Book Description
Do you dream of opening up your own retail business, but don’t know how to get started? In Retail Business Kit For Dummies, retail marketing guru Rick Segel gives you the expert advice you need to get your business on its feet, with unbeatable advice on branding, marketing, and merchandising. You’ll figure out how to start and run your business, including day-to-day operations and procedures as well as all the little details retail professional handle on a daily basis.
If you’ve ever wanted to make your living interacting with customers and being your own boss, this book offers all the inside advice you need to get going. In fact, this book is perfect for anyone:
- Who wants to be her own boss
- Considering a career in retailing
- Who loves working with people
- Thinking about opening their own business
- Who loves to sell
Retail Business Kit For Dummies covers all the nuts and bolts of setting up shop — finding the perfect location, choosing and purchasing merchandise, and hiring employees. You’ll also discover how to write a business plan and deal with paperwork like taxes, permits, registrations, and other requirements. There’s also great advice on the art of selling and the fundamentals of promotion and advertising. You’ll also benefit from such practical advice like the ten keys to retailing success and ten ways to impress customers. And there’s much more:
- Branding your business
- Identifying and targeting your ideal customer
- Developing a marketing plan
- Pricing your merchandise
- Fulfilling legal and financial responsibilities
- Getting the word out
- Choosing the right media to advertise in
- Setting up and running a sale
- Fundamentals of accounting and financial statements
The book also includes a helpful CD-ROM packed with sample financial reports, customizable legal and business forms, checklists, and tools for building your own coupons, gift certificates, and much more. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or need help running the business you already own, Retail Business Kit For Dummies is the fun and easy guide to big profits.
Customer Reviews:
Retail Business Kit for Dummies.......2007-08-04
I recently opened a small shop in an antiques mall and found this book to be quite helpful. The information is presented in an interesting and easy to use format. The book covers all the basics and is loaded with useful suggestions for marketing your business.
Good read, but too rudimentary.......2006-08-31
One thing is for sure - if you really intend to start your own retail business, Retail Business Kit for Dummies will not take you far. It is very rudimentary, to say the least. My real disappointment is because of the CD that came with the book, supposedly full of useful forms, reports etc. They looked as if they were written with a typewriter.Anyway, regardless of your profile, I do not think that this book will help you open or run a successful retail business, nor significantly compliment your existing knowledge.
However, it does make an interesting read, and offers good common sense advice based on the authors many years in the industry.
A must read for the beginner.......2005-07-21
I could hardly put this book down after receiving it. I especially liked the section on writing a business plan. Lots of detail in this book.
Great for basics, too general for experienced marketers.......2003-10-13
I should preface this review by saying that I am probably not the typical reader the author had in mind when writing this book. As a marketing consultant, I was recently was engaged to develop retail feasibility study and project plan for an Internet retailer planning their first bricks and mortar store. Although I have retail marketing experience, I bought this book to make sure that I had all bases covered and to get some fresh ideas on visual merchandising, retail POS systems and operations for small retailers.
This book is a great tool for a would-be entrepreneur thinking about starting their first retail business. It covers all the basics needed to plan, set up and manage a retail business, from writing the business plan to making the business a reality. The author makes good use of case studies which illustrate some of the retail successes and failures that he has observed. Another feature I found particularly useful are the tips on all aspects of retailing that could take years of trial and error to learn on your own. Last but not least the CD contains a wealth of useful forms and checklists.
Some areas that I would like to see developed in future editions are:
* Visual merchandising and store layout - more on principles and examples of floor plans
* Software suggestions - small business retail POS systems, planogram and merchandising design software
* Sample budgets and project plans
* Links to online sources of information - where to find designers, software, sales staff etc
To summarize, an excellent book on retail basics and if Rick Segel writes an "Advanced Retailing for Dummies" book, I will be the first customer.
Great book for retailing entrepreneurs!.......2003-06-17
I'm a CPA in Redmond, WA with a heavy retail clientale. (I'm also the author of QuickBooks for Dummies and Quicken for Dummies.)
This is a great book for people looking to start successful retail stops. Tons of great ideas. It's also a great book for established retailers looking to improve their profitability.
My one gripe with the book is that the tax advice and information is wrong. But your accountant or attorney can and should provide that information to you.
...P>Steve
Book Description
The $20 billion gourmet market is nearly recession-proof. In fact, experts indicate that gourmet products actually do better in uncertain times like these as consumers seek out affordable luxuries. If you plan to open a specialty retail store, or perhaps a small store inside an existing retail space then this book is a must Although gourmet foods command a price double and up to ten times higher than that of grocery store brands, there are those consumers that are content and look to pay a premium price for premium items. This book shows how, with minimal effort and a small investment compared to other food businesses, how you can start your own specialty retail store and be highly profitable!
