It’s January, and that means one thing in retail: gift card redemption month. Year after year, gift cards are one of the most popular holidays gifts. 90 percent of gift cards are used within 60 days of purchase, and 72 percent of customers spend more than the value of their gift card when redeeming. So, […]
January 2019 Issue
Then & Now: A Look Back at our 2018 Retail Predictions
This time last year, we simply asked: “What’s next?” And many retail industry leaders provided detailed projections. We also dabbled in providing our own predictions on what would happen in retail throughout 2018. Some of our predictions were right on the money. Others… not so much. Let’s take a look at what we thought would […]
Find The Best Deals and Closeouts at Miami International Mart
There’s no place like home, but the Miami International Mart comes pretty close. This B2B trade show brings you the best in electronics, closeouts, household items, health and beauty, party supplies, disposable goods, and much more all in one place. From January 20th to the 22nd, buyers can shop from tens of thousands of products, […]
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses
A new year, a fresh start – there’s no better time to take a step back and evaluate your business. Hopefully you finished the year with a strong holiday sales season. No matter where you landed last year, there’s always room for improvement. Take advantage of the slower winter months to revamp your store operations, […]
Brick and Mortar Purchases Account for 83% of Holiday Spending
This holiday season, mobile may have stolen the headlines, but brick and mortar stores continue to steal the sales. Online shopping during the holiday season approached $125 billion. But, according to Adobe, 83 percent of holiday shopping was done in-store. What may come as a surprise is that Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are leading […]
Small Business Saturday Success Stories
Small Business Saturday (SBS) was a record-breaking success during the 2018 holiday season. Total reported spending among U.S. consumers who said they shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on the day reached a record high of an estimated $17.8 billion. Based on the annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey from American Express and the […]
2019 Retail Predictions
Every year, Independent Retailer turns to the experts and asks “What’s Next?” Read on for industry expert takes on challenges retailers will face in 2019, where retailers should focus their energy, how to shake things up this year, and what to prioritize. What will be the biggest challenges retailers face in 2019? Are these […]
WESA Trade Show: Where the Industry Meets
WESA (Western and English Sales Association), a non-profit trade organization, was organized in 1921, under the corporate name Men’s Apparel Club of Colorado. These WESA founders launched an initial trade show in Denver in January 1922, with the goal of creating a forum where retailers, manufacturers, and sales representatives could conduct business in an atmosphere […]
CloseoutCentral.com Launches Expanded Buyer Resources
In response to wholesale and closeout buyer demand, Sumner Communications has launched an all-new and updated design to its’ closeout buyer focused website, www.CloseoutCentral.com. Fully mobile enabled and operating on the latest secure socket platform (https), the new site design allows independent retailers of every size to easily browse the new daily selections posted and […]