December 2010 Issue

I am happy to see that there is a heightened sense of awareness regarding the importance of small business to economic recovery in this country. I have always been a firm believer that independent spe- cialty retailers are very important to the health of our industries, and supporting their information needs was the primary motivation for starting this publication.

Independent retailers everywhere have had to fight hard to remain relevant in the changing face of retail. Numerous “category killer” concepts plus increasing e-tailer competition, together with less consumer spending, have presented a real sales challenge. In order to survive and continue to thrive, independents need to focus on what they do best. They need to give their customers what they can’t get elsewhere – friendly service, knowledgeable staff, niche products that fit in the retail theme, merchandising that is tailored to local demographics and locally produced products.

Recent research indicates that consumers are choosing quality over quantity, and they are trying to connect more closely with their local economy by patronizing local businesses. In food, we see this phe- nomenon in the Farm-to-Table Movement. In retail, we are likely to see a renewed interest in shopping at locally owned and operated independent stores. Be sure to read our story in this issue about the program from American Express (p. 21) as further evidence of the recent tide of support. Independents, make no mistake about it, now is your time to shine.

I hope that suppliers also answer the call and think carefully about how they can help their independent specialty trading partners be more successful. We need to realize the importance of this channel. Without the support of specialty stores, niche products and new trends will never have a chance of gaining acceptance.

On behalf of all of the staff at Gourmet Business, we wish you a very happy and profitable holiday season.