Good News Blog

Clear Water Outdoor Enjoying Great Online Sales!

2011-05-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Big Hairy Dog has literally hundreds of customers who have found their niche in active outdoor sports. One such customer is Clear Water Outdoor, located in the beautiful Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin. This innovative sports retailer has a young, active staff who experiences first hand a wide variety of rugged sports such as Trail Running, Hiking, Backpacking, Swimming, Skiing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Mountainbiking, Golfing, Roadbiking and Fly Fishing. It's no surprise to us that they have found great success assisting their customers, with a personal experience list like that!

Clear Water Outdoor is enjoying increased sales through their successful online store. Brian Waspi, CTO and E-COMMERCE Expert, says, "Since the launch of our custom e-Commerce system, online sales are increasing at an average of 100% from the same month the year prior."

Congratulations to Brian and the entire staff at Clear Water Outdoor, for managing this new expansion to their retail operation! If you are ever in the Lake Geneva area, stop in and say Hi! You can also visit them online at: CLEARWATEROUTDOOR.COM.

Continental Display says "Business is Picking Up!"

2011-05-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

A local Sacramento BHD customer, Continental Display, Inc. has been in business for over 30 years. With a 45,000 square foot facility, they have grown to be Northern California's LARGEST RETAIL STORE FIXTURE OUTLET. Another 20,000 square feet of warehouse displays 'Nearly New' Store Fixtures, at 50 to 70% discount.

Leta Nichols, President of Continental Display & Fixtures shares their good news, "Business is finally picking up! We are seeing new store openings, more remodeling and retailers confidence rising. We have learned that not all news applies to our industry. We listen to the news that pertains to retail/wholesale and ignore negative reporting that doesn't help business. We're thrilled with any increase in business and love to share the good news!"

Thanks, Leta for that great report! BHD loves to hear good news from our customers. and wants to congratulate Continental Display for their continuing success!!

Help BHD Support HOPE PRODUCTIONS FOUNDATION

2011-05-09T11:42:00.001-07:00

Is that our own little Joe Malaney as the youngest member of KISS?

Every year during our Hope Productions Foundation fund-raiser, we count on all of our great customers to help us meet our goal. This year, we are working towards our goal of $8,500.

You can call 800-377-7776 to donate and receive tickets in the mail for our raffle of 10 FREE Tech hours, or an award-winning Chili dinner for 8. You may also donate your tax-deductible gift online.

Welcome to Baby Reid Dillin Smith

2011-04-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

BHD warmly welcomes the newest member of the extended BHD family.
Darrell Franklin's grandson, Reid, was born on April 20, 2011 at 5:53pm.

Reid weighed in at 9 pounds 1 oz, and measured 21" long. Reid is doing well, and his family is happily adjusting to this newest member.

Congratulations to Darrell on the birth of his first grandchild!

Turners Wild West Reports Business is Steady!

2010-11-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

Turners Wild West, a western apparel shop in Angels, Camp, CA has good news to share to all BHD customers.

Their business continues to do well, and sales have remained steady through 2010. They are hoping for even a better year to come in 2011.

Congratulations to Turners Wild West and we wish the best of luck in the coming year.

BHD Customers Feeling the Economy Turning Around!

2010-10-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

We've heard from a number of our customers that sales are up and stores are expanding. It's a good sign for retailers everywhere!

Douglas Feed and Pet Supply, in Granite Bay, CA reported an expansion to nearly double their current space. Local to the Sacramento area, and family owned for 30 years, this is a favorite retailer to many animal owners in this area. Their website tells the amazing story of their growth through the years and we know that their outstanding customer service has played a big role in their success. Douglas Feed and Pet Supply is one of the few companies who will still deliver - literally - top of the line products to their customers.

BHD is happy to share the good news of our customers, and we congratulate Douglas Feed and Pet Supply on this new expansion.

If you have good news you'd like to share, call Jan at 800-377-7776, or email at: janw@bighairydog.com.

Windows 7 Update:

2010-07-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Windows 7 has been approved WITH QUALIFIERS LISTED BELOW for use with Retail Pro Version 8.6 and 9.2 by RPI, Inc. Big Hairy Dog is still in the process of testing W7 wtih both of these versions before we also give our approval. We are concentrating on things such as polling, peripheral equipment and some of the older 16-bit tools to make sure they work correctly.

As of now, W7 can be used on any non-polling PC and we have been shipping it out to new customers that are single stores.

Once we finish our client trials and find no problem, we will be using W7 on all PC's going forward.

QUALIFIERS:
For Retail Pro version 8.6 you must use the 32-bit version of W7.
For Retail Pro version 9.2 you can use either 32-bit or 64-bit versions.
BHD will only be testing and supporting Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate versions.

BHD RAISES NEARLY $9,000 FOR HOPE FOUNDATION!

2010-07-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

This year's BHD fund-raiser was a HUGE SUCCESS, thanks in large part to our great customers, friends and family. Our goal was to raise $6000 for The Hope Foundation, which donates to 14 separate and local children's charities.

Even though the deadline came and went, BHD continued collecting money from many big-hearted people, allowing us to raise nearly $9,000 to present to Hope Foundation! THAT'S $3,000 OVER OUR GOAL!

Our raffle winners are:

1. Barbara from Bud Lillies, a wonderful customer who owns a fly-fishing (and more) shop up in the wilderness of West Yellowstone. Barbara won 10 FREE hours of tech support, which is a value of $2,500.

2. Mark, Drobney, Attorney at Law, was the winner of the chili dinner for 8.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BARBARA AND MARK and a big THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to making this year's fund raiser such a big success!

BHD Customer, Le Petit Chateau, Finding 'Positive Outlook' for the future!

