Specialty Shop Retailing: Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store

I am in the process of opening my own specialty retail shop and purchased the book because of its comprehensive information in how to set up a shop, the timelines, and the valuable advice only someone who has been in business successfully for over 35 years can give. I am also working with SCORE (retired business people who volunteer to help start-ups) and when my advisor looked at the book, he stated that really he didn't know what more advice he could give that I couldn't get from it. I am and will continue to use the book as my retail "bible" but wanted to state that when Carol "Orange" says in the book that she is happy to help with questions or to sit down with her at her store when in Madison, she MEANS it. She has helped me with questions via e-mail, a phone conversation, and when I had the opportunity to be in Madison and stop at Orange Tree Imports. She took almost an hour out of her busy day to discuss my plan, offer advice (really insightful advice) and be upfront with her opinion. She even sent me a lead on a company whose product line would fit my shop. I highly recommend you buy this book and stop at her store if you get the chance. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.

This book is a must for anyone thinking of jumping into small retail business ownership. It is full of practical information and takes you step by step through what you need to know in the pre-planning process, the 'let's do it" stage and your grand opening-how to open a successful business start to finish. It has been extremely useful to me and I knew almost nothing when I started planning my business.

Not as detailed or lengthy as another start up book I bought, but definitely worth a read.

Most comprehensive book of it's kind on the market! I don't think there is a topic she does not cover. Some are covered a bit too lightly as I am not sure there was anymore room left in the book. As I am in the process of opening my own retail store, I keep going back to this fabulous book again and again.

Very good book and very well thought out and written, it simply wasn't what I was looking for. Quite informative nevertheless

Very thorough look into the ins and outs of opening a retail shop.

This book is great at giving us additional advice.

this book kind of reads like a college text book. this may be good for someone who hasnt read a lot of additional books about retailing.

Everything OK!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I'm about to start my own specialty retail store and this book was very useful for me to understand what needs to be done to be successful at it. It's a treasure box of useful tips to differentiate yourselves from the competition and meet client needs. I highly recommend it, to new retailers and seasoned retailers wishing to reflect on how to improve their ways of doing things.