Retail Policies and Practices

Yes, You Can Buy That Business: Nine Financing Solutions for the Liquidity Ice Age July/August 2009 by by Chad Simmons, author of Business Valuation Bluebook, 4th Edition: How Successful Entrepreneurs Price, Buy, Sell and Trade Businesses The recession has created some great opportunities, but financing them can be tricky. Here’s how to do it in spite of the current credit crunch. Click here to read this article.

Win Sales With Great Questions September/October 2008 by Richard Fenton with Andrea Waltz Retail consultant Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz explain how to ask the kind of questions the will get customers buying. Click here to read this article.

What Will Happen to the Malls? January/February 2010 by Tina Manzer Poor in-store sales, high vacancy rates and low rents indicate that indoor shopping malls may be on their last legs. What’s the next big shopping destination concept? Is there one? Click here to read this article.

What Toys Teach July/August 2008 by Phil Wrzesinski Television is educational, but what is it teaching? Specialty toy retailer Phil Wrzesinksi believes we should ask that same question about today’s toys. Here are some lessons he’s learned Click here to read this article.

What Specialty Toy Retailers Do Right May/June 2007 by Stacy Majewicz Tips and tricks for making a business successful, contributed by edplay readers Click here to read this article.

Use Customer Data to Prevent Bad Returns March/April 2009 by Kari Anderson A new report offers insight into today’s popular retail return scams and how to prevent them Click here to read this article.

Two Toy Stores Get Help November/December 2004 by Tina Manzer Helpful business practices Click here to read this article.

Turn Baby, Turn September/October 2009 by Cathy Donovan Wagner, Retail Mavens The following is a true story. The names have been changed to protect an innocent idiot. Click here to read this article.

Tricks to Give Your Website Punch July/August 2004 by Vicci Cook Click here to read this article.

Trends for 2010 March/April 2004 by Kari Anderson Retail Forward Inc. predicts changes to the retail landscape in coming years Click here to read this article.

Thriving Small Businesses Lift Real Estate Values November/December 2011 Neighborhoods with thriving independent businesses saw home values out perform citywide markets by 50 percent over the last 14 years. Click here to read this article.

The Industry Buzz About Holiday Shopping September/October 2008 by Anya Harris Retailers share their fourth-quarter strategies. Click here to read this article.

The Detail of Retail Quiz January/February 2007 by Doug Fleener Click here to read this article.

The Day After Tomorrow November/December 2012 by Alyssa LaFaro The twinkling lights are unplugged. The store is quiet. It’s dark when you head to work early to process returns. It’s dark when you drive home. Your staff yawns as they count and sort inventory. You plan for Toy Fair and taxes. Click here to read this article.

The “Did You See This?” Strategy September/October 2008 by Tina Manzer Put selling tips from retail expert Rick Segel into action this fourth quarter. Click here to read this article.

The 10-Percent Rule: An Answer to the Marketing Budget Mystery January/February 2006 by Celia Rocks Wondering how much to spend on marketing in 2006? Seasoned marketing guru and author Celia Rocks clears up the annual quandary Click here to read this article.

Sunday is the New Saturday: Is your store open? September/October 2005 by Kari Anderson Click here to read this article.

Stretching the Season: How This Year’s Early Hanukkah May Affect Toy Stores November/December 2002 by Kari Anderson Retailers and reps predict what the early timing of Hanukkah will mean for your business Click here to read this article.

Stay Focused During Seasonal Chaos November/December 2008 by Duane Schreiner Click here to read this article.

Simmer Down Before Holiday Shopping Heats Up November/December 2007 by Doug Fleener Retail expert Doug Fleener lists pitfalls to avoid during the busy season Click here to read this article.

Silence: The Secret Weapon of Successful Negotiators January/February 2008 by Liz Tahir Click here to read this article.

Show me the Money – How to Make Your Toy Store More Profitable May/June 2008 by Kari Anderson Financial planner Al Bates offers step-by-step advice for improving your gross margin percentage and increasing sales faster Click here to read this article.

Shopping for Ideas in New York City September/October 2003 by Kari Anderson Find out what we saw on the New York International Gift Fair's "Only in New York" Retail Tour Click here to read this article.

Shopatron Offers a New Solution for Online Sales September/October 2005 by Kari Anderson Products offered online connect consumers and retailers Click here to read this article.

