Package tracking: tariffs slow down imports
Where’s the love? Valentine’s Day is this week and it’s one of the most popular times to buy things for people you love (including yourself). Spending for Cupid's favorite holiday is projected to reach $27.5 billion this year. Here’s everything you need to know about retail this week, plus a sit-down interview with niche retailer Nisey Baylor, who shares what she’s learned after 30 years of attracting customers in a small city.
One woman can make a difference, and customers love it
Nisey Baylor of Nisey’s Boutique has been selling unique handcrafted apparel, accessories, beauty products and gifts for three decades. She tells us how, as a Black small business owner, she’s persisted by learning from her mistakes and building a supportive community within her DC-area store. –Marcy Medina
How would you describe your business?
My business is as eccentric and different as I am. I opened 30 years ago in Mt. Rainier, Md., a small city just outside Washington, D.C. It had lots of issues. I was in my 30s and felt like I could be the change the community needed. I don’t know if I call it success or that I just keep digging in, but I’d say I contributed to the area’s successes. It’s not the best location for retail, but I bring many customers to the area and I am proud of that.
What’s your secret to success?
Customers flock to my business because they see different merchandise all the time. I make them feel great about shopping with my unique type of retail. I spoil them with nice shopping bags and treats, little thank you’s to share my profits. People shop where they are liked and respected and they come back and tell other folks.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about growing a business?I have learned how to carry what my customers like, and I absolutely had to keep prices down because of this location in a small township. I would not do a small city location again. Big lesson. Despite all the mistakes and failures I am still here, so that's the biggest blessing. Lastly, I had someone tell me that I might want to drop “boutique” from my store’s name because a lot of people see that word and they think overpriced or upscale.
What’s one thing you are experimenting with or excited to try in your store?
I’m thinking about adding stations where others can rent space and showcase their merchandise if it fits.
Photo credit: @NiseysBoutique / Instagram
Tariff chaos also means your packages are delayed
Beyond the topline issues of imported goods from Canada, Mexico and China costing American companies more to procure, those costs are being passed to retailers and consumers. So the [insert innocuous but necessary item here] that you ordered on Amazon and expected to arrive tomorrow? It's now indefinitely delayed in customs confusion. While Canada and Mexico tariffs have been temporarily suspended for a month and China is back under the $800 de minimis exemption for now, ordinary people are feeling the effects of all the policy whiplash immediately.
Why this matters: We hate to say it, but it’s probably a sign of things to come for a while yet. Here’s hoping some of the intended benefits come to fruition, such as onshore manufacturing and buying and selling local. (CNN)
Why A+ operations beget stellar CS during sale season
It may seem like we’re just catching our breath from the December holidays, but Valentine’s Day and President’s Day are upon us. To steer clear of critical operational missteps during this hectic time, make sure your inventory management and fulfillment are in sync with sales, marketing and comms. A smooth operation means a better customer experience—both during and after the purchase. And don’t forget the post-purchase lifecycle—returns and refunds aren’t just an afterthought; they’re key to keeping customers coming back.
Why this matters: Your operations, back end, logistics or whatever term you use, are the backbone of your business. No matter which platform you choose, from basic Shopify and ShipMonk to sophisticated enterprise solutions, this one area where you can’t be analog and expect to stay on top of real-time ecommerce inventory. At the customer level, out-of-stock items and shipping and returns/refund delays mean poor service and lost loyalty. (Retail Customer Experience)
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Issa Rae on how to create stories, products that fill voids
Issa Rae, who made Forbes 30 Under 30 List in 2014 as a YouTube star, is now an Emmy-winning multihyphenate with a haircare line and a jewelry collaboration. She spoke at Forbes Power Women's summit to share the hows and whys behind what she does. For example, she decided to collab with Cast on a jewelry collection because “jewelry felt like my armor in terms of belonging here... and representing on the outside how I didn’t necessarily feel on the inside.” Her advice to her under-30 self? “Stop comparing your journey to others.”
“We want to prioritize Black audiences and storytellers... and we’re also running a business, so we have to think smart and think about what will make money, what will draw audiences to our work. We are very much like, ‘What is missing first? What voids can we fill on the story side and on the brand side?’ That is the central question. What’s not out there yet, what hasn’t been told, what’s new." -Issa Rae, actress, producer, entrepreneur
Why this matters: It’s obvious, but Rae is the voice and face of a very valuable generation of female consumers. She and fellow storyteller-entrepreneurs like Tracee Ellis Ross provide great examples and guidance on what to buy and sell, not only for Black women but for many consumers out there. Watch her interview here.
Back to basics: IG post ideas to sell more
Do you often wonder what to post on your Instagram? What should be posted on the grid versus Reels versus Stories, and when to use carousels? This infographic breaks it down for anyone trying to market their business on social media. Single posts on the grid are ideal for memes or quotes, while Reels are great for behind-the-scenes tutorials, product reviews, and trends; carousels are perfect for product showcases and how-to guides, and Stories work well for customer reviews and product launches. There's so much more to it. That’s why you should pin this graphic somewhere handy.
Why this matters: It’s easy to get caught up in the latest tech headlines and forget the simple ways to post on social media. Most of the time, doing what feels instinctual also makes the most sense for the algorithm. This is a reminder that your own ideas are often good, plus a few more things you may not have known or forgotten. (Red Website Design)
Image credit: FinTechPen.com
What we love: New Jersey high school sweethearts Meg and Mike Affa own Vine Garden & Gift in Toms River selling two of our favorite things: plants and coffee. Their Valentine's Day special cardamom rose latte, sounds like heaven on earth.
What to listen to: NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay breaks down the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the retail industry this year. From shifting trade policies to emerging tech and tax implications, this episode of Retail Gets Real explores how retailers are adapting.
What to attend: Shoptalk Spring, Shoptalk’s flagship trade show, takes place in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Center March 25-27. It’s still where the biggest and brightest retailers convene to share ideas and network, and it can also be free or massively discounted for retailers who opt in to meetings with service providers.
Who to follow: Drew Michael Scott, aka Lone Fox, on YouTube. The DIY-er and interior design expert has an online shop, a booth in a Venice, Calif. antiques mall and just leased a 2,000-square-foot showroom to house his vintage furniture inventory.
Thanks for reading this week's edition!
You can reach the newsletter team at theskupe@mynewsletter.co. We enjoy hearing from you.
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The SKUpe is curated and written by Marcy Medina and edited by Bianca Prieto
