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Re-Inventing Retail

From the Co-Founders of The Retail Owners Institute.
Tips | Tactics | Insights on the Business of Retailing.

What's Up for Retailers? Lots! Bookmark

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We have a mental image of a wide-open plain with hundreds of prairie dogs, cautiously poking their heads above ground. Looking around, they slowly realize they can actually venture out into the world once again.

And venture forth they do. One by one at first, then more and more. Enthusiastically. Energetically. Excitedly bounding about, encouraging others to share  their sense of adventure and fun.

And that’s what we imagine is next for independent retailers. Here’s why.

Just this week, we had a conversation with one retailer who referred several times to “the trauma” of the past few years. Good description, isn’t it?  

But his point was this: those days are over! He and his business DID survive! 

After years of feeling like the pursued in whack-a-mole, it IS safe for retailers to get back to being retailers! No more hunkering down! It's time to seize opportunities.

Need reasons? Consider these:

Folks are willing to spend. Consumer confidence is up. Still. And the stock market continues strong.

Don’t be spooked! Halloween shopping is booming. It is a bigger and bigger holiday every year.

More stores and even entire shopping malls once again are closing on Thanksgiving Day. Panic retailing is over.

Christmas is on a Monday this year, making for a great long weekend

And yes, customers are actively seeking out very pleasant shopping experiences IRL (“in real life.”)

Sure, the internet is a place for all the shopping chores. Customers already know that. 

But, what they want are pleasant experiences with your knowledgeable staff. Make your stores the great place for those great shopping experiences! 

Seize this opportunity! It's time to be upbeat. Put the fun back into retailing! Do it for your customers and your staff. And you! 



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About The Co-Founders

Pat Johnson and Dick Outcalt, The Co-Founders of The Retail Owners Institute®, have been called "The Zen masters of retail finance!"

Since 1999, they have been assembling  their proprietary content into a unique self-help website. The Retail Owners Institute is an unmatched resource that assists retailers worldwide with basic financial training, assistance and easy-to-use tools.

Their engaging and empowering how-to resources about the financial levers in retailing are informative, fun(!), and retailer-friendly. Their promise: "Everyone will 'get it'!"

Pat and Dick are recognized experts in strategic retailing. Working only as a team – Outcalt & Johnson: Retail Strategists, LLC – they have been consulting, publishing, and speaking professionally throughout North America since 1990.

They focus exclusively on retail, or wherever retail is involved. They work with CEOs, CFOs, boards and owners of retail operations, as well as manufacturers or wholesalers expanding into retail. And they also are Retail Turnaround Experts.


Since 1999, empowering retailers and store owners to "Turn on your financial headlights!"