STORE PROGRAMS
Success With the SmartBook
How Retailers Save Time and Money
With a New Tool From Blish-Mize
Why? He was using Blish-Mize’s
SmartBook, a new tool that contains his
store’s historical purchasing data and
sales projections.
Because he utilized the SmartBook, a free
tool available to Blish-Mize retailers, Lightfoot
was able to plan ahead for the Market.
Before he even arrived, he’d already taken
a look at his store’s purchasing history and
was prepared to place his orders right away.
“I could see what we purchased three, six
and 12 months ago,” he says. “It made the
purchasing process this time much quicker
and easier.”
Lightfoot was just one of several retailers
who had a similar experience.
“I was apprehensive when Blish-Mize first
shared the new concept,” says Tim Wisdom,
owner of Wray Lumber in Wray, Colorado.
“But when I sat down and went through the
SmartBook, I thought it was a great concept.
It helps us better prepare for the Market. It’s
just so much more efficient.”
A New Tool
At the Spring Buying Market in March,
Blish-Mize introduced the SmartBook, which
is customized to each store and offers you
purchasing data so you can better plan your
purchases before the Market. By getting
much of your work done ahead of time, you
can utilize your time at the Market in other
ways—by talking with vendors, finding new
products and exploring new assortments.
“The SmartBook is informative and
efficient,” Lightfoot says. “Before, I would
look through the old market book, get on
the computer to see our purchase history,
and then type in every item I wanted to
buy. But with the SmartBook, it’s all there
in one place. Thanks to it, I’m able to have
some extra time at the Market looking at
new products and talking with vendors and
other retailers.”
Lightfoot says he especially likes how the
SmartBook is personalized to his store. “It
isn’t a generic book of what everyone needs to
buy. It’s tailored to our store and our needs.”
Wisdom agrees. “We do our homework
before these Markets. This easy tool allows
us to take a hard look at our purchase his-
tory and make more educated decisions.”
Trying It Out
Blish-Mize hopes you, too, will take
advantage of this complimentary new tool
at the Fall Buying Market.
“It’s a very intelligent book, custom-
ized with your purchase history for your
store,” says Blish-Mize Vice President
of Marketing Chuck Short. “It’s proven
to be very beneficial, offering maximum
discounts and helping you make plans for
when you go to market. You can do more
work ahead of time, which saves you time
when you get to the Market.”
Short estimates ordering from the
SmartBook could save as much as 7 to 9
percent off an entire order. And all orders
come with 90 days dating.
Visit
to register
online for the SmartBook, which will trig-
ger the mailing of the physical book to
your store. “The sooner you register, the
sooner you’ll have your SmartBook in
hand, and the sooner you can start prepar-
ing for the Market,” Short says.
For more information about
the SmartBook, talk to your sales
representative or email Chuck Short at
.
W
hen Larry
Lightfoot,
manager of
Hermitage Lumber in
Hermitage, Missouri,
went to the Blish-Mize
Spring Buying Market in
March, he already knew
what he wanted to buy.
As a result, he spent less
time placing orders and more
time walking around the
showfloor and networking.
28
Fall 2014 •
Hardlines
Strategies
