Retail Superstars: Inside the 25 Best Independent Stores in America

by George Whalin

Overview

How small, one-of-a-kind businesses can break through among giants

Megachains like Walmart, Starbucks, Home Depot, and The Gap attract Americans to thousands of outlets by offering a large selection of goods and services. But this doesn't mean that independent stores can't compete with the big guys-and win. Retail expert George Whalin identifies and explores twenty-five highly popular and profitable independent stores from around the country. Unlike the mom-and-pops of yesteryear, these businesses embrace technology and innovation, generate word of mouth, and turn their size into an advantage. They include:

? ABC Carpet and Home in New York City
? Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon
? The Junkman's Daughter in Atlanta
? Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield, Ohio

Readers will be inspired by how these independent stores are thriving and take away lessons they can apply to their own businesses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101052679
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/28/2009
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

George Whalin, founder of Retail Management Consultants, has advised retailers and manufacturers for more than twenty years. Prior to his consulting career, he spent twenty-five years as a store manager, owner, and retail executive. He lectures widely and appears frequently in the media. His Web site ranks among the top five retail consultant Web sites, and he writes a popular e-newsletter.

What People are Saying About This

Paco Underhill

"Independents do it better. George likes retail mavericks, the places where the visionaries are still at the wheel. Great stories."--(Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy)

Seth Godin

"Most business books are filled with tales of extraordinary people overcoming incredible odds to do world-changing things. That's off-putting and not particularly realistic for the rest of us. The cure is right here-a book filled with ordinary people obsessed with making something better, something remarkable, something that brings joy to the world. They can do it and you can do it too. Start right here, right now."--(Seth Godin, author of Tribes and Purple Cow)

Tom Peters

"I simply love Retail Superstars! While it is an incredible collection of great stories of wildly successful independent retailers, the truth is that a chain-store CEO or regional director, or a training or accounting department boss, can learn invaluable lessons from these pages. Bravo to George Whalin for a superb job!"--(Tom Peters, business guru and bestselling author)

Bo Burlingham

"George Whalin's passion for retailing shines through on every page of this terrific book, as he takes readers on a magical tour of the twenty-five greatest independent retailers in America. If you're in retail, Retail Superstars is must reading. If you're not, you're going to love the ride."--(Bo Burlingham, editor at large, Inc. magazine; author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big)