How can I be a better retail employee who is helpful, but does not annoy you? [more inside]
posted on Jul 23, 2008 - 58 answers

Should I get a second job, and should I work retail? Suggestions as to where? I have a full-time job now with benefits, I work basically 10 - 6:30, but this is an expensive city (DC) and I'm having a hard time saving money. Since I'm in the web development field, a natural fit would be freelance on content-migration projects. But I've done that and it depresses me to go home and sit in front of a computer alone slogging away at code, after I've just spent 8 hours sitting in front of a computer. What should I do? [more inside]
posted on Jul 13, 2008 - 29 answers

Why are 24/7 big-box stores so rare in Chicagoland? I'm not talking just the downtown core or even the city itself. You have to drive nearly 30 miles from downtown to hit the first 24/7 Meijer in Schaumburg. I'm comparing this to central Illinois which has nearly a dozen Super Walmarts for 300,000 people in a 25 mile radius. Surely there is demand for 24/7 shopping in the city and the inner-ring suburbs.
posted on Jun 18, 2008 - 16 answers

How do supermarket IOUs work? [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2008 - 4 answers

Please help me find free online blueprints for cardboard store displays. [more inside]
posted on May 29, 2008 - 2 answers

Specific questions, and general advice and suggestions, on purchasing a very prominent, locally owned, retail business. [more inside]
posted on May 28, 2008 - 4 answers

My new boss has allotted me US$3000 and US$1500 for a new desktop and laptop machine, respectively. I'd appreciate some suggestions about what to buy. [more inside]
posted on Apr 29, 2008 - 22 answers

I'm starting a new job as a telephone concierge at a Brand-new upscale retail/housing establishment in Glendale, CA next week—can you help me get my ear to the ground? [more inside]
posted on Apr 27, 2008 - 6 answers

I am researching the growing occurence of pay-what-you-can, or pay-what-you-think-the-meal-was-worth restaurants. There are several operating both domestically and internationally, as explained here. In light of the Radiohead giveaway, the concept has been getting increasing, positive press. [more inside]
posted on Apr 27, 2008 - 12 answers

NameMyStore Filter: Art/party/event space for kids needs a name: details inside... [more inside]
posted on Apr 14, 2008 - 3 answers

How long does it take to get a product from pitch to store shelves at a retailer such as Ritz Camera or Target? [more inside]
posted on Mar 25, 2008 - 6 answers

What do I do to tide myself over until my next real job? Shitty retail work or temp work? [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 28 answers

What are some retail credit card accounts (ie Macy's Card) that deliver good freebies, coupons, discounts or other promos for members? [more inside]
posted on Jan 13, 2008 - 13 answers

Where can I buy fabric near midtown NYC? [more inside]
posted on Dec 19, 2007 - 5 answers

Where's a good place to buy running shoes in London? [more inside]
posted on Dec 3, 2007 - 8 answers

Does anyone have any recommendations for a quiet PC? [more inside]
posted on Nov 19, 2007 - 17 answers

How many printed materials (signs, posters, etc.) are used in a retail environment in a typical week/month/etc.? [more inside]
posted on Nov 14, 2007 - 2 answers

A friend bought an extended service plan (the top level) on an HP computer from Staples. They are now telling her that by wiping the drive before bringing it in for service she voided the warranty. [more inside]
posted on Nov 9, 2007 - 13 answers

I need suggestions and creative inspiration for a wallpaper/backdrop for a retail window display. [more inside]
posted on Oct 23, 2007 - 10 answers

So, I saw a jacket at Banana Republic I liked, and I decided to buy it. I was offered 20% off if I applied for a store card, which I did. I plan to close the account when I pay off the jacket. [more inside]
posted on Oct 21, 2007 - 26 answers

ShoppingFilter: Return music that you don't like? [more inside]
posted on Oct 8, 2007 - 18 answers

How do I quantify "location, location, location?" [more inside]
posted on Oct 4, 2007 - 9 answers

One of our local malls, South Coast Plaza in Orange County, *constantly* moves stores around and the stores *constantly* remodel. Why, and is it mandatory? I mean, I'm sure someone(s) smarter than me has decided that it's worth all the money they spend to move/remodel stores. Is that all there is to my question? Why don't other malls seem to do this? Is South Coast Plaza different because it's more of an upscale/luxury mall? Is it unique to certain malls? Does the mall force the stores to move? Or is this something the stores ask to do?
posted on Sep 17, 2007 - 9 answers

I don't suppose anyone knows where I could get a flower pot like this in the UK or Ireland? [more inside]
posted on Aug 14, 2007 - 7 answers

Knee and foot pain. How do I get through working a 9 hour retail shift? [more inside]
posted on Aug 5, 2007 - 18 answers