2010-03-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

Le Petit Chateau is a 'One-of-a-Kind' shop offering fine home furnishings celebrating European luxury living. Located in Granite Bay, California, just outside Sacramento, this is a unique shop that has found its niche in a world of retailers.

While recently speaking to Debbie, from Le Petit Chateau, she informed us, "Our Clients outlook is much better this year and overall energy in the store and with our clients seems to be moving in the right direction. Customers are starting to spend more money and investing in their homes again, and it has been a breath of fresh air to again feel positive in our day-to-day dealings with our customers...... We are here because of them and for them and are pleased to look toward a bright future."

We love to hear positive feedback such as this, and are eager to share these comments with our other customers. Thank you and Congratulations to Debbie and Le Petit Chateau!

BHD SUPPORTS YOUR PHYSICAL INVENTORY

2010-03-09T13:25:00.000-08:00

Big Hairy Dog has many services available to help you with your Physical Inventory. We understand that a business inventory can take a lot of preparation, and the results must be accurate.

We provide:

Hand held data collectors available for purchase
Hand held data collectors available for rent
Training available for using the data collectors and scanners
Rent-A-Tech available to assist you anytime outside of our regular tech support hours
FREE Videos which describe the inventory process, and how to use the Retail Pro Inventory tool.
FREE Webinars available on Physical Inventory (Check the BHD website for dates)

One of our great customers, Mountain Hideaway, had this to say after their BHD-assisted Physical Inventory this year.

"Our Inventory went very smoothly. We completed a 14,000 item count in 7.5 hours and had descrepancies done in 2.5 hours. Best of all our inventory adjustment was only .47%, by far the best we have had in 18 years. The Retail Pro system with accounting link to Quick Books is fantastic!"

When you schedule your next Physical Inventory, don't forget to call BHD and let us help make it your best inventory yet! Call 800-377-7776 today!

BHD Customer, Capitol Cellers, Featured in Sacramento Magazine

2010-03-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

The owner of Capitol Cellers, Marcus Graziano, was interviewed by Sacramento Magazine, and is featured in this month's edition, March 10, 2010. (Read the entire article.)

Capitol Cellars is now located in Roseville:
110 Diamond Creek Place
Ste. 100
Roseville, CA 95747ph.
(916) 786.9030
fax (916) 781.9031
info@capitolcellars.com

You can find information on Events, Tastings, Monthly Specials, Featured Wines, Newsletters and much more at the Capitol Cellars Website.

Congratulations to Marcus Graziano and Capitol Cellars for this great recognition.

William Glen's THE BISTRO awarded one of Sacramento's Top Lunch Spots!!

2010-02-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Sacramento Bee's 'Dining' Section has awarded The Bistro, located in the William Glen store, one of the top 12 lunch dining spots in Sacramento.

If you've ever shopped at William Glen, you are familiar with the great aromas that float from The Bistro at any time of day.

We love our customers!!! Congratulations to William Glen and The Bistro for this honor of being recognized among the best.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum reports GOOD NEWS!

2010-02-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

Lindsay Wildlife Museum is one of our customers who has so much to offer to the community. They are a unique natural history and environmental education center where live, wild animals are all around. Founded in Walnut Creek in 1955, the museum’s programs connect people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.

We recently heard from the Museum, when they reported some good news for our Blogsite!

"Being a non-profit, the sales in Lindsay Wildlife Museum is even MORE important to our customers. We found this year that many of our customers were happy to spend in our store, as they felt that their money was being doubled! The money not only provides their purchases, but also supports the care of our animals. It always feels good to spend money wisely and our customers feel supporting our store is a great way to support Lindsay Wildlife Museum. The fact that we have a very unique store which offers many items to help kids and adults learn about the world around them is a plus."

Thanks to Lindsay Wildlife Museum for sharing your good news, and congratulations on your success!

MADE IN OREGON - OPENING NEW STORE!

2010-02-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Made In Oregon Stores offer the highest quality products made available from the best Oregon vendors since 1975. Their success comes from providing an excellent shopping experience for local Oregon customers as well as Visitors and Tourists.

Made In Oregon currently consists of nine retail stores. At the end of March, 2010, they will be opening another store at the Portland Airport on Concourse D. If you fly into Portland, please stop by and see all the great products they have for sale, and just say HI from another BHD/Retail Pro customer.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MADE IN OREGON!

Lewis & Clark Outfitters Reports "SALES ARE UP!"

2010-02-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

We recently spoke with Lewis & Clark Outfitters, one of our great customer who transferred to Big Hairy Dog, after receiving our Emergency Tech Service (ETS).

Lewis & Clark Outfitters is an outdoor sports retailer located in Springdale, Arizona. Rob stopped by the Big Hairy Dog Booth at the Outdoor Retailer Show and reported their sales were UP 32% for the last quarter of 2009. In December, their sales increased by a whopping 61%!!

BHD appreciate Lewis & Clark Outfitters, and all our wonderful customers who stop by and visit us a tradeshows. Congratulations to Rob and Lewis & Clark for a great ending to 2009.

Pendleton Woolen Mills have made a huge strategic move in partnering with Humberto Leon - a designer to use the Pendleton designs in new styles.

2009-12-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

Mort Bishop III, the fifth generation to lead his family's business, celebrated Pendleton Woolen Mill's 100th anniversary this year. "We've learned something about fit through these collaborations," Bishop said of the Opening Ceremony line. "The draping of that fabric -- we'd never thought of that. Isn't that fabulous?"

Pendleton celebrated its 100th anniversary this year with a rebirth of sorts, watching its iconic Navajo prints -- well-known to many Oregonians as the blanket slung over the family room couch -- revamped this fall as miniskirts and tailored coats with price tags starting at $400.

