Conscious Living/ July-August 2019 by Retailing Insight Magazine

RetailingInsight Connecting the Best in Body-Mind-Spirit

MAGAZINE

| Issue 1 |2019 2018 Volume 33 I IssueVol 5 I 32 July-August

5 SECRETS

TO HELP SELL ORACLE DECKS IN YOUR SHOP

CRYSTALS & MEDITATION SUPPLIES

CONSCIOUS LIVING HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Rising Like a Lotus Art Print by Keeping Vigil Press

BODY I MIND I SPIRIT

REAL SHOP OR JUST A BUCK?

Want great deals on new products for your store? >> Look in your email!

Sign up for our Newsletter & Product Pipeline emails and you’ll enjoy new wholesale deals on exciting, easy-to-order products. It’s a personal trade show in your inbox! With just a click you’ll receive:

• New product announcements • Money-saving offers from featured advertisers • Links to wholesale websites for hassle-free ordering

Get social with Follow us for industry updates, unique products and behind the scenes exclusives.

@RetailingInsight

Retailing Insight Magazine

@RetailingInsightmagazine

@Retail_Insight

Conscious Living

July/August 2019

In Every Issue 4 | EDITOR’S NOTE 12 | BUSINESS & MARKETING How content is helping ring up better sales

32 | SHOPTALK Practical answers for tough business questions 54 | FINE PRINT New and notable books for body, mind, and spirit 58 | PLAY LIST Reviews of great music to sell and enjoy 62 | TAKE FIVE Five different ways to handle things at work 64 | ADVERTISER INDEX

COVER IMAGE: Rising Like a Lotus Fine Art Card Artist: Susanna Gallisdorfer Keeping Vigil Press (more details on page 50)

Features 6 | HANDMADE IN AMERICA Discover why artisanal

products are becoming popular

14 | ARE MIND-BODY-SPIRIT SHOPS BECOMING ALL ABOUT A QUICK BUCK? What’s your philosophy saying about your store

20 | 5 SECRETS TO HELP SELL ORACLE DECKS IN YOUR SHOP How to turn browsers into buyers

26 | SPIRITUAL CAPITALIST: HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY Allow your profits to feed a higher cause

34 | UNEARTHING CRYSTAL ENERGY Learn the power of gemstones 40 | SPARKLING GEMS AND AROMATHERAPY ATTRACT SCENT-SATIONAL SALES Identify what’s trending in your store and your local community

46 | CARD DECKS Pathways and Destinations

2 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

And More… 36 | MEET MY STORE Candle Wick Shoppe 50 | EDITORS’ PICKS Crystals & Meditation Supplies 61 | FRESH A Galleria of NEW Products (Special Advertisement Section)

Inspiring Products for Conscious Living FROM U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Order online for 24/7 service and special promos

U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

Stamford, CT 06902

1-800-544-2637

www.usgamesinc.com

editor'snote We have dived into the Conscious Living world to pursue the meaning of what this theme is all about – good balance, relevant ideas, purpose in businesses, intentional actions, and guidance to help make good choices. To begin, let’s learn Five Different Ways to Handle Things at Work in the Take Five column, and understand what message your store is sending in Are Mind-Body-Spirit Shops Becoming All About a Quick Buck? Make a difference in your community by reading the Spiritual Capitalist to discern the higher purpose behind the story. Handmade in the USA is one of my favorite features in this publication, it provides a good explanation of the industry growth, but it also explores the “essence” of the handmade products and why they’re so relevant for businesses and communities these days.

retailing insight magazine is published exclusively for independent retailers of unique and meaningful products for the body, mind, and spirit. Our purpose is to nurture retail store success by providing excellent business advice, honest product reviews, advertisements from leading wholesale companies, and outstanding coverage of the dynamic body, mind, and spirit market.

publisher editor copy-editor

If you’re into card decks, don’t miss Five Ideas to Sell Oracle Decks in Your Shop so you can learn how to attract more buyers to your store. And, our new divination contributor, Melinda Carver, has reviewed some interesting decks including some indie authors. Learn the power of gemstones in Unearthing Crystal Energy a special contribution by Elaine Sheth from Esprit Creations. Identify what is popular in the gems and aromatherapy world by checking the Sparkling Gems and Aromatherapy Attract ScentSational Sales article, and if you’re seeking for a good advice on shop management don’t skip the interview with Candle Wick Shoppe. We’ve ended this issue with a selective list of Crystals & Meditation supplies to bring the latest on the healing experience world to your shop. Check my editor’s picks to found out more! The search for holiday inventory is coming soon, so stay tuned for our next issue, Holiday Collection. Have an insightful reading,

Roberta Gazzarolle Roberta Gazzarolle, Editor, Retailing Insight Magazine

Editor’s Note – Footnote

Get your FREE SUBSCRIPTION today! Go to www.retailinginsight.com/subscribe or call 800-463-9243

graphic design contributors

circulation sales

Joe Mount Roberta Gazzarolle Sean Ruck Stephanie Biddle Jackie Adamany Bill Binkelman Melinda Carver Anna Jedrziewski Margaret Ann Lembo Megy Karydes Royce A. Morales Elaine Sheth Jacki Smith Katie Slocombe Karen Johnson

Retailing Insight® magazine is published by Continuity Publishing Inc.

address phone fax email

P.O. Box 5108 Winter Park, FL 32793 800-463-9243 352-597-6201 letters@retailinginsight.com

TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit www.retailinginsight.com/subscribe TO ADVERTISE: Visit www.retailinginsight.com/advertise

©2019 Continuity Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 2372-7977. Volume 33/Issue 5/Year 2019. The magazine is published bimonthly/ six times a year (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sept, Nov) by Continuity Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 5108, Winter Park, FL 32793. Periodicals postage paid at Winter Park, FL. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to Retailing Insight Magazine, P.O. Box 5108, Winter Park, FL 32793.

Retailing Insight Magazine is printed by Sheridan, a CJK Group Company, Hanover, NH. Please recycle or share this magazine.

www.retailinginsight.com

4 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

>>MORE RetailingInsight.com<<

Free Resources for Independent Retailers at www.retailinginsight.com

BUSINESS RESOURCES GALORE

WHOLESALER DIRECTORY

• Comprehensive 2019 Trade Show directory

• Browse hundreds of wholesalers in our online directory

• Hundreds of Independent product reviews

• Get FREE and instant access to catalogs, wholesaler websites, and quick-click for fast and easy ordering

• Inspirational content in our searchable archives • Industry updates and exclusive content

• Connect with the wholesaler you like, all from one place:

www.retailinginsight.com/wholesale-directory

READ THE ONLINE EDITION • Share your favorite articles • Search by key terms for

topics and products

• Direct link to advertiser's

websites

BOOKS • GIFTWARE • MUSIC • DISTRIBUTORS • SERVICES

Handmade in America

6 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

By Jackie Adamany

Photo: Terra Stodtmeister

andcrafted products are gaining momentum once again. While there was never a major decline, there was a definite dip in the purchasing of handcrafted products from makers in the USA. “Our sales are definitely trending upwards after a couple of years where we started to see a slight downward dip. We are starting to see more and more millennials looking for gifts with meaning, that have a story and are made with love,” explains Meredith, owner of an upscale gallery in Northeast Ohio. Speaking with industry leaders over the past few months validates what Meredith is seeing. A new appreciation and validation of handcrafted products. A recent study in the Journal of Marketing might provide part of the answer. It found the missing ingredient when consumers are looking for gifts for others or even for themselves – love. According to the study, “handmade products might be perceived to contain and transmit the artisan’s “essence” in the form of his or her love for the product in a way that machine-made products cannot,” write the authors Christoph Fuchs and Martin Schreier. The customer then perceives the handmade product itself to be literally imbued with love.” Study participants were instructed to imagine that they were in the market for a gift for someone with whom they had a close relationship. They were given a list of items including ceramic mugs, soap, leather goods, and stationery which were described as machine-made. They were then shown images of the handmade equivalents, some labeled “made with love” or accompanied by heart-shaped graphics and other visual “love” cues. Participants clearly favored handmade items when they were making a purchase for a loved one, and many were willing to pay up to 17 percent more for handmade items in general. Consumers seemed to believe that the creator’s love for the handmade product had somehow transferred to the product itself, and that the product now “contained love.” This was found to be the case even when the customer did not personally know the creator or even who the creator was. With this renewed interest, artists find themselves able to explore more, create more and dream bigger. Every artist has a story and it’s that story that many consumers fall in love with. The inspiration, the dream, the focus and the high skillset each maker possesses is evident in their product line.

Maverick Objects Meet Val Talbert owner of Maverick Objects based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Val is a handcrafted jewelry designer melding raw stones and metal together to create modern bohemian and contemporary artistic jewelry designs. Maverick Objects is a minority woman-owned company that practices Fair Trade by using sustainable materials that are renewable and recyclable in an effort to reduce waste and environmental impact. Val shares, “I provide my customers with conflict-free and ethically-sourced raw minerals that have been self-mined by myself. We cut and polish all of our stones that we extract in mines around the world. We create our work to capture the organic nature of the stone in order to conserve the unique textures, colors, and imperfections. We hand fabricate all of our designs, so no two are identical. We believe in doing the majority of our own production and preparation work because we want to ensure we are giving our customers the highest quality work.”

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 7

Val is motivated by her love of creating and being able to share her designs with the world. She is inspired by nature and her love of Earth’s raw beauty. “All my pieces feature raw stones which are self-mined by my husband and myself. We travel to public mines to extract our own minerals. When creating new designs, I try to showcase the raw stones to capture their untreated beauty.” All Maverick Objects designs incorporate crystals. Crystals contain many metaphysical properties that have been known to help with a variety of different ailments. As Val explains, “Since we mine our own stones, we make sure we use those with the strongest energies in our designs.” Val believes people appreciate handmade because of the story behind the designs. “With handmade, you know specifically who made it, how they made it and what materials were used. Handmade products are more than just a product, they showcase the designers passion, creativity, and uniqueness. With handmade products, designers value quality over quantity.”

E. Drumm Design Big dreams and a strong focus are the root of E. Drumm Designs which began in 1988 after owner Elisa Drumm left her job in NYC as a textile designer. After moving to the Boston area, Elisa tried her hand at freelancing as a textile designer. After little success, Elisa began creating her own line of hand printed clothing. Elisa shares her story, “I found studio space in the country in a charming little building down a dirt driveway and heated by a wood burning stove. My husband built a printing table while I hired a pattern maker and several seamstresses and called my mother for advice on how to run a business!” Elisa grew up surrounded by art with both parents working as artists and owning one of the largest craft galleries in the country. Elisa explains how her childhood began the foundation of what is now a successful business, “I started working at my parents’ gallery at the age of 13 and spent my summers at Penland School of Crafts, weaseling my way into classes while my parents were busy teaching. I was able to study at a very young age with some of the greats in various areas - photography, pottery, weaving and enameling. We also traveled to retail craft shows; loading up the family van with kids, the family dog

8 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

with inspirational wording and motifs. “I have always been obsessed with the simplicity of the heart shape and hands. These shapes appear throughout my work, but this collection offers several variations in color, sizes, word choices and motifs. Our Loud Ladies collection was inspired after spending a weekend with my wonderful female friends and millions of women expressing themselves “loudly” during the Women’s March on the capital in Washington DC. I wanted to honor women and feed my soul at the same time by creating a limited edition line and one-ofa-kind wall pieces. Each portrait is named and given a personality, some honoring real women who have touched me emotionally,” shares Elisa.

Bubbles and Butter Artisan Skincare Consumers are drawn to a fabulous maker story. Learning how the artist developed and nurtured their line while taking a peek into the company beginnings plays a large role in purchasing. Meet Nicole Van Lun owner of

and my father’s work. My sisters and I would entertain ourselves, while my parents worked, by creating ways of earning a few pennies on our own. One show we sold garlic bulbs that we found in a nearby field, another show we managed to get hired by the balloon vendor.” A few years into her textile business, Elisa began painting wood, designing wall objects around metal pieces her father made for her. “I found I was drawn to bright colors, perhaps due to my background as a textile designer. I wanted to make affordable objects that customers felt comfortable buying as gifts or for themselves. Most of my work is in the home décor category - mirrors, clocks, furniture, and boxes – inspired by my love of color and whimsy. It is also very important to me that I continue to hand paint each piece. That still makes my work unique in this digital age. It also allows me to personalize my work and vary a piece slightly even though I may be painting multiples of the same piece.” E. Drumm Designs has recently added two new lines to their collection. The Spirit Collection is a line of wood hands and hearts

Bubbles and Butter Artisan Skincare whose background plays a pivotal role in the development of her company and her product line. As Nicole explains, “I inherited ridiculously oversensitive skin from my mom. I became a product junkie by default, simply because I was trying a ton of stuff to see what would work for me. This basically summed up to be a ton of time and money spent trying to find a solution.” Nicole’s business journey began early having two entrepreneur parents that took her to business conferences as a teenager. At the young age of 14, Nicole had that proverbial lightbulb moment that she should start her own skincare line. Putting that idea on the backburner, Nicole began life in corporate finance until taking the leap so many artists do and began a new venture. Nicole explains the journey she took to get to where she is today. “I started out in the beauty industry by becoming a professional make-up artist and launching my own beauty consulting company. I was able to do really amazing things like being

featured in a HarperCollins published book, working with the Jackson 5 brothers right after Michael Jackson passed away, working backstage at New York Fashion Week with top designers such as Jason Wu (who went on and designed gowns for our Former First Lady Michelle Obama), taught a three-hour make-up workshop at two colleges in New Jersey (which literally makes me a beauty professor!) and was featured on MSNBC, eHow.com, and Huffington Post Style.” Sounds like Nicole knows what she is doing! Her entire focus has always been on skincare spending years and countless hours of researching, apprenticing, testing, and perfecting the formulas. Bubbles and Butter Artisan Skincare products exist solely to make customers feel and look unapologetically gorgeous every single day. When asked for her thoughts on why consumers are looking for more organic, handcrafted products Nicole says, “People are craving transparency. Telling us that a product is healthy on your super sleek label and then upon examining the

ingredient list you discover that it’s not, has created a lot of distrust in major corporations caring about our health. People are desiring to live a long quality life and are realizing that everything they consume matters.” Consumers of handcrafted products look for items which bring them joy, ultimately hoping that same joy will be passed on to the recipient if the item is a gift for a loved one. Laura is a self-confessed shopaholic and lover of everything handcrafted. “Years ago, I stopped shopping at the big box stores when looking for gifts for loved ones. The gift was always deeply appreciated especially when I was able to add a small note with the gift sharing the artist’s story. My friends and family always found the stories inspiring making the gift more cherished. One day I said to myself – stop buying just for others, why not fill your home with handcrafted! The best advice I could offer myself. I have since been filling my home with handcrafted products which bring me joy every day,” explains Laura.

empowering women through fair trade REPURPOSED TEXTILE JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES CAUSE BRACELETS MINIMALIST METALS

info@worldfinds.com 800-609-9303 worldfinds.com @worldfinds

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 9

Wonderflies Christine Hsiang owner of Wonderflies started her business as a hobby soon after graduating college. She shares, “I had just gotten a dog and many of my first creations were inspired by him. I love being creative and coming up with new ideas all the time, thereby choosing the name “Wonderflies.” I created Wonderflies with the belief that wonder is everywhere, including in the little things.”

