Editor's Note

Stuck in a Rut? Take the Advice of Nike, and ‘Just Do It’

Our editor-in-chief’s favorite strategy to move from knowing to doing is “ready-fire-aim.”

Published

5 years ago

December 30, 2019

Trace Shelton Instore January 2020 Issue

ARE YOU stuck?

As a writer, I know the feeling. The colloquial term is “writer’s block,” but the truth is that one can’t find the right word, the right metaphor, the right way to begin, or maybe even the right idea.

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For business owners, it can be similar to get “stuck” when you know you need to start a particular initiative, but you don’t know exactly how, so you put it off and go about business as usual. The problem is that your business suffers if the initiative is never initiated.

That’s why we asked our resident research buff, group managing editor Chris Burslem, to put together this issue’s lead story on how to bridge the gap between knowing and doing. Chris is a voracious reader, and he has pulled tips from the latest books on how business owners can best move from theory to execution.

My favorite is the concept of “ready-fire-aim.” When you’re not sure how to start, it’s best to just start somewhere, with the knowledge that you’ll revise your plan as you go. Digital strategy seems to be the area that is causing the most headaches for jewelry retailers at the moment.

Those who are willing to constantly fine-tune or even make radical changes are the ones who are finding the most success online.

When you know you need to make a change, take the advice of Nike: just do it!

Trace Shelton

Editor-in-Chief, INSTORE
trace@smartworkmedia.com

Five Smart Tips You’ll Find in This Issue

1. Preplan your front window displays and themed in-store displays for each selling season. (Manager’s To-Do, p. 26)
2. For idea generation, use brainwriting, wherein participants rotate between eight-minute individual writing sessions and three-minute group sessions to read over each other’s ideas. (The Big Story, p. 34)
3. Break your staff into groups and rotate store responsibilities each week. (Ask INSTORE, p. 58)
4. When planning your marketing for the year, come up with promotions to boost sales in slow months. (Andrea Hill, p. 52)
5. Post pics to social media of any pet dogs that visit your store. (Do You or Don’t You, p. 61)

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."