read me

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good mornin merry makers,

if you’ve known me for even five minutes, you know i’m a bookworm.

since i decided to start writing about brick & mortar retail, i’ve made it my mission to devour every book about retail i can find.

i was shocked to discover how many more books are written about ecommerce which is a much newer channel than retail stores. maybe retail folks are too busy selling that they don’t have time or interest in storytelling?

over the next few weeks, i’ll be sharing the retail reads i did find.

i’ll share store specific lessons, my overall rating, & a % retail related ranking. as mentioned above, the limited selection of retail reads means that some of these are a stretch to classify as retail.

i love a memoir moment so we’re kicking things off with four reads written by founders.

sam walton: made in america (walmart)

the book in a sentence: the story of how a small-town arkansas retailer built the world’s largest retail empire by prioritizing efficiency, customers, and low prices.

3 smart store strategies:

1. make meetings an accountability tool: every saturday morning since founding, all walmart store managers meet. these regular, high-energy check-ins are for sharing wins, sparking engagement, & driving accountable.

2. steal smart to innovate faster: walton mastered “copycatting” as a strategy, adapting competitors’ best moves for walmart. keep an eye on others’ wins & don’t hesitate to remix great ideas to fit your brand.

3. obsess over cost control: walton believed in cutting every unnecessary expense to keep prices low & customers happy. this relentless focus on efficiency can free up budget for big moves.

overall rating: : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5 (politics aside, i enjoyed more than expected)

retail relatedness: 90% (extremely specific store, growth, & mgmt strategies)

shoe dog (nike)

the book in a sentence: phil knight’s gritty and personal journey reveals how he hustled, borrowed, & improvised his way to building nike into a cultural powerhouse.

3 smart store strategies:

1. find unconventional suppliers: knight kept costs low by sourcing from small factories in japan. consider non-traditional suppliers to get quality at a better price, especially at the start.

2. embrace bold branding: the iconic swoosh logo, designed for $35, was a spontaneous choice that paid off. don’t be afraid of quick branding decisions.

3. use ambassadors to build buzz: knight promoted nike by aligning with athletes. connect with local ambassadors who embody your brand to create authenticity.

overall read rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5 (fascinating story with zen sprinkled throughout)

retail relatedness: 40% (not many store specifics, but interesting stories about early growth, marketing, & brand-building strategies)

setting the table (union square hospitality)

the book in a sentence: a masterclass in hospitality from danny meyer (the restauranteur behind union square cafe, gramercy tavern, & shake shack) on creating memorable experiences through exceptional service.

3 smart store strategies:

1. embrace enlightened hospitality: meyer prioritized employees first, believing that satisfied staff leads to satisfied customers. invest in your team’s well-being to boost customer loyalty and satisfaction. meyer’s core belief is that heartfelt hospitality drives profitability.

2. hire for personality over skills: meyer’s “51% personality, 49% skills” rule focuses on hiring for qualities like empathy and enthusiasm. prioritize attitude to build a culture centered on exceptional customer experiences.

3. apply “constant, gentle pressure” for growth: meyer emphasizes steady, ongoing improvement for his team. use small, consistent goals to encourage continuous growth and elevate service quality.

overall rating: 🌟🌟🌟 out of 5 (a lil slow, but loved by foodies & aspiring hospitalitarians)

retail relatedness: 60% (obviously not stores, but really helpful insights on customer service, team-building, & community involvement that apply directly to retail)

#girlboss (nasty gal)

the book in a sentence: sophia amoruso’s unconventional journey from dumpster-diver to ebay seller to fashion mogul, with a unique blend of grit & intuition.

3 smart store strategies:

1. bootstrap beginnings: amoruso’s frugal diy approach helped nasty gal thrive on a tight budget. leverage creativity & resourcefulness to stretch every dollar, especially in the early days.

2. make individuality your brand: sophia’s bold, unapologetic personality shaped nasty gal’s unique vibe. let your brand’s personality shine through in everything you do to attract a loyal following.

3. scale with intention: nasty gal’s rapid growth brought challenges. expand thoughtfully to avoid losing the authenticity that initially drew customers (& made you want to start the business)

overall rating: 🌟🌟 out of 5 (this 2015 relic didn’t exactly survive the girlboss reckoning … even sophia’s ready to retire the term. honestly, this 2024 elle interview with sophia on the post-girlboss era is the better read)

retail relatedness: 20% (mostly e-commerce, biz building, & mindset advice — not much that translates to in-store retail. nasty gal did open (& close) a store post-book, but alas, no juicy insider details here.)

so if you’re looking to soak up some retail wisdom (or just want a behind-the-scenes founder story), these books are packed with stor(i)es that you can see i mostly recommend. if you’ve already read the above, these are up next on my to read list in this founder written genre:

• let my people go surfing (patagonia)

• pour your heart into it (starbucks)

• delivering happineess (zappos)

• built from scratch (home depot)

• born to shine (kendra scott)

if you know of more or highly recommend one of these, please let me know. i’m on a mission to get through all the retail reads

p.s. i know some absolute geniuses are reading this. let’s get your brilliance out there! if you’ve been wanting to speak up on more podcasts, look no further than this week’s merry partner, podpitch 👇️