Christine designs her handcrafted line to bring that joy which Laura looks for when shopping. As Christine explains, “My designs bring happiness to customers because they are just so simple, honest and sweet. Whether it’s with a card that someone will think is perfect for their loved one, to a bookmark that inspires someone to read more often, I try to spread joy in some way or another.” Christine finds her inspiration comes from nature and the relationships we all have in our lives. “I love the quiet beauty and the whimsy of everyday nature that people sometimes miss. I try to capture that in my work. I think it is so easy to buy things that are manufactured that sometimes people would like something more unique for themselves. Makers create their products with love and care, and that is hard to find that in a nonhandcrafted item. You appreciate what you have much more.” As a child growing up, Christine always had a vivid imagination and an appreciation for nature and animals. “I

solmatesocks.com/wholesale 802-765-4177

10 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

would stay out and play in the grass, looking at the clouds and smelling the flowers! I do that still as I’m fascinated by the beauty around me. I graduated from Parsons, School of Design with a BFA in Communication Design and I started my business soon after. My goal is to create products that inspire care and curiosity for nature and the world around us.” Purpose, balance, and symmetry are key components in handcrafted products. The artistic eye of the maker comes through in all they do and that is a feature not overlooked by the consumer. Meredith enjoys shopping at small boutiques and galleries looking for statement jewelry pieces for herself and her daughters. “I find handcrafted products are not only made well, they show the care and the attention to detail the artist pours into each piece,” explains Meredith.

Shirley Price Limited Editions Artist, Shirley Price-McGrew owner of Shirley Price Limited Editions, agrees with Meredith, “In today’s world, you can find most anything made overseas is of very poor quality. I personally think the new awareness and desire is due to all the handcrafted magazines ads and distribution; wholesale shows; retail shows with special emphasis on gallery participation by advertising, are supporting the handcrafted world of artists’ work.” Shirley’s jewelry line is a perfect example of everything a consumer is looking for in handcrafted products – purpose, balance and symmetry. An elegance and soothing balance draws the viewer into her fine silver jewelry. Asian-inspired pieces announce the beautiful symmetry of line and color. The designs express the visual and emotional relationship between metal and stone, thereby establishing the best possible marriage of the two. Shirley shares her journey, “I started creating/fabricating jewelry as a hobby in 1972. My late husband, a well-known California artist, kept nagging me to use my talents. For a few years, I created pieces for myself, family, friends. Upon retiring to our local mountain dream home, I became more involved with this hobby. A studio of my own gave me inspiration to devote time to my designs. In 1994 stores/galleries and the general public were buying my collections.

This is my 25th (silver) year for selling my collections.” Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Shirley’s artistic life path has taken many turns all resulting in an amazing story and amazing

product line. She started with knitting and selling baby booties, caps, sewing some of her own clothes at the age of 10. In addition, Shirley has explored pottery, weaving, leather work, leaded glass and watercolors. Shirley recalls her mother saying, “Art is a story worth telling.” Shirley found her heart’s story when she discovered precious metal work. Studying fabrication in California at the Irvine Fine Arts Center and the Revere Goldsmith School in San Francisco allowed her to hone her art. She continues to take classes of interest in and around her studio’s location. Shirley knows what the consumer is looking for. She explains, “my pendants come mounted on a plain, black card. Inside you will find an anti-tarnish bag, description of the stone including what it is and where it was mined. Also included are the healing properties; care instructions, my bio/statement, (with no contact information), and the story of my current

collection. My retail buyers are happy to be able to include all this information for the consumer!” Buying handcrafted means, you are buying a piece made with beauty, care, master craftsmanship and most important, love. Consumers today are more interested than ever in the story of the artist and the purpose of a piece. We only see this trend growing into something larger! *** To know more about the artists and their products, please visit www.indieme.com Jacqueline Adamany is a seasoned artist and the author of Going Wholesale, a step-by-step approach for artists and craftspeople. Jacqueline has mentored many artists preparing them for the world of wholesale while readying them for trade shows. She has been a columnist for Smart Retailer and Handmade Business magazines. She is vice president of IndieMe, Inc. an online marketplace and virtual trade show for wholesale artists and buyers to connect.

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 11

business&marketing How Content Is Helping Ring Up Better Sales by Megy Karydes

When my friend was planning a soiree in her backyard, she sent me links to a blog with entertaining ideas as well as recipes. Both links were from Crate & Barrel (yes, even the recipes). When another friend was considering what to do with her backyard, she sent me links to articles from a local landscape designer’s website. These businesses realize that to attract and retain customers, they need to provide more than just product. They’re using content marketing to provide valuable information that will keep customers engaged. Content marketing may be a relatively new term to some, but it’s been around for decades. It’s important to note that it’s not just delivered as a blog, although a blog is certainly one way to provide relevant content to customers. It can also be emails, social media posts, games and even print magazines (think Airbnb magazine) and books (think American Girl’s book series). Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action, according to the Content Marketing Institute. Not only is content marketing effective because it’s popular among consumers seeking valuable ideas they can put to use immediately, it’s often less expensive than traditional marketing methods. Content marketing costs 62 percent less than outbound marketing yet generates more than three times as many leads, according to Demand Metric. There are two things to keep in mind when developing your content marketing strategy and plan: 1. Identify Your Audience. Who are you trying to reach? Generation Z college students who live in an urban area? Or women over 50 who love fashion? The more specific you can be when identifying your audience, the easier it will be to think of content that would be of interest to them. For instance, the college students who live in an urban environment might be interested in the best coffee shops to study in and hang out with their friends, while fashion-loving women over 50 might be more interest in apparel and accessory trends.

12 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

2. Provide Valuable Content. The content you write needs to be valuable information, not a sales pitch. More often than not, the company name or brand does not appear in the piece. If it does, it’s more of a soft sell. The content needs to be able to stand on its own. For example, the pieces I wrote for McCormick Spice included everything from how to buy seafood to the history of certain spices. We only included one line about the company’s specific spices, and it was usually to a recipe (that, of course, used their spices). In another instance, I wrote about backyard design trends for a landscape architect client and didn’t once mention their company name. While the general idea is to avoid using your company’s name or the brands you sell as the focus of your article, lightly interspersing products (available in your shop, of course) is fine. Here is what I ask my clients to consider when we’re creating an editorial calendar for their content marketing articles: is the point of this piece to sell this item or will the reader feel like they’ve read something they can actually use in their life? The latter is content marketing. Crate & Barrel does this really well. When I was hosting girlfriends at my home and wanted to put out a nice spread, its “Best Food and Wine Pairings for a Girl’s Night In” blog post was exactly what I needed. The company partnered with someone to provide the content while also subtly mentioning products available through their shop, from stemware to tableware. The piece wasn’t gratuitous. It left the reader with clear and actionable ideas to host a party with confidence (did you know you could pair champagne with french fries, for example?), complete with a menu sample and recipes for an appetizer and main dish. As with any marketing outreach efforts, consistency is key. If you don’t have the time or energy to stick with it, consider hiring someone with experience to map out a solid editorial plan for you and execute it. The money will be well-spent and reap you rewards in both the short and long-term. Megy Karydes is a Chicago-based content writer and marketing consultant. Find her at www.MegyKarydes.com

Are MindBody-Spirit Shops Becoming All About a Quick Buck? By Royce Amy Morales

14 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

dmittedly, this might just be my own personal grumble, but I’m betting some of you readers may relate. Have you noticed lately how many mainstream shops are carrying Mind-Body-Spirit inventory? How some not-at-all-consciousness-based stores are overflowing with somewhat profoundly messaged, mass-produced merchandise? Maybe you’ve seen discount chains bursting with spiritually-themed novelties, piled in less-than-sacred ways? What were all-to-recently considered sacred space décor items are now stocked galore in Big Box stores. Since the need to transcend ordinary life never changes, there’s a sustainable audience with deep interest in inner-development. Selfcare is now seen as a necessity, not a luxury. The public continuously expands its curiosity about the mystical and supernatural. But is this new “marketplace spirituality” morphing into mass consumerism, as it aims to feed this ever-increasing consumer appetite? We all know that “sex sells,” but recently, spirituality ranked number two in promotional marketing models. This advertising tool was even given its own moniker: Metrospiritual. Its goal? To turn Eastern and metaphysical philosophies and values into easily digestible forms so as to commercialize and sell products. Marketers desire to fuse spiritual beliefs and advice into material items so as to enhance emotional and spiritual well-being, bridging the gap between physical and spiritual needs. They’re attempting to give a sense of enlightenment to shoppers as well as convincing them they’re doing something good by purchasing a product. Quoting Karen Stuth, President of the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) who says this, anecdotally: “The mind-body-spirit industry, considered part of the self-help industry by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has new shops opening at about the same rate that older businesses are closing or aging out (owners are retiring), but many MBS businesses are also going mainstream with the industry changing quite a lot.” To be clear, I’m not implying that only a select few elite should be privileged to relish wisdom contained in thoughtful merchandise. Also, not judging what any shop chooses to sell or how. However, from time immemorial, an authentic spiritual journey always implies the deeply personal; sacred if you will. Maybe no more? In this teched-out world, where holistic healing is tweeted, inner work is Facebooked, deep inquiries are Instagrammed, maybe it’s just that times they are a changing? Indeed, the planet could certainly use more enlightened thinking wherever we can find it these days.

Innovators Paved the Way Are you one of the many who spilled blood, sweat and tears to blaze the trail for others to follow in the mind-body-spirit retail world? Have we merely opened the door for masses of wannabes to ride our coat tails, turning this extraordinary quest into a commercialized, money-making prospect? Is that a bad thing? Not sure. At least the message, albeit extremely watered down, is getting out there. Not everyone is ready for deeper wisdom, yes? Nevertheless, historically, once something becomes conventional, invariably it gets diluted, loses some integrity and its specialness goes by the wayside. Never yet seen anything turn fad-ish that didn’t lose its depth-of-meaning vibes. But, watery is better than nothing, right?

Having been one of those bloody, sweaty, frequently in tears pioneers, it’s irksome to see heart and soulfulness become manufactured for a mass market quick buck. But, if on a Higher Level “it’s all good,” then spreading the word far and wide must have some value.

Anti-Benefits? Is it possible that the mind-body-spirit “industry,” becoming more about-the-money, might actually counter its inherent benefits? Here’s a Zen koan to ponder: Does a spiritual message written on a tree cut down in the rainforest thwart the benefit of those words? If a primary aspect of the mind-body-spirit philosophy is that everything is interconnected, how could it not be affected in some way, even energetically? Compare it to eating a power bar that’s nutritionally little more than candy dressed in a healthy looking wrapper: Your body knows the truth.

[ ] If your shop has been around for a while, you’ve probably seen dramatic shifts in your customer base. It’s no longer just “New Age types,” or aging hippies clinging to their bygone ‘60s era. Your best customers now probably include athletes, medical professionals, teachers, parents, and Millennials (or even those younger).

Living It Because so many walk around feeling empty, searching for meaning in a world filled with shallowness, MBS offers answers and promises galore. Sadly, these ingredients make for easy exploitation, potentially taking advantage of directionless, sometimes desperate, vulnerable seekers. Inspired, business-minded types have read the tea leaves, jumped in, and ravenously feed on those needs. Unlike those open-hearted, intending to help people, these others are riding the tidal wave, reaping a stuffed wallet reward, but not much else. Branded with sophisticated marketing, enlightened-sounding slogans, these new MBS entrepreneurs catch their target audience’s attention. They seduce them with dumbed-down platitudes and mediocre mindfulness methods. Sadly, this goes hand-in-hand with the countless so-called enlightened teachers selling their own brand of often misleading, “feel good” spiritual panaceas. All of this can successfully divert people’s attention from delving into the fertile world of MBS wisdom, keeping them captive in the trappings of simplistic thought. All too often, these shops provide the convenience of simply hanging a quote over a desk, guaranteeing the

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 15

facilitation of spirituality. As a spiritual teacher and MBS shop owner long before either became vogue, I can attest that, signs over desks, ink on arms, bookshelves packed with self-help books, mostly support superficial posturing. This flaunt-it-so-you-can-fake-it school of life is adding a layer of frosting to an already moldy cake. Acquiring actual enlightenment only happens through personal experience. Buying spiritual paraphernalia can perhaps awaken dormant seeds, hopefully inspiring a desire for more, but nothing takes the place of discovering higher dimensions, practicing spiritual development disciplines, and, most importantly, doing the inner work that permanently transform from the inside. Only then will life be lived from authenticity, love and integrity.

What is Mind-Body-Spirit Anyhow? Without sounding condescending, are you completely sure what a mind-body-spirit philosophy is? Millions of people use the term daily without completely understanding it. A shop with that brand promise should definitely be informed. So, here’s a very bottom line explanation of this diverse realm filled with complexities and various schools of thought. Feel free to pass this information along to employees and customers who may not know: Mind-Body-Spirit is the philosophy that well-being comes not just from physical health, but from mental and spiritual health as well. To be “healthy,” we must understand, support, and pay attention to the

interconnection of those three aspects of our nature. If not, imbalance results, causing one or more “parts” to overcompensate, paying the price in self-destructive ways. Ancient civilizations, Eastern traditions and indigenous people all understood and lived this concept. It’s been fundamental in their healing systems for thousands of years. They knew that a sound mind worked better in a sound body. They taught that disease resulted from being out of balance with nature. They stressed the importance of interaction with the environment, including the food they ate and all their relationships. These cultures knew the strong connection between belief systems, health, and happiness. In one form or another, each of these age-old ways of understanding life is still in place today. Modern Western society sidetracked on other routes, but is finally catching on and catching up. The main concept behind MBS is that we are more than just our thoughts; we are more than just our bodies; we are more than just our emotions. These three aspects combine to give us identity, determine our health, direct our purpose, and make us who we truly are. Nowadays, even the most traditionally trained doctors know that physical health is significantly determined by emotional and mental health. They insert questions about stress levels when listening to patients complain about physical ailments. At long last, they’re being taught in med school to pay attention to the mind-body-spirit connection. The world of psychiatry and counseling now includes the understanding that harboring negative

Crystal Grids, Magnets, Engraved Stones & Jewelry Over 90 Designs to Choose from Wholesale Prices: $7-18 / $50 minimum

www.zenandmeow.com - 717.229.1138 16 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

emotions can result in physical illness. There’s empirical evidence that mental issues and unexpressed emotions can manifest in the body in various ways. If your shop has been around for a while, you’ve probably seen dramatic shifts in your customer base. It’s no longer just “New Age types,” or aging hippies clinging to their bygone ‘60s era. Your best customers now probably include athletes, medical professionals, teachers, parents, and Millennials (or even those younger). They’re all seeking alternative answers to questions they have, consciously or unconsciously. There’s evidence of the mind-body-spirit awareness everywhere you look: in airport prayer rooms; gym membership discounts at work; meditation in schools; aromatherapy in doctors’ waiting rooms; Feng Shui in offices; yoga classes on every corner; mindfulness trainings in corporations; life coaching as an accepted profession; and even this progressive political direction once thought to be socialism. Concepts that were fairly recently considered rebellious, eccentric, or even outlandish have become conventional, commonly accepted in the mainstream, even in some conservative communities that would’ve previously burned you at the stake. And, honestly, it’s all good. Watered down, but good.

and we quickly forget. The purest of pure reasons for a mind-bodyspirit shop would be to remind, re-awaken and remove barriers to this truth. However, in a world where so much value is given to material things, mind-body-spirit has now become one more commodity with a dangling price tag and an overriding concern about profit margin. Some of us feared and predicted it would happen eventually. So, as a purely motivated indie shop, it could be up to us to keep it from spiraling out of control. To proudly profess you’re a mind-body-spirit shop means championing that three-pillar interconnection on every level. From what you choose to carry, how you promote it, the way it’s displayed, how it’s sold, and, most importantly, the intention behind it. Depending on your shop’s objective, focus and level of depth, it may mean having inventory and events that harmoniously address and connect each aspect:

So, What’s a Mind-Body-Spirit Shop To Do? It’s a standard notion in spiritual thought that we come into the world with innate wisdom, knowing our true, infinite nature, but life happens,

The mind – could be educational material to transform negative thought patterns, audio courses to help shift belief systems, thought-enriching or provoking books, mindfulness activities, life coaching services, vision-

The body – might include natural health and healing books, nutritional information, detox methods, natural skin care lines, aromatherapy products, home products for sacred space décor, self-care presentations, lifestyle support, reflexology, drop-in spa services, sound healing or things that help comfort and relax in general.