This is the A-to-Z guide to making it in your own store. Learn the expert tips, tricks, and a vast gold mine of crucial how-to information you just can't find anywhere else. This is a perfect book for entrepreneurs, schools, colleges and technical training centers. This detailed text contains all the information you will ever need to needed to start, operate, and manage a highly profitable specialty store.
While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through finding a location that will bring success, learn how to draw up a winning business plan (The Companion Cd Rom has the actual business plan you can use in MS Word tm.), how to buy and (sell) a store, basic cost control systems, profitable product planning, sample floor plans & diagrams, successful kitchen management, equipment layout and planning, food safety & HACCP, successful food & beverage management, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, pricing formulas, learn how to set up computer systems to save time and money, learn how to hire & keep a qualified professional staff, brand new IRS tip reporting requirements, managing and training employees, generate high profile public relations and publicity, learn low cost internal marketing ideas, low and no cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales, learn how to keep bringing customers back, accounting & bookkeeping procedures, auditing, successful budgeting and profit planning development, as well as thousands of great tips and useful guidelines. Never before has so much practical information about the specialty store business been offered in one book.
This is an ideal guide new for comers to the business as well as experienced operators. In addition to basic operational practices this book will demonstrate show how to: increase impulse sales and improve presentation, utilize merchandising fixtures and techniques, cross merchandising, point of purchase materials, how to develop a product sampling program.
Customer Reviews:
The authors are great at introducing the reader to all aspects of starting their own shop.......2006-05-08
"HOW TO OPEN A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL RETAIL & GOURMET FOODS SHOP" by Sharon L. Fullen and Douglas R. Brown.
Starting your own business can be extremely scary, it doesn't matter what type of business it is. If you are interested in starting a specialty foods shop it can be even scarier because of the lack of competent information available. "How to Open a Financially Successful Specialty retail & gourmet foods shop" is one of the most comprehensive books of its kind in the market place.
The authors are great at introducing the reader to all aspects of starting their own shop. The book is written in an easy to understand conversational tone. With sections specifically on goal setting this book is geared toward the new entrepreneur that does not have past business start up experience.
Read this book before going even considering opening a specialty retail or gourmet foods shop. Many aspects of operating a specialty business can be overlooking in the heat of your ambitions. This book will guide you in identifying all the major areas of concern before you put up all your money and invest months of your time.
The book also comes with a CD that contains pre-written documents that will be very useful in starting and operating your business. This book is highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about the gourmet foods industry and of course to people interested in starting their own specialty foods shop.
Great Book!.......2006-04-19
The book begins with an overview of what a gourmet shop consists of and how much energy is needed in order to successfully run one. This book gives a complete picture of everything that is needed to run a successful gourmet store. It is comprehensive enough for someone who has never opened a business before to easily start a shop.
It goes into great details of the initial costs and strategies that will be needed at start up. There is even a special section on franchising and writing a business plan. Other areas include taxes, laws, licenses, and insurances that will be needed. There are also skillfully crafted chapters which focus two main areas employee relations and customers including marketing and public relations.
There are chapters that center on the equipment that may be needed and the types of product that can be used in the store. A CD-ROM completes the book, with many forms that can help anyone who goes into business. There are even sections that deal with cash flow and financial management as well as purchasing.
This book offers a comprehensive overview on many of how to start a Specialty Retail business and with the step by step process, anyone can be successful.
Good Read.......2006-04-13
"How to Open a Financially Successful Specialty Retail and Gourmet Foods Shop" is a great read for anyone looking to own their own specialty or niche store. From selling only jam to selling complex kitchen gadgets, this book is great for anyone looking to delve into any niche market.
The authors take readers through a number of get ready steps. They include, among other things, picking location, deciding what merchandise to carry, identifying the target audience, writing a business plan, filing the loan application, and getting the necessities (such as company name, licenses, insurance, etc.).
I love that the book details every thing I would need to know about opening a specialty business. It even discusses decorating tips, hiring a staff, marketing the business, and creating a press kit. Because the book covers so much, it tends to cover only the basics of all the topics. It does not go really in-depth on most items, so if you are looking for some exact how-to guide, this book probably is not for you.
The book also comes with a handy cd-rom that provides sample business plans and other worksheets that I found very helpful. You can easily take the business plan and modify it to suit your start-up business. In addition, there are a number of great resources listed within the pages of the book that any new business owner would find beneficial.