Saying Good-Bye Efficiently November/December 2010 by Tina Manzer Tom and Sandy Purington share exit strategies as they close their toy and teacher resource store in Maine Click here to read this article.

Riding the Perfect Wave July/August 2002 by hris Pope, The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company Tips to maximize your inventory’s productivity Click here to read this article.

Pumping Up Holiday Sales November/December 2009 by Kathleen McHugh ASTRA President Kathleen McHugh shares advice for retailers looking for fourth-quarter success, with an emphasis on three core areas: inventory, customer service and customer communication Click here to read this article.

Pick the Perfect Product January/February 2006 by Kari Anderson Specialty retailers offer their best product-selection secrets Click here to read this article.

One Bite at a Time July/August 2010 by Cathy Donovan Wagner Click here to read this article.

No Time for Training March/April 2008 by Tina Manzer Specialty toy and museum store retailers offer ideas for efficient and effective staff training. Click here to read this article.

Move It Out & Move On March/April 2007 by Duane Schreiner Click here to read this article.

Managing Employees of All Ages January/February 2010 If you’re like most independent toy-store owners, you’re using this retail transition time to step back and look at your store with new eyes. Click here to read this article.

Managing Accounts Payable September/October 2009 From Play for Profit, a new book produced by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association Click here to read this article.

Make Returns Painless September/October 2007 by Duane Schreiner Prevent return fraud without saying "no" to returns altogether Click here to read this article.

Keep it Clean January/February 2007 by Stacy Majewicz How retailers keep their stores organized and spotless Click here to read this article.

Independent Stores Enhance Malls July/August 2005 by Heather Merrell Is a mall location right for your store? Click here to read this article.

How to Survive a Busy Store and Keep Your Customers Happy, Too November/December 2006 by Doug Fleener Tips for handling that holiday rush of customers Click here to read this article.

How To Position Your Company For Maximum Exit Value November/December 2011 by Chris Blees Merger and acquisition expert Chris Blees offers strategies for making your company more valuable to potential buyers. Click here to read this article.

How to Cope With Choice Overload January/February 2007 by Tina Manzer Helpful decision-making strategies Click here to read this article.

Glad Goodbyes to October November/December 2007 by Duane Schreiner Click here to read this article.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due November/December 2005 by Kari Anderson The Credit Collective helps small toy businesses feel more secure Click here to read this article.

Four Rules for Picking Products January/February 2008 by Duane Schreiner Click here to read this article.

Fishing in the Good People Pool September/October 2003 by Tina Manzer As the holiday season approaches, you're sure to want the best workers for your store. Here's how to find them Click here to read this article.

Examine Your Numbers Now to Buy What You Need at Toy Fair January/February 2010 by Cathy Donovan Wagner It’s Toy Fair in New York! Time to take in those great Broadway shows ... Click here to read this article.

Every Day is Employee Appreciation Day September/October 2007 by Stacy Majewicz Retailers discuss the ways they say "thank you" to employees Click here to read this article.

Does Turn Drive You Bananas? September/October 2010 by Cathy Donovan Wagner and James Hallman In the decades that I have spent in retail, I have found that nothing is as misunderstood as the concept of inventory turn. Click here to read this article.

Avoid These Common Auction Scams September/October 2004 by Vicci Cook Click here to read this article.

Are You Socially Savvy? Eight Traits That Boost Your Social Quotient March/April 2011 by Tina Manzer Eight Traits That Boost Your Social Quotient Click here to read this article.

Apps and Toys – Can They Coexist? March/April 2013 by Ellen Metrick Let’s take a minute to look at some facts about apps. Click here to read this article.

A Store Pet Is a Retailer’s Best Friend July/August 2007 by Stacy Majewicz Ask any pet owner and he will tell you that animals are good for the heart. Ask many retailers and they will tell you that animals are good for business. Here’s why. Click here to read this article.

A Mom & Pop Store for the 21st Century March/April 2012 by Brenna English-Loeb Fat Brain Toys began as an e-commerce site 10 years ago when website developer Mark Carson and his family started selling Geomag online. Click here to read this article.

A DON'T DO List to Make This December Different September/October 2012 by Tina Manzer There’s still time to make your store’s holiday season sane and successful. Click here to read this article.

"Do You Have Your Receipt?" March/April 2005 by Heather Merrell Retailers talk returns Click here to read this article.