Pendleton, one of the nation's oldest operating mills, has partnered in recent years with Nike ACG, Adidas and Vans. Yet in 2009, much smaller and more upscale fashion brands came calling, including Opening Ceremony and Comme des Garçons, a Japanese label that snips and sews patches of corduroy, canvas or leather onto Pendleton shirts that sell in Paris for $1,600.

"MacGyver" fixes Nike

2009-12-13T20:43:00.001-08:00

One of BHD's senior Techs, Paul Jones, recently attended the Honolulu Marathon, in Honolulu, HI, where he assisted Nike with their retail sales in the event center.

During the event the Internet went down in the event center. Our network remained up our router was functioning, just no internet, which means 'no credit cards'. Nike did not order phone lines for backup. I used my cell phone to get internet on my laptop, then used internet connection sharing and plugged the NIC of my laptop into the WAN port of the Router. This gave all 20 registers internet, and we were back up and running credit cards.

We ran Credit cards over my cell phone internet conection for 30 minutes while the Convention center fixed their internet problem in the building. 'MacGyver' fixed Nike!!

Tandy Leather Sales UP 10% !

2009-12-13T19:21:00.000-08:00

Since 1919, Tandy Leather has been providing leathercrafters with quality leather, tools, kits, hardware, conchos and teaching resources. They offer products to hobby leather crafters, wholesale businesses, professional leather workers, manufacturers, institutions and youth organizations.

This merchant of leather and leather craft supplies had an increase in sales of 10% worldwide last month ! Congratulations to Tandy Leather for their success!

Three cheers for our Pam Elliot!

2009-12-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

As a sales rep for BHD, Pam Elliot spends her days and most evenings working diligently to provide leading brand technology to retail organizations. In some ways, Pam saves the business life of retail stores. The technology she provides dramatically impacts the viability of a store. Recently Ms. Elliot had the opportunity to impact a real life too.

In November, during her morning commute- driving through a neighborhood normally not taken, Elliot observed a young boy lying next to his bicycle with 1 other assisting him. She pulled over to investigate and help direct traffic around the incident. As the person attending him said to the 911 operator, "he stopped breathing", Familiar with CPR, Pam ran to assist and conduct CPR with the other person. Elliot and partner continued CPR until the ambulance crew arrived to take the boy the hospital.

Elliot and her husband Doug continued to monitor the boy's health via the boy's family. It was discovered that the child has a heart defect which causes him to lose consciousness. Unless the child received life saving surgery he would not survive. Today, doctors confirmed that the child successfully completed the life saving surgery that gave him a one in a million chance for survival and is expected to live a normal life.

Pam Elliot saved a life.

Three cheers for our Pam Elliot!

She is our HERO.

SPORT AND SPECIALTY SPORT RETAILERS REPORT STRONG BLACK FRIDAY

2009-12-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

On Monday, November 30th Leisure Trends Group conducted an on-line survey among its retail panel, which represents over 2,300 retail doors, to gauge consumer buying in the Outdoor, Snow, Paddle, Running, Scuba and Cycling Industries over the Black Friday weekend. Responses were received from retailers representing 536 doors in 42 states. While trends vary from industry to industry the overall results are upbeat with 40% of retailers reporting increased sales compared to 2008!

Sales:
Most retailers report Black Friday weekend sales that were above or equal to last year.
40% of retailers report increased sales.

Traffic:
Looking at in-store traffic within sport and sport specialty channels, most retailers' expectations were reached or exceeded on Black Friday weekend.
37% of retailers report better than expected traffic.

Outlook:
These results leave retailers optimistic regarding the remaining weeks of the holiday season.
52% believe this holiday season will be better than last year.

How did sales this past Black Friday weekend compare to last year?
Outdoor, UP 78%
Snow Sports, UP 4%
Cycling, UP 35%
Running, UP 76%

'Cyber Monday’ sales rise 20% over 2008

2009-11-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - Retail web sites kept amping up the deals Monday, the first day after Thanksgiving weekend's strong online sales, to try to maintain the momentum.

Though the Web is only about 10 percent of the holiday shopping pie, it's seen most of the growth so far this year — an encouraging sign after last year's first online sales decline.

Coremetrics, a Web analytics company in San Mateo, Calif., said that as of 1 p.m. Monday (11/30/09), sales for the day that the industry still pitches as "Cyber Monday" were up 19.6 percent over a year ago.

msnbc.com

BHD Extends Saturday Tech Hours

2009-11-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Through the end of December, 2009, Big Hairy Dog is extending their tech hours on Saturday to 9:00am to 5:00pm. During this busiest time of year for retailers, BHD is responding to the need to be available on the busiest day of the week, when needed across the time zones.

"We break every rule to take care of our customers."

Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort Reports Sales are UP!!

2009-10-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort reports "Business is Back!" Located in Henderson, Nevada, in greater Las Vegas, Cindy, Store Manager, tells Big Hairy Dog that September and October sales have been up. "People are no longer 'just looking'. Our customers are now coming in to shop."

With a rich history spanning over six decades, Loews continues to offer ultimate travel experiences in 16 cities across the US and Canada.

Big Hairy Dog is happy to report this good news, and wishes Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort continued success in the coming months.

Cartridge World Continues to ‘Ink’ Record Sales

2009-10-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

The following is a Press Release from Cartridge World Corporate:

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – As more and more consumers are realizing the value of refilling and recycling ink cartridges, Cartridge World franchisees are reaping the benefits. The world’s fastest growing ink and toner refilling retailer is reporting double digit increase in same-store sales for the third consecutive month, with domestic same store sales increasing 14.7% over the same period last year.