User-Friendly, Quality Advice.......2006-04-11
Perhaps the best piece of information in this handy guide by Sharon Fullen and Douglas Brown is
found on the first couple of pages: make sure your heart is in before you take the leap. They offer nuggets of advice to test your mettle; such as coming up with a short "elevator pitch" to capture the essence of your dream and how valuable careful research becomes if you want to discover your true "niche" market. Information on buying a franchise or starting from scratch, financial avenues to consider and a good outline for a business plan quickly follows. Other chapters present the importance of customer service, successful marketing tips and how to deliver a top-notch public relation campaign that attracts repeat business. You will also discover that the basic mechanics of running a business are not ignored; with sections devoted to purchasing, buying appropriate equipment, staffing, finding user-friendly software, monitoring inventory, managing cash flow and creating ambience in the public areas of the shop. The CD-ROM contains much of the same information found in the book, but does included printable business forms for home and office use, a supply list, as well as a more detailed business plan to use as your own template. Overall this book is very user-friendly, offers quality advice and presents up-to-date information. An important resource you will be able to refer to for many years
Great Book for Potential Shop Owners!.......2004-12-04
Excellent book for anyone wanting to start a specialty or gourmet shop. Extremely helpful and well thought out information CD is great addition!"
Book Description
- Beat the big-box retailers - Provide outstanding customer service - Use technology to your advantage
Customer Reviews:
Good content; light on colorful examples.......2007-08-17
The authors did a good job of explaining the academics of retail. They covered everything from strategies for purchasing, competing with big chains, advantages of technology and training for employees. This is a great book for those concepts. However, the authors explain these concepts in much the same way Ben Stein talks about dry eyes. Colorful retail experiences could be used to make fun examples and make the book more readable and less like a lecture from a finance professor. My only other gripe was that examples from the non-clothing world would have been great, such as selling technology items that lose value as they age on the shelf. Those gripes aside, I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to understand retail 101. You will definitely walk away thinking about your next trip to Abercrombie differently.
Excellent primer.......2007-08-15
Looking into starting a retail business prompted me to look for books that would give an insight into the world of retail. This book has not dissapointed. The writing is light while providing good information and real world examples.
The resource CD contains spreadsheets and documents such as job descriptions, payroll budget, supplier checklist, balance of business which provide a great starting point for the owner.
Ok, but out of date.......2006-07-24
This has some good information as noted by other reviewers, but also a few shortcomings. Some of its advice will be useful only for particular businesses. It contains many references to fashion retailing and will be very relevant for people doing that.
The major shortcoming is that the technology chapter is woefully out of date. Written in 1998, it contains such chestnuts as, "We believe that every one of the personal computers in your store should have a CD-ROM drive." and "Providing information over the internet is a much better business proposition than selling products over the internet. Even if you could get your home page address to a huge number of potential customers, we do not believe that you should try to sell things to them." Considering I bought ther book online, I must respectfully disagree with the authors. This is not to say the chapter is entirely irrelevant. No better website advice has ever been given than, "Customers are not interested in bells and whistles when they visit a website. Instead, they want useful information and they want it quickly." I would give a new edition of this book with an updated technology chapter a four star rating.
THIS BOOK IS THE BEST RESOURCE.......2006-04-13
Look no further for information on how to launch your retail business! This book has everything you need and more! Ted Topping is such an amazing resource on all things retail - he guides you in a practical, professional, thoughtful and caring way through every step of starting your retail business. If you want to be successful in starting your business - or if you need advice on your current business .... READ THIS BOOK!!! It is an invaluable guide which you will refer to for years to come.
Excellent! Love the templates/worksheets in the back!.......2005-08-05
This book is so easy and straightforward. This book is definitely a keeper! Also I love the templates in the back, especially the competition checklist.
Book Description
All you need is this step-by-step guide. It gives you the inside scoop on starting your own retail clothing store.
Customer Reviews:
This is a good book.......2007-01-21
I really liked this book.
It was very Descriptive & resourceful.
It taught me everything i needed to learn about the clothing retail business.
If your interested in opening your own clothing business this is the book for you!
Good summery. nothing more.......2007-01-02
Its a good summery of what the typcial clothing shop is like and gives a lot of general information but doesn't explain how to do those things. Example, the books says a computer system can help me track inventory but doesn't tell me how, what i need, where can i find such a system or what are some good software to do that
Good starting point.......2006-09-22
I have to disagree with the previous poster. The book doesn't try to discourage the reader from getting into the retail business, it just points out that the retail business is a risky one that may not turn a profit for years. This book gives some helpful advice for would-be retailers as well as established ones, and also points you in the direction of some associations that can help (i.e., S.C.O.R.E. ). I definately reccomend it.