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 17

30 Celebra

ting

It’s our 30th year! To say thanks to all of YOU, we are launching some great products new this season.

years!

We appreciate all you do to create a welcoming and heart-opening space for your customers and your community. Here’s to 30 more years,

Suzie, Micki, & Bob

New Amulets of Avalo n

in six styles

Wise Wo May yourman charms: spirit be st rong and b old

New celestial pendulums

NEW! $10

Gift Certificate

for new customers! Mention code Insight19 when you order

Deva Designs Joyful Gifts to Inspire You

or ll f talog 1-800-799-8308 a C Ca e www.DevaDesignsJoy.com Fre Best-selling Pocket Charms & Gifts • Award Winning Original Designs • No Minimum

Proudly Handcrafted in the USA

18 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

board and journaling workshops, conscious networking, etc. The spiritual – could display metaphysical information, consciousness raising, soul path exploration, meditation classes, channeling events, oracle cards, sacred items, near death experience workshops and supportive discussion groups. Anything that encourages experiencing that there’s more to being a human than just inhabiting a body. Needless to say, product choices should be intentional, leaning toward earth-friendly, non-toxic, sustainably produced items, from companies practicing Fair Trade, buying local as much as possible. With a bit of research there are oodles to select from, all that your customers deserve from you! All-in-all, a shop espousing mind-body-spirit values would be endorsing balance, empowerment, healing, self-expression, inclusivity, and love. Of course, that also incorporates how you deal with employees and customers, handling the various situations that arise with loving kindness. Walking the talk in every way.

It’s All About Intent There are some who are ready for an experience of mind-body-spirit and don’t even know it. But it’s doubtful that purchasing a made in China, mass-produced bauble with a positive message is going to provide their spiritual awakening. But. You. Never. Know. It could be their start, a door that opens to further exploration, a spark that ignites ancient, innate knowing. Here’s the thing. Clearly, shops need to make money to stay in business. The difference is (answer honestly): Are you in business just to make a buck or are you in business to help others (with a sideline benefit of making a buck)? To conclude: It’s really okay to thrive in your mind-body-spirit business – it’s a good thing actually! As long as your intention is pure and you’re coming from your heart with handfuls of integrity sprinkled on top. You (and karma) know the difference. Royce Amy Morales is the founder of Perfect Life Awakening. Morales is also a transpersonal development speaker and author of Know: A spiritual wake-up call. Royce was an independent retailer for two decades in Redondo Beach, CA. To know more about the author, visit her page at www. perfectlifeawakening.com.

Five Secrets to Sell Oracle

20 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Decks in Your Store By Madame Pamita

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 21

re you a shop owner like me who needs a crystal ba l l to pred ict what customers are going to want next? I swear that at least once a month my staff and I comment on the weird specific trends we see. One week everyone is looking for green candles, the next week they’re buying handmade incense cones like crazy. In the big picture, it’s always a challenge to gauge what customers will be looking for next when they come into our shops. However, when you have a brick and mortar store, you have a couple of great advantages over the online marketplace. First, the personal and real-world experience of coming into a space filled with love, spirituality, and magic. Second, the ability to guide customers to new and exciting products that they may not have been searching for. We want our customers to not only come in for the magic of our shops, but to leave with a little bit of that magic in their hands

– something that will let them continue to experience that wonder and spiritual connection at home and keep them coming back for more! One of the best tools for that immediate-gratification experience is an oracle card deck. There are some really fun and engaging ways we can direct them to that instant magic. Oracle cards are definitely one of the most accessible of all divination tools. It doesn’t require intensive study to get rolling with them and your customer can purchase a deck and experience the joy of being able to do a reading for themselves or their friends the same day. And unlike print books, where you may be facing competition from eBooks and audiobooks, there’s no substitute for the magic of shuffling cards in your very own hands and learning to let your intuition guide you. And you, as the retail shop owner, can get those cards into your customers hands, opening up a lifetime love of divination and keep them coming back for more.

E FRE G PIN ad P I H S this

tion I2019 men de R c r o o it 1 per (lim mer) o cust

800.867.4344 • www.StarlinksGifts.com

Symbolic Jewelry with Purpose Fantasy Art Cards and Prints Gifts for Personal Transformation

LOW MINIMUMS • CATALOG AVAILABLE • REGISTER ONLINE FOR WHOLESALE

22 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Here are five fresh ideas that you can implement (including two of them that you can do today) to give your customers a taste of real magic in your shop and turn oracle browsers into oracle buyers.

Invite your in-house readers to integrate oracles decks into their sessions Do you currently have tarot readers, psychic mediums, Reiki practitioners, or astrologers providing sessions in your shop? Give your service providers a complimentary oracle deck to use with their clients. Tarot readers can easily incorporate an oracle card or two into a reading to give some further insight into or a different view of a question. If your service providers are not used to working with cards of any kind, then invite them to have the client pull a single oracle card at the end of the session as a little extra helpful message. Either way, if they can have the box that the cards came

in somewhere visible, it can be an excellent suggestive selling tool. By the same token, if your card readers are regularly using an oracle or tarot deck that you don’t have available for sale in the shop, you are missing out on a great selling opportunity. Find out what decks your readers use and start stocking them. Also, be sure to communicate with your readers to let them know that you have their deck available in the shop so that they can let their curious clients know.

Host an oracular spectacular! Everyone loves a party! Host an “Oracular Spectacular” and invite your customers to come to a magical tea party. Set up a specific start time for your event as you are going to spend the first 15 minutes (while your helpers are pouring the tea) introducing people to some of the amazing decks you have for sale. Make sure that everyone is seated at a table and give them some kind of icebreaker exer-

cise so that they feel comfortable introducing themselves to their neighbors. After you’ve given them a brief rundown of the new decks you are excited about and have shown them how to do a quick oracle card reading, place the sample decks in the center of the tables and let everyone chat, enjoy their tea and test drive the cards with old friends or new ones.

Invite an artist or author to be a guest reader or teach an oracle deck reading workshop Is there an artist, author, or deck publisher that you love? Reach out to them and ask if they can come to your shop to teach a workshop on oracle card reading techniques. As an author myself, I love to teach classes in new places and meet new people. Are you afraid to ask because you don’t have the budget to pay them? Many are willing to come out if you give them the space and time to be a guest reader so that they can cover their costs. Be sure to stock plenty of copies of their book

or their deck so that they can have a signing session after the class, and you can make those sales.

Create an Oracle Card Divination Station You know the sample cards that some publishers will include along with their decks? These can be turned into a really fun and interactive oracle device all their own! Use a decorated box, a magical cauldron, or a cute basket and create signage designating it the “Oracle Card Divination Station.” Invite your indecisive customers or more intuitive and experienced clients to close their eyes and ask the question “What oracle deck am I meant to work with?” Let them reach in and pick the card that their intuition guides them to use. If you want your divination station to be “self-service,” print out labels identifying the name of each deck and paste them on the backs of the cards so that people can find their new deck easily.

Like you, we want to

make a diﬀerence

Live the magic with a company that has empowered generations

in the world.

Blessed Herbal Candles Affirmations World Magic Witches Union Motor City Hoo Doo Wicked Witch Mojo

Cha nge li ves w i th (800) 810-3837

RI.COVENTRYWHOLESALE.COM

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 23

New from Llewellyn 9780738756875

$34.99 Includes over 100 recipes for bath oils, salves & balms, skin & hair care, candles, and much more.

N—EforW —

202

9780738761282

$14.99 Gorgeous photos, sidebar recipes, and four bonus pages of reference material.

9780738732527

9780738760698

$24.99

$19.99 1-800-THE-MOON • www.Llewellyn.com

Publishing for the Body, Mind, Spirit Since 1901

24 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Have a deck at your checkout Oracle cards are so easy to work with that there really is no excuse for you and your staff not to give a mini “reading” to customers when they’re standing at the cash wrap. Choose a featured oracle deck of the week and display them next to the cash register. If you choose an oracle deck that has card meanings printed on them, the process is totally simple. When your customer is coming up to pay for their items, you can ask them if they’d like to ask a question and get an answer from the “(name of deck) oracle deck.” If they say yes, let them ask their question silently or out loud and then spread the deck over the counter and direct them to intuitively choose one card. Once they’ve read the answer to their question on the card, they can put the information together in their own mind as to what the oracle is telling them. If they want to ask another question and choose another card, it’s the perfect lead-in to say, “Why don’t you buy a copy of this deck, take it home and try it out and then come back and let me know how it worked for you?” If you constantly change out the featured deck, you’ll have more opportunities to let your returning customers test-run different oracle cards and ultimately increase your sales. Oracle cards are such a fun and gratifying tool for self-discovery and spiritual awareness that it seems a shame that most shops just keep them up on a shelf and wrapped in their boxes. Give your customers a little guidance and a chance to try them out and you will be putting magical empowerment into their hands and creating a confident customer who will happily come back to you for more. Madame Pamita is a tarot and oracle card reader, rootworker, teacher, author, and the proprietress of the Parlour of Wonders in Los Angeles. She is the author of Madame Pamita’s Magical Tarot published by Weiser Books and she loves traveling to metaphysical stores all over the country promoting her book and teaching about magic and divination. She can be contacted at pamita@parlourofwonders.com.

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS WITHIN THE GROUNDBREAKING NEW BOOK FROM RENOWNED YOGA TEACHER AND ACTIVIST SEANE CORN

“A gift to all of us.” MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

“Beautiful teachings and practices that will help you free yourself.” GABBY BERNSTEIN

“Heart-wrenchingly vulnerable, relentlessly honest, and refreshingly hilarious.” GLENNON DOYLE 9781622039173

Top Shelf Titles From New Leaf!

Course In Miracles by Foundation for Inner Peace $23.00 ISBN 9781883360269

Soul Cards by Deborah Koff-Chapin $24.95 ISBN 9780964562301

Original Angel Cards by Kathy Tyler & Joy Drake $11.95 ISBN 9780934245524 UPC 094631001604

Edge Of Wonder by Victoria Erickson $19.95 ISBN 9780994784315

Oneness by Rasha $20.00 ISBN 9780965900317

Animal-Speak Pocket Guide by Ted Andrews $6.95 ISBN 9781888767612

Physicians Of The Heart by Wali Ali Meyer, Bilal Hyde, Faisal Muqaddam, & Shabda Kahn $36.95 ISBN 9781936940004

26 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Spiritual Capitalist How to Make a Difference in Your Community By Jacki Smith

like to think of myself as a spiritual capitalist – I use my profits for good, I am a business with spirit and desire to contribute positively to the world. I started talking about being a spiritual capitalist at family gatherings as a clarification on my liberal stance. I refused to be defensive and I wasn’t in agreement with the conversations around how corporations are our only non-governmental benefactors. I needed a phrase that defined my business and personal philosophy in a quick understandable way and landed on Spiritual Capitalist. I run a values-based business and measure our success on how we positively influence our staff, retailers, and end users. I thought I was being such a trailblazer when I coined that phrase for myself, but when I googled it, I realized I was a bit late to the mad hatter’s tea party. In 2004, Dana Zohar and Ian Marshall wrote the book Spiritual Capital: Wealth We Can Live By. In 2007, Michael E Hendren wrote the book Spiritual Capitalism. Both books talk about running and leading your company in a way that enriches your own spirit, your staff, customers, and community at large, being a business that creates a type of financial sustainability. In other words, using the superpower of your profit for good and not evil. Conscious capitalism, another term for being a spiritual capitalist, is in full swing at www.consciouscapitalism.org. Companies like WholeFoods, Container Store, Key Bank, EchoPark Automotive have committed a credo that includes, “…Conscious Capitalism is a way of thinking about capitalism and business that better reflects where we are in the human journey, the state of our world today, and the innate potential of business to make a positive impact on the world. Conscious businesses are galvanized by higher purposes that serve, align, and integrate the interests of all their major stakeholders.” John Mackey, co-CEO of WholeFoods, co-wrote Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business with Raj Sisodia, the co-founder of the conscious capitalist movement. In the book and the organization, they talk about four specific tenets of Conscious Capitalism—higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture and management. They teach that focusing on these four tenants “can help build strong businesses, move capitalism closer to its highest potential, and foster a more positive environment for all of us.”

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 27

VE I TI POS TIN G KE MAR

Positive marketing messages. Your positive and fun marketing, especially in social media, brings a balance to the stresses in our day.

You are one of 28 million small businesses and the Small Business Administration says that small businesses account for 68 percent of new jobs. Those new jobs affect your local economy and your quality of life directly.

You are a safe space to shop and work. As an insightful, conscious retailer, you create a safe haven that is felt wider than you know.

LOO

KIN UP G

Looking up into the world outside of your front door allows a smoother growth as you can see how the world is changing and how you can maintain your place within it.

28 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Finally, a group of business leaders who are talking about what I have believed my whole business career and the reason why I got into business in the first place! Yet, as I talk about this ideal to other entrepreneurs in seemingly un-spiritual markets, I came to realize there are more spiritual capitalist out there than I had previously thought. I was thrilled to find that most small business owners or entrepreneurs have a purpose higher than profit for their business. Profit is key to fulfilling those purposes, and they see it as an opportunity to give back in a way that feeds not only their soul, but the spirit of their company. From retailers to programmers to financial planners, my fellow entrepreneurs all require that greater mission for their own spiritual well-being and in turn, see the importance of investing that same well-being in their staff and customers. When you have a mission, your entire staff can connect to, retention rates and employee engagement goes up. When you share your contribution to the world customer loyalty increases, and consumer satisfaction grows. My business coach, Lisa Mininni of Excellerate Associates calls this your Contribution to the World. Each business owner has the deeper spiritual purpose to all of their hard work in the back of their mind. Uncovering that contribution and sharing it everywhere, including in your vision, mission and marketing statements allows you to live more as a spiritual capitalist every day. When I refocus on my contribution to the world, I find it decreases my stress when big problems crop up. I get to simplify the process and ask if this solution supports my contribution or breaks it. At our shop, our contribution to the world is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Empowered Belief.â&#x20AC;? When we hit a big snag in our inventory and accounting practices, we were able to let go of the blame we wanted to heap upon past employees and step into the empowered belief that this was going to help us learn new processes and grow. All of our stress levels took a breath and we relaxed into the hard work. We were successful and our team became more empowered and supportive of each other. When we work for the greater good of not only the business, but all the people in it and the people that touch it, we graduate to spiritual capitalists and affect positive influences in our communities.

