Benny's Recent Columns...
THREE WAYS RETAILERS CAN AVOID THE BLACK FRIDAY BLUES; How to maximize what should be your biggest sales day.

BE A MEDIA DARLING: 5 TIPS TO A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW; How to talk to reporters to maximize the positive effects of media attention.

TOP NEW PRODUCTS AT CHA'S SUMMER SHOW; Mostly scrapbook/paper craft products, but not all.

WAL-MART AND OUR INDUSTRY; A brief, casual history of the relationship.

THE STATE OF RETAILING & THE LOCAL BEAD STORE; The fast pace of changes is creating challenges for all.

COMMENTS ON THE FUTURE OF INDEPENDENT BEAD SHOPS; Are chain stores the problem, or is it something else?

MICHAEL'S FOURTH QUARTER, FISCAL YEAR REPORT; Highlights of a positive report.

WHY MICHAELS DIDN'T MAKE A BOTTOM-LINE PROFIT; Evidence that the banking system is coming back.

MEMORIES OF AN OLD FRIEND; Lots of years, lots of fun with Mike Dupey.

MICHAELS AND A.C. MOORE: Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year Results; Profits, losses and sales.

HANCOCK AND JO-ANN: FOURTH QUARTER, FISCAL YEAR RESULTS; Profits are up!

WHAT'S THE BEST PRICING STRATEGY? A new study reveals retailers can increase profits by changing pricing strategies.

THE RETAIL SIDE OF THE STATE OF SCRAPBOOKING; Comments from Scrapbook Updates' readers.

RETAILERS WRITE...About lower prices than Michaels, the cost of services, tourism, and more.

HAS THE ECONOMY STARTED TO RECOVER? HAVE OUR CUSTOMERS? Two economic-savvy industry retailers have some answers.

IS BIGGER BETTER? Bad customer service can drive a customer to drink.

A NEW TYPE OF CRAFT STORE; Catering to the indie crafter.

CHA EVENTS FOR RETAILERS; How to get more out of a trade show besides ordering products.

HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON "STASH CRAFTING"; Enthusiasts have plenty of supplies? Here are ways to boost sales anyway.

A NOVEL WAY TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP; An essay contest for consumers.

SPARK CRAFTS NEEDS A SPARK; A great concept, but...

FOIL THOSE "FIVE FINGERED- DISCOUNTS"! How to guard against shoplifting.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF INDUSTRY CONSUMER SHOWS; Retailers benefit if they participate.

RETAILERS SPEAK OUT! On chain stores' coupons, individual paper vs. pads, offering a slide-scanning service, investing in technology, and how the younger generation thinks.

SCANNING FOR MORE BUSINESS! A simple, profitable service to offer customers.

IT'S TIME TO RE-AWAKEN THE INDUSTRY'S THINKING; Time to embrace new ideas and expand horizons.

HEY CRAFT INDUSTRY...WHERE ARE YOU? Where's the teaching, the inspiration?

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE SHRINKING ECONOMY? Think outside the box.

UPDATE: HOW CONSUMERS WILL SPEND THEIR REBATES CHECKS; Food and gas inflation is taking its toll.

HOW PRODUCTS SELL...and why you need reexamine your buying habits.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER; We may sell different products, but our challenges and strategies are the same.

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS - AND FAILURE; Dreams get you started, but management skills make you profitable.

AN OPEN LETTER TO RETAILERS; Store traffic declines as gas prices rise? Some answers.

INDEPENDENTS RESPOND TO PROVO; To say they're not happy is an understatement.

ADVICE TO RETAILERS; How to keep a genuine enthusiast - and big spender - happy.

HOW ONE INDEPENDENT IS CATERING TO THE "NEW" CONSUMER; She needs motivation and inspiration, not a smiling bunny.

CLN NEWSBRIEFS; May 8 - June 2, 2006.

THE NEW WAL-MART SUPERSTORE; The craft/sewing department remains about the same, with some major exceptions.

REAL ESTATE WOES; How a landlord drove an independent our of business.

WHAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDS; Creativity, common-sense pricing, and much more.

HOW TO DRIVE A RETAILER CRAZY ... And lose a good customer forever.

THE CRAFT INDUSTRY: SLIPPING & SLIDING; The cause? Competitors instead of creativity.

SPARK CRAFT STUDIOS: THE INTERVIEW; This unique store offers food for thought for every retailer, large or small.

MICHAELS VENDOR PARTNER AWARDS; Winners produced better sales, higher margins.

A SCRAPBOOK VENDOR QUITS - WHAT WENT WRONG? Too much product - and loyalty - or too little?

GOOD AND BAD TIMES IN KANSAS CITY; A lesson in civility.

WAL-MART IN THE NEWS - Charity work, legal hassles, an irate ad, and money.

HOT TRENDS AND TRADE SHOWS; Trends change, but the keys to success do not.

MY LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHAELS, PT. II; There's a lot to like, too.

HOW DO WE TURN THIS "CRAFTER" INTO A SCRAPBOOKER?; An essential goal if the scrapbook market is to grow.

RETAILERS RESPOND TO SCRAPBOOK DILEMMA; How to be a merchant, not a missionary.

BUYER'S HORROR STORIES; Vendors: here's what NOT to do at trade shows.

A BUYER'S VIEW OF "CRAFTS"'; A magazine changes, and buyers disagree.

WHY I DON'T STOP AT YOUR BOOTH; Advice on selling chains.

HEY VINNY: DON'T YELL AT ME; I don't make the rules.