Completely discouraging.......2006-03-07
I bought this book hoping to get ideas of what to do and what to expect but instead all i got was discouraged and upset,
with every page the author makes you feel it is imposible to start your own clothing store and that you should basicaly find another dream.... well i have acomplished a few of my biggest dreams in life so far and i know that books like these and people like the author are those people out there who are not dreamers but people who lead very simple and risk free lives. I refuse for any one to make me feel like i should just give up because its going to be to hard!!! you have to keep going and risk a little for your dreams,
so to any one looking to buy this book i suggest not taking it seriuosly, I know from personal experience that dreaming big can realy pay off and dont let any one break that for you. if we did not have dreamers out there and only had the people who think every thing is imposible would we have: celebrities? Big Designers? the Light bulb?? gone into outer space???
Continue your road to your dream..... you will get there with or with out this book!!!!
Average customer rating:
- A great guide
- Invaluable Tool
- Good for starting stores or providing to stores.
- Primer on Contemplating Gourmet Store Venture
- Don't even think of opening a gourmet food store without it.
|
Gourmet to Go: A Guide to Opening and Operating a Specialty Food Store
Robert Wemischner , and
Karen Karp
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
-
How to Open a Financially Successful Specialty Retail & Gourmet Foods Shop
-
From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Gourmet Food Specialty
-
How to Open a Financially Successful Bakery
-
Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised
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Baking for Profit: Starting a Small Bakery
ASIN: 0471139394 |
Book Description
"In this book we will communicate just how competitive and serious the business of specialty food retailing is today. We will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the industry, the market today, tools to [enable you] to make a commitment to go ahead, a thorough outline for your business plan, checklists for the most important planning stages, anecdotes and recommendations from the top players in the industry, and tips and insights into the intangibles of what makes good businesses good. You will have a better chance of success by being well armed and taking all the right precautions through careful preopening research and development. And you will see that, for success, it is not just information and organization but ample funding that will give your new business a fighting chance to ripen, develop, and succeed. Guided by this text and the accumulated wisdom of sage retailers who've paved the way, and fueled by your own enterprising spirit and imagination, dream big, plan carefully, and proceed with confidence to success." â From the Preface of Gourmet to Go
It begins with a dream, a longing for the independence, self-reliance, and creative freedom of running your own specialty take-out food store. But if you want that dream to become a reality, you can't rely solely on your expertise as a chef, manager, or owner of a previous business â you'll need to develop all of those skills and more. You need a comprehensive, reliable information source that shows you what to expect and prepares you to deal with the unexpected. You need to learn from the successes and failures of others how to envision, plan, finance, establish, and run a successful gourmet retail operation. You need Gourmet to Go.
This full-spectrum guide offers solid direction on every aspect of the retail specialty food industry. Making liberal use of case studies, Robert Wemischner and Karen Karp lead you step by step through each phase of the development and operation of a take-out gourmet store. They help you find the concept that's right for you, write a business plan, and secure the financing you'll need. Next, you'll discover what to look for in choosing your location; how to communicate with designers, builders, and contractors; and the ins and outs of legal structure and complying with government regulations. You'll learn how to select graphic designs, purchase and price merchandise, hire and train employees, set store policies, and manage your cash. Each of these issues is presented in a clear, forthright style that enables you to understand your options and make informed choices. You'll also learn how to:
- Market and promote your store and build a steady clientele
- Exceed your customers' expectations for quality and service
- Use in-store signage and irresistible merchandise displays to increase sales
- Expand or convert an existing business
- Fine-tune your business to promote growth
Whether you're a foodservice professional yearning for independence or a retailer looking to expand or transform your current business; whether you're a caterer wanting to offer your creations to a broader public or a successful manager in search of a great business opportunity, Gourmet to Go helps you start strong and guides you every step of the way, until your dream comes true.
Customer Reviews:
A great guide.......2004-11-20
A friend recently opened a store and this book has acurately addressed some of the issues we are experiencing. The author has a knack for addressing both personal issues such as self doubt, fear, relations with partners as well as topics related to the business. He compels the entrepreneur to think hard about the objectives of his undertaking and then walks him through it step by step.
The sections on site location and templates for creating a business model, mission statement and feasability study are better than two other books that I had purchased.
Most of the book has little to do with specialty food and more about the decision and execution process of opening a new place. I would recomend it to both someone just toying with the idea and someone who is already established.