Despite the tough economic conditions, 48 percent of Cartridge World’s stores experienced an all time high month at some point during the first
quarter.

“Our continued success clearly reflects the acceptance of our products from both consumers and businesses alike, as they realize the financial and environmental benefits of refilling and recycling their ink and toner cartridges,” said Steven Yeffa, President of Cartridge World Americas. “We are happy for our franchisees’ success during these challenging economic times and look forward to continued growth throughout the remainder of the year and beyond.”

Voted #1 in the category of toner replacement services by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500, Cartridge World is continuing to see significant demand in the market in spite of the current economic climate. With the recession squeezing budgets, the ability to use Cartridge World for high-quality refilled and remanufactured printer cartridges is becoming an indispensable service for businesses and consumers looking to save money on office supplies.

“The simple fact that our competitors continue to experience loss in revenues while we continue to report double-digit increases further highlights that consumers are fundamentally shifting to value,” Yeffa added, referencing Hewlett Packard’s recent announcement that supplies revenue for the second quarter was down 14 percent.

In addition to the cost saving advantages, Cartridge World addresses environmental issues by showcasing its ability to refill ink cartridges an average of three to eight times, without sacrificing quality. By doing so, Cartridge World prevents more than 9 million cartridges from going into landfills each year for businesses, schools, organizations and the average consumer.

About Cartridge World
Emeryville, CA – based Cartridge World is the world’s fastest growing ink and toner refilling retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry. The company refills and remanufactures inkjet and toner printer cartridges, using state-of-the-art processes and high quality inks and toners. It offers consumers and businesses a more affordable option to buying new, provides a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee and helps the environment by keeping cartridges out of landfills. Voted #1 in the category of toner replacement services by Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500, Cartridge World has more than 1,700 franchised retail locations in 61 countries. For more information call
(888) 99-REFILL or visit http://www.cartridgeworldusa.com/.

Big Hairy Dog congratulates all of our great Cartridge World stores for this impressive growth, and wishes continued success in the future.

BHD Customer, 'Rack N Road' enjoying its most profitable year!!

2009-10-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

From Sacramento Business Journal, Sept. 25, 2009

"The retail market is still bad, but Rack N Road is creating sales from what had been lost opportunities. As a result, the local retailer has just enjoyed its most profitable year.
Early in the recession, the Sacramento-based chain of eight stores renegotiated leases, cut staff, and reduced marketing and insurance costs. The seller of vehicle racks and travel gear also benefited from budget-conscious consumers’ switch to short road trips, given high fuel costs and tighter budgets.
The biggest change for Rack N Road, though, came from listening in on employees’ phone calls with customers. Monitoring and analyzing calls is somewhat Big Brother-ish, company president and chief executive officer Greg Bauer acknowledges, but it works. Sales increase, and customers get better service.

“We’re beating our 2007 numbers,” Bauer said."
Big Hairy Dog congratulates Rack N Road (formerly known as 'Sports Rack') on its innovative business practices, resulting in great success!

Deckers Opened 4 New Stores in 2009!

2009-09-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Deckers Outdoor Corporation is headquartered in Goleta, CA, a small coastal community along the central California coastline and located close to the University of California, Santa Barbara.

It is there, as a UCSB student, that Doug Otto, Chairman, began producing sandals in 1973. Since then, Deckers has grown into an international company with three footwear brands - Teva, Simple and UGG® Australia. Deckers products enjoy a high level of brand name recognition and consumer appeal by combining functional and creative designs with quality materials and construction.

In spite of a weak economy, Deckers has experienced success this year, opening four new stores including two international stores. They've opened stores in:

Cabazon, CA
Honolulu, HI
Manchester, United Kingdom
Tokyo, Japan

Big Hairy Dog is proud to help Deckers with the technology end of their business, and congratulates Deckers Outdoor Corporation on their success and growth.

Retail Pro Supports Strategies to Sell in a Weak Economy

2009-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's NOT all bad news in the retail industry. The Good News is that retailers are finding innovative ways to create sales in a weak economy. Many smart retailers are thinking outside the box - entertaining new and creative ideas to bring customers into their store.

Some ideas to enhance your holiday business:

Know your Customers.....know them by name. Communication is key in knowing your customers and their needs. Make shopping in your store a personal experience for your customers, and gain their loyalty.
If your customers are going through difficult financial times, arrange methods of payment that make purchases easier. Offer reward programs and methods of payment such as: Customer Loyalty, Lay-Away, Buy one Get one, Seasonal Pricing, etc.
Make shopping entertaining. Many smart retailers are using entertainment to draw a crowd. Recitals, live music, book signing, dancing or makeup demonstrations are all fun events that will not only bring in your customers, but their friends as well. Market these ideas to your customers well before the event takes place. Fun sparks sales.
Concentrate on basic necessities over high end luxury items. Selling high end may only be encouraging your customers to shop elsewhere for a bargain.

Retail Pro supports your efforts to know your customers, offer optional payment methods, and know your inventory. Big Hairy Dog is committed to helping you be successful. Your BHD Sales Reps, Certified Technicians and Customer Service Representatives are ready to answer your questions and help you increase profits!! Call 800-377-7776

http://www.mcall.com/business/outlook/all-outlook09-retailers,0,6602402.story

Citizen Clothing Celebrates their 20th Anniversary!

2009-08-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

Citizen Clothing is celebrating their 20th year of being in business.

Located in the heart of San Francisco, Citizen Clothing is the umbrella store for two apparel shops about a block apart. The first store, opened in 1989, was 'Citizen Body', and a year later opened 'Body Clothing'. They offer apparel, shoes and accessories for men, women and recently added a children's line.

