Thirty-five years ago, opening and operating a retail business was a fairly straightforward process. But things have changed dramatically. Owner-operated retailers now face competition from category killers, multinational big-box retailers, and even "stores" that exist only on the Internet. Recognizing just how much the retail business has changed, authors Jim Dion and Ted Topping offer a different kind of how-to book, painting a clear picture of how an owner-operated retail business can thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. They even help you take the first concrete steps toward your dream–a bonus that has made this title a consistent seller. Start and Run a Retail Business is as much a valuable guide for owner-operated retailers working now as it is for people just starting out. With a practical and real world approach, the authors describe in detail the major aspects of running a profitable retail business. By examining retail from a customer’s perspective–and focusing on the in-store experience–this book will help you meet the challenges of today’s retail world head on.

James E. Dion has been involved in all levels of retail–as a buyer, brand manager, and department store executive. The founder and president of Dionco Inc. in Chicago, Jim Dion consults, trains, and speaks on retail technology, selling and service, merchandising and operations, marketing, and consumer trends. He is author of the popular Retail Selling Ain’t Brain Surgery, It’s Twice As Hard.

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Ted Topping, MBA, is president of Creative Insights Inc., a retail consulting firm he founded in 1989. Based in Vancouver, he is a keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant who works with retail and other clients throughout North America.

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