You are already making an impact upon the world Most small businesses are spiritual capitalists in nature. A small business is generally community oriented and support of community is a hallmark of the spiritually minded business owner. You belong to many communities. Your customers and many of your vendors are part of a niche market that is a community of likeminded people. Your bankers and chamber of commerce and business associations are another community and when networked mindfully, can help you cross over into your other communities. You already give to these communities in many ways and in turn they support you back. Your staff is of a different community, either geographically, socially or due to skill set. You know that employee enrichment is critical to your success and embracing your role as leader, coach and manager to your team is further proof that you are a spiritual capitalist.

You generate more business for others by recommending other businesses and events, you are spreading the abundance.

You are an influencer in every small community you are a part of. Your words, your dollars, your time, and your support are all felt.

Celebrating your contribution to the world Your vision, your mission, your values, your why and now your contribution to the world are all ways to keep you on track with your higher calling. It’s so easy to get swallowed up in the daily drama of any business and forget there is a reason to be here. It’s a powerful practice to remind yourself and your staff of these powerful emotional reasons, it gives you the stamina to wade through the stress that happens daily. Without them, you burn out faster. With them, you give your staff

E GIV K BAC

Every gift basket donation, sponsorship, in-kind work you give back to you community has a lasting impact. On average, more of your donation goes directly to the cause it supports as the organization is likely run on donations and volunteers.

and customers many more reasons to believe in you and your brand. Getting to your Contribution to the World is an exercise in giving yourself permission to be amazing. It’s a journey and worth a few deep diving conversations with your core management team. In the past 10 years, I have re-written my vision and why statement six or more times. I never changed my mind, I just kept giving myself permission to believe in myself. Recently, I got to the place where I could answer clearly what blessing I want to give to everyone I meet. Initially I answered “magic,” but when Lisa Mininni of Excellerate Associates asked me what magic I give them, I understood it was to believe in their own power of creations – Empowered Belief.

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 29

Try this on for yourself, why did you start your business? What is the ideal that got you excited about all the work you were about to take on? What do you envision giving to each customer you touch? In three words or less, what does your presence and the actions of your business bring to the world? It doesn’t have to be a straight line to your services, actually, it probably isn’t. Your products or services are an expression of this contribution. A local moving services company has a contribution of peace and ease. A local bar and pool hall owner contributes freedom from judgement. Another restaurant owner contributes community. A nail spa owner contributes compassion. Each one of these businesses use their contribution to the world in their messaging. The restaurant owner promotes that everyone is your neighbor. The pool hall talks about letting go of the day and unwinding with them. The Nail spa promotes how they are safe place to unburden your stresses. The moving services company has you rate their services on the peace and ease they brought you. At our store we check in with our staff on their dreams and how we can help them come true.

Living your message through your community There are businesses in my community that show up frequently on many fundraising flyers. We see them show up to be sponsors of Chamber of Commerce events, baseball teams, park benches, etc. My impression was that they had buckets of money to spare and I could never do things that big. I know large corporations have community gifting programs that get parks built and backpacks for kids. I never thought I could make that level of impact, so why bother? I thought that – until I met the CFO of a local international printing company. They don’t have buckets of money. Sure, they have more money than I, but what they have a lot of is leverage. They are smart about where they donate and how they do it. Most importantly, everything they support fits their company values. It got me thinking about how my businesses can make a bigger splash as spiritual capitalist. Not every idea we perused was a winner, but every commitment we made was a living embodiment of our message. Some actions were for a greater community, some are for the community of employees, some are cash donations, some are product donations. Some are public, some are private, and some are in-kind donations of services. The ideas are endless and speaking with

30 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

a few other Spiritual Capitalists, I compiled a list of ways to give to your community and live your message at the same time: • Cash donations – They are always welcome • Fundraisers through product sales – A win/win for you and the cause of your choice • Promotion of events and causes in your media stream – By giving space in your marketing bandwidth it can change the game for someone • Baskets for silent auctions – So important, and quite easy. It gets your name out there in front of attendees who may not be regular customers • Sponsor gatherings – By volunteering your space and time to a group in need, it invites in more customers • In kind donations – Of printing, design services, organizing services, discounts from your vendors • Employee enrichment days – By sending your staff to classes or events that benefit their personal growth can change everyone’s outcome • Sponsor keynote speakers at community events – You now have another influencer talking about your business • Teach classes at the local Chamber or community center – You have something to offer and if the proceeds go back to a greater good, people listen a little harder Experiment with any of these ideas or some others that will come your way if you are looking. Experiment with how the energy and stress level of your company changes when you step into living your message every day. Experiment on what it means to you to be a spiritual capitalist, set some goals, and watch what happens when you allow the profits to feed a higher cause. There is a universal law of return, what you put out into the world is returned to you 10 fold. A spiritual capitalist understands this and gladly puts out a positive ripple to receive positive ripples back. Jacki Smith is the co-owner of Coventry Creations www.coventrycreations. com. Her passion of personal empowerment and small business has been the driving force in her success and her journey of lifelong learning. Jacki is a regular contributor to Retailing Insight and loves sharing her experience, successes, and cautionary tales.

BUYING & SELLING MADE SIMPLE YOUR WHOLESALE MARKETPLACE SOLUTION

BUYERS



Shop over 50k American & Canadian handmade crafts anytime, 24/7

ARTISTS



Connect with quality buyers and gain new wholesale accounts

FIND THESE ARTISTS AND HUNDREDS MORE

Virgil’s Art Glass

Shirley Price Limited Editions

Earth Dreams Jewelry

Anvil Metals Studio

 828.252.6995  virgilsartglass.com

 949.887.0464  spltdeditions@aol.com

 440.877.9261  earthdreamsjewelry.com

 919.539.6814  anvilmetalsstudio.com

FREE RETAILER REGISTRATION Visit our completely renovated marketplace today.

INDIEME.COM | 888.427.2381

shoptalk

Practical answers for tough business questions

A special coverage from Coalition of Visionary Resources COVR in partnership with Kim Perkins

How do I keep my online store from cannibalizing sales from my brick and mortar location?

Before we look at specifics of how to deter your online sales from siphoning profits from your brick and mortar store, let’s look at what your goal is by creating an ecommerce site. Are you selling online to increase sales to your local customer base? Or to attract an expanded customer base in other geographic locations? Or both? Do you hope that the online marketplace you create will drive customers to your physical location? Do you see this as a way to enhance customer service for your existing customers, such as an easy pick up in store after purchase to save them time? If your ultimate goal is to ensure locals continue to shop at your physical store, here are a few things to consider: 1. Do not make your online sales platform more attractive financially than your physical location. By this I mean, do not run sales or specials online that are not honored or duplicated in the physical store. In fact, you may want to only have sales at your brick and mortar location. 2. If you have a loyalty program, you could decide to only honor those rewards in person and not online. This will guarantee that your most loyal customers will continue to shop in person. Studies continue to show that loyalty reward programs are incredibly effective at retaining customers. If you doubt this, check your wallet. Do you tend to frequent establishments that reward you as a customer? I know I do. 3. Your online sales platform can be a gold mine of information if you focus on testing the waters with new products and opening new revenue streams from out-of-town shoppers. It is far less expensive to list a new product line on your ecommerce site and gauge the response than to stock an entire shelf or new product display. And if you capture emails from visitors, you can send them information whenever you introduce a new product, thereby opening new customer revenue streams.

32 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

4. Remember that most customers of independent retail stores value the in-store experience. They want the whole shopping adventure - eye-catching displays, featured new products, a friendly smile, music, inviting aromas, and knowledgeable sales staff. These are all things it is hard to duplicate online. So it is natural for them to keep showing up in person, even if what they want to purchase can easily be ordered online. A recent PriceWaterhouseCooper customer insight survey suggests that in addition to thinking about the “traditional metric of ROI (return on investment) to determine a company’s success, we need to introduce another metric, one with a laser focus on customer experience: ROE (return on experience).” If you can provide the experience customers are seeking, you will have no worries that your ecommerce site will adversely affect your brick and mortar sales.

Should custom jewelry be returnable?

My short answer to this question is “no.” Generally, custommade jewelry is not returnable. Most of the time, custom jewelry is created through a multi-step process with a jewelry designer where the customer has a vision for what they would like, the designer interprets that vision, creates a drawing and sometimes a wax model, and then completes the creation to those specifications. The customer is consulted and gives approval at each step in the process. This makes the custom piece unique, often non-traditional, and very personal. For that reason, it is usually not returnable as it may not appeal to the general public. Even if you are customizing jewelry for a customer in a simpler process, such as letting them pick a stone and decide on the type of wrapping they would like it set in, it still becomes a personal piece that makes an individual statement and may not be resalable.

How can I keep a reader from taking my customers with her when she defects to a new store in my location?

This is a multi-faceted answer depending on your agreement with the reader. The following factors will affect the answer. Is the reader an employee or independent contractor? Do you have a signed, written agreement with the reader that addresses this issue? Was it created by an attorney that will represent your interests and stand behind it? Do you have clear guidelines that define who is your customer and who might be theirs? If the reader is an employee, and you have a written non-compete agreement, you might have more recourse than if they are an independent contractor. Still, non-compete agreements are notoriously hard to enforce. If the reader is classified as an independent contractor, by definition, you are stating that they can and usually do perform their craft in other places of business. You might limit the surrounding area in which they can compete, but you cannot prevent them from reading elsewhere. Let’s step back for a moment and look at the broader picture here. Although it is unfortunate when a reader leaves, especially a popular reader who attracts customers to your store, this situation of trying to define whose customer is whose is a sticky matter and is very rarely a win-win. Even if you have an iron-clad written agreement that prohibits a reader from reading for your customer at a different location, it is tough to identify when an agreement has been violated and also to litigate if you choose to take some kind of legal action. If a reader leaves and you suspect they are taking your customers with them, how are you going to prove it? Will the customer testify or show up at mediation? And what about the fact that they may have brought customers to your store or had a following before they began working at your location? Are those individuals your customers or the reader’s customers? And do the customers have a say in who they “belong” to? As you can see, the waters get a little murky around these issues. When I owned a brick and mortar store from 1991 to 2014, we had a

very successful reader program. We had 10 to 15 readers (independent contractors) working one or two shifts a day, seven days a week. Some readers were there once a month and some once a week. Because it would have been so difficult to establish whose customer was whose, we did not try to regulate that, and only asked that the reader not provide readings at another establishment within a five mile radius. That way, if they read at another store, they were far enough away that we felt it did not encroach on our business. The other thing we asked was that, if a customer sought them out for a reading on a day that they were not at our store, they did not charge the customer less than what we charged, so the customer was paying the same amount or more than if they were at our store. Another point that we paid particular attention to was why a reader left when it happened. Were they able to receive a more favorable financial split at another store? Were they able to work a more desirable schedule? Did we need to adjust to be more in line with area norms? This might sound like a radical idea, but what if you took the approach that there is plenty for all (customers, money, etc.) and concentrated on making the reader and customer experience at your location the best in town? This would allow you to move beyond the competitive state of “yours and mine” and focus on ways to enhance reader visibility, attract more customers, create stronger customer loyalty, and make a seamless scheduling and payment process, etc. If you concentrate on being the premier location for the very best readers in your area, readers and customers will both be happy at your location. The Coalition of Visionary Resources – COVR is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to supporting independent retailers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and publishers in the body-min-spirit industry. To learn more, visit www.covr.org Kim Perkins is a business consultant, author and national speaker. She was co-owner of Elysian Fields, Books & Gifts for Conscious Living, an award-winning store in Sarasota, Florida, for over 20 years. As a consultant, Kim specializes in helping small businesses achieve financial health and excellent employee relations. She can be reached at Kim@kimberlykperkins.com.

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 33

Unearthing Crystal Energy By Elaine Sheth

e hear so much about how crystals soothe, balance, and restore our energ y levels. Understanding how crystals radiate a specific type of positive energy that influences and nourishes us in a certain way will inspire us to appreciate them more and to more effectively share their mystical qualities with customers. Each crystal goes through a very long and adventurous journey. They are created from universal elements and vibrational energy 34 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

forces. A crystal’s form and color is the external expression of its internal structure and journey. It is similar to how our own bodily features reflect our mind, emotions, and spirit. Crystals begin as a compilation of certain minerals and natural chemical compounds. The minerals they contains have a particular molecular structure and magnetic energy that repels and attracts other minerals around it. According to its location, a crystal is subjected to different levels of temperatures and air pressure. In time, sometimes within thou-

sands, millions, or billions of years, a crystal is formed. It will continue to grow under these conditions according to the amount of space it has surrounding it. The crystal acquires its own characteristics or personality through this long journey. Sometimes crystals overlap and form into magnificent crystal clusters. Occasionally, a crystal will grow within a crystal, known as a ‘Manifesting Crystal’ or ‘Inner Child Crystal.” This takes thousands of years to form. Rare Manifesting Crystals empower us to manifest obstacles into opportunities.

Natural crystals have been used for their beauty and mystical influence for millions of years. Since early civilization, jewelry has been worn to convey a person’s stature or a personal sentiment. Now, in our highly competitive times, people are searching for something meaningful to express their individuality. In our high-tech world, we all feel the need to connect more with nature. The result is that a wider range of customers are becoming attracted to crystals and natural gems that hold the Earth’s positive energy. To excel in business, independent retailers have to embrace the more eclectic fashion tastes of our rapidly changing society. Offering dynamic and meaningful crystals and gems that are inspired and created by the natural elements will fulfill customers emotional expectations, making them satisfied customers. To keep up with the ever-changing times and price point demands of the market, it is important to offer plenty of ‘bread and butter’

pocket crystals. But to make a business stand out, and attract buyers who are able to afford more, it is essential to keep the integrity of some higher quality minerals, crystal specimens, and gemstone jewelry in the showcases. Remember that an eye-catching display with aesthetic appeal is irresistible. Look for quality, cut, color, brilliance, and sparkle in gemstones. The most sought-after meaningful jewelry has practical and versatile styles that will compliment any occasion. Store owners will gain their customers’ respect and loyalty by being knowledgeable about the impressive and powerful crystals they sell and knowing how to apply them with care for their clients’ needs. Like crystals, each of us embodies a unique combination of nature’s five basic elements that form our nature or personality type. I have created a chart to show how the main seven chakra crystal gemstones affect and nourish our life’s energy force according to our individual elemental make up:

Amethyst • Crown Chakra • Enlightenment Ether/Air Fire/Water Water/Earth

Improves immune function, gives stamina Calms nervous system, quiets obsessions Assists smooth transitions

Iolite • Third Eye Chakra • Intuition Ether/Air Fire/Water Water/Earth

Offers stability, inner wisdom Reduces anger, inspires creativity Enhances self-worth, encourages fluidity

Blue Topaz • Throat Chakra • Communication Ether/Air Fire/Water Water/Earth

Eases fears, encourages expression Motivates listening abilities, offers sweet speech Balances emotions, reduces bitterness

Peridot • Heart Chakra • Kindness, Nurture, Love Ether/Air Fire/Water Water/Earth

Balances emotions, inspires introspection Cools, soothes, nourishes Increases productivity, encourages sharin

Citrine • Solar Plexus Chakra • Source of Energy Ether/Air Fire/Water Water/Earth

Offers assurance to make decisions Increases creativity Aids in focus and concentration

Carnelian • Sacral Chakra • Seat of Emotions/Digestion Ether/Air Aids in assimilation, nourishes Fire/Water Regulates, balances Water/Earth Encourages enthusiasm, effortless movement

Garnet • Root Chakra • Security, Support, Connection Ether/Air Offers courage, strength, sense of belonging (connecting) Fire/Water Restrains the false ego, balances endurance Water/Earth Source of vitality, enables letting go of the unwanted Elaine Sheth is the owner of Esprit Creations. She is a GIA Gemologist who creates her own distinctive jewelry designs. Her motto is, ‘Never Be Ordinary.’ Her specialty is in finding the most outstanding natural gemstones to offer meaningful and versatile works of art that make her client’s stores stand out. Elaine travels around the USA offering inspirational workshops on crystals, gemstones, and chakras. She supports educational and care projects for needy women, children, and families through her company. You can contact Elaine at elaine@espritcreations.com or visit her website www.espritcreations.com Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 35

: E R O T S Y M T E E M Candle Wick Shoppe

The Candle Wick Shoppe can be defined as the place to find the remedy for what ails your soul. A cute little apothecary-style space in Ferndale, Michigan where the funky and fun are welcome. They specialize in candles and other magical supplies and are known for their helpful and friendly staff. Also, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re incredibly involved with their local geographic and spiritual community.