For more information, check out their website at: http://citizenbody.com/. Next time you're in the area, be sure to stop in and say hello.

Big Hairy Dog congratulates Citizen Clothing for achieving this impressive milestone.

Advice from Fashion Reflection in Sherman, TX

2009-07-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

It is our experience that when we focus upon our top 100 customers, our business increases, the customers are pleased that we are being attentive to their needs and wants, and we get ideas from them as to what we can introduce to our boutique. Business has had a real surge in the last 30 days for us. We have hosted a "Preferred Customer Sale" for the top 100 people July 9,10,11. And our experience was that while the customer may have come for the sale, they were also interested in seeing the new fall arrivals, or they were open to a new piece complementing a sale piece. Therefore, our sales escalated as they were making complete outfits . . . and not necessarily just with the sale merchandise. We have sent "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" cards to our next 100 customers for July 16, 17, 18. So, we are anxious to see what this weekend brings. The ultimate lesson from our efforts is focus upon the people that shop with us most often. They seem to appreciate the attention.

Retail Sales show largest RISE in five months!

2009-07-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Associated Press, Washington

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that retail sales advanced in June by the largest amount in five months, higher than economists had expected. It marked the second consecutive increase and boosted the belief that the economy may be on the verge of a rebound.

Sales showed strength at electronics, appliance stores and at sporting goods stores.

Many economists believe that the economy is in the process of stabilizing and are forecasting that the overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, will begin growing again this July-September quarter.

Smart Businesses Planning for Market Upswing

2009-07-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Small businesses are finding NOW is the time to begin new marketing campaigns, reworking business models and looking at possible real estate deals. Many are even hiring on the expectation an upturn is right around the corner.

These smart retailers are moving away from "thinking in the short term, business is bad, I've got to really cut my expenses and keep it tight," and are now saying, "Business is going to get better, so I'm going to do something to position myself to do even better than my competition."

It's important NOW to look at all aspects of your business operations and try to ensure that it's working efficiently. Companies should be developing a system that helps it analyze how much merchandise it is buying compared to recent sales and sales forecasts.

This is also a time to figure out where you can expand your business. Market positioning is best done in a down market. Donn Flipse, owner of Field of Flowers in Davie, FL, says "We're looking at acquiring a business or businesses in a new geographic market and extending our reach. In time, we hope to consolidate those businesses into a new superstore, and we're already considering a location. We certainly should be able to get better terms from landlords than we would have a year ago, and better than we would two years down the road when the economy will be much better," he said.

"The smart thing is to do it NOW. When the boom kicks back in, other companies are going to start doing what I did a year ago. We will have the competitive edge."

Nate Page, Big Winner at World Series of Poker!!

2009-07-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

Big Hairy Dog loves to hear about the successes of all our employees and family members outside of the achievements of BHD. Nate Page, husband of Karen Page, BHD Sales Rep., recently came home a Big Winner from the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, NV.

Nate began his poker playing with friendly games with his brother-in-law. The two of them started a leaque and the players agreed to save all earnings to send the top winner to the World Series of Poker.

Last year, in 2008, the league sent one player to WSOP. This year, however, the league was able to send two players. Nate and one other league player flew to Las Vegas and entered Event #51 (No Limit Hold ‘em), with a $1,500 buy-in, which included air fare and hotel.

The event consisted of 3 days of poker playing, running into the early morning hours. Out of nearly 3,000 entries, Nate made it to the final table of 9 players. Even though he was the first to leave the final table, he left with winnings of just over $81,000.

Big Hairy Dog was rooting for Nate throughout the tournament, and followed his progess as he made his way to the final table. Congratulations, Nate!! Big Hairy Dog is excited and happy for you!!

S&P Retail Index Up!

2009-06-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

The S&P Retail Index gained 5% to 335.93

6% increase at Target (TGT Quote) to $41.74
12% jump at Macy's (M Quote) to $13.14
12% jump at J.C. Penney (JCP Quote)
9% jump at Sears (SHLD Quote), to $61.71
10% increase at Nordstrom(JWN Quote), to $21.87
15% Rite Aid (RAD Quote), to $1.33

Small retailers expected to follow suit.

Museum Expo May 4th-5th, 2009

2009-05-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Just spoke with our rep at MSA (Museum Store Assn.). We submitted 5 still shots to be shown overhead at the show on LCD Monitors - which included some quotes, our booth number, contact info, etc.and she said she thought ours looked nicer than the others who submitted.!! THANKS TO OUR LINDA!!!

She said Big Hairy Dog had quite a large presence at the show, and stopped by a number of times at our booth, but it was always so busy, she didn't get a chance to meet Pam.

Retail Sales are UP!!!

2009-05-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

According to the New York Stock Exchange, retail sales are up 1.2% for April.

Pet Extreme Opens New Store in Woodland, CA

2009-04-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Pet Extreme is a small yet thriving chain of pet stores, owned and operated by a local family with an extreme love for pets. With stores throughout Northern California and the Central Valley, Pet Extreme understands the unique needs and concerns of their customers and the pets they love.

Providing superior service and selection, with a personal touch is a major component of their phenomenal success. They just opened their Woodland store and the owner, Brad, tell us "We had a wonderful turn out!! The Retail Pro system ran smoothly; we had 4 registers running all day and 5 at times. It just went great!"

Look them up online at: http://www.petextreme.com

Congratulations to Pet Extreme on their new Grand Opening.

Northern Security Supply

2009-04-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Dan says, "Economic time are great in the gun industry!"

Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden - "Going Great!"

2009-04-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

We recently spoke to Cynthia, at Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. She told us how busy they've become, saying, "People are traveling more again and we're going great!!"

