The general store in late-nineteenth-century America was often the economic heart of a small town. Merchants sold goods necessary for residents' daily survival and extended credit to many of their customers; cash-poor farmers relied on merchants for their economic well-being just as the retailers needed customers to purchase their wares. But there was more to this mutual dependence than economics. Store owners often helped found churches and other institutions, and they and their customers worshiped together, sent their children to the same schools, and in times of crisis, came to one another's assistance.

For this social and cultural history, Linda English combed store account ledgers from the 1870s and 1880s and found in them the experiences of thousands of people in Texas and Indian Territory. Particularly revealing are her insights into the everyday lives of women, immigrants, and ethnic and racial minorities, especially African Americans and American Indians.

A store's ledger entries yield a wealth of detail about its proprietor, customers, and merchandise. As a local gathering place, the general store witnessed many aspects of residents' daily lives--many of them recorded, if hastily, in account books. In a small community with only one store, the clientele would include white, black, and Indian shoppers and, in some locales, Mexican American and other immigrants. Flour, coffee, salt, potatoes, tobacco, domestic fabrics, and other staples typified most purchases, but occasional luxury items reflected the buyer's desire for refinement and upward mobility. Recognizing that townspeople often accessed the wider world through the general store, English also traces the impact of national concerns on remote rural areas--including Reconstruction, race relations, women's rights, and temperance campaigns.

In describing the social status of store owners and their economic and political roles in both small agricultural communities and larger towns, English fleshes out the fascinating history of daily life in Indian Territory and Texas in a time of transition.

Typically utilized by larger corporations, social media marketing and strategy is lacking in small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations. Although these organizations are beginning to incorporate this form of online communication, there is still a need to understand the best practices and proper tools to enhance an organization's presence on the web. Cases on Strategic Social Media Utilization in the Nonprofit Sector brings together cases and chapters in order to examine both the practical and theoretical components of creating an online social community for nonprofit organizations. The technologies discussed in this publication provide organizations with the necessary cost-effective tools for fundraising, marketing, and civic engagement. This publication is an essential reference source for practitioners, academicians, researchers, and advanced-level students interested in learning how to effectively use social media technologies in the nonprofit sector.

Consumers in eighteenth-century England were firmly embedded in an expanding world of goods, one that incorporated a range of novel foods (tobacco, chocolate, coffee, and tea) and new supplies of more established commodities, including sugar, spices, and dried fruits. Much has been written about the attraction of these goods, which went from being novelties or expensive luxuries in the mid-seventeenth century to central elements of the British diet a century or so later. They have been linked to the rise of Britain as a commercial and imperial power, whilst their consumption is seen as transforming many aspects of British society and culture, from mealtimes to gender identity. Despite this huge significance to ideas of consumer change, we know remarkably little about the everyday processes through which groceries were sold, bought, and consumed. In tracing the lines of supply that carried groceries from merchants to consumers, Sugar and Spice reveals how changes in retailing and shopping were central to the broader transformation of consumption and consumer practices, but also questions established ideas about the motivations underpinning consumer choices. It demonstrates the dynamic nature of eighteenth-century retailing; the importance of advertisements in promoting sales and shaping consumer perceptions, and the role of groceries in making shopping an everyday activity. At the same time, it shows how both retailers and their customers were influenced by the practicalities and pleasures of consumption. They were active agents in consumer change, shaping their own practices rather than caught up in a single socially-inclusive cultural project such as politeness or respectability.

Ephemeral stores, also known as pop-up stores, have existed since the beginning of trade between consumers. They appeared in city centres, villages or other convenient places where they proposed an offering and then disappeared as soon as its offering was wearied. This is a very similar experience to the current phenomenon; ephemeral stores appear unannounced and disappear without notice or can morph into something else. Brands adopt these stores because of the array of benefits they present and their characterizing features. Consumers, on the other hand, are not only positively reactive to ephemeral stores, they actively demand these novel, engaging, satisfying or beneficial stores more than ever as they provide them with constant change and surprise. Focusing on ephemeral retailing, this book aims to provide a clear understanding of what it is, how it developed and why it gained importance in today's busy retail scene. As many brands are adopting ephemeral stores into their distribution channels or using them as unique touchpoints, this book proposes a categorization of ephemeral retailing, explaining different ephemeral store vocations based on different brand strategies and objectives. With many professional opinions about ephemeral stores and a body of academic research developing, this book aims to combine all knowledge about the topic into one concise publication: it clarifies, consolidates and creates a clear understanding about the topic of ephemeral retailing that will inform future research and activity. The book is written for academics, students and retail professionals with an interest in relevant fields such as retail marketing and management, brand management and distribution.

