E-SWAP GROUPS

Now, there is a PEER GROUP for retailers who would like to learn more from their peers but do not have the time or financial resources to join a traditional group that requires time out of the store!

Do you wish you had someone to share
a problem or idea with?

Someone who truly understands?

But . . . cost is a BIG issue?

And so is time!

E-SWAP is the answer.

SWAP is an acronym for Share With A Peer

WHAT IS E-SWAP?

E-swap is an email-based peer swap group.

WHY E-SWAP?

Peer groups are for those independent retail store owners who want to improve. Would you like to improve your salesmanship, customer service, organizational skills, employee relations or just have more customers come in to your store? Peer groups can help! Would you like your profit at month and year end to go up? Would you like to achieve a better initial markup and fewer markdowns?  Would you like less seasonal inventory left at the end of the season? Peer groups can help. Are you considering a new marketing media, social networking, merchandise line? A peer group can help!

There are available online blogs or discussion groups to which you can pose a question or answer a query, however, you do not know anything about the businesses taking part.  What works for a very large chain may not work for a small one-store operation. 

The beauty of our peer groups is that they are comprised of similar business owners and managers across the country. Only another similar retailer truly understands the issues that face you every day as an independent retailer.  

You don’t have to endure every situation, positive and negative, to gain experience. You can learn from others without making every blunder yourself.  Each peer group brings a unique combination of experiences and outlooks.  And while group members may not have directly experienced a particular proposed ad campaign, for example, those in your group may know of another retailer who did and how they were successful or failed and give you validation or other aspects to explore as part of your plan. You can then devise your plan to achieve the best possible results while avoiding the pitfalls others have experienced.

Every independent retail owner and manager is plagued with too little time. You may be the main salesperson for you store, in addition to hiring and training staff, developing advertising, buying and perhaps even doing some of the record keeping.  Who do you get to run an idea by: an employee (who will tend to agree with whatever the “boss” says), a spouse, a friend, your banker?  While these are all good choices, they may not have the experience necessary for understanding what you face.  Unfortunately, these problems, questions and concerns must be dealt with by you.

E-SWAP is a peer group for retailers who seek improvement but have limited resources. E-SWAP can help!

With E-SWAP you do not need to take time away from selling to attend.  No worries about losing your “train of thought” while you talk because the whole point is that you are able to sleep on the questions and contemplate possible responses and personal experiences relating to the topic. Read the questions one day and answer a few days later. Once you have a chance to think about the questions and concerns of others, you can write your responses quickly during a lull in store activity or before or after the store closes.

Being a part of an E-SWAP group is a very economical way to learn.  We all know that experiences give us mistakes and mistakes make us wise, but you don’t have to make every mistake yourself to gain the wisdom. You can learn from the mistakes and experiences of others.  At a cost of only $12.95 a month, you won’t even need to sacrifice your morning cup of coffee. 

Finally, questions are not limited to a single topic. Ask whatever you are curious about NOW. Those suppliers who shorted you the fourth time in a row? Find out how others in your situation handle the problem. Are you contemplating a new advertising media? Ask others for their experiences. Which social networking site works best?   How have they handled a situation with a problem employee? You may have your idea validated or you may avoid a costly mistake.

Finally, this E-SWAP “meeting” can take place from anywhere at any time. All you need is email access. You can set the time and place for your participation.

So, if you want to improve, if you know you need to improve and could improve, but time and money are big concerns, E-SWAP is for you!

HOW DOES E-SWAP WORK?

All communication is via email. Each month, you will be asked to send in your question, idea or concern using the “reply” button on your email. Be as detailed as you wish in describing your position. We will collect all of the questions from the group and send all the questions to each group member. Then, you will have the next 5 days to contemplate and send in your responses. The following week, your list of answers and all the questions and ideas from other retailers like yourself arrives in your email in-box.  No need to set aside time during business hours—any time will do. Plus, you can participate from any place you have internet access. You have an expert sounding board giving you advice and confirmation!

IT IS EASY TO JOIN

To join an E-SWAP group, you must first send us an email so we know you are interested.  Then we will send you a very short application to complete and email back. Then, I will match you with other retailers having similar merchandise in non-competing areas.  It is important that the members in each group be in non-competing areas.  After all, you do not want to give away information to a competitor!  I use 100 miles as an arbitrary rule for judging if someone is not a competitor.  If someone is closer than that, the only way they can join a group is if the other pre-existing member gives their OK.

You will be contacted once you are placed in a group. Since confidentially is of utmost importance, you will receive our Confidentiality Agreement to sign and a link to our PayPal account. You do not need to have a PayPal account to sign up for E-SWAP; only a credit card.  PayPal is secure and easy. PayPal will notify us of your payment. Once we have your signed agreement and notice of payment through PayPal, we will send you the names of the others in your group.

There is no required subscription time. You may participate in E-SWAP for as many or as few months as you like.  When you wish to end participation, just notify PayPal to unsubscribe. The cost is very reasonable –only $12.95 a month.

Get the benefit of having your own private group of retail mentors without the cost of travel or having to spend days away from your store! And, no structured time commitment! And best of all, No pressure!

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Linda Carter

To start the process and let us know you are interested, please complete the following basic application. Still have questions? Send us an email to: