I’m happily tongue-tied. Flabbergasted. Bursting with thought but at a loss for words.
This issue, we celebrate 20 years of INSTORE.
Can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday that we were a fledgling publication in a crowded field of giants, trying to carve out our own niche and convince advertisers that yes, our readers really did love us!
Many of you have shared with us how much INSTORE has meant to you. Well, you mean even more to us, because without the support you’ve shown to us and our advertisers, we wouldn’t still be here.
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So, I want to take this opportunity to thank you, our readers, for sticking with us through thick and thin, for giving us your feedback, for sharing your best ideas and practices, and for putting your faith in our work. It means the absolute world to our entire team.
I also want to thank our advertisers. Many of you have trusted our publication to promote your businesses for over a decade. Our readers notice, and we notice. Your faith in us matters more than just dollars and cents — it feels like we’re all in this together.
Lastly, I want to thank our superlative team at INSTORE. We have visionary leadership, the most conscientious editors in the business, a sales team who “gets it” and loves our industry, and a design team that’s constantly pushing our visual approach to the cutting edge.
Congratulations on 20 years of INSTORE — to all of us!
Trace Shelton
Editor-in-Chief, INSTORE
trace@smartworkmedia.com
Five Smart Tips You’ll Find in This Issue
- Offer $50 in store credit to any client who refers a new customer. (Manager’s To-Do, p. 22)
- Get an independent appraisal of your inventory. (Manager’s To-Do, p. 22)
- Upgrade your lighting to LED to provide better illumination of your inventory. (Cool Evolution, p. 40)
- Close one extra day during the summer and fall to give staff time off to unwind. (David Geller, p. 59)
- Have just one person greet each arriving customer with a smile, direct eye contact and verbiage that doesn’t sound “sales-y.” (Ask INSTORE, p. 62)