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden opened in 1966. By 1992, the Gardens had been purchased with grants from the California Coastal Conservancy and transferred to the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District. Located in Fort Bragg, CA along the Menocino Coast, it is a popular place to observe the many plants that are hard to grow elsewhere, due to the ample supply of water augmented by the mild coastal climate.

If you're in the area, it's worth the visit. Just check out the amazing pictures on their website at: http://gardenbythesea.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm

Congratulations to Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, and Thanks for sharing your good news!

Smitty's Western Store - Great Retail Strategy

2009-04-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Smitty's Western Store, located in Lake City, Florida, has found a way to bring lots of customers into their store.

Andrea explains "We have an Arena behind our store which is really unusual. We put on the South Jr. Rodeo, Georgia Florida High School Rodeo. We also do the barrel races and so much more. These shows draw lots of business to our store."

She reports "We are super busy. We work really hard at it, but business is good!"

Imelda's Shoes and Louie's Shoes for Men Celebrates 15 Years of Business

2009-04-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Imelda's and Louie's is proud to be running a successful business in Portland Oregon, 15 years after the owner, Pam, opened shop. In the past decade and a half Imelda's has moved it's main Hawthorne Boulevard store to a larger location and opened up a second boutique in Portland's ultra-stylish Pearl District. While the current economic climate may be a concern for many businesses, Imelda's and Louie's has maintained a successful operation by continuing to provide great shoes at great prices to Portlanders, without compromising great service.

Bancroft Uniforms enjoying great success!

2009-03-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Bancroft Uniforms, located in San Leandro, CA, is a family run operation that has been selling uniforms for over 80 years in San Leandro, CA. This successful business takes pride in meeting their customer's specific needs and providing a quality product. All of their uniforms are made in the USA.

We recently spoke wtih Bruce at Bancroft Uniforms. He says, "Retail Pro has saved my business. If I would have continued to purchase inventory the way I was before using Retail Pro, I would be out of business by now. We are doing well, despite some schools making budget cuts."

Congratulations to Bruce and Bancroft Uniforms for making smart business decisions which has paid off with a successful retail operation.

OUTSIDE-IN Announcing the Grand Opening of OUTSIDE-IN KIDS!

2009-03-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

Outside-In and Outside-In Kitchen opened their doors in 1996 in the beautiful coastal community of Aptos, California. Founded by John & Jerri Hammond, a husband and wife team, the stores were created to offer a variety of fine home, garden & kitchen products from around the world.

Outside-In now announces the Grand Opening of its Kids store on April 4, 2009 from 10am to 6pm. Outside-In Kids is located at 7560 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA, in the Aptos Center. The grand opening will be a fun affair for the whole family. Come and join in the fun - tour the store while snacking on cupcakes and lemonade. There will also be a 15% discount on all purchases at Outside-In Kids.

Outside-In operates a successful webstore. So for those unable to visit them in Aptos, http://www.oihome.com/ is always open.

Big Hairy Dog congratulates Outside-In on its expansion and continued success.

The Winner, Inc. "Swamped with Sales"

2009-03-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Winner, Inc., in downtown Sharon, Pennsylvania, offers the latest fashions, giftware and collectibles at reduced prices.

The Winner isn't just ANY "Off-Price" fashion store. They have four floors of merchandise - that's over 100,000 square feet - at better than outlet prices. It's no wonder they are swamped with business; they receive new shipments daily, with no seconds or rejects, and NO sales tax on sportswear and careerwear.

We are happy to hear reports of 'over-the-top' sales from The Winner. Another BHD customer finding that this is a good time to be in retail. Check out their website at:
WWW.THEWINNEROUTLET.COM

Hunter Supply says, "Businss is Great!"

2009-03-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hunter Supply, located in Salinas, CA, is strictly about sport hunting. They stock quality rifles and shotguns, gun safes, gun cases, hunting accessories and apparel. Their booming business is proof of the pride they take in providing a complete, full service hunting shop serving Monterey County and beyond.

We recently spoke with Kevin at Hunter Supply. "Our suppliers are having a hard time keeping up with sales. Business is very good right now; we're having a hard time keeping guns and safes in stock".

BHD knows this is this is the type of 'problem' all retailers want, and congratulate Hunter Supply for their success. You can check out their website at: WWW.HUNTERSSUPPLY.NET

Lafayette Shooters : SALES ARE UP!

2009-03-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

"It is a feeding frenzy when it comes to firearms and ammunition. There are many reasons for this, but most importantly sales are increasing, and keeping the revenue in this country," states Lafayette Shooters Sales Manager, Blake Boudreaux.

Big Hairy Dog finds many of its customers who sell guns are enjoying an increase in sales. Lafayette Shooters Wilderness and Western Wear, located in Lafayette, LA is no exception.

Boudreaux is understandably enthusiastic and says, "Business is great and we expect it to continue this way. Sales look promising over here and we are expecting record sales numbers as our business grows outside the boundaries of Acadiana."

Congratulations to Lafayette Shooters!

INVERNESS - 50% OFF SALE on Web Store!

2009-03-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

Inverness, a ski, snowboard and sporting goods store, located in Waitsfield, Vermont, is having a 50% OFF SALE this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29. You're not going to be in the Vermont area? No Problem. You can order the sale items online, and this is a sale you won't want to miss!

We spoke with Jennifer from Inverness, and she tells us there are going to be "REALLY BIG KNOCK-DOWN, DRAG-OUT DEALS!!"

How can you get in on these great savings? Just by visiting their website:

www.iskishop.com

Ski and Snowboard shops are very busy this time of year. Let's all help Inverness have a great sale this weekend. Jennifer says, "Thanks a Bunch!"