Invaluable Tool.......2003-06-14
I have been working on opening a specialty food shop/cafe and got stuck on the logistics of planning. After using several guides and books I randomly found (and getting NOWHERE) I decided to buy Gourmet to Go on a recommendation. It is THE best thing I could have ever bought, hands down. It seems that all the questions I had were answered in the book, and the structure of the book leads readers down a logical path through the maze of planning for this type of business. If you are to buy any book on this topic, this is the one. The money spent on this book will save you thousands later on. Two thumbs up!
Good for starting stores or providing to stores........2003-06-07
This is an excellent treatise of starting a specialty food store or, perhaps is even more beneficial to one who wishes to wholesale food products to place in food stores or delis..
People wanting to cash in on the current trend towards take-out convenience need this book, as well as From Kitchen To Market and How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets.
The three books are invaluable for overlapping reasons. A prospective store operator needs to understand how to setup his or her store and, just as important, how their competition operates. Beginning store operators also need to understand their industry in detail not merely from the viewpoint of their competition and from their customers, but from their suppliers position.
Gourmet To Go does a great job from a narrow viewpoint. Probably the only topic not suffriciently explored is the hands'-on advice. Perhaps the next edition will detail the possibilities for including rollergrills, microwaves and how to earn what the industry refers to as "Plus-sales." I'm speaking of the technique in all fast food chains and convenience stores to get customers to spend more money.
Other hands-on topics that should be discussed are controlling theft and the experience of many store operators who have lost significant chunks of money in providing lottery tickets. I know of a feww whose losses exceeded $10,000. Adding insult to injury, lottery only reimburses stores from one to three percent of gross sales and pay-outs for winning tickets. Despite such a poor return on investment, many stores consider it mandatory to provide lottery.
Further, computerizing the store could be considered, as well as installing UPC readers. It is not uncommon to see even the smallest store using such equipment. Yet, those installing such systems all seem to have to reinvent the wheel.
Again, buy this book but augment it with From Kitchen To Market and with How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets so you can keep up with and, perhaps, improve upon your competition and keep customers, suppliers and yourself happy!
Primer on Contemplating Gourmet Store Venture.......2003-04-04
Having some experience with new product projects for major corporations, this somewhat smaller scale, but nonetheless similar principled look at the operations and craft of specialty food store biz is well-done.
It is full of relevant and cogent thoughts for anyone interested in this market niche. What I found very well done is the sections of writing the biz plan and the steps therein critical to putting together and then implementing such.
Also included are fairly thorough lists of resources such as consultants, trade journals, suppliers, etc.
What could possibly have been additionaly useful was stress on two key areas: concentration on obstacles and their probability of happening (i.e. scenario plotting) and finding and use of two key players from the outset: attorney and accountant/tax specialist.
Don't even think of opening a gourmet food store without it........2002-01-28
Although, as the name suggests, this book is geared mainly towards gourmet to go operations (specialty food stores with emphasis on catering and gourmet take-out) it is an invuluable resource for anyone thinking about entering the gourmet food industry.
I wasted all kinds of time and money on general business start-up books and learned little more that nothing about starting a gourmet food store (or any business for that matter). The business plan section alone is better than a whole book I purchased on the subject. I found every bit of Gourmet to Go to be extemely useful and after reading it couldn't believe I had even considered going into business without it.
Book Description
China is the world's number-one growth story now. But how is it that China has achieved such quick growth in this era? How is it that made-in-China products can flood the globe? Is a trade war going to happen? Or is a new world order in the making? This second volume of a trilogy-by Chinese journalist/consultant George Zhibin Gu-aims to answer these questions and more.
Today, more than a half-million overseas companies conduct business inside China. Learn about all the opportunities this exploding market presents, including banking, insurance, and stock market, as well as the yuan and trade and cross-border business issues. Moreover, it contains extensive studies on China's political-economic reform as well as evolving international relations.
This volume addresses eight key topics:
I. China's New Role in the World Development
II. The Yuan, Trade, and Investment
III. China's Fast-Changing Society, Politics, and Economy (in light of Chinese and global history)
IV. China's Banking, Insurance, and Stock Market Reforms
V. Chinese Multinationals vs. Global Giants
VI. The Taiwan Issue: Current Affairs and Trends (federation as an alternate way for unity)
VII. India vs. China: Moving Ahead at the Same Time
VIII. The Japan-China Issue: Evolving Relations in Light of History
Today, all nations increasingly rely on one another for development, a trend that will only strengthen as time passes. As a saying goes, "The future is being shaped today." This book will appeal to readers everywhere regardless of their particular interests.
Customer Reviews:
Cooking With the Iron Rice Bowl.......2007-03-27
Part reference, part musing, part insightful and timely analysis, George Zhibin Gu's latest book "China and the New World Order: How Entrepreneurship, Globalization, and Borderless Business are Reshaping China and the World" is a welcome and refreshing read among the endless new titles printed on China today.
