Color me a Pandora junkie

I’m strapped to the desk today, which means it’s going to be a Pandora afternoon.

If you haven’t heard of Pandora, you’re really missing something. Simply put, it’s a free online service that plays music based on the songs you like. Today, I’m listening to Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong and the like singing Christmas songs, simply because I typed in “Santa Baby,” then selected the Eartha Kit version from the menu that automatically appeared.

This is crazy easy to use (and free):

1. Go to Pandora.com
2. Create an account (no, they don’t spam you)
3. Type in a song name to create a new station (aka: playlist)
4. Sit back and enjoy the music, baby

I’ve created about a half dozen “stations” in my Pandora account, running the gamut from the Rolling Stones to Ella Fitzgerald. The system remembers these stations so that all I have to do upon returning to the site is click on the one that sounds good that day.

Don’t ask me how, but they nail the mix 99.99% of the time. On the rare occasion that a tune pops up you don’t like, just click on the little thumbs down symbol and it goes away forever.

(Mac users have two additional options: You can download Pandora Jam--a free standing player that connects from your desktop--by visiting pandorajam.com, or hit the App Store to pick up an iPod/iPod Touch version.)

Pandora’s great for those times you’re stuck at your desk, tired of store music, or in the mood for a fresh mix. A music playlist--custom built for the listener--is a pretty sweet treat and very hard to beat (see what a great mood it has me in?).

Now-—go try it out. I’m off to sing along with Bing and his buddies. Oh yeah. And get some work done.

I can name that tune in...um...how many notes?

Sure, this video has been around for a couple of years, but it never ceases to amaze and delight. Consider this my stocking stuffer for all you stressed out retailers in the world....



Enjoy!

Treats without tricks

Quick trick or treat promotion for your grown up customers:

1. Buy one of those kitchy little plastic Jack-o-Lantern candy buckets
2. Buy a bunch of shiny little star stickers in three different colors (gold, silver, red?)
3. Put gold stickers on the the back of one or two...silver stickers on a few more...red stickers on a whole bunch of ‘em (or all the rest, if you prefer)
4. Let adult customers select one candy bar without peeking inside the bucket

Gold sticker = $100 gift certificate, good through 12/24/08
Silver sticker = 20% off any non-personalized purchase before 12/24/08
Red sticker = 10% off any non-personalized purchase before 12/24/08

Have a second bucket with non-stickered treats for kids, just in case. Use different candy so no one accidentally hands a four year old the $100 gift certificate.

Note the expiration date for each is 12/24/08. We’re working on holiday sales here-—once we hit January, it will be time for fresh offers and ideas.

I’m going to be off the grid for the weekend, headed home to Nebraska for my father’s 70th birthday. Catch you on the other side!

Big box, little inventory

I accompanied Mom to the Mall of America over the weekend (aka: The Big Retail Shrine), on her annual Christmas shopping visit to Minneapolis. While she looked for stocking stuffers and gifts, my eyes focused on inventory patterns and staffing...which were more educational than expected.

Because her visit is an annual event occurring the same week each October, I have a pretty reliable yardstick to measure one holiday season against the next. This one held some surprises that made it clear at least a few of the big boys saw a soft fourth quarter coming, and have adjusted accordingly...much to the dismay of hopeful shoppers.

Many stores--and by "many" I mean "a whole heckofalot"--are carrying far less inventory than usual, holiday and otherwise. For instance, the huge Department 56 store just outside of Nordstrom is normally jammed full of gift items by the third week in October, the front portion of the store so crowded with decorated trees, enormous baskets of trimmings, loads of little gifty items, and other non-Village products that it's almost impossible to turn around without bumping into a nearby display.

This year? Big, wide open spaces. Two of the Villages have been moved to share a small display in that area (Christmas in the City and Dickens, for those of you who know the line), which doesn't eat up a lot of room. Hardly any of the gifty pick-up stuff is there, and next to nothing is shown for decorated trees. Looking at that section of the store, I'd venture a guess they're stocking about 20-25% less than what's normally offered. The employee I spoke to said all their holiday is in, so...looks like this is it.