36 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Why did you decide the open a store? We had always wanted to have a store in Ferndale and when a local store owner asked us to buy his store, we jumped on the opportunity. It was a rough start with securing funds, staffing and the right product mix, but it was worth it every step of the way. This was our second time at the wheel of owning a retail store and we brought a new knowledge

base to the table. Our joy of connecting to our customers face-to-face and helping them solve deep spiritual issues inspired us to take this chance on another brick and mortar. We already had an online presence, but it was too detached from the customer. As a store owner can you share a little bit of your weekly routine with us?

Watch the money, order more products, watch the money. We are fully self-funded and inch along to grow our inventory base. Our weekly routine is all about managing the small things, so they don’t get too big. The owners of Candle Wick Shoppe all have full time jobs outside of Candle Wick and our team of part-time sales people manage the day-to-day needs. Sunday night starts the routine of creating tasks in Trello to manage our team remotely and ensure the routine stays consistent. We use all the technology tools to be available to our staff as questions arise. How do you promote your brand and products? Social Media is the biggest outreach for our brand and products. We have found that people will check your Facebook or Instagram page before they check your website. Our intent in social media is to be fun, informative and enticing. Additionally, we spend a lot of energy supporting local events for our city and our spiritual

community. That has made more of an impact than print ads.

CANDLE WICK SHOPPE

Do you work with consignment products? No. That is a specialized business model and too taxing for a part-time team to manage.

www.candlewickshoppe.com 175 W Nine Mile Road Ferndale, MI 48220 (248) 547-2987

Do you sell products online? Online sales are the daily boon of cash flow that keeps us in business. Our website, Etsy, Amazon, and being the fulfillment house for one of our main product suppliers keeps the staff busy and products fresh. We find keeping up the Etsy and Amazon presence is easier and more rewarding than trying to keep a handle on the constant update needed on a retail website. We are scheduled for a website overhaul this summer and it has become a much bigger project than we anticipated. Do you work exclusively with local artists and Made in USA products or do you sell imported products too?

Owners Jacki Smith, Ag Phoenix, Patty Shaw Year Opened 2008 Store Size approx. 1,000 square feet Hours 11am to 8pm Monday – Saturday 12pm to 5pm Sunday Products in Stock Root candles, incenses, crystals and stones, herbs, custom in-house products Inventory Method/Software Use QuickBooks POS Inventory Turn 90 days Sales by category Candles are the biggest seller by far, then incenses and tumbled stones Events/Services Reiki meditation on Mondays, custom mojo bags, sponsor of the 2019 Ferndale Pride.

Thank you

for helping to keep this book as one of the top sellers in the U.S.

Just as Juicy as you would expect from author Maureen St. Germain

Published by Inner Traditions • Bear & Company Available on Amazon

MAUREENSTGERMAIN.COM

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 37

We sell what our customers are looking for. We are in a town of local artists who have many outlets to sell their wares and ways to look cooler than we can compete with. Downtown Ferndale has become a spiritual mecca for the Detroit area. We have many crossover retailers for the spiritual market, yoga studios, healers, massage therapists, Reiki, and meditation. We all try to be unique in what we offer, making the buying process challenging. We have found that our niche is base, core spiritual supplies and many of these come from out of country. However, we endeavor to find Fair Trade options. When choosing new products for your store what is your criteria in terms of selection? Authentic purpose is one of our value statements applying directly to the type of product we buy. We look for vendors with similar core values as ours and when found, we invest

deeply. We constantly look for products that create extraordinary experiences and joyful interactions, two more of our value statements. We love to laugh and be amazed at the creativity of others. When we look at new products we ask, “why would someone buy this product? What pain does it solve and what need does it fill?” Sometimes the answer is, “because it is cool,” and that is a valid reason. Do you usually buy products advertised in Retailing Insight? We would love to buy every product advertised in Retailing Insight! Our budget says differently. Many of the advertisers are our vendors and we enjoy a rewarding relationships with them. Any plans to expand business to attract a broader audience? It is in our business ideal to be a destination for meeting your magical and spiritual needs.

We know we have not yet fully tapped into our core market and are plotting and planning the next adventure. We have grand ideas on making magic a fun, every day, easy practice. We want to change the world, one customer at a time, helping them unlock more ways to reach their goals. What advice do you have for our retailers? If your purpose is to run a store, make this your career. Learn from every successful person you meet, seek out council from people smarter than you, join organizations to expand your experience and look “up and out” to watch trends in the greater world. Your biggest enemy is exhaustion. Limit yourself to one project at a time, put on your own oxygen mask first and never be held hostage by your own business. We could go on. We always have tons of advice… oh and keep trying, there are options you have never even imagined!

UMA SILBEY

Crystal Teacher for 40 years New!

Comprehensive hands-on instruction. New information

A classic! Practical and easy to understand

Free articles & Podcasts

WWW.UMASILBEY.COM

ORDER: NEW LEAF DISTRIBUTION (800) 326-2665

38 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Inner

Reflections

Engagement Calendar

2020

Each week of this award-winning calendar features: • Breathtaking images from the world’s top nature photographers • Inspired insights from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi

Spiralbound, 54 Color Photos, 7” x 9” 978-0-87612-841-1 $13.95

Self-Realization Fellowship

s a le s @ s rf p ub lis he rs . o rg

F O U N D E D 1 9 2 0 B Y PA R A M A H A N S A YO G A N A N D A

There’s No Place Like Ohm®

Learn to access source energy/Qi to help correct imbalances and facilitate healing.

SET INCLUDES: • High Ohm Octave Set 272.2 + 544.4 hz

• Sonic™ Ohm Kit

1088.8 hz + Activator

• Chakra Balancing Chart 2-sided, Laminated, 11x 17”

• CD In the Key of Earth

harmonizes with tuning forks PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Detailed Instructions • Mid Ohm Tuning Fork Set easy-to-learn applications, 136.10 hz illustrations each + detailed photos, and more! for use instructions

• Tuning Fork Activator latex-free, Prop 65 safe Featuring the sacred OM tone of Buddhist and Hindu spiritual traditions

• Instructional Chart

There’s No Place Like Ohm There’s No Place Like Ohm®

soundhealingtools.com ound univerSe , llc, llc soundhealingtools.com© S© Sound univerSe

11 x 17”, two-sided, laminated

to set in

FREQ

For All Tuning Forks

Prop 65 safe Latex free •

om ealingtools.c

soundh

TIC between INErely secu GY t and arm, of tuning forkK NER, wris Hold the stem Relax your hand E ers. ator. thumb and fing end of tuning fork on Activ e arm your entir and strike the your wrist, not , from ion mot tuning forks Use the For weighted end. hted and shoulder. edge of weig strike grooved

CIT ENIK YGRENE

Sound on Site

TE: AC•TI•VA motion

is to provide of an Activator g LATEX The purpose ating a tunin ain when activ FREE! sion from the an optimal sust mal noise intru to strike both fork, with mini as a surface YCN.EUQER F e. Use Activator eighted tuning forks strikte NCYhted and unw w to Activaweig

Ins

tru

MASSAGE THERAPIST CHAKRA BALANCING FORK STARTER SETFORKS DELUXETUNING SET WITH OHM TUNING Chair & Table Massage Applications, 20+ Photos and Medical Illustrations Use Ohm Tuning Forks to clear, balance and harmonize the Chakras. Learn application Apply Ohm Tuning Forks to muscle groups, trigger, reflex and acu-points techniques to move disharmony and tension and attune the body’s vital energy centers. to relax muscular tension, move stagnant energy and relieve pain.

TnsO IV ide A Use I s

ction

fo r

8 8 8- 7 7 3 - 8 6 8 0

40 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Sparkling Gems and Aromatherapy Attract Scent-sational Sales By Margaret Ann Lembo

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 41

Music with Vision

DAVID & STEVE GORDON 8TH YEAR IN NEW LEAF’S TOP 10!

GRATITUDE

Relaxing Native American Flute Music The #1 selling Native Flute album. WINNER! 2017 COVR ICONIC MUSIC AWARD

DRUM MEDICINE

“The Gordon’s have simply outdone themselves with this melodic Shamanic global-fusion sound!” – Retailing Insight

“Our #1 selling label is the Gordons’ Sequoia Records.” – New Leaf Distributing “David & Steve Gordon create the music customers want and their CDs are top sellers at White Swan.” – Selena, Sales Mgr, White Swan

ORDER TODAY! CALL 800.519.9078

ASK ABOUT FREE DEMOS SequoiaRecords.com

42 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

ust the other day I saw a post on a social media thread. The photos showed where they were selling gemstones, essential oils, incense, and candles at a national chain hardware store. It caught my attention because the display looked like a hardware store display with products like those I sell at my store. I thought to myself, “This is a great sign! This is fantastic!” The more locations where people can become aware of alternative products for well-being, the better it is for business everywhere. The advent of conscious living, spiritual, metaphysical, and ‘New Age’ products becoming a norm in stores that affect mass consciousness bring awareness to specialty and unique stores. The more people that know about or even have our type of products on their radar increases sales and, well, peaceful vibrations, too! The magnitude of conscious living products in mainstream stores has grown significantly. It is my perception that merchandise that improves mindfulness in everyday stores vs. specialty stores increases sales for stores like yours and mine. The more that consumers become aware of products that bring balance, peace, and relaxation into their lives, the more that conscious living stores are frequented. Your customer may purchase their first conscious living product in a bigger “box” store but ultimately, they will find their way to your store and mine to seek more gifts and books that will help them with their lives. After all, stores like ours may go deeper into the unique and – what some might consider – unusual. When I first opened my store in 1988, it was not common to find books or statues of angels. As awareness grew, so did my business and probably yours, too. To this day, angel statues and angel merchandise in general still sell well and comprise a department within my store, but sales of other products are stronger than angels right now. Let’s look at what’s trending now. In my store, it’s exactly what I mentioned above plus a few others – crystals and gemstones, aromatherapy, incense and sage, and candles – in that order. The better stocked the store, the better the sales. Have the courage to go deep on the products that sell well in your

store. Add more variety and quantity of the same category. For example, my store is stocked with at least one hundred different choices of incense and sage, and they all sell well. Look at your numbers and pull reports from your point of sale system to determine if it makes sense for you. Looking at the numbers at my store, it has become clear that crystals, minerals, and stones in all forms are number one with essential oils and sprays coming in at a close second. In my case, the aromatherapy is higher because I am an aromatherapist and have my own line sold worldwide to both consumers and retail partners. In 2018, we sold well over a quarter of a million dollars in gemstones alone. This includes tumbled stones as well as specimen gemstones. Aromatherapy - medical grade essential oils and my line of aroma-energetic sprays – sold close to a quarter of a million dollars in 2018. Gemstones and crystals are terms I use interchangeably along with rocks, stones, and minerals. Whatever your customer calls them, they want them. Crystals, minerals, and stones are selling well and fast in natural form, in tumbled form, in jewelry pendants, rings, and bracelets, in lamps or lighting, and coasters or grid plates. Included in this category are salt lamps and mineral lamps like selenite and rose quartz. Strong sales in the incense, sage, and candle showroom were evident this past year and continue to increase and trend higher as well as we move through 2019. These are products that keep customers returning to restock their home supplies. It brings people back in with a specific shopping list, then they browse the rest of the store before they leave and pick up a few more items. I am impressed to see that the number of packs of incense sold in a year are almost a surprise – well over 10,000 packs of incense and the retail value is over $35,000. For sage, 3,300 purchases of sage in its various forms – bag and bundles – totaling over fifteen thousand dollars, went home with customers last year. Candles are in the same showroom with ‘things that burn’ and are another consumable that keep customers coming in. Have a nice variety of scented candles, most of which have an associated focus or intention

like love, health, happiness, prosperity, and safety. Close to 4,000 individual candles sold. That’s just under $20,000 in candles. It’s well worth the merchandising and often restocking this department requires.

Tumbled Crystals, Minerals, and Stones Tumbled gemstones are the number one best seller in my store for many years now. From agate to amethyst, from calcites to tourmalines, from jaspers to so many more jaspers, these shiny roundish gems fill rows and rows of shelves in clear glass bowls in the Crystal Room showroom. Each bowl has the matching ‘stone sign’ with the name of the stone, description, register code, and price. Our customers place each stone type with the matching stone sign into a little plastic bag provided so they’ll remember the stone name when they leave, and it also gives my staff the code needed to ring up the sale. I typically have anywhere to two to six pounds of each type of tumbled stone for the

shelves or in back stock. These sell very fast so having a healthy back stock of tumbled stones is smart business in order to constantly refill the bowls to the brim. Abundant full displays sell products more quickly. Ample and overflowing merchandise also sends the message of prosperity and sales increase.

Natural or Rough Rocks Rough and natural chunks of rocks are becoming more popular. I added a considerable amount of raw material to see what would happen. Natural untreated stones were added to my shelves in 2018. The unpolished natural stones are next to the bowl of the same type of gem in its tumbled variety. The numbers proved they sell almost as quickly as their tumbled cousins. Specifically, I stock natural amazonite, blue calcite, blue chalcedony (natural blue lace agate), hematite, tiger’s eye in gold and red, and so many more. The stones receive a quick bath before they go into bowls or baskets for sale on the shelves. When purchasing this this type for

your store, you will find it is most often sold by the flat, bag, and by weight.

Wellness Lighting Gemstone Lamps Salt lamps are available everywhere these days. And, we constantly sell out of them. Even when big box stores may sell it for a bit less, people still go out of their way to buy it at a store like mine. Salt lamps have gained significant popularity just as salt suites pop up in many neighborhoods. Like you will find in a salt suite, these salt lamps are made from a chunk of salt crystal rock that was taken from the salt mines found in underground caves in the foothills of mountains. Often these are from the foothills of the Himalayas. The salt lamp makes use of the minerals that have been preserved for millions of years and releases their special properties through the introduction of heat from the nightlight bulb inserted into a hole in the bottom of the lamp. These special properties that emanate are responsible for promoting health and

Retailing Insight 5-2019.qxp_Layout 1 4/30/19 10:02 A

Vernon Howard

Books, MP3 CDs & More There Is a Way Out

Open this book anywhere and find answers which you will sense as being wonderfully friendly and helpful.