The trading, selling, and buying of personal transport has changed little over the past one hundred years. Whether horse trading in the early twentieth century or car buying today, haggling over prices has been the common practice of buyers and sellers alike. "Horse Trading in the Age of Cars" offers a fascinating study of the process of buying an automobile in a historical and gendered context.

Steven M. Gelber convincingly demonstrates that the combative and frequently dishonest culture of the showroom floor is a historical artifact whose origins lie in the history of horse trading. Bartering and bargaining were the norm in this predominantly male transaction, with both buyers and sellers staking their reputations and pride on their ability to negotiate the better deal. Gelber comments on this point-of-sale behavior and what it reveals about American men.

Gelber's highly readable and lively prose makes clear how this unique economic ritual survived into the industrial twentieth century, in the process adding a colorful and interesting chapter to the history of the automobile.

When Adam Smith wrote in 1776 that England was a nation of shopkeepers, he meant that commerce was a major factor in political decisions. Smith's observation was even more on-target for Victorian England: shopkeepers, shops, and shopping were a vital part of life. Those Victorians with resources could shop often and had many choices. Industrialization and their imperial connections gave them an almost unprecedented array of goods. Even the poor and working classes had more to eat and more to spend as the century progressed. Here, Graham explores the world of Victorian shops and shopping in colorful detail. She offers information on the types of shops and goods they offered, the people who owned and operated them, those who frequented them, and the contribution of shops and shopping to the Victorian lifestyle and economy.

Shopping in Victorian England reached a level of importance not wholly appreciated even by Victorians themselves. New types of shops appeared, offering an expanding array of goods inventively packaged and displayed for an expanding group of shoppers. As the shops grew, so did the activity -- part excursion for provisions, part entertainment. Women shopped most often, but men, too, had their shops. Victorians could, by the end of the 19th century, shop without even leaving their homes: orders could be placed by mail, telegraph, or telephone. Shops catered to all classes -- the rich, the poor, and the in-betweens.

This book will help modern readers envision the Victorian shopping experience by taking them inside the shops and up to the counters. Readers will learn how the shop was organized, what services and goods were available, and how goods made their way from the shop to the home. GrahaM's compelling account provides a vivid glimpse into a vital--but largely unappreciated-- aspect of Victorian life.

"Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention" is destined to become the "go to" source of crime- and loss prevention- related information in the retail industry. Written and edited by two nationally recognized retail security experts and enhanced with 63 contributions by others who contribute expertise in specialized areas, this book provides over 150 definitions of loss prevention terms, and discusses topics ranging from accident investigations, counterfeit currency, emergency planning, and workplace violence to vendor frauds. No other single work contains such a wealth of retail security information.
The co-authors are Charles "Chuck" Sennewald, CSC, CPP former Director of Security at The Broadway Department Stores, a major division of Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc., founder of the IAPSC and author of numerous security industry books, and John Christman, CPP, former VP and Director of Security for Macy's West. They have put in one book a wealth of information, techniques, procedures and source material relative to retail crime and loss prevention which will prove an invaluable reference work for professionals at all levels within the industry.
* Tables, current industry figures, and statistics fully articulate the impact of loss prevention and theft in the retail setting
* Case examples from the authors' own experience illustrate real-world problems and connect theory to practice
* The most complete book available on retail security

The social landscape is undergoing a global change with the emergence of e-payment and blockchain technology. This new technology changes the ways in which consumers and businesses interact with each other. This dynamic offers both opportunities and challenges to the socioeconomic landscape. It is important to understand the strategies, opportunities, and challenges contained in the e-payment and blockchain sector. The Handbook of Research on Social Impacts of E-Payment and Blockchain Technology is a comprehensive reference source that examines the strategies, opportunities, and challenges contained in the value creation of e-payment and blockchain technology, which lead to economic and social progression. Further delving into topics such as mobile financial services, technopreneurship, and cryptocurrencies, this dynamic resource is essential for students, academicians, entrepreneurs, corporate managers, business executives, researchers, blockchain professionals, technologists, systems engineers, policymakers, and government officials.

