Retail Education
Home furnishings and lighting retailers face many challenges in this ever-changing economy. From new consumer expectations to online competition, today's retailers work hard to ensure their customers have access to on-trend products and great customer service. In this section, you'll find all things retailing — news, features, analysis and tools — needed to make your retail business a success.
How to Use Instagram Stories in Your Digital Marketing Strategy
When Instagram stories first debuted in 2016, the reaction among many app users seemed lukewarm. We already had Snapchat, the app that similarly lets users share disappearing photos and videos. But…
What Showrooms Should Know About Consumer Report's Research on Furniture Tip-overs
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), part of Consumer Reports (CR) which publishes news and research regarding product safety, news and developments for consumers, released new research…
Who to Watch Today
Welcome to Consumer Snapshot, where we dissect generational behaviors to help you sell your products and services more effectively. As a primer to what we’ll be covering in this department, we’ve…
Rattan To Me
There was a time when we loathed all things from the 70s. To be fair, the decade had its share of style busts. Raise your hand if images of shag carpet (in the bathroom), inflatable furniture and the…
The Shops Around the Corner
As high-end furniture stores across the country continue to dwindle in numbers — falling victim to everything from changing tastes and lifestyles to increasing competition online — small, inviting…
How to Build a Basic Digital Marketing Strategy in Four Easy Steps
A digital marketing strategy is a plan to build your digital presence in order to increase traffic to your website and ultimately to your store. You don’t need to have a background in marketing,…
3 Big Lessons from the Latest String of Bankruptcies and Closures
Last week, the retail industry — and the hundreds of people still humming "I don't wanna grow up, I wanna be a Toys R Us kid" song — got a nasty shock when toy retailer Toys R Us announced it would…
4 Signs It’s Time For a Rebrand
You may think of strong branding as something reserved for giants like Coca-Cola, but businesses of all sizes can focus on creating a distinct brand identity. Your branding can tell potential…
5 Tips for Creating a Compelling Newsletter
Although video is all the rage, and podcasts are the hot new thing, don’t underestimate the power of an effective newsletter. A tool to connect with your audience, a newsletter can help build trust…
2018: Year of the Smart Home, Part 1
When you think about Amazon’s top sellers, you may consider books, or even a toy. Wait, maybe a video game?
Actually, during the 2017 holiday season, its top seller was none of the above. It was…