David Squires

Want a Cool Store? You Gotta Build It Bit by Bit

It’s the only way to create your own very own cool store.

Published

16 years ago

July 2, 2008

David Squires

HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. Readers see our August “America’s Coolest Stores” issue and peruse the amazing stores ? filled with museum cases, LCD screens, and recessed ceilings. Then they write us: “These stores are too nice. How are we supposed to create such a store without $10 million?”

Here’s our answer: Save up your money, and start with one museum case. Place it in the center of your store, and put the most impressive item in your store inside it. Then sell it. Buy an even more impressive item. Sell that. Do that a couple times, and you’ll have enough to buy a second museum case. Sell the items featured in both of those a few times, and you’ll have money for a third display case and an LCD screen for your front window … and might even start putting away a little money for a new location a few years down the road.

he point is, friends, is that “Cool Stores” don’t happen overnight. But the vision of your dream store is something you can create overnight … and start working towards tomorrow. And that’s what INSTORE is all about.

Hey, it might not be what you want to hear. But what would you rather hear — advice you can use or hoo-hah like “Live for the moment” or “Dance like no one’s watching”. (Have you ever tried to dance like no one’s watching? And we mean without the aid of six or more alcoholic beverages?)

Dream big. And act incrementally, starting with ideas from this month’s big “Holiday Tips” issue. You’ll get there.

Wishing you the very best business …

David Squires
Executive Editor and Associate Publisher

You Wouldn’t Cut Your Own Hair. Why Run Your Own Retirement Sale?

After being in business for over a quarter of a century, Wayne Reid, owner of Wayne Jewelers in Wayne, Pennsylvania, decided it was time for a little “me time.” He says, “I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s time to slow down, enjoy a lot of things outside of the jewelry industry. It just seemed to be the right time.” He chose Wilkerson to handle his retirement sale because of their reputation and results. With financial goals exceeded, Reid says he made the right choice selecting Wilkerson to handle the sale. “They made every effort to push our jewelry to the forefront of the showcases,” he says, lauding Wilkerson for their finesse and expertise. Would he recommend them to other jewelers who want to make room for new merchandise, expand their business or like him, decide to call it a day? Absolutely he says, equating trying to do this kind of sale with cutting your own hair. “The results are going to happen but not as well as if you have a professional like Wilkerson do the job for you.”