John’s Blog

Stock width and depth is always a challenge. I believe to many retailers offer too much choice within the range and offer too many samples. I discovered this interesting article on my journeys.

Having earlier talked about the concerns I have about width and depth on branding, I came across this counter argument. Korean growers are being encouraged to introduce new colours into the range of tomatoes to extend sales.

There is a lot of buzz in branding at present. Cadbury have been trying to brand the colour purple, here is the latest update.

Ramm Botanicals is an Eastern Australian based business. Their new catalogue arrived on my desk last week. Wow, was my first reaction. Australian by Design, plants fashioned for the Aussie climate and lifestyle. A grower who has identified fashion, sustainability and lifestyle is what it is all about in today�s market. Congratulations to Jeff Cooke

As retailers we often assume too much and think the customer has more knowledge than they do. Having said that I was wandering through an organic supermarket in London and came across this excellent means of getting information across from their newsletter.

Ideas come from surprising places. I worked with Farm-A-Rama a farm supply store in the hinterland of East London. I thought their way of merchandising brooms was novel. Since the building had a high ceiling, he placed two wires, 300mm apart, across the building and hung the brooms. Not only did it save space, but

By John Stanley Are you in the retail business or are you in the story telling business? I know most of you will say you are in retailing, but is this the right approach to growing sales in your business in a rapidly changing world? I have just finished reading Seth Godin�s latest book, �All

I’m often encouraging my clients to ‘dare to be different’, that they cannot afford to be average. In the May edition of the QANTAS magazine they are promoting a new resturant in Singapore. I will leave it to you to make a decision on whether you want to dine there or not.

Susan Reimer April 22, 2007 I took a week’s vacation. To mulch. Not to travel, not to read a book, not to get my nails done or clean out a closet. I took a week’s vacation to mulch, because I knew it would take me at least that long to move the shaggy pile of

Ref: Green Profit Magazine April/May 07 At the end of February, Monrovia announced a retail concept that�s now in place at all 36 Armstrong Garden Centers in California this spring � Monrovia Boutiques. Green Profit caught up with Monrovia�s chief sales and marketing officer Bob Smiland, who played a leading role in developing the boutique