In 1999 one guy named Nick Swinmurn was walking around a mall looking for shoes. One store had the right size, but not the right color. Another store had the right style, but not the right size. The task of finding a simple pair of shoes was anything but simple. So, he went online. Again, he...
It’s that time of year again. Co-op advertising for 2016 is due to be submitted for reimbursement. In the midst of that paperwork, you need to find out from your vendors what your co-op allowance is for this year and make a plan on how best to utilize it. A lot of vendors have made changes...
Imagine for a moment that there is a potential customer out there, eager to shop and purchase the products they most desire. Now imagine that customer stepping foot into a retail store so labyrinthine and full of obstacles that just seeing it from the front door would make them turn and walk away. Perhaps the front...
I went through most of my pre-teen years thinking the rest of the civilized world enjoyed a delectable breakfast of waffles just like I did… smothered in peanut butter. Specifically, homemade waffles, covered in Jif peanut butter and Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup… with a nice cold glass of milk. Absolutely delicious. Alas, apparently most children consumed cereal...
One of my favorite quotes, a Russian proverb, is engraved on the side of our downtown, Toledo library. “There is no shame in not knowing, only in refusing to learn.” It resonates for me for several reasons. There are those who thirst for knowledge. For them, there are no limits to what they want to learn....
The New Year is a new slate. It can actually be invigorating. It’s a time to look back and ascertain what went well, and quite frankly, not so well. Personally, I’m not about New Year’s resolutions. Mainly because I have never kept one. Mainly because they are all about losing weight. And, that can’t happen when...
Forgive me for this article, retailers, as I want to talk about media for 2017. I know most of are in the holiday mode now and have just held or will be hosting your annual client holiday party. You do not want to talk about 2017 now, as you’re worried about how your year will end. That said,...
When I’m not tackling client projects and responsibilities at Fruchtman Marketing, I spend some of my free time at a local gym teaching a few fitness classes. Recently, there were some complaints from members that I overheard, regarding some extra fees for a specialized class the gym was going to offer this summer. They felt it...
Hollywood Reporter had an interesting story in September regarding the new “must have” in your personal mansion. Many of the ultra- affluent have built what appears to be a secondary luxury home equipped with secret panels, bookcases and mirrors. Some are well below the earth’s surface and many are equipped with home theatres along with cigar...
Are you a Zombie Jeweler? I hope not, but it’s important to take a close look. We have to be careful because the world is changing and it’s easy for retailers to turn into...