EDITOR’S CORNER

As I am writing this, we anticipate what will hopefully be the last snow storm in the Northeast this winter. So, it seems appropriate to reflect on recent lessons learned. Personally, I found out the hard way that it’s not a good Idea to go on a roof to fix a gutter during a snow storm.

At retail there have been lessons as well. It’s not breaking news that the weather took a toll on retail traffic in many parts of the country. For furniture retailers whose ecommerce capabilities are not what they could be, the bitter cold traffic these past months should be a strong reminder that when consumers stay home, they can still shop online for furniture with competitors. The good news is that even the most local of retailers can compete against the big guys online with a bit of help in setting up just the right website coupled with a razor sharp focus on driving traffic to it with SEO and pay per click.

Also, when traffic slows it becomes even more important to make the most of every UP. This issue includes two wonderful features on how to do just that, by controlling each and every sales encounter. Enjoy!

-Russell Bienenstock, Editorial Director