Spending twenty-five years in a retail environment teaches you a lot of things about shopping behavior. It also leads to a lot of pent up frustration over bad shopping habits. Donna R. Summerlin vents about the behavior store employees encounter on a daily basis in a critique that is serious, funny, and instructional. Instead of continuing to shop like normal, it's time to examine your own behavior and that of your peers. Summerlin offers insights on how store employees cope with bad shopping behaviors; ways to overcome hostility, both as a shopper and employee; tips to help you remember the importance of good manners; and observations regarding outrageous behavior that will make you examine your own shopping habits. Gain an insider's perspective on the true nature of the retail business, and laugh along the way. Written for shoppers, store employees, and those seeking to get into the retail business, "RETAIL-iation" uncovers the unacceptable behavior that goes on every day, and more importantly, it provides a plan to fix it.

The proper understanding and managing of project risks and uncertainties is crucial to any organization. It is paramount that all phases of project development and execution are monitored to avoid poor project results from meager economics, overspending, and reputation. Supply Chain Management Strategies and Risk Assessment in Retail Environments is a comprehensive reference source for the latest scholarly material on effectively managing risk factors and implementing the latest supply management strategies in retail environments. Featuring coverage on relevant topics such as omni-channel retail, green supply chain, and customer loyalty, this book is geared toward academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on the challenges and opportunities available in the realm of retail and the flow of materials, information, and finances between companies and consumers.

How a pioneering merchant blended religion and business to create a unique American shopping experience On Christmas Eve, 1911, John Wanamaker stood in the middle of his elaborately decorated department store building in Philadelphia as shoppers milled around him picking up last minute Christmas presents. On that night, as for years to come, the store was filled with the sound of Christmas carols sung by thousands of shoppers, accompanied by the store's Great Organ. Wanamaker recalled that moment in his diary, "I said to myself that I was in a temple," a sentiment quite possibly shared by the thousands who thronged the store that night. Remembered for his store's extravagant holiday decorations and displays, Wanamaker built one of the largest retailing businesses in the world and helped to define the American retail shopping experience. From the freedom to browse without purchase and the institution of one price for all customers to generous return policies, he helped to implement retailing conventions that continue to define American retail to this day. Wanamaker was also a leading Christian leader, participating in the major Protestant moral reform movements from his youth until his death in 1922. But most notably, he found ways to bring his religious commitments into the life of his store. He focused on the religious and moral development of his employees, developing training programs and summer camps to build their character, while among his clientele he sought to cultivate a Christian morality through decorum and taste. Wanamaker's Temple examines how and why Wanamaker blended business and religion in his Philadelphia store, offering a historical exploration of the relationships between religion, commerce, and urban life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and illuminating how they merged in unexpected and public ways. Wanamaker's marriage of religion and retail had a pivotal role in the way American Protestantism was expressed and shaped in American life, and opened a new door for the intertwining of personal values with public commerce.

How do leading retailers create value for their customers? They craft unique experiences at compelling prices. This book introduces a new and effective way to manage those experiences based on three critical factors - environment, selection, and engagement (ESE) - that separate successful retailers from those that fail and are forgotten.

The ESE framework is derived from the academic literature on retail management and consumer marketing, and supplemented by hundreds of hours of interviews with executives and marketers from Canada's leading companies, including Loblaw, Indigo Books and Music, and Lululemon. Kyle B. Murray illustrates the components of this framework with examples and case studies that examine how the shopping environment, product selection, and customer engagement each affect consumer decision and create competitive advantage.

