The Profitable Retailer: 56 surprisingly simple and effective lessons to boost your sales and profits [Paperback]

Doug Fleener (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2005

Earn more. Learn More. It’s that Easy. Attention retailers: Are you feeling a bit overworked and thinking you’re not nearly as profitable compared to the effort you’re putting in? While this book won’t get the carpet vacuumed or your orders put away, it will show you how to generate a higher cash return and help you achieve the success you do deserve. This is not another how-to retail book; there are plenty of those. There are no fancy theories or case studies here. Who running a store has time for that? Instead, this is a collection of fun and practical lessons written for retailers - by a retailer. They cover the crucial aspects of your business – strategy, marketing, customer service, operations, and employee relations. From them, you’ll learn how to: ·Instantly drive more traffic, more business, and more loyal customers through your door. ·Create a better ROI for your marketing and advertising dollars. ·Attract and retain the best staff possible. ·Get more cha-ching for your hard work. Learn more. Earn more. It’s that easy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Profitable Retailer is filled with ideas and concepts to keep my creative juices flowing and help me keep my ninety stores going and growing. Whether you have, one hundred, or one thousand stores, this book will help you improve your business/ - JERRY KOHL, CEO, Brighton

I have both enjoyed and profited from Doug's musings for some time now and not just because of his eagle eye and experience with retail, but also because of the warmth and good humor with which he delivers his messages. - MARK AUSTEN, CEO Office Club U.K.

Doug Fleener is a veteran retailer with over twenty-five years of hands-on retail experience with world-class retailers including Bose Corporation and The Sharper Image. His expertise has been citied in The Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, and Business 2.0.

About the Author

Doug Fleener is the former director of retail for Bose Corporation and today works with retailers around the world through his company Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC. He is the author of numerous articles on the topics of retail, employee motivation, and customer service. As the Director of Retail for Bose Corporation, Doug grew the Retail Direct Group from four to one hundred stores. Under his leadership, the Bose retail stores became one of the preeminent specialty retailers in consumer electronics, known for their highly customer-focused approach and multimedia Bose Music Theater Show. Doug’s expertise has been cited in The Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, and Shopping Centers Today. His articles on the retail experience have appeared in The Boston Business Journal, North American Retail Dealers Association, Photo Marketing Association Magazine, and Cape Cod Business.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Acanthus Publishing (November 7, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 1933631260
• ISBN-13: 978-1933631264
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #899,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very trustworthy and no-nonsense, September 14, 2006

By 

Kathleen Hooker "chef4u" (Sylvania, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Profitable Retailer: 56 surprisingly simple and effective lessons to boost your sales and profits (Paperback)

I have both used Doug Fleener as a personal consultant for my retail business and I have read the book and I keep referring back to the book. The best thing I did EARLY on when I opened my store was to hire Doug. I wanted to do that BEFORE I had a potential problem, not after. So far, so good. With Doug's advise and suggestions, we are celebrating three years of business in October. Doug does not "sugar coat". He uses common sense to put you on the right track of running a business and managing people. I felt very energized after our personal consultation and after reading his book. No fancy marketing tricks with Doug.......just no-nonsense suggestions. Doug taught me to look outside the box and he taught me how to step back and look at my store from the customer's perspective. Doug has the experience and the knowledge to help you succeed and I highly recommend this book for any owner and/or manager of a retail store. Kathy H. The Essential Gourmet.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are in retail, then this is the book for you!, December 28, 2005

By 

Jeff Hoster (SLC, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Profitable Retailer: 56 surprisingly simple and effective lessons to boost your sales and profits (Paperback)

The Profitable Retailer is an easy and delightful read. The topics in this book are based on simple fundamentals that when applied, will provide extrordinary returns to your business. Just take a few of the simple ideas in this book and apply them to your business. Within a short period of time you will start to see the difference it will provide to your bottom line. I can personally attest to you the positive results we have seen in our retail stores based on applying some of the fundamentals Doug speaks to in his book. I frequently continue to refer to chapters in the book as topics to help guide my management and planning meetings. I strongly recommend that you read this book!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Daily Bible for Retailers, May 23, 2006

By 

Coins 4 Me "Danielle" (Centerville, oHIo USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Profitable Retailer: 56 surprisingly simple and effective lessons to boost your sales and profits (Paperback)

First let me tell you I try to read a chapter every day. It has found a home in my purse. My husband also loved this book. He is a network engineer and helps out my business every day. He didn't know anything about retail until we married six years ago. One Saturday I tossed the book on the bed when rushing to work and he started to read it. I got it back a couple days later with post-it note hanging out on all sides! Notes he had written included, "You do this now but I suggest . . . I think we do this but the employees need a refresher course . . . Great idea, can you do this . . . etc. We have discussed when our children are out of school, perhaps there is spot in the business for my husband--gotta keep the regular pay check. After reading The Profitable Retailer, and listening to his ideas, he might just be ready to tackle retail world.