Picking up on a focus of his previous book "China's Global Reach...," Gu goes further and identifies the chief impediment to China's latest and perhaps most difficult transition as the Chinese state itself. Gu reveals the seemingly historical inevitability of China's vast government apparatus but explains that Communist Party bureaucracy is unique in Chinese experience in the size and scope of its all-encompassing control.
In topics relative to today's readers Gu ably demonstrates through the book that changes in China come from the revived entrepreneurial instinct of the Chinese. Along with huge foreign investment China's ever-growing private sector is the outside influence that is challenging Chinese bureaucracy as never before. But while the Chinese people struggle to create a law-based society and break the bureaucracy's grip on all aspects of economic life, the Chinese state seeks an equal footing among world national powers.
"China and the New World Order" is nicely segmented into short but highly relevant chapters. As in his earlier works Gu deftly examines the pros and cons of numerous hot-button issues on China. For example he takes on the Taiwan - China knot and proposes an interesting solution, a federation or federal system as a means toward meaningful (and mutually beneficial) reunification although his federal system shares more similarity to a commonwealth in the opinion of this reviewer. Gu's look at delicate state of Japan and China relations reveals that Japan remains as apprehensive over Chinese growth and potential as it was in the past. In examining the India versus China debate Gu shows that there is far less competition (as Western press prefers to portray it) and more similarities between the two giants of Asia.
There is plenty of current information here and the detailed contents and summaries make the book a good quick reference for anyone with an interest in what's happening right now in China. And there are goodies such as a lengthy interview with Mark Mobius and a foreword by Hoover Institute fellow William Ratliff.
At one point in his analysis, Gu intriguingly compares the struggle in China to the old European church-state alliance. With that view in mind, what may be needed next and with luck what Chinese entrepreneurs may succeed in bringing is a Chinese "Glorious Revolution."
The most important book I read in the last 5 years.......2006-12-25
This new book from Dr. George Zhibin Gu is a geo-economics and geopolitical masterpiece from an insider, someone that thrives his consulting work and daily life inside China, not writing or comment from a comfortable chair in London or New York paid by a western think tank, or only for academic proposals. His challenge is to write for a broad audience out of China. I must refer his clever suggestions about Taiwan - a political proposal for a a federation - and the way he sees the go global from Chinese emergent multinationals. It is needed a lot of courage for an insider to be so clear in his proposals and to identify the old Chinese problem - bureaucracy, the same that stopped admiral Cheng Ho and the Discoveries in the XV Century, that closed China for so many centuries and gave an opportunity for foreign powers to humiliate China, hyper-bureaucracy that in the Mao period pulled China for chaos and economic and social distress. China and the New World Order is a must reading. Jorge Nascimento Rodrigues, editor of www.gurusonline.tv and translator of Made in China (published in Portuguese language).
Is a new world order in the making?...It might just happen........2006-12-15
Base on the number of book in relation to this matter so far I believe that no one has come close to capturing "new China's" spirit and meaning as Gu. After reading his second volume I found it to be hugely insightful on the current events of China and global affairs. It greatly explores the key factors that shape Chinese and global development in the next stages. It gives tremendous info and analysis on the Chinese government, politics, business and economy for any one's interest.
There's a huge amount of info on foreign businesses inside China. You will be able to see about twenty five American and global multinationals inside of China that are studied. In the meantime it gives us a very provocative analysis on China's new role in the world. Gu details this general picture of how China is walking away from a practical society and embracing an open, restless and dynamic society. It claims that an overextended, self-appointed bureaucracy remains the key problem for China. To overcome countless technical barriers, greater openness, entrepreneurship and global involvement is all needed. Again, it's very insightful on the issues between China, Taiwan, Japan, India and West. I will add that his analyses on Japan-China line up are very interesting as well as Taiwan. There' a tremendous amount of info and analysis on China's financial, banking, insurance and stock market.
Author George Zhibin Gu is a very outspoken and a well known Chinese journalist who has generally covered mergers and acquisitions, capital activities, business expansion, and restructuring. He's an insider who gives us scrupulous examination on current China and global affairs which is more than a reason why you should grab hold to this book.
Insightful and Intelligent.......2006-12-11
George Gu provides a depth of understanding that distinguishes his work from most other business books. His wide network of contacts gives insight into emerging trends. He provides useful context that western authors often lack and Chinese authors frequently take for granted.
Prepare for the Dragon Market - Winston Ma, Author of "Investing in China: New Opportunities in a Transforming Stock Market.......2006-11-07
For the international investor community, "Investing in China" in the new century is more or less a one-way investment and capital flow. Mr. Gu's book, however, looks one step further to explore how all these interactions would reshape the global horizon, both for China and the rest of the world.