Whether you are an aspiring merchant or an industry veteran, this book's strategic framework will help you build a solid foundation for your business in today's ever-evolving retail marketplace.

Making a living in the Caribbean requires resourcefulness and even a willingness to circumvent the law. Women of color in Jamaica encounter bureaucratic mazes, neighborhood territoriality, and ingrained racial and cultural prejudices. For them, it requires nothing less than a herculean effort to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

In "Higglers in Kingston," Winnifred Brown-Glaude puts the reader on the ground in frenetic urban Kingston, the capital and largest city in Jamaica. She explores the lives of informal market laborers, called "higglers," across the city as they navigate a corrupt and inaccessible "official" Jamaican economy. But rather than focus merely on the present-day situation, she contextualizes how Jamaica arrived at this point, delving deep into the island's history as a former colony, a home to slaves and masters alike, and an eventual nation of competing and conflicted racial sectors.

"Higglers in Kingston" weaves together contemporary ethnography, economic history, and sociology of race to address a broad audience of readers on a crucial economic and cultural center.

The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed retailing, creating an uncertain scenario that has forced marketers, retailers, and policy makers to face new challenges to survive and thrive. These challenges affect all aspects of retailing, from supply chain management to consumers' shopping experience, and from buying decisions to improving health and safety management for all stakeholders. A lot has been to do about the negative consequences of the pandemic on sales, mainly for traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers and small-scale independent shops. However, quite some retailers have demonstrated a remarkable agility in developing and applying new tools, frameworks, and approaches to secure their longevity, while also safeguarding employees' and consumers' safety. Retail In A New World: Recovering From The Pandemic That Changed The World provides an overview and assessment of the issues and opportunities for retailers that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. The book encourages readers to adopt future-facing, fresh approaches to retail management. The basis for guiding readers in this endeavour consists of a thorough synthesises of emerging studies on the dramatic consequences of Covid-19 pandemic, in an accessible way. Seeking to understand how retailers can adapt their strategies, this book presents empirical and theoretical contributions with case studies that illustrate innovative and provocative solutions. Retail In A New World proposes tools and frameworks that serve as basis to survive the pandemic and thrive in a post-pandemic scenario. New practices are introduced to ensure a safer shopping experience, including reducing consumers' anxiety about in-person purchases, more efficient management of crowds in the stores, and adopting new technologies and service scripts to support the change.

Retail Futures presents a comprehensive collection of new theory, original empirical evidence, and applied case studies synthesizing the emerging contributions in innovation and technology management for the retailing sector. Eleonora Pantano presents readers with an accessible and wide ranging collection of chapters aimed at clearly identifying the challenges retailers have to face in response to innovative new practices, while suggesting how the sector can respond to the technological developments. The book analyses theories, frameworks and guidelines for successfully managing innovation in retailing, empirical research on retailers and consumer behavior when facing innovation in retail settings, ethical considerations and privacy issues, and case studies of retailers and innovation. Retail Futures is primarily aimed at academic researchers studying retailing (including internet and e- retailing), as well as upper level students who want to understand this phenomenon. In addition, the book is useful for practitioners who are experiencing the dramatic effects of new and smart technologies on their retail strategies. This work provides a strong collection of theories, empirical evidence, and case study applications synthesizing the emerging studies on the innovation and technology management for retailing in an accessible way.

The Association of Retail Technology Standards is an organization of retailers and vendors who have come together to create an extensive set of standards to reduce the cost and time for upgrading existing applications or adding new capabilities. To understand the depth of support that ARTS offers, consider that the granddaddy of ARTS standards, the ARTS Data Model, has more than seven hundred tables and seven thousand attributes.

In this new guide, author Richard Halter reveals how ARTS standards can help your business turn more consumers into customers and maximize profits. You can learn how to

- communicate better with potential customers;- harness the power of social retailing;- boost the success of promotions and discounts; and- organize your store to maximize sales.

Written in a language that everyone can understand, this guidebook explains how ARTS works together to help retailers and vendors. Take your business to a higher performing level and put more money in your pocket with ARTS for Retail.