Author: Gordon Hecht

It’s fairly common these days to feel a bit of technology overload. Just when we finally mastered the skill of getting the thermal paper loaded in the fax machine, they put Zoom, Slack, TikTok, and Whoop-Dee-Doo on our laptops.

This Sunday, July 4, is the 245th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six colonists hopped on the 18th-century version of a Zoom call and told King George III of England, “Ye can shinny up a thy flagpole.”

It was about 150 years ago that one of the first “how-to” books, Samuel Smiles’ Self-Help, became a bestseller.

It’s a great time to look for a job! And in a weird way, a great time to hire people too.

It’s almost half-past 2021 and it’s business as unusual out there.

A key to achieving business success is growth.

Whether choosing to grow within a market or extending reach statewide, nationally or internationally, businesses must expand continually. The opposite choice — to remain motionless — is to be resigned to stagnation and demise.

Records (especially ’80s glam rock) were made to be broken. It’s true in our retail world too.

Perhaps, if you think about it, you can remember the experience of having a first date.

It’s very likely that your incoming bedding shopper never buys the cheapest wine, cut of meat, athletic shoe or automobile. They probably don’t live in the cheapest house in town. Yet they come in looking for the cheapest mattress.

This year, just like last, seems to bring issues (problems) and challenges (big problems) that we’d never image could happen. You’d run out of fingers and toes before you’d complete the list.

Our shoppers have very simple requirements. Since the time humans first walked on the moon, the buying decision has been based, in order, on an incredible price or promotion on the right product, in a convenient location, with the expectation of delivery on demand.

The movie version of The Wizard of Oz premiered 82 years ago. Even though it didn’t have to compete against anything as well-crafted as Howard the Duck or Madea’s Family Reunion, it was not a commercial success. People said the movie wasn’t as good as the book.

On a recent auto journey, my ever-lovin’ bride and I streamed “My Favorite Things” performed by The Supremes, Kelly Clarkson, John Coltrane and Mary J. Blige, along with the more familiar version by Ms. Andrews. With many miles of generic American highway ahead, I got to thinking about some of my favorite things in our retail world.

Even if you’re not a fan of slasher movies, you probably have heard about the main character in the movie series “Halloween.”

It is said that “free” is the most powerful word in advertising.

It’s not a day off from work (yet) but Valentine’s Day is that undeclared holiday that ranks in the top five in cultural importance.

Whether your organization has two layers or 22, messages and information can get diluted, changed and revised as it filters down or bubbles up.

It should come as no surprise that The White Glove Inspector is heading to your store. After all, you invited her! She doesn’t work for your landlord or suppliers, but her opinion of your store’s appearance is vital to your success.