Author: Publisher

Independent Retailer magazine recently spoke with Rob Caskey, VP of Marketing and Direct Sales for Liquidity Services’ Retail Supply Chain Group, which includes the Liquidation.com and Secondipity.com marketplaces. Caskey oversees all marketing, branding and customer acquisition activities for these marketplaces, as well as leading the direct sales division.

SJT Enterprises, a consumer products company that makes all their products in the USA, has come out with two new decorative wood plaques. The company has introduced new larger sports plaques to its popular line of “Fan Zone” plaques and a new line of military plaques for the moms and dads of service men and women.

People of all ages have been having fun with harmonicas for hundreds of years. The musical instrument’s popularity continues with the world’s smallest working harmonica on a necklace from Village Square. The product is a big hit in all kinds of gift and souvenir shops, especially in historic markets, and science and nautical museums. It comes individually bagged with free custom header cards, which can be customized on the front to share company name, event and/or logo, while the back offers simple song instructions.

Many business owners are frustrated by social networking sites that have not achieved the results they expected. That usually means they were expecting too much without putting in the required effort. Unfortunately, building a profile and even staying active on a site is not enough to bring people to you. The secret to successful use of social media is making connections and feeding relationships to develop strong bonds. To do this, businesses have to make it about people and not about their products.

Options abound this season for indie retailers to profit from fashion accessories. Whether you are looking for the trendiest hip-hop crosses and pendants, reflective or name drop bracelets, royal themed bags or wallet-like cell phone cases, there is something for everyone in today’s trending styles.

Shopgate Inc., a mobile commerce provider, has introduced a new flexible pricing model that enables online merchants to set their own pricing for its award-winning mcommerce solutions. The new pricing structure allows ecommerce stores to customize their minimum contract period, fees and mobile integration in order to enter the rapidly growing mobile shopping market.

Customer service is important to your retail store because first impressions matter…a lot! The employee greeting your customers and answering the phone is the most important person in your store from a customer service standpoint. They are the first contact with your customers, and they must make your customers smile.

The October 2013 issue of Independent Retailer Magazine includes trends in jewelry, handbags and cell phone cases. Check out more timely Product Trends, News, and Marketing…

Retailers need to look for ways to increase sales and margins, and one good option is opening price-point merchandise. Opening price-point merchandise in a general merchandise/variety store fills a void between in-line programs and promotional merchandise, without jeopardizing sales.

Hi-Dow International manufactures portable, hands-free personal electro-therapy devices, known as TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) units, that relieve acute and chronic pain. TENS therapy has been prescribed by doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors for decades.