In fact, China's outward influence is increasingly obvious. For instance, whether China would diversify its foreign currency reserve -- and consequently whether China will enter into the gold market to hedge its US dollar exposure -- has profound implications in the global financial markets.
Comparing to many other books on China, Mr. Gu's book has a truly "authentic Chinese" flavor. The reason is obvious: He is an INSIDER. As a native Chinese, he captures the spirit of China's latest developments in its not-too-short historic context.
Book Description
Whether flowers are your fancy, hats your madness, or paper your passion, you can open a store selling the things you love. To thrive in a shop of your own, however, requires myriad skills best learned from those who already know. Victoria introduces a group of women entrepreneurs who, with little inventory and big dreams, created a rewarding niche in the retail market. Their triumphs and failures, practical advice and insider secrets, provide invaluable lessons for fledgling shop owners. Here's just the right advice to take you from getting establishing credit to choosing a space to developing a solid partnership with vendors. Find creative and inviting ideas for displaying your wares so customers will linger longer, and smart ways to get the biggest bang out of your advertising dollars. The profiles of female shop owners will offer inspiration and provide invaluable role models.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for every entreprenuerial spirit!!.......2007-01-10
Half way into the book, I started shopping for studio and retail space. It will motivate you to be brave!!
Beautiful Pictures; Great for an Upscale Boutique.......2006-08-26
The pictures alone almost make it worth purchasing this book. It is easy to read. The book is most useful for someone trying to start an upscale boutique (ideally clothing). If this is you, buy this book. The pictures and the ideas are very much worth it. This will be a great resource.
I was helping plan a semi-upscale souvenir shop and found the ideas only somewhat applicable. That said, there are a few guidelines that I found really useful. I made sure to photocopy those few pages for my reference.
Well written, pratical advice, illustrative photos - Love this book!.......2005-07-04
I really love this book as it was a break from the word overloading of most business books. It had lovely colour pictures of actual products, services, interior designs, branding, packaging, etc. These illustrations backed up the information on building your small business.
The book is divided into 3 parts:
1. Getting Started - Government regulation; Keeping Records; Establishing credit; Dealing with vendors; Finding a Space; Negotiating; Security; Insurance
2. Planning For Success - Inventory; Setting prices; Merchandising and Display; Publicity and Advertising; the Internet
3. Dealing with People - Building Staff;p Training; Delegating; Problem solving; Expansion
I must stress that this book is an addition to your business collection; not a one-stop shop. This book does not provide the in-depth coverage of issues you'll need to start your business. But especially if you've got most of that already covered and you are looking for ideas or personal stories that can help to streamline your particular service, this is a great book to read. It is an easy, enjoyable to read plus beautiful to flip through and I got a ton of ideas. I can see myself coming back to this book again and again as I start my business.
Thanks Victoria Magazine.
Book Description
Practical advice by people who have done it and helped others do it. Just one example: how a small store turned a sale into a community event - cleared old stock, sold more, made a profit, raised cash for a charity, had fun and had customers making sure they were on the invitation list for next year
Our feeling is that retailers are going to want to dip into this book for ideas as they go, so we've made the contents listing extensive and included an extensive index. There are also margin notes of cross references. It's a book to keep by you and refer to again and again.
Customer Reviews:
Useful but short.......2005-07-15
This book gives you a glimpse of retail business. Helpful but lacks of more detailed info on operation. I think this is just a compilation of articles from a certain book/mag.
Great Book For Anyone Contemplating A Retail Operation.......2003-09-28
If you're thinking of starting or buying a small shop, you'll learn a lot by reading "Success in Store- How to Start or Buy a Retail Shop, Enjoy Running It, and Make Money" by Geoffrey Heard and Gordon Woolf.
Heard and Woolf cover many aspects of running or evaluating a shop including:
* The Importance of the Lease
* Licenses
* Recordkeeping
* Buying and Selling a Shop
* Dealing With Existing Staff
* Calculating Gross Profit Percentage, Markup, and Profit Margins
* Cash Flow
* Dealing With Customers, Including Shoplifting and Security
* Evaluating Stock
* Working With Sales Reps
* Purchasing Stock
* Promoting Your Shop
* Planning For the Growth of Your Business
* Deciding If You Should Purchase a Franchise, Start a New Shop, Or Purchase an Existing Shop
Heard and Woolf give specific advice for running many different kinds of shops, including bookstores, giftshops, clothing stores, antique shops, cafes, rental shops, and bakeries. The authors speak from experience having operated many types of shops. For example, Woolf owned (or owns) newspapers, a publishing company, a convenience store, a bookshop, and a small printing company.