$8.95 ISBN 978-0-911203-45-1

1500 Ways to Escape the Human Jungle

You CAN live with mental independence from the human jungle, even while active in it.

$9.95 ISBN 978-1-943362-19-6 More titles available from:

DeVorss ▪ 800-843-5743 New Leaf ▪ 800-326-2665 New Life Foundation ▪ 800-293-3377 (Publisher) Order Today! “I have found Vernon Howard books to be a powerful beam of light in this confused world.”

— Dr. George Collins, DDS

www.anewlife.org

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 43

wellness through ionization of the air and the removal of pollution. They emit negatively charged ions that neutralize contaminants so they can no longer circulate. When this occurs, individuals can breathe more easily and many ailments, like allergies, start to disappear. Salt lamps comes in different shapes, sizes, and weights. Be mindful is you place them in a humid atmosphere – being salt, the lamp will slowly melt. Lamps created from selenite logs or towers and large amethyst or rose quartz chunk and points create beautiful ambient lighting and good vibrations in any location in a home or office. Selenite brings mental clarity and helps you maintain focus. Selenite has protective qualities and the ability to align you with only the highest good for all concerned. This stone

[

Give your customers what they are looking for. Add a gemstone section so they purchase their gems from you. They are trending and crystals, minerals, and stones are sought after at this time. Add the crystals and it will add good vibes, sparkle, and joy to your store’s atmosphere. *** Now it’s time to look at what’s trending in your store and in your community. Run reports and sit down with the numbers to analyze which products have the highest margins and sell quickly. Look closely at the number one type of merchandise that provides your store with a nice margin to increase net profits. Knowledge is power. Take note of the inventory turnover for

]

Let yourself become more familiar with various types of gemstones and crystals and consider adding them to your product mix. Give your customers what they are looking for.

placed at the entrance to your home (inside and out) helps maintain loving vibrations. Since amethyst derives its name from the Greek word “amethystos” meaning “not drunk” or “not intoxicated,” carry or wear this stone to remind you to avoid harmful distractions and to change old habits through conscious intent. Amethyst is any form is beneficial in treatment centers and anywhere when mindfulness for health and transformation are key. An amethyst lamp is a great stone for the bedroom as a nightlight to promote sound sleep and pleasant dreams. Rose quartz lamps invite feelings of kindness, thoughtfulness, and love. It is one of my favorites for children’s play areas and bedrooms. Let yourself become more familiar with various types of gemstones and crystals and consider adding them to your product mix.

44 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

specific products with the higher number of items sold. Inventory turnover is a ratio indicating how many times products were sold and replaced during a given period. Look at the numbers to help you make better decisions for your business regarding pricing, marketing, and purchasing new inventory. Reduce cost of goods and increase profits. Happy Selling! Margaret Ann Lembo is the author of Chakra Awakening; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals and Stones; The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing, including her latest Crystals Beyond Beginners: Awaken Your Consciousness with Precious Gifts of the Earth. Lembo is an evolutionary aromatherapist and the owner of The Crystal Garden — the conscious living store of the Palm Beaches established since 1988. To know more about the author, visit www.margaretannlembo. com or go to www.thecrystalgarden.com

The Vibe

â&#x201E;˘

Room Energy Clearing Spray

You are one spray away from your best day. Spray with true essential oils. Reiki Infused.

8oz/$19.99 Retail

2oz/$9.99 Retail

Wholesale pricing per dozen, per size. Call 908-518-9001 For more information, please visit:

www.LindaLauren.com As seen in the following:

CARD DECKS Pathways and Destinations

Divination tools that assist your customers along the way of their Soul Journey! By Melinda Carver Many people are hearing a clarion call for a voyage to connect with and deepen their intuition. Tarot and oracle cards are wonderful tools that offer guidance either as a map to the level that they want to arrive at or as surprising diversions to hidden places. Choosing the right tool can be daunting for your customers when they are searching for the right course. Your unique position both as retailer and as a guiding light provides the opportunity to place strong tools in their hands. The following divination decks offer insights to new pathways for their journey and may assist them to their desired soul destination.

Tarot in Wonderland Barbara Moore Illustrated by Eugene Smith $29.99 ISBN 9780738746807 Llewellyn Books www.llewellyn.com This deck is based on Rider-Waite cards paired with exquisite art inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The characters from the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic become the Major Arcana and are also sprinkled through-out the charming Minor Arcana suits. Moore continues to choose top-of-the line collaborators with her decks, and the playful illustration by Smith give readers a deeper appreciation of his intricate detailing. This deck is a perfect gift for those that still want the child within to enjoy the fun experience of their favorite story come to life in the Tarot. 78-card deck and 360-page full-color guidebook

46 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Modern Spellcaster’s Tarot Melanie Marquis Illustrated by Scott Murphy $29.99 ISBN 9780738741666 Llewellyn Books I www.llewellyn.com Magickal practices and the tarot converge in this visually stunning artwork by Murphy that draws the eye and won’t let go. The multicultural and varying witchcraft paths are showcased, especially in the glorious Court cards. Marquis provides descriptions for each card along with their magickal uses for the modern witch. The chapter on Tarot Deck Care and Maintenance is a good tool for new readers. Besides interpreting life issues and spiritual paths, readers may enjoy learning tarot magick with this very versatile deck. 78-card deck and 264-page book

Sacred Sites Oracle Cards Barbara Meiklejohn-Free Illustrated by Yuri Leitch $24.95 ISBN 9781780288420 Watkins Media Imprint I www.watkinspublishing.com Discover how to connect to the planet’s most sacred sites like mountains, temples, pyramids, and more from your own home. Leitch’s spiritually channeled artwork features the sacred site, its culture, symbol, and animal. The cards’ borders are color-coded to the location’s placement North, South, East, and West on Earth. The Meiklejohn-Free’s guidebook explores the lower, middle, and upper World of each site that corresponds to your past, present and future. Attune to these energies, including Mont Saint-Michel, Karnak, Glastonbury, and Sedona to gain insight into your life. This deck is a great tool for those that love traveling or are experienced in astral projection. 52-card deck and 120-page full-color guidebook

Chakra Wisdom Tarot Tori Hartman Illustrated by Katarina Sokolova $22.95 ISBN 9781786782526 Watkins Media Imprint I www.watkinspublishing.com It’s a unique new vision of interpreting tarot through the seven chakras. The Major and Minor Arcana are categorized into seven color-coded chakra sections. The author shares how to magnetize your energy to manifest with the deck using four new deck-specific spreads. Sokolova’s digital art subjects are in the same color hues of the chakra color border. This deck may be used to find your energy blocks, areas to focus on, as well as answering life path questions. Readers that are moving into healing modalities will find this to be a useful tool. 78-card deck and 112-page full-color guidebook

The House of Shadows Lenormand Deck Monica Bodirsky $30.00 ISBN 9780995237339 Self-Published I www.monicabodirsky.com Labeled as a “whimsically dark” oracle, this adorable deck features artwork that is hand-drawn in black and white. Bordirsky’s intent is to allow people to explore their shadow side. Layered meanings are found in the spooky looking animals, objects and people that adorn this Lenormand deck. The Halloween vibe of the drawings adds a delicious chill to your Grand Tableau readings. This potent deck is great to use for readings about your current life issues, as well as your shadow work. The cool artwork is engaging and fun to interpret during sessions. 36-card deck and 17-page booklet Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 47

Tarot of the Moors Gina Thies $29.99 ISBN 9780764356094 Red Feather I www.schifferbooks.com Step into the world of the Moors of Southern Europe, North Africa and Arabia and discover their little-known 900-year history. Culturally diverse, this deck features hand-drawn art with a gold foil-edged trim. The author has renamed some of the Major Arcana to reflect Moorish names (The Jinn = The Devil, The Charmer = The Magician, The Priestess = Sybil), as well as the Moorish titles for Kings (Emir) and Queens (Malika). Professional reader Thies’ artwork also features astrological symbols and elements to enhance your readings. This attractive Tarot deck is easy to read for any level of practitioner for life issues and spiritual path questions. The cosmopolitan feel of the artwork is a welcome addition to your deck collection. 78-card deck and a 96-page guidebook

Hope’s Heart Tarot Joan Kristin Haugan $25.00 Odin’s Legacy Press I www.prairiemagic.com Featuring characters from the award-winning Adventure Seekers Saga, Haugan has created a 4.5 inch round Tarot deck. The deck is color-coded by Major and Minor Arcana suits. She has replaced The Fool with “The Seeker” and The Devil with “Fear.” The artwork is based upon Haugan’s Prairie Magic classes and Elder FUThARK wisdom. Each card features a title, the art in the center, and three different keyword meanings printed along the edges, which depend on the face placement of the card. These keywords (in place of a booklet) will be a helpful guide for new Tarot readers, but professional readers may find them distracting from the artwork. This straightforward deck may be used in readings for life issues and spiritual path questions. It is an ideal teaching deck. 78-card deck

Sacred Geometry Activations Oracle Lon Art $19.99 ISBN 9781582706351 Beyond Words Publishing I www.beyondword.com Including pulsating colors and sacred geometric patterns, this Dutch born artist has a passion for others to access their quantum energy field through sacred geometry to connect to and vibrate in their infinite potential. Each card is titled and describes the frequency of the pattern plus what you are activating physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This deck is best for consciousness or meditative inner work, instead of your life (love life, career) issues. 44-card deck and 160-page guidebook

The Fundamentals of Astrology Heather Arielle Illustrated by Thom Cummins $34.95 ISBN 9780996860062 Luminous Moon Press I www.luminousmoon.com An astrology oracle deck presenting color-coded cards of the zodiac signs, planets, houses, elements and aspects. The thin cards feature a title with both upright and reversed mini-guides with the painted artwork in the center. Cummins artwork uses order/disorder which merge beauty and ugliness together. Professional astrologer Arielle provides snapshots, meanings, and inspirational insights for each card in her guidebook. Her goal is to teach you the fundamentals of astrology in a visual way and to assist you in enhancing your astrological energy. Beginner astrologers and those looking for a unique deck will find this to be a helpful tool. 52-card deck and 300-page full-color guidebook

48 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Odin and the Nine Realms Oracle Sonja Grace $30.00 ISBN 9781620559130 Findhorn Press I www.innertraditions.com Created by mystic healer Grace, discover your life path through the famed Norse gods (Odin, Thor) and goddesses (Freyja, Skadi) that mysteriously move among the Nine Realms within the great tree of Yggdrasil. The dark colored cards are titled, but not numbered. For those not familiar with Norse myth or language, you will rely heavily on the guidebook which offers detailed insights for each god or goddess, the nine realms, and the 24 runes of the deck. Direction is provided for oracle spreads to look toward life success and your spiritual path. 54-card deck and 144-page guidebook

Rainbow Warrior Activation Deck Tracee Dunblazier Illustrated by Justine Serebrin $18.95 ISBN 9780996390750 GoTracee Publishing I www.beaslayer.com The vibrant colors hand-painted by Serebrin engages us to open your intuition. Each card is numbered and displays symbols, animals, plants, and figures. The Allow, Fire and Life Force cards are soul soaring. The authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose is to activate your soul knowledge by viewing and mirroring the energies of each card. The author hopes to activate your super conscious to amplify your awareness, trust, and sacred pattern. This is a knockout-of-the-park activation deck for use during meditation, as well as shadow and ascension work. This deck is a strong healing tool for all ages. 52-card deck and 108 full-color guidebook

Mirrors to Your Soul Archetypal Oracle & Booklet Jayni Bloch, M.A.C. Psych. Assoc. $60.00 ISBN 9780995002609 Self-Published I www.genian.net Born in South Africa and now residing in Canada, psychologist and artist Bloch has spent 30 years teaching and healing patients based on integrated cognitive and spiritual healing modalities. Her archetypal key cards are numbered and feature striking colors laden with dream-like imagery of faces and symbols. Divine portals are unlocked in her full-color booklet, describing each keyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constructive and destructive qualities, questions to ask, and healing practices for the soul. A zippered purse holds the cards and booklet. This deck is a powerful tool to remove conflict patterns from your life. The keys unlock your power to transcend issues. Energy healers and teachers would do well to add this deck to their library. 9-card deck and 78-page full-color booklet Melinda Carver is an award-winning author, psychic medium and speaker. To know more about Melinda, please visit her page at www.psychicmelinda.webs.com

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 49

[ Editor's Picks ]

CRYSTALS & MEDITATION SUPPLIES

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ultimate healing experience" Help your customers maximize the good energy at their home, meditation room or anywhere they go by sharing products that can help clean the air, promote peace, and bring harmony and balance to their daily routine.

50 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Hindu Deity Krishna Wooden Frame by The Indian Weave www.theindianweave.com

To Promote Peace: Paper Pray Flag by DZi Handmade www.dzi.com

To Share Positive Messages: Summer Lotus Greeting Card by Keeping Vigil Press www.keepingvigilpress.com

When You’re On-The-Go: Golden Bodhi Travel Altar Box by DZi Handmade www.dzi.com

To Infuse Your Practice: Tigers Eye Will & Strength 108 Mala by Open Heart Warrior www.openheartwarrior.com

To Clean Your Mind: Blessed Herbal Candle by Coventry Creations www.coventrywholesale.com

Time to Awake: Wooden Seated Buddha by Benjamin International www.benjamininternational.com

To Help Cleanse The Air: Frankincense Incense Sticks by Sun’s Eye www.sunseyestore.com

To Reduce Stress & Anxiety: Singing Bowl by Kheops International www.kheopsinternational.com To Use During Meditation: Hand-Painted Stone Incense Holder by Windrose Trading Co. www.windrosetrading.com

To Help Align Your Body: Kiwi Ikat Oval Yoga Bolster by chattra www.chattra.com

To Help You Relax: Buddha Hand Candle Holder by Culture Spot www.culturespot.com For Insight Meditation: Chakra Balance music by Sequoia Records www.sequoiarecords.com

For Guidance All Year Round: Yoga Through the Year, A Seasonal Approach to Your Practice by Llewellyn www.llewellyn.com

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 51

Explore Your Spiritual Journey: Mandala Crystal Grid No.16 by Zen and Meow www.shopzenandmeow.com

Providing You Balance: Kyanite moon necklace by Broad Street www.broadstreetjewelry.com

Say goodbye to Negative Energy in the Room: Small Brushed Gold Jewel Box with Amethyst Pyramids by Mapleton Drive www.mapletondrive.com

Stimulate Your Mind: Aquamarine and Heliodor Crystal by Hiouchi Jewels www.hiouchijewels.com

Let the Harmony, Energy, and Peace Flow into the House: Agate Watercolor Art Print by Watercolor Paperie www.etsy.com/shop/ WatercolorPaperie Getting You Connected: Healing Ritual Kit by The Ritual Store www.theritualstore.com Bring the ‘Good Energy’ to the Table: Mixed Mineral Napkin Rings by Mapleton Drive www.mapletondrive.com Re-energize Your Body: Spirit of Eternity Clear Crystal Bar Soap by Crystal Bar Soap www.crystalbarsoap.com

52 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Celebrating 40 Years of Peace Through Music

NEW RELEASE!

