watching the fall-out in the industry over this.…

  • Angus & Robertson Scandal: Demands cash from 40% of suppliers

    Angus & Robertson sent a letter to 40% of their suppliers demanding cash payments and rebates as a condition of continued business. The scandal broke at Susan Wyndham‘s Undercover blog over at the Sydney Morning Herald, firstly in Bookshop chain puts bite on small publishers and then in more detail today A&R Dumps Books. A friend…

  • Would you like fries with that?

    On of my favourite quotes is  “would you like fries with that?” It is the best-known, English-language suggestion sell. And it works. Every business can up-sell something to a customer who has their wallet open.  It’s just a matter of getting creative enough on your product or service offering. I tend to favour the suggestion…

  • Deal with the Micro Manager

    Deal with the Micro Manager

    A former CEO of mine was a micromanager. I knew this before I took the job as the company was a client for a couple of years. Socially, I like my boss and we’ve know each other for many years. I’d even call us friends. Given my interest in entrepreneurship, I have strong feelings against…

  • Retail KPI’s – the germination

    I’m developing a series of KPI’s for a retail operation. They own nine garden shed outlets and don’t currently track anything. It’s late and I’ve got a pile of notes, but I’ll document the process here. One of the key elements is avoid collecting useless data, and reward the collection of useful data that reinforces…