Why would a retail chain want its stores to discard unsold clearance items rather than donate them to a charity that can use them? [more inside]
posted on Aug 2, 2007 - 27 answers

How much does it cost to open a guitar store? [more inside]
posted on Jul 18, 2007 - 12 answers

Why do retail stores always cover up their windows when they are doing construction/ preparing their store before opening? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2007 - 11 answers

Will camera prices rise or fall either before or after Father's Day or July 4th? I'd like to buy a new digital SLR and have it in my hands no later than Friday morning, July 6. Should I wait for any particular day between now and then?
posted on Jun 11, 2007 - 3 answers

What is the total gross dollar sales for the Independent Retail Market in the U.S.? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2007 - 5 answers

IdleCuriosityFilter. I know that Full Metal Jacket is available on DVD in Widescreen. But how come every copy I see at my local retailers' is Full Screen? [more inside]
posted on May 12, 2007 - 15 answers

Let me preface this question by saying that I work in retail. More specifically, I work in a slightly smaller than K-Mart national chain big-box store specializing in low quality clothing and home crap. Anywayz: I fell at work. Actually what happens was that the entire back wall of the checkout lane I was using fell as I was leaning against it and took me with it. Yes. Best day ever. What do I do? [more inside]
posted on May 5, 2007 - 19 answers

My mom is a commissioned retail salesperson for Gucci. Because she gets $13k/yr. in alimony, she always owes when she does her taxes. If she itemizes this year, what could she deduct? [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2007 - 10 answers

San FranciscoFilter: Where in San Francisco can I find Mexican Oilcloth like this? [more inside]
posted on Feb 2, 2007 - 6 answers

What is the best POS / inventory software for a music (instruments and accessories) store? [more inside]
posted on Feb 2, 2007 - 1 answers

Where can I find a faux finishing retailer in Boston? [more inside]
posted on Dec 13, 2006 - 2 answers

When I go to a Wal-Mart or a Home Depot in an urban location (aka, lots of black customers) and then I go to suburban locations of these stores, I've notice that in the urban areas, the lines are longer, there are fewer staff to help, the store is generally a bit shabbier, and the employess seem to be less-well trained and held to lower standards regarding how they treat their customers. [more inside]
posted on Nov 22, 2006 - 48 answers

How do I get relevant/fulfilling work experience while in grad school for my dream job? [more inside]
posted on Oct 28, 2006 - 14 answers

I'm opening a retail store that will sell CDs, books, photographs and other music-related collectibles. We hope to open a web store concurrently and have found a web designer. I'm looking for advice about point-of-sale systems for our store, and in addition we are interested in linking the inventory in our retail store to our inventory for our web store. Our webstore is being developed using x-cart. Any recommened POS systems or vendors? Anyone set up a system like this recently?
posted on Oct 26, 2006 - 2 answers

HumanBehaviorFilter: Why are some customers so nasty to the people serving them? [more inside]
posted on Oct 5, 2006 - 72 answers

In this NYT article, it says "...Wal-Mart's $312 billion in sales last year exceeded the sales of the next five biggest retailers combined." How can I find out who those five big retailers are and how much they made? Are these rankings based on U.S. sales, or worldwide + U.S.? Googling gives me data for 2004, but I can't find anything for 2005.
posted on Oct 2, 2006 - 6 answers

Should employees of stores be allowed to take (potentially rare) merchandise and buy it themselves before it hits the store shelves? [more inside]
posted on Sep 21, 2006 - 40 answers

What is Multivariable Testing, really? It was mentioned in this NYTimes article, but the term is only ever used in relation to QualPro, Inc.. What is the real mathematical/statistical technique they're using? Is this related to the Taguchi Method? Can someone explain it to me?
posted on Sep 19, 2006 - 5 answers

MBA or alternative for a busy single mother executive? [more inside]
posted on Sep 7, 2006 - 13 answers

Thinking of opening a Gaming store...help...So me and the wife are seriously considering opening a gaming store, (roughly half board/casual type games and half "hobby" type games). I've read a bunch of stuff on opening a retail store in general, including some threads on here, but not much on anything gaming specific. [more inside]
posted on Jul 31, 2006 - 27 answers

Why do clothing stores end up with so many extras of the smallest and largest sizes? [more inside]
posted on Jul 28, 2006 - 23 answers

Background music for a store... free, unencumbered, appropriate, and available through the net? [more inside]
posted on Jul 4, 2006 - 18 answers

Why is not placing change in a customer's hands offensive? [more inside]
posted on Jun 24, 2006 - 67 answers

Where do electronic items returned to places like Best Buy go? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2006 - 19 answers

What can you tell me about your experiences, past or present, working for Amazon.com? [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2006 - 9 answers