Mom also noticed the enormous amount of Halloween being shown by comparrison--which seemed disproportionately high, measured against past years. Nearly all of it was marked 50% off.

Another store that stuck out like a sore thumb was Crabtree and Evelyn. By the third week in October, this location is typically filled to the gills with holiday items and extra year 'round inventory. Like Department 56, it's show floor usually requires a shopper to be mindful of nearby displays while navigating the many options available for purchase. This year? The new India Hicks product has been given a big, airy display table, with loads of empty space all around. None of the familiar gift items are on the counter...the many show floor product displays are missing, along with the robes and matching accoutrements...and the entire children's line has disappeared, according to an employee we spoke to. At least 1/3 of the normal inventory level has dropped from sight.

These weren't two exceptions to the rule; they were examples of the rule, and that rule appeared in store after store after store, regardless of target market.

This seems to prove two things: Halloween isn't moving, to no one's surprise, given the economy. By the time "the powers that be" recognized a problem, it was too late to back down factory orders on ghouls and goblins, so pushing it out the door at half price is the only alternative.

Christmas production, on the other hand, could still be cut back, given the later delivery dates. Judging by their displays and space allotment, Department 56 doesn't seem to be banking on much beyond returning Snow Village customers.

This bodes well for independent retailers, folks. If the big boxes provide less merchandise and less selection, odds improve that customers will seek options in their neighborhood stores and boutiques. If you haven’t set up your holiday displays yet, do. True, I’m not a fan of Christmas before Halloween, but given the holes I saw this weekend, my guess is 2008’s the year to break that tradition.

Independents’ Day Hymn

"Independents Day" (spelling intentional) has been used a lot to promote the little guy:

2001:
Grundig, German manufacturer of world band phones and electronics, launched a year long “Independents Day” campaign promoting locally owned retailers who carried their line. The retailer who sold the most product won a trip to the U.S....on the Fourth of July.

2004:
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors in the U.K. launched its “My Shop is Your Shop” campaign on June 1st, dubbed “Independents’ Day.” Over 5,000 retailers participated with great success.

2006:
Two dozen retailers launched a “buy local” campaign in the Portland, Oregon area...long before most U.S. consumers had even heard the phrase.

2008:
Record labels from around the world kicked off their inaugural “Independents Day,” celebrating the role of indie labels in pop over the past 50 years.

In keeping with the patriotic theme, here’s my little ditty for independent retailers everywhere (to the tune of The Marine Corps Hymn, aka: From the Halls of Montezuma):

From the lanes of small town USA
to the streets of NYC,
there are independents everywhere
and we’re happy so to be.
Our job‘s not the easiest around,
and our work load’s ten times yours.
Still, we’ll stick to what we each do best
just to keep open our doors.

We know customers by their first names
and we know their kids’ names too.
We hear personal things most should not
as we show folks what is new.
As a therapist, we’re free of charge
and we’ll sell the latest wares,
but start buying from those online stores?
Good luck finding one who cares.

Yes, our hours are shorter than the “bigs,”
and we carry fewer lines.
We can’t offer 2/3 off the price
or impress you with big signs.
Still, we’ll give you better quality,
both in goods and service too.
If you need cheap stuff, then go to them;
come to us for what is new.

So to Walmart, KMart, and the rest,
do you think your staff can sell?
Give them Mrs. Johnson’s two hour chat
and they’ll think they’ve gone to hell.
And to online stores like Amazon,
who are open round the clock,
we don’t want to be what you’ve become;
we like profit with our stock.

Need the newest thing or latest buzz?
Get it from your corner store.
We are nimble, quick and sharp as tacks,
and will always provide more.
We will be here when it rains or shines,
and will rise up to each test.
As an Independent Retailer,
we are, simply put: the best.

© Cinda Baxter, Always Upward 2008