Heard and Woolf point out that nearly anyone can start or buy most types of shops, but there are a few limitations-for example, only a pharmacist can operate a pharmacy.
Heard and Woolf write: "The first question to ask yourself is whether the business you are considering requires specialist knowledge and whether you have that knowledge (or a substantial part of it). There are businesses which require little specialist knowledge, but it is important to know how to obtain that small amount of knowledge if you do not already possess it."
Many shops fail though, possibly because it's so easy to start them. Heard and Woolf write: "While the majority of small businesses fail, and fail quickly, the business run by someone who seeks help from experts and who is prepared to admit mistakes, and do something about them, stands the best chance of success."
"Success in Store- How to Start or Buy a Retail Shop, Enjoy Running It, and Make Money" provides new shop owners with the benefit of the authors' experience, including important, but easily overlooked topics.
For example, there is a great discussion about leasing space. The authors write: "One of the fundamentals in which many new businesses go wrong is in signing an unsuitable lease."
Heard and Woolf warn new owners they might not get the same lease rate as some larger, more established stores, called "destination stores," because people go to particular shopping centers to shop at those stores. Thus, destination stores have more negotiating power.
In addition, Heard and Woolf address how running a business might affect your marriage and family. And, they address the important question: Will you make money with your own shop? And, how can you grow your business, if that's your goal?
If you're contemplating starting or buying a shop, I highly recommend "Success in Store- How to Start or Buy a Retail Shop, Enjoy Running It, and Make Money."
A wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques.......2003-09-14
Authoritatively co-written by marketing consultant Geoffrey Heard and experienced convenience store owner Gordon Woolf, Success In Store is a practical, "nuts-and-bolts", no-nonsense guide to acquiring and running a retail business, whether personally established or purchased from another. Individual chapters deftly address ways to promote one's store, basic information on day-to-day business operations, making the most of the internet, and a great deal more. A wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques make Success In Store indispensable reading for anyone seriously considering retail business as a career.
Product Description
From assistant to the doorman at Bonwit Teller to CEO of Bergdorf Goodman, Ira Neimark crossed Fifth Avenue unlike anyone else. Christmas 1938, when he began working at Bonwit Teller on 56th Street and Fifth Avenue, he had just turned 17. Mary Martin, the toast of Broadway, sang at Bonwit's exclusive 721 Club Christmas cocktail party where young Ira, in a snug bellhop uniform, greeted the rich and famous. Four decades later, as the new CEO of Bergdorf Goodman, he transformed the iconic Fifth Avenue department store from an old, dull, expensive and intimidating store, into a young, exciting expensive and intimidating store that became first in luxury and glamour. Among his stunning achievements: the reintroduction of Paris couture in the United States, dramatic showcasing of the great Italian and French designers, developing the best new American designers and elaborate promotional launch events featuring haute couture that lit the spark for Bergdorf s revival. Crossing Fifth Avenue To Bergdorf Goodman captures the magic of the fashion business at its most exciting moments. It is replete with intriguing, personal anecdotes about the world s most famous fashion personalities. Also included are insightful sections on Lessons Learned (in each chapter) covering the highlights of Ira Neimark s legendary success and featuring his words of wisdom on a variety of challenges. Only Ira Neimark could tell these stories and articulate the business lessons that made him the last man standing among the greats of fashion retailing lessons that continue to compel major multi-national companies to seek his counsel.
Customer Reviews:
The best retail read written so far!.......2007-02-19
I have read Ira Neimarks book twice. First for enjoyment and the for forsight!
Mr Neimark talks about how retail is constantly evolving and if you do not stay one step ahead, no matter what position you hold you can fall two steps behind. He gives first hand accounts of meetings with the leaders of the industry and how they helped shape the important role that retail plays in our country's economic development.
A strong and knowledgeable businessman who will take any company that he works for to the top along with anyone who wants to join him, he shows the reader that retail is fun, exciting and a tough business to be in, but with commitment and quality to excellence one can achieve their goals.
This is a must read for all associates at all levels in the retail field and for all professors in a retail curriculum.
Book Description
This book explains how to choose and source inventory, design and display tactics that get customers to buy, how to keep up with the latest trends, strategies for competing against the big boys of retailing, and surprising start-up options that can keep your costs down.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2004-06-08
This book is great! Easy to read, in a simple, succint format, describes all details about starting a retail business.
Planning, Getting a loan, marketing, how to layout the store, controlling inventory, hiring people, and more!
Awesome!
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