Peace Through Music 40th Anniversary Collection

Dean Evenson and Soundings Ensemble Soundings of the Planet celebrates 40 years of spreading Peace Through Music around the world with this comprehensive collection highlighting select tracks curated from four decades of award-winning relaxation music. This sonic overview of Soundings' history features music from international artists including Dean and Dudley Evenson, Scott Huckabay, d'Rachael, Tom Barabas, Tim Alexander, Li Xiangting, Peter Ali, Phil Heaven and many more. SP-7229

UPC 096507-7229-27

MSRP $15.98

Net of Indra

Dean Evenson & Tim Alexander Award-winning sound healing pioneer Dean Evenson and internationally acclaimed master drummer Tim Alexander (Primus, A Perfect Circle) transport you on an epic and engaging sonic journey. This meditative dance of lilting flute and resonant drums, gongs, and singing bowls will uplift the soul and stir the imagination. SP-7228 UPC 096507-7228-28 MSRP $15.98

Prayers on the Wind Dean Evenson & Peter Ali

Dean Evenson, teams up with Native American flute virtuoso, Peter Ali, to create these stunning duets harmoniously blending silver flute and wooden flutes of different tribes and cultures. SP-7227 UPC 096507-7227-29 MSRP $15.98

NEW BOOK!

Quieting the Monkey Mind: How to Meditate with Music

Dudley Evenson & Dean Evenson, M.S.

soundings.com 800-93 PEACE

(800/937-3223)

Sound healing pioneers Dudley and Dean Evenson have created award-winning music and videos for over four decades. Now their first book brings together their years of experience and research in the fields of meditation and sacred music. SP-4100

ISBN 978-0-9991379-0-1 160 Pages $17.95

fineprint It’s mid-summer and holiday ordering is beginning and books are back at the top of customers’ gift lists this year. The mind/body/spirit publishers are ready. Here’s a collection of books I think are more than notable for holiday giving. There’s something for everybody. Young or old. Witchy or buttoned-up conservatives. Do-it-your-self or hardcore shoppers. Take a look at the following offerings and see if anything seems like a good fit for your customers.

Wabi-Sabi Home: Finding Beauty in Imperfection Mark Bailey and Sally Bailey Publication Date: June 2019 $29.95 H ISBN 9781788790918 Ryland, Peters and Small www.rylandpeters.com

Mark and Sally Bailey traveled around the globe to explore the ancient Japanese tradition of Wabi-Sabi. It’s a tradition that embraces the imperfect and the humble. It passes on the pristine in favor of the handmade, time-worn, and everyday. It’s an idea that’s gathering followers here in the United States. The authors demonstrate how to incorporate these features into a personal space, and they focus on one home in each chapter to demonstrate the concept. Wabi-Sabi brings life and comfort to a home. In an increasingly automated and digitalized world, “humanized” things are becoming the new status symbols.

New and notable books for body, mind, and spirit by Anna Jedrziewski

feline teachings live on and are being shared with readers in this dynamically illustrated, simply charming little book. Always pay ATTENTION • FIND out what it is you love doing and do a lot of it • A SILENT stare speaks volumes • Once the objective is defined, chance favors the prepared MIND • Before you CLIMB to even greater heights, it’s wise to know how to get back down again. This is a must-have for all your cat-friendly customers.

Hey There, Earth Dweller! Dive Into This World We Call Earth Marc ter Horst Illustrated by Wendy Panders Translated by Laura Watkinson Publication Date: April 2019 $19.99 Paper-over-board ISBN 9781582706566 Aladdin/Beyond Words I www.beyondword.com

A book about earth science, aimed at middle-schoolers who were born into the electronic age? You’re right to be skeptical, but this book manages to make a statement that will grab their attention and keep it. (Did you know that most of the water here on earth probably came from ice meteorites?) Vibrant original illustrations are combined with photographs in a nonstop parade of STEM-based information. Slightly tongue-in-cheek, there’s lots of humor in both the writing and the illustrations. This one will be especially helpful for parents who are homeschooling.

The Timeless Teachings of Guru Zuzu as told to Tony Broadbent Publication Date: May 2019 $16.95 P ISBN 9781608685973 New World Library www.newworldlibrary.com

She was named Zuzu after “Zuzu’s petals” in It’s a Wonderful Life. It was Broadbent’s wife who brought her home. They were her third adoptive family. The third time was a charm. Now deceased, Zuzu’s

54 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

131 Method: Your Personalized Nutrition Solution to Boost Metabolism, Restore Gut Health, and Lose Weight Chalene Johnson Publication Date: April 2019 $29.99 H ISBN 9781401956783 Hay House I www.hayhouse.com

Beautifully designed and filled with stunning photographs, this book is Johnson’s attempt to make up for lost time and opportunities. After more than 20 years as a health and fitness expert, a serious health scare led Johnson to seek out new answers and modalities. Rejecting the modern diet industry and extreme exercise routines (and being rejected by them), she returned to a common sense approach to finding and maintaining health. As she points out, most of what Americans are doing to lose weight and get healthy has backfired. It’s time for a different approach and that’s what 131 Method offers. The tone of the book is high energy, like Johnson’s successful workout videos, and she uses humor throughout to make it all down to earth and welcoming. The multitude of recipes at the end are exciting and appealing.

Kahlil Gibran’s Little Book of Secrets Neil Douglas-Klotz Publication Date: April 2019 $15.95 P ISBN 9781571748348 Hampton Roads Publishing www.redwheelweiser.com

Famous for The Prophet, Gibran is the third-bestselling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao Tzu. The book (along with Gibran) is often labeled simplistic and lightweight by critics. Douglas-Klotz has compiled and introduced this collection of Gibran’s other writings which contradict that dismissal. He tells us that Gibran’s writing is authentic spirituality that “bridges ordinary religious boundaries.” Gibran’s Lebanese roots and native Arabic language enhance his work. In the days of his early successes, it created an exotic overtone that made it appealing both in 1920 and 1960. Today, that same overtone provides a layer of insight which might inform a world immersed in clashing cultures.

Why Should I Walk? I Can FLY! Ann Ingalls Illustrated by Rebecca Evans Publication Date: March 2019 $8.95 P ISBN 9781584696391 Dawn Publications I www.dawnpub.com

Ingalls and Evans have turned the experience of a baby bird leaving the nest to learn how to fly into an adventure tale extrodinaire. The highly dynamic and expressive drawings capture a series of close calls, including a hair raising incident with a cat. Of course in the end, this tiny robin soars through the sky with a smile on his face. As with all Dawn’s books, there are educational follow-ups at the end: two pages of questions with answers for kids and two pages of information for teachers and parents, including STEM activities and tips for reading aloud.

My First Book of Haiku Poems: A Picture, a Poem and a Dream Translated by Esperanza RamirezChristensen Illustrated by Tracy Gallup Publication Date: March 2019 $16.99 H ISBN 9784805315156 Tuttle Publishing I www.tuttlepublishing.com

In this extraordinary picture book, young children are introduced to 20 haiku, each written by a Japanese Haiku master. Issa speaks of a bird let out of a cage. Onitsura tells young readers about calling out to fireflies. Shou immortalizes the year’s first dream. Basho describes moon-viewing. Each haiku is printed in English and in both script and Romaji versions of the original Japanese texts. Gallup’s illustrations are magically complex, and Ramirez-Christensen has provided questions for each drawing to promote discussion.

Sister Karol’s Book of Spells, Blessings & Folk Magic Karol Jackowski Publication Date: March 2019 $16.95 P ISBN 9781578636457 Weiser Books I www.redwheelweiser.com

Raised as a traditional Catholic, Sister Karol grew up surrounded by angels. She also learned the ways of Catholic folk magic. In 1964 she joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross. In 1995 she became part of an independent, self-governing sisterhood, the Sisters for Christian Community. Along the way, she began to study Paganism and Wicca. With this book, she is sharing the magical world that she’s discovered. She tells readers about finding/creating sacred space and setting up home altars. The book also includes over 100 pages of Sister Karol’s personal spells.

Stones of the Goddess: Crystals for the Divine Feminine Nicholas Pearson Publication Date: February 2019 $40.00 P ISBN 9781620557648 Destiny Books I www.innertraditions.com

Nicholas Pearson began his love affair with the mineral kingdom early in life. Over the years, his pursuit of occultism led him to discovering a feminine deity (Goddess), and his resulting relationship with the Goddess helped him to come to terms with his identity as a gay man. In this book,

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 55

fineprint

Anna Jedrziewski

he introduces readers to the Goddess while, at the same time, giving them practical information for creating a crystal toolbox for working with stones. The last part of the book is a comprehensive compendium of crystals with full-color photos and detailed instructions for use.

Yoga Whale: Simple Poses for Little Ones Sarah Jane Hinder Publication Date: February 2019 $9.95 Board Book ISBN 9781683640769 Sounds True I www.soundstrue.com

Hinder’s series of yoga books for little ones continues with another great installment. Lively side-by-side illustrations of a sea critter and a child in a yoga pose make this one a page turner for ages 0-4. Puffer Fish demonstrates how to do the Full Belly Breath. Crab shows the Reverse Tabletop Pose. Octopus is the example of the Happy Baby Pose. And Starfish makes the Wide-Leg Corpse Pose easy to follow. The illustrations are engaging, emotive, and diverse. Instructions at the end let adults know how to encourage and help when needed.

How the Bible Actually Works: In Which I Explain How an Ancient, Ambiguous, and Diverse Book Leads Us to Wisdom Rather Than Answers—and Why That’s Great News Peter Enns Publication Date: February 2019 $26.99 H ISBN 9780062686749 HarperOne I www.harperone.com

This isn’t the first book that Peter Enns has written about the Bible. While he understands that a lot of people won’t be particularly excited at the release of another book about the Bible, he has more to say and say it he does, clearly, self-effacingly, and with humor. Yet he isn’t offering readers answers. Rather, he says that the Bible doesn’t actually tell anyone what to do or think. Further, he says that the Bible doesn’t speak with one voice but, often, in conflicting and contradictory voices. He tells us that the Bible is not a rule book and “God Is Not a Helicopter Parent.” What the Bible offers us is wisdom and a path we can take to find it. This is a perfect gift, as Enns puts it, for frustrated Christians, formerly Christians, and barely Christians.

ANNA JEDRZIEWSKI is a new consciousness author and consultant, as well as founder and director of Spirit Connection New York, Inc. www.spiritconnectionnewyork.org

Featuring the Most Beautiful Incense in the World!

Oils • Incense • Spray Mists Diffusers • Perfume Bottles • Accessories

sunseye.com • 1-800-SunsEye (786-7393) 56 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

NEW

A Seed is a Tiny Miracle ... and So Are You! YOU ARE LIKE A SEED by Michaun Madsen teaches kids to trust their authentic self, knowing that deep inside they already have everything it takes to grow and experience a life of happiness. Children 3+ $14.95 Hardback 24pg 978-087516-902-6

DeVorss Publications

www.devorss.com • 800-843-5743

NEW BOOKS

to enrich the Mind, Body, and Spirit Available now from Simon & Schuster and Wholesalers Nationwide

Odin and the Nine Realms Oracle $30.00 • Boxed Set 54 Cards and Book

ISBN 978-1-62055-913-0

Healing Body Meditations $19.99 • Paper with French Flaps ISBN 978-1-62055-910-9

Working with Chakras for Belief Change $24.99 • Paper with Lay Flat Binding

ISBN 978-1-62055-902-4

Available at InnerTraditions.com and Wherever Books are Sold 800-246-8648 •

playlist

Reviews of great music to sell and enjoy by Bill Binkelman

The Late Train Home

Migration

Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow

Ed Blumenthal Self-released www.edblumenthal.com

Johnny Lipford Self-released www.jonnylipfordmusic.com

Ann Sweeten Orange Band Records www.annsweeten.com

To think that a recording as self-assured and “complete” as The Late Train Home is for an artist’s debut is mind-boggling. Ed Blumenthal is possessed of such nuance and subtlety that it’s hard to believe that this is his recording debut, even if it is under the tutelage of producer Will Ackerman and ace engineer Tom Eaton. There is a depth of feeling and compositional awareness on the part of Blumenthal that one wonders how all this artistry was bottled up for so long. Yes, no doubt working with such guest stars as Eugene Friesen, Jill Haley, and Charlie Bisharat (among others) helped, but still, the core of this music is still based in Blumenthal’s sparse yet evocative melodies.

Johnny Lipford sits with the best artists in the Native flute fusion genre and he’s been there for quite some time. Migration, his new album, once more demonstrates his abundant talent across a multitude of styles, as well as demonstrating his proficiency on much more than just wooden/Native flutes, e.g. piano, percussion, synthesizers, et al. In addition, he is not just a Native flute player, as he also performs on Irish, Bansuri, and Asian flutes. Migration is truly a globally-influenced album, as well as a testament to not only the artist’s prodigious talent, but his musical vision for music being a unifying force in today’s troubled world

58 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Possessed of one of the most recognizable “voices” in piano music today, Ann Sweeten always finds a way to never repeat herself. Her characteristic flowing melodies, accented here by guest artists, e.g. Nancy Rumbel and Eugene Friesen, manage the difficult task of merging fond remembrance and subtle sorrow, both imbibed with deep, rich romanticism. This album, though, is a product of unimaginable personal tragedy, as Sweeten recently received her third cancer diagnosis (this time for leukemia). Throw in the loss of two of her beloved dogs in the same recent time period (all this documented in her, as usual, personal liner notes) and one must stand in wonder at her strength of will as well as her talent.

The Winds of Badlands Jill Haley Cor Anglais Records www.jillhaley.com

Gift, Garden & Home

For the latest in her National Park-themed albums, Jill Haley turns her attention to South Dakota’s Badlands. The stark landscape worked its magic on her. Haley, one of the more sought-after woodwind players in music, lets her considerable piano talent step into the spotlight here. She also has her husband, guitarist/bassist David Cullen, share more of the load, along with son Graham Cullen on cello. The result is still uniquely Jill Haley, but the prominence of piano and guitar, accompanied by a subtle (but noticeable) shift in melodic structure marks The Winds of Badlands not as a departure but more of an organic evolution of sorts. “Rustles of Green and Gold” is the best example to what I refer.

How It Happened Tom Eaton Spotted Peccary Records www.spottedpeccary.com

After self-releasing two critically acclaimed albums featuring melancholic melodies on piano and guitar, with occasional dramatic rhythms, Eaton drew the attention of the good people at Spotted Peccary. His first release with that esteemed label shows him softening his sound, morphing into a warmer, rhythm-less direction, more akin to classic spacemusic than his earlier work. How It Happened is simply gorgeous, a sublime collection of soundscapes that are emotionally “neutral,” but undeniably emotive and evocative. The liner notes prominently thank ambient artists Jeff Pearce and Tim Story (along with Will Ackerman), so you can safely wager that if you are a fan of Pearce and Story, you will fall in love with this recording (as I did).

Lunar Light Pendant Lunar Revolution Earrings Chakra Mini Meditation Bowl Boxes

Songs Without Words Gerhard Daum Tone Work Records www.gerharddaum.com

Let me begin this review quoting from the artist-authored liner notes, “Each song demonstrates the electric guitar’s eloquence and diversity as a powerful lead instrument in modern times.” That sums up Songs Without Words perfectly. Gerhard Daum takes electric guitar into every conceivable, yet accessible, direction possible. Buoyed by text-book perfect orchestrations and embellishments, Daum crisscrosses genres of music and styles as effortlessly as a glider sailing aloft on currents. Sometimes wielding a light touch (“Talking Softly”) and other times letting the instrument soar and cry into the ether (“Gentleman’s Way”) or sneaking across a sensual landscape (“Timeless”). This is a stone-solid recommendation to fans of Jeff Beck’s There and Back album.

