Space to Begin Again
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”—Socrates It’s kind of weird how God works sometimes. Anyone who has walked with the Lord
[ Read More ]Sustained Success Is in the Details
Moving forward. When it came time to title this column, it didn’t take me long to decide. Movement forward seems to be always in my focus—personally, with my physical health, relationships, and
[ Read More ]Cultivating Healthy Customer Data
In the age of the chaotic, oftentimes unsecure data super highway, we’re all concerned with data breaches and leaks. Given that, our customers are more cautious than ever to reveal personal data,
[ Read More ]Bookstores: The Church’s Guide to Discovery
It seems to come in waves—independent Christian stores closing, Barnes & Noble laying off skilled employees to save the ship, LifeWay making fundamental organizational changes to how it
[ Read More ]Guide with Empathy and Authority
It has been a great learning experience for our Christian retail store to meet regularly to discuss Donald Miller’s latest book, Building a StoryBrand. Centered on this book, our leadership team
[ Read More ]Learning from the Booksellers Across the Aisle
I love reading articles about bookselling. I’m particularly sweet on how independent bookstores are making a return. Lately, I ended up in an article titled Why Independent Bookstores Have
[ Read More ]It’s Not About Us
After the Christmas rush, with the pace of retail calming down, January seems like the perfect time to reset our business goals and priorities. Juliet Funt of WhiteSpaceAtWork.com states, “There
[ Read More ]Come in from the Cold
Nothing is better than autumn in Michigan—until it ends abruptly overnight. Temperatures fall, the snow starts to signal winter, and Christmas retail is in full swing. As our customers enter our
[ Read More ]Merchandising DIY
There is an excitement about do-it-yourself projects that might easily be replicated in the retail space. Shows like Fixer Upper have inspired millions to turn ordinary objects into beautiful
[ Read More ]Rethinking Performance Management
During the slower pace this summer, one of the best decisions I made was to attend the Global Leadership Summit, which was broadcasted from Willow Creek Church. It was not only a respite from the
[ Read More ]