Herb Bauer Sporting Goods Gun Sales Up 32% from same time last year!

2009-03-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Herb Bauer Sporting Goods has been serving the Central Valley's recreational needs for over sixty years. Located in Fresno, CA, this sporting goods store prepares its customers for their next adventure. Whether you want to climb Half Dome, paddle the whitewater on the Upper Kings River, or fight a Steelie on the Sacramento, Herb Bauer Sporting Goods will have what you need!

We recently spoke with Barry, Owner of Herb Bauer Sporting Goods. He says, "Our gun sales are through the roof! We cant get enough guns to fill the demand. If I could get twice as many guns in stock, I could sell twice as many! The manufacturers just can't keep up with the demand!"

Check out the guns and sporting goods products Herb Bauer has to offer! Visit them online at:
http://www.herbbauersportinggoods.com/Home.html

Congratulations to Herb Bauer Sporting Goods for a fantastic increase in sales!

Zinc Details holding their Annual Sidewalk Sale!

2009-03-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Zinc Details is located in the popular Filmore District of San Francisco. This one-of-a-kind store offers furniture and home accessories chosen because they are, or are destined to become, modern classics.

Owned by Vasilios Kiniris and Wendy Nishimura, both graduates from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California at Berkeley, it is no surprise that their vision is providng products that are functional, durable, and affordable.

You won't want to miss their Annual Sidewalk Sale, this Saturday, March 28, 2009.
The Sale begins at 11:00am and will close at 6:00pm. It will be outside of their store at:
1905 Fillmore Street : San Francisco : CA : 94115 : t.415.776.2100

They tell us you will find amazing deals at this famous sidewalk sale, and adds, "Don't forget to check out our 2410 California store while you are in neighborhood."

Take a peek at their merchandise on their website at: http://www.zincdetails.com/

BHD congratulates Zinc Details! If you are in the area, please stop by and help make their Sidewalk Sale a huge success!!

Martin Ranch Supply receives high ranking in Equestrian Retailer magazine

2009-03-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

In a recent survey conducted by Equestrian Retailer magazine, Martin Ranch Supply of Rohnert Park, CA ranks 71st nationally. Founded in 1974, Martin Ranch Supply, a manufacturer and retailer, has been offering quality horse, cattle and other livestock equipment and supplies for 34 years.

“Over the last nearly three years, we have made a conscience effort to increase our product offering. We’ve added entirely new departments, such as clothing, boots and tack, and we have expanded existing departments, such as gifts and home décor, to become the proverbial one stop shop. And now, we are very pleased to announce that we have partnered with the leading horse and livestock trailer manufacturer in the country. As a full line dealer for Miley, Exiss and Sooner trailers, we have assembled an all-star line-up. These new lines compliment our existing lines, all of which offer great quality and value. Customers deserve value for their dollar and we provide value.”, says Lyle Smith, president of Martin Ranch Supply.

“We’ve always been known for the high quality and great valued products we manufacture. We’ve also earned a reputation for our extensive inventory of fencing supplies and gates, and for stocking the hard to find items that our customers need. With our continuing expansion and our very knowledgeable staff, we have a full product offering that attracts many different types of customers, from the horse owner to the homeowner. We don’t cut corners and we pride ourselves on the detail. If we don’t provide the ultimate in customer service, I feel that we have failed our customer.”, Smith adds.

We hope you will take a few minutes and visit this great customer's expansive showroom located at 5980 Redwood Drive in Rohnert Park, where Martin Ranch Supply provides over 2.5 acres of quality merchandise, great values and invaluable, unrushed advice. You don’t need to own a horse or cow to find this home and ranch store a valuable local resource. They can be reached by phone at 707-585-1313 or online at www.martinranchsupply.com.

BHD Congratulates Martin Ranch Supply for their success!

Retail Pro Customer Loyalty Interface Increasing Sales!

2009-03-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

We are hearing from customers that the 'Customer Loyalty' interface to Retail Pro is bringing loyal customers into the store more often, and these same customers are spending more on purchases. Jonathan from Mr. S. Leather in San Francisco, CA says, "Customer Loyalty is working perfectly to maintain happy customers. Even though we can't measure 'word-of-mouth' business, I can measure that our loyal customers come in more frequently and spend more money." Mr. S. Leather gives their customers their loyalty dollars at the time of purchase.

Cara, from Lewis & Clark Outfitters, in Springdale, AR similarly says, "The Customer Loyalty program is definately bringing the 'loyal customer' in more often with a higher average ticket. We find that our 'loyal customers' make up about 20% of our customer base, but are responsible for 40% of our sales. They have a healthy margin, even while using the points, they shop more often and spend about $25 more each visit."

BHD has been providing Features of the Month which spotlight Retail Pro Reports that can increase profits for your retail business. Please read the BHD February and March newsletters for more details, and look for the April newsletter coming soon.

We say it often: Big Hairy Dog is committed to YOUR success. We want to help you through education, service, customizations, upgrades, and any way we can, to help your profits increase, and your business succeed. Please let us know how we can help you. Call us at 800-377-7776.

Retail Sales UP from last year!

2009-03-15T19:58:00.001-07:00

March 12, 2009:
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Retail Sales in the United States are up in the first months of 2009.

Retail sales In December, 2008 were $302.8 billion, with January, 2009 showing an increase of 1.8% to $308.4 billion, and down only slightly in February, 2009 by .1% (1/10th of 1%) to $308.1 billion.

Many retailers are finding there are great opportunties in the retail industry today. It's wise in any economy to know where every penny of your inventory is, and to be able to identify where to invest for successful earnings in the year ahead.

