Retail sucess story: Beecroft & Bull

Thriving in the luxury menswear retail business for almost 50 years? That's real retail marketing success. Beecroft & Bull in Virginia stays nimble, keeps up with fashion changes, and stocks quality exclusive items that aren't available elsewhere. Craig and Bryan Beecroft produce a yearly "Beecroft & Bull" magazine to keep more than 15,000 customers abreast of changes in clothing styles. The story from the Richmond Times Dispatch. Yes, the company has a good website.

Marketing to Baby Boomers

"Boomers", born between 1946 and 1964, are 24% of the population but account for 55% of all discretionary spending. They are a great target for retail marketing ... big spenders. Retail chains seem to be in love with youth, so the door is wide open for independent retailers. Identify products that Boomers want to buy. Promote them where the Boomers are, and use Boomer-age models in your ads. And for goodness sake, use large print in ads, signs and price tags! AgingHipsters is a fun blog about Baby Boomer news, including frequent business news.

Tsunami Relief

Amazon.com has made it easy to make a donation to the Red Cross for tsunami disaster relief. Good work.

Independent Retail Survival in America

Challenges of the Future is a free white paper offering strategies for the future survival and growth of independent retailers. It includes 17 informative case studies with successful independents in a variety of merchandise lines around the country. The paper outlines major trends impacting independent retailers and significant challenges and obstacles to doing business as it has been done in the past by independents. A detailed list of resources (websites, publications, organizations, consultants and other information) is also online. This may be the finest online resource for retail marketing and management.

Retail success story: Archie McPhee

Plastic ants and librarian action figures are part of the really strange inventory at Archie McPhee, an 11,500 square foot store in Ballard, Washington. Strange but fun. This just proves that no retail marketing niche is too small (or unusual). Sell what you like ... and expand your potential market with a catalog or website. A profile of the business and its owner. Maybe the rest of us take the world a little too seriously. Here's the Archie McPhee website.

Luxury boutiques are sure bet in Sin City

Luxury shopping has become part of the attraction in Las Vegas. Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Nieman Marcus, Gucci, Prada, Dior and many many more dot the casino resorts. The city racked up $2.9 billion in retail sales from tourists last year. Annual sales per square foot in the Forum Shops at Ceasar's Palace are $1,471 (160 shops).

Family business

Family-owned businesses form the backbone of the world economy. This article takes a look at the community benefits and long-term struggles of family-owned businesses in the St Cloud area.

Closed for the holidays

In Adelaide, Australia, the government forces all retail stores to close for 6 days between Christmas and New Years Day. Retailers argue that the enforced closure costs employees over $17 million in lost wages.

Mini theme-parks as retail marketing

Some toy retailers have turned their stores into mini theme parks to attract customers. American Girl Place, Toys R Us' flagship store in Times Square, and the new FAO Schwarz are some of the leaders in "destination" toy stores. American Girl promotes their stores as a place to spend the day. Little stores can get in the act too ... at The Little House, an independent toy store in Baton Rouge, little girls can dress up and have tea parties. And, of course, other types of stores use this retail marketing tactic too ... even furniture stores. The extremely successful Jordan's Furniture in New England offers "shoppertainment", including IMAX theaters!