The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Retail Store (Paperback)

by James E. Dion (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Make the dream of opening a retail business a reality.

The fastest-growing segment of small business is retail—everything from clothing to linens, books to boats, gourmet pans to furniture. With over 30 years’ experience in retail, national expert and consultant James Dion offers practical, hands-on tips and advice on all aspects of retail business, from choosing the right business model and finding the ideal location to financing, purchasing, and marketing.
• Expert author with a high industry profile
• Practical, hands-on steps on how to build a successful retail business
• Up-to-date information on the retail market


About the Author
James E. Dion, founder and president of Dionco, Inc., Chicago, is an internationally known consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and author of the industry classics Retail Selling Ain’t Brain Surgery, It’s Twice as Hard, and Start and Run a Retail Business. Companies such as Microsoft, Maytag, Harley-Davidson, and Ritz-Carlton have benefited from his insights on retail selling, merchandising, technology, and consumer trends.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592577261
• ISBN-13: 978-1592577262
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #184,858 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Guide, February 21, 2009

By	F Z Toklas "A critical reader" (NY, New York) - See all my reviews

This is without a doubt the best guide around on the subject. From the author's organization of materials to the presentation of facts and anecdotal evidence, everything points to his first-hand experience and fluency in the subject matter. If for you retailing has little to do with psychology or other human behavioral principles, think again. The author explains it all in a very convincing way, which is at the heart of what makes this guide a cut above the rest: Mr Dion is not saying just trust me, this is how it goes. Instead he goes on a deep-dive on all key topics, from recruiting the right people to motivating the team, and provides the underlying principles and theories behind the strategies and tactics he proposes in the book. Amazing read, not to be missed!

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book!, February 12, 2009

By	A customer (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent 'how-to' book that is an invaluable resource for anyone thinking about starting a new retail store. The book is insightful, humorous and full of great practical advice to help guide the reader through the necessary steps to plan for a new store. There are wonderful anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book to make the learnings more concrete for the reader. If you're thinking about opening a new store, you need this book!