Neccessories nominated for 'Entrepreneur to Watch"

2009-03-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Neccessories, located in Frederick, MD, opened their doors for business just 3 months ago. They fill an important and unique niche in the retail industry, supplying upscale items that every woman needs. Offering bath & body products, as well as items for women's fashion, home and office, this smart retailer is a one-stop-shop for women who want it all.

Jackie Lamothe, owner of Neccessories, has been nominated for "Entrepreneur to Watch" by a local business periodical in the Maryland area. Jackie proudly told us, "Not bad for a 3 month old business!" We agree! Congratulations to Jackie and Neccessories for their success!

http://www.theneccessories.com/

Douglas Ranch Supply opening 2nd Store

2009-03-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Douglas Ranch Supply was established in 1980, and is located in Granite Bay, CA. This successful family-owned business is committed to providing the finest animal feeds available to their customers.

In February, 2009, Douglas Ranch Supply opened their second store in the Denio's Livestock Auction Yard in Roseville, CA. Denio's Auction is a well-established and hugely popular market, frequented by locals as well as those who come from far away to shop.

Congratulations to Douglas Ranch Supply on their expansion. Check our their website at:
WWW.DOUGLASRANCHSUPPLY.COM

Mountain High Ski Resort: "Business is Good"

2009-03-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Mountain High Ski Resort is opening their 5th retail store this week located in Wrightwood California, up in the mountains of San Gabriel. This new store is conveniently located just 15 minutes off I-15 with no mountain driving but lots of good snow and equipment to rent or purchase.

Albert works in Mountain High's IT department, and says, "Business is good. The weather has been good at most of the resorts and they are expecting more snow and good skiing and snowboarding conditiions." See for yourself the beauty of the area by checking out their website:
http://www.mthigh.com/

Congratulations to Mountain High Ski Resort. BHD is proud of your success.

Pet Extreme opening an 8th Retail Store

2009-03-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

Pet Extreme has 7 stores in the Northern California area, and is opening an 8th Retail Store in Woodland, CA. Located in Gateway's Cosco Center, the Grand Opening will be on April 18th, 2009.

The store encompasses 1,800 sq. ft. and is using pet graphic wall paintings ranging from 11 to 24 feet to separate the 14 individual areas of the store. It's a fun place to visit, with fun offerings for pet lovers. Submit a story about your pet and what makes him/her so special in your life and your story may be posted on their website. They offer a free dog wash, with the purchase of $50 of products.

Pet Extreme also has a successful webstore at: http://www.petextreme.com. They plan to expand further in the Northern California area in the coming years.

Congratulations to another successful BHD customer!!

Sales are UP at The Fly Shop

2009-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

The BHD Service Department calls customers regularly just to make sure things are going well. It's a good chance to check in, say hello and see if there is anything we can help them with.

We recently spoke to Tim, the Retail Pro Manager at The Fly Shop. Tim reported that SALES WERE UP 40% in Janaury, 2009. The Fly Shop has a very special niche in the retail industry, selling equipment and gear for fishing, and specializing in the popular sport of fly fishing. Big Hairy Dog is always happy to hear good news from our customers and pass them along. Congratulations to The Fly Shop!

http://www.theflyshop.com/

Business is GREAT at Village Ski Loft!

2009-03-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

It's been raining in the Sacramento Valley, but in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the snow if falling hard!! We recently heard from the Retail Pro Manager at Village Ski Loft, located in Incline Village, Nevada. He reports that the snow is great up there and BUSINESS IS BOOMING!!

For those of you who are skiiers, grab your skis, put on your chains and head up the mountain. Don't forget to stop in and say hello to our friends at Village Ski Loft.

WWW.VILLAGESKILOFT.COM

Lee's Feed and Western is Expanding!!

2009-03-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

Lees' Feed and Western store has been in business for nearly 30 years. The original store opened in 1980 by Mike and Susan Lee. In 1986, they moved to Shingle Springs, CA, and have continued to service the needs of the Shingle Springs community ever since.

They recently expanded their business and opened another store in Lockeford, CA, about 60 miles southwest of Shingle Springs. They are enjoying a boost in their sales and business overall. Owner, Mike Lee, says, "We want to branch out for a wider customer base."

For more information about Lee's Feed and Western, visit their website at: www.leesfeed.com.
And for those of you in the area, stop by and say hello.

Congratulations to another successful BHD customer!

Deckers Sales are UP!!

2009-03-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Deckers builds niche products into global lifestyle brands by designing and marketing innovative, functional and fashion-oriented footwear. With stores throughout the east and west coasts, Deckers offers three primary product lines including Teva®, Simple® and UGG®, each an iconic brand, and continuing to gain in popularity in the US and UK.

Sales for Deckers are up, as seen in their 2008 Q4 highlights:
-Net sales increased 56.3% from the previous year
-Domestic sales increased 59.5% from the previous year
-International sales increased 21.3% from the previous year
-UGGr brand sales increased 62.0% from the previous year

Congratulations to Deckers, another BHD customer, whose business is thriving.

World of Wonders Science Museum Opening

2009-03-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

The World of Wonders Science Museum has been in planning and construction for five years. There have been some bumps along the way, as would be expected in this type of endeavor. In spite of all setbacks they have experienced, they are very excited to announce the World of Wonders Science Museum will be opening their doors to the public at the Grand Opening Celebration the weekend of March 7-8, 2009.

Located in downtown Lodi, CA, the museum is a wonderful 'hands-on' experience for children of all ages, as well as adults. To find out more about the museum, check out their website at:
http://www.wowsciencemuseum.org/

Another Big Hairy Dog customer making a positive difference. Please drop by and support the Museum in its efforts towards the education of science.