FROM THE EDITOR: Thanks General Motors

Hey everyone!

I still can’t believe February is already upon us, as January seemed to fly by. Soon, Spring will be here… even if not soon enough… and these cold winter days will be a distant memory. At least that’s what I keep telling myself…

Until then, however, I’ve been having fun indoors – visiting some great retailers and even took a day to visit the Chicago Auto Show. Thanks to an invitation from General Motors, I had the chance to enjoy this year’s media day prior to the public opening, spending more time with cars that weren’t actually being driven than I ever have before. Admittedly, I’m not a huge car person. I love a nice car, don’t get me wrong, but I’m a gal of practicality. A good looking car is an added bonus. But the folks at General Motors may have changed my mind. Their 2014 concept car from Cadillac, the Elmiraj, was AMAZING and so pretty (note I said pretty… confirms I am not a car gal) that I actually told my husband it’s on my wish list should they ever make it for the public. What really stood out to me, however, was how many options General Motors offered for small business owners. Their newly created City Express will debut this Fall, offering 122.7 cubic feet of customizable cargo space, a tight turning diameter of only 36.7 feet and an estimated payload capacity of 1,500 pounds. If you’re a retailer who needs space for deliveries, inventory or any other work related purpose, this is a can’t miss choice to consider.

Like many small business owners – including myself – I double dip between work and play. My car serves as my business vehicle, but also totes my kids between pre-school drop offs, play dates and family vacations. I found some great vehicles from General Motors, as well, that would suit my life and likely, could suit yours, as well. Their Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon, GMC Acadia and  Cadillac CTS Sport Wagnon all stood out, but those are just a few among many.

Besides getting hit by car fever, I’ve also been busy working on the Spring issue of Retail Minded Magazine. We have some great things in store for this issue, including a visit to Winter Park, Florida, an article about protecting your business from data breaches, a look at digital sensory experiences for customers and much more. There’s never a dull moment in retail, and our research constantly reminds us of this.

Finally, I’ve had so much fun connecting with retailers through our 2014 Retail Challenge! This free challenge created by Retail Minded and SnapRetail has it’s own, closed Facebook group that you can be a part of if you sign up for this free, year long challenge to help your store further succeed. We’re hearing from retailers across the world on how this challenge is helping them step outside of their comfort zones and gain more store visibility. How cool is that? You can join anytime, and hope you will soon. For more details, simply click here. 

Till next time, happy retailing!

Photo Details: The City Express from General Motors was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2014, and will debut in Fall 2014. 

Photo Credit: Jeff Haynes for Chevrolet