Wrapping Up: July 2025

Jul 31, 2025

Dear Retail Details subscribers: Here’s your end-of-month recap newsletter and a display idea, as always. I hope you enjoy these once-monthly newsletters in addition to my regular retail tips posts.

I hope you had a productive National Independent Retailer Month! I’m ending July 2025 with a long-anticipated vacation, so I may not respond to comments and emails as quickly. August 2 is National Stationery Store Day, so I’ll be looking for a paper store to visit on my trip.

July Recap:

According to Substack’s analytics, readers particularly enjoyed the Display Inspo series, the newsletter about Product Adjacency and the Company Culture/Hiring Questions post. If you missed any recent retail tips, click here to read previous newsletters.
In July, Retail Details welcomed several new subscribers from South Africa, Scotland and Canada. It’s fascinating to see the locations and different types of stores whose owners subscribe to the Retail Details retail tips newsletter. I’m pleased to welcome several kids stores, a tack shop and gourmet store owners as new, premium subscribers this month.
Two of my retail friends recently sold their shops and retired, so I am happy for them — and excited for the new owners! But sadly, I have seen a number of impending closure announcements from retailers this summer. Such decisions are hard.

Monthly Musings:

When new products arrive, create talking points about the merchandise that provide more than a basic description. Include actual uses and scenarios that may evoke positive emotional responses.~Becky Tyre

Want to learn more about this topic? Let me know in the comments.

Display Tip — that doubles as a social media or website tip:

Introduce yourself regularly and include a picture of you and your storefront or in front of a branded wall inside your shop.

Clara from Little Liamone in Lyon, France.

Periodically, it’s a good idea to (re)introduce yourself. Including a personal picture helps to humanize your brand, which is beneficial in attracting new customers, while serving as a reminder for your existing customers.

Want to know more about effective retail introductions? Leave a comment on this post. If I get enough requests, I’ll add it to the upcoming newsletter topics list.

What’s Next?

The most requested retail tips topics and questions seem to relate to visual merchandising, so you will continue to see posts in that category. I’m having fun with the Display Inspo spotlight series of 12 newsletters dedicated to unique store displays.

I will continue to address retail store operations topics, sharing insights from other experts and experienced retailers, too. As requested, I’ll be writing about store event ideas and planning strategies soon. The Retail Details community of retailers are so generous in sharing knowledge! I know independent retailing can be lonely at times. Helping you feel less solitary and more supported in your business will always be a focus of this newsletter. XOXO

Special thanks to those of you who renewed your premium subscriptions in July. Paid subscribers have access to all posts and comments/discussions, including the archives of 200+ topics. Not a premium subscriber yet? Click the green button.

If you want Shop Local images to use on your social media, you will find a variety of them in the Retail Details Instagram feed or on the Retail Details Facebook page. You are welcome to share them! Please tag me if you do.