From the Editor: Why I Co-Founded the Indie Retailer Conference

Yesterday a dear friend of mine asked me to head to the park on a gorgeous afternoon with our kiddos. Normally, I’d jump at the chance and make sure to clear out a couple hours for this type of fun (hey, I’m a simple gal). Yet yesterday – like many days recently – I have been working overtime in preparation for Retail Minded’s upcoming Independent Retailer Conference, taking place May 20, 2013 in NYC.

My same friend understood, then asked me dead one: “Why did you decide to do this conference?”

Great question.

For as long as I can remember, I have been working in retail. Fast forward to 2007 when I founded Retail Minded, I knew that supporting indie owned businesses was something I had to. Sure, I wanted to. But my gut has always just told me I had to, also.

Over the years I have supported retailers through consultations in their stores, off-site at retail events and virtually through webinars. I have written over 1000 published articles about the business of running your own indie store, and I strive to constantly research retail trends from an operational, marketing and merchandising perspective – often delivering presentations at other retail conferences and events. I’ve even launched a national publication, Retail Minded Magazine, despite lacking  a big publisher behind me to do so (paper isn’t cheap, but I sure do love print magazines). Yet despite what seems like an already full plate to many – including my friend who tells me I need to get to the park more – in 2012 I co-founded the Independent Retailer Conference to further help indie retailers gain news, education and support that is unique to them. My goal? To help them find more ways to gain success in their stores. To help them understand there are countless ways to improve their business. To help them recognize that despite being indie, they don’t have to do it alone. So here we are, about to embark on the second annual Independent Retailer Conference on May 20th.

So here’s the deal – the conference is one day, yet it’s way more ever-lasting than one day. I’m excited to have attendees ENGAGE, LEARN & CONNECT with our amazing exhibitors (SnapRetail, ShopKeep POS, Kabbage, Retail Council of New York State, Moo.com) and sponsors – all of whom, by the way, we would never welcome unless we truly believed they were great for indies. This conference is a collective effort on behalf of all participants – including the retailers that are attending – to support retailers to be the best they can. I’m just thrilled to be a small piece of this puzzle.

As for the park? It will still be there when I return home from NYC next week – and by then, I will welcome some downtime! And as for “why” I do what I do? Because very simply, I just don’t believe indie retailers have all the support they need yet. Quite honestly, I don’t know if they ever will. But I sure as hell want to try and help indies as best I can. That’s my “why”.

Hope to see you in NYC on May 20th at the Independent Retailer Conference but no worries if you can’t be there. We will have some great updates to share with everyone after the event!

As always, happy  retailing.

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle 

Founder & Editorial Director

Retail Minded