July 10 - 14 • Americas Mart

- Global Design, Booth # 3-2-1401

July 18 - 22 • LA MART - Gifts of Nature Showroom, # 348 July 28 - August 1 • Las Vegas Market

- Gifts of Nature Showroom, C–806

NEW DATES! August 10 - 13 • NY NOW - Handmade Global, Booth # 1862 August 13 - 15 • IGC CHICAGO - Booth # 431

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 59

playlist

Bill Binkelman

Adrift in Wonder

Summoning the Muse

Robert Linton October Moon Records www.robertlinton.com

Incendio Self-released www.incendioband.com

Acoustic guitarist Linton has been a favorite of mine from his 2006 release, Whisperings at Nightfall. He expertly crafts what I refer to as “autumnal” music, meaning the melodies here are introspective, somber, restrained in drama, but suffused with beauty. Linton has a light touch on the guitar strings and it greatly contributes to the lack of overt drama here. In addition, by allowing his guests to contribute more than some others guitarists do, the overall effect of “fullness” is present, so that the songs seem to paint more of a soundscape than solo guitarists are prone to do. However, it’s Linton’s emotive compositions and his ultra-delicate finger-style minimalism that end up winning me over every time.

Incendio is the Spanish/f lamenco ensemble fronted by guitarist Jim Stubblefield. However, on Summoning the Muse, the group goes in different directions other than straight-up Spanish. The incorporation of programmed rhythms and synthesizers on select cuts brings a chill-out flavor, while other tracks display influences from r n’ b, jazz, and a mixture of other global spices. Some of this should be credited to Jean-Pierre Durand, who is credited with all manner of guitar, as well as piano, synth programming, and more. But singling out any other player in this ensemble setting diminishes all the other participants who all contribute to the whole, which is terrific.

The Golden Age Restless Wind George Winston Dancing Cat/RCA Records www.rcarecords.com/artist/ george-winston

Restless Wind chronicles pianist Winston’s versatility as well as his affinity for America’s root’s music, e.g. blues, jazz, ragtime, and rural. In other words, December this isn’t! Restless Wind features only 1 1/3 originals (the 1/3 is part of a three-song medley). The “theme” of the album may be interpreted as a historical look back at our country’s more recent past (from the early 1900s), but one can also simply enjoy the richness of the diversity that Winston lends to his unique interpretations to each song, including the Gershwin classic “Summertime,” George Brooks’ energizing ragtime-ish “Judge, Judge” or Sam Cooke’s gospel/blues “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Restless Wind is a revelation of how deep this piano pioneer’s talent runs.

Damon Buxton Many Miles Music www.damonbuxton.com

Buxton, one of my favorite acoustic guitarists, possesses one of the more unique styles of composing and performing, especially compared to others in his genre. On The Golden Age, he self-admittedly (in an email) has changed course to a more pronounced Spanish/flamenco style of music, while also injecting some “pretty” (his own word) influences. It’s true that his music has lost some of its emotional ambiguity, but he retains the warmth and “simple complexity” of previous releases. Neither overly laid-back nor energizing, the songs are always accessible. Buxton is, for lack of a better descriptor, the thinking person’s guitarist. These 14 tracks are certainly enjoyable in the background, but are best enjoyed in concentrated, direct listening.

Bill Binkelman has been reviewing New Age, ambient, and world music since 1997. Email him at billbink01@gmail.com.

60 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

FRESH!

A Galleria of NEW Products >> special advertising section

Sun and Moon by Sergio Lub We’ve been a family run business for 50 years, handcrafting all of our copper designs in our Napa Valley studios. Our new Sun and Moon bracelet represents the cosmic dance between the golden male force of the sun and the silver female grace of the moon, a balancing act that blossoms when each dancer respects their partner’s different vulnerabilities and strengths. Perfect for any season. Wear Your Wellness! Sergio Lub, Inc. 760-464-6000 I yes@sergiolub.com www.sergiolub.com

CBD Oil Products Grown on small Kentucky chemical free farms. Created in an FDA lab at the University of KY. Designated ‘KY Proud’ by the KY Department of Agriculture. FullSpectrum oils; Third Party Analysis; Small Batch; 375-3000 mg. Contact us for wholesale. BluLeaf Naturals LLC 859-806-0521 I bluleafcbd@gmail.com www.BluLeafCBD.com

Tea Time Bath & Body Gift Set Make Tea Time your “me time” and enjoy tranquil aromas of refreshing tea, blended with fresh squeezed lemon, a touch of brisk jasmine and honey syrup. Available in award-winning natural formulas lotion and liquid cleanser pre-wrapped banded gift set. Made in USA. Free samples. B.Witching Bath Co. 833-330-2284 I wholesale@ bwitchingbathco.com www.bwitchingbathco.com

The Ultimate Organic Face Cream Looking for effective natural skin and hair products for anti-aging to clean acne, promote hair growth, exfoliation and more? A 100% chemical free, non-toxic, made using fresh organic whole food. Check us out! We’re looking for awesome retail partners. Nature’s Skin and Body 866-945-4910 I info@naturesskinandbody.com www.naturesskinandbody.com

Conscious Living | retailinginsight.com 61

takefive

Five Different Ways to Handle Things at Work by Royce Amy Morales

As shop owners, there’s probably not a day that goes by when we don’t feel like we messed up in some way. Whether with a customer, an employee, a vendor or with a slow moving inventory choice, (that’s for another article!), goofs happen. However, blunders are not the end of the world by any means. There are always ways to clean up no matter how monstrous the mistake. If we don’t, we run the risk of damaged customer relationships, lowered effectiveness, and a toxic, tense work environment. Plus, we easily fly off the handle at others because we’re really angry at ourselves. Most importantly, disregarded slip-ups grow into bad karma! However, most find that it’s not easy to apologize. Why? It takes courage to admit what you did was wrong. It feels like you’d be vulnerable, exposed. It might be embarrassing, and it can be easy to convince yourself to just ignore your mistakes. Maybe you were taught to “never apologize, never explain,” or have some deep-seated notion about needing to be perfect. Almost certainly, the biggest fear is that, somehow, apologizing gives The Other the power. Really, it doesn’t! The truth is, humans have hard-drive programming with an equal serving of guilt and Higher Consciousness to want to clean up messes. Honestly, that’s why we keep returning lifetime after lifetime. So, in vigorous, dramatic, flair: apologizing is spiritual liberation for all involved. Consolidating the three key factors about apologizing they are: taking responsibility, expressing remorse and making amends. Doing each of these can restore broken relationships and bring trust back to situations of conflict, but in order to open dialogue and get positive results, it’s gotta be genuine. Your willingness to admit what you did can give the other person the opportunity to communicate with you, and to start (or continue) dealing with their feelings. It can be the bridge that connects both sides, forever changed by the encounter that had interrupted the connection. Here are five suggestions for heart-felt apologizing:

Responsibly acknowledge what you did in detail Expressing remorse, sincerely, gives an opportunity to discuss what is and isn’t acceptable and can help restore dignity to the person you hurt. It begins the healing process, and can help them not get stuck in blaming themselves. It takes courage to open up, trusting your words, sincerely wanting to climb over the dividing wall. “I’m so deeply sorry for snapping at you yesterday. I’m so embarrassed for what I said.” A sincere apology shows you’re taking responsibility for your actions. This can strengthen your self-confidence and self-respect. You’ll feel a sense of relief when you come clean about your actions, and it’s one of the best ways to restore your integrity in others’ eyes.

62 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

Validate their feelings compassionately Put yourself in their shoes and let them know you understand the situation. This moment of connecting to their pain is transcendent. “I see how angry you got from what I said, and I totally understand how humiliating that must’ve been for you.” Don’t ever say: “I can’t understand why you got so angry! It was really no big deal and no one else ever gets angry when I do things like that!”

No excuses, justifications or defensiveness Don’t defend yourself (“I was having a really bad day!”) or justify your actions (“I really didn’t mean it!”). The apology is all about THEM and how THEY feel. “I realize now that what I did caused ___ and I’m so very sorry.” Sometimes non-defensive explanations can be helpful and can result in understanding.

Offer restitution, committing to not do it again “I didn’t realize how important this was to you, but, now that I do, I promise to never do it again.” Make sure to keep that promise! “Is there any thing I can do to ma ke this up to you or to clean this up?” No token gestures or empt y promises! When the humanity of both parties shines through during forgiveness, a plan of restitution and new options for the future often simply present themselves. Give them permission to help you. “Please feel free to call me out on this if I ever do it again!”

Give it time Asking for forgiveness is empowering for all involved. However, don’t expect instant forgiveness since they might not be ready yet. Give them time to heal and trust the process. After you state your apology, you could say, “I know you might not be ready to forgive me, and I understand how that feels. I simply wanted to say how sorry I am. I’ll give you plenty of time and also want you to see that I’ve changed my behavior.” Since life is an accurate mirror of true intent, if they’re unwilling to forgive, ask some deep inner questions: Were your motives pure? Have you truly forgiven yourself? Remember: At the end of your life, you’ll undoubtedly be regretting all those times you didn’t apologize. Even those teensy ones that seem insignificant can create miraculous bridges over any abyss when they’re addressed honestly and purely. Do it now!

Royce Amy Morales is the founder of Perfect Life Awakening. Morales is also a transpersonal development speaker and author of Know: A spiritual wake-up call. Royce was an independent retailer for two decades in Redondo Beach, CA. To know more about the author, visit her page at www.perfectlifeawakening.com.

Shamanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dawn Shamanically charged products for healing and transformation

Proudly Sold by Phone: 800.215.8705 Fax: 800.713.0634 www.bljewel.com Item#BL12020

email: info@shamansdawn.com shop.shamansdawn.com (no www)

advertiser index

 DIAMOND PARTNER Advertiser for 5+ years!

 NEW ADVERTISER

♥ AD DESIGNED by Continuity Creative Services

Aspiring Artists of the Earth.............................................22 267-337-1817 I www.aaote.com

Kheops International, Inc.  .................... 63, Back Cover 800-215-8705 I www.kheopsinternational.com

Solmate Socks ......................................................................10 802-765-4177 I www.solmatesocks.com/wholesale

Benjamin International ......................................................17 800-488-4699 I www.benjamininternational.com

Linda Lauren .........................................................................45 908-518-9001 I www.lindalauren.com

Soundings of the Planet  ................................................53 800-937-3223 I www.soundings.com

Blue Leaf Naturals ...........................................................61 859-806-0521 I www.BluLeafCBD.com

Llewellyn Publications  ...................................................24 877-639-97-53 I www.llewellyn.com

Sounds True  ......................................................................25 888-303-9185 I www.soundstrue.com

B.Witching Bath Co. ...........................................................61 833-330-2284 I www.bwitchingbathco.com

Mandala Arts  ...................................................................33 800-344-8072 I www.mandalaarts.com

Starlinks  ♥ .........................................................................22 800-867-4344 I www.starlinksgifts.com

Coventry Creations .........................................................23 800-810-3837 I www.coventrywholesale.com

Nature's Skin and Body .................................................61 866-945-4910 I www.naturesskinandbody.com

Sun's Eye Inc.  ....................................................................56 800-786-7393 I www.sunseye.com

Craftstones  ..........................................Inside Back Cover 760-789-1620 I www.craftstones.com

New Leaf Distributing Co.,................................................25 800-326-2665 I www.newleaf-dist.com

Tidepool Enterprises...........................................................63 800-748-5790 I www.tidepoolonline.com

Crystal Earth Studio ..........................................................29 866-345-1910 I www.crystalearthstudio.com

New Life Foundation  .....................................................43 800-293-3377 I www.anewlife.org

Transformational Enterprises ......................................37 www.maureenstgermain.com

Deva Designs ....................................................................18 800-799-8308 I www.devadesignsjoy.com

Nirvana Jewelry ...............................................................45 800-779-7952 I www.nirvanaonline.com

Uma Silbey ............................................................................38 808-268-7704 I www.umasilbey.com

DeVorss Publications..........................................................57 800-843-5743 I www.devorss.com

Ohm Therapeutics Sound Healing..................................39 505-455-7556 I www.soundhealingtools.com

U.S. Games Systems, Inc. ................................................... 3 800-544-2637 I www.usgamesinc.com

dZi Handmade ..................................................................59 800-318-5857 I www.dzi.com

Paul Wagner .........................................................................19 www.paulwagner.com

Wellstone  ..........................................................................45 800-544-8773 I www.wellstonejewelry.com

Esprit Creations Inc. ........................................................13 352-316-6130 I www.espritcreations.com

Raiders of the Lost Art........................................................43 800-527-4367 I www.raiderocks.com

Windrose Trading ................................................................38 800-229-3731 I www.windrosetrading.com

Eternal Ice .........................................................................29 307-754-4396 I www.eternal-ice.com

Royal Crafters ..................................................................11 928-550-4540 I www.royalcrafters.com

World Buyers.........................................................................45 800-996-7531 I www.worldbuyers.com

Gaia’s World..........................................................................23 866-605-1191 I www.gaiasworld.com

Scents of Success ............................................................ 44 800-580-5579 I www.rhavda.com

World Finds.............................................................................. 9 800-609-9303 I www.worldfinds.com

Goddess Design Studio......................................................30 570-982-3230 I goddessdesignstudio@yahoo.com

Self-Realization Fellowship ..............................................39 888-773-8680 I www.srfpublishers.org

Xeonix Inc. .........................................................................63 972-296-5999 I www.xeonixinc.com

House Phoenix, The .......................................................17 +1 250-801-5065 I www.thehousephoenix.com

Sequoia Records ..................................................................42 800-519-9078 I www.sequoiarecords.com

Yak and Yeti...........................................................................37 310-618-1700 I www.yaknyeti.net

Indie Me  ............................................................................31 888-427-2381 I www.indieme.com

Sergio Lub..............................................................................61 760-464-6000 I www.sergiolub.com

Zen and Meow......................................................................16 717-451-9159 I www.zenandmeow.com

Inner Traditions Int./Bear & Co ....................................57 800-246-8648 I www.innertraditions.com

Shaman's Dawn....................................................................63 855-229-7928 I www.shamansdawn.com/wholesale

or f e

E RE

ib cr

s b u

Visit our website for more information on subscribing to Retailing Insight Magazine RetailingInsight.com

*Subscriptions are free for qualifying retail businesses with a US Address

64 July/August 2019 | retailinginsight.com

\NH OLE-SALÂ£

US Distributor of GEMSTONE PRODUCTS For New Age Jewelry, Beads/ Bracelets, Gemstone Trees, and more; view our website or email us for our latest catalog:

www.craftstones.com Wholesale Only

Meet Us in Denver! JG&M EXPO

200 West 48th Avenue Denver, CO 80216 September 5-15 2019 Denver Contact:

(619) 957-1591

505 Elm St Ramona, CA, 92065 Tel: (760) 789-1620 Fax: (760) 789-3432

craftstones@craftstones.com www.craftstones.com

Return Address: Retailing Insight Magazine P.O. Box 5108 Winter Park, FL 32793

Phone: 800.215.8705 Fax: 800.713.0634 www.kheopsinternational.com Item#63040-41-44

PERIODICALS

Conscious Living/ July-August 2019

Articles inside

FRESH - A Galleria of NEW Products

Editor's Picks - Crystals & Meditation Supplies

Card Decks - Pathways and Destinations