Whether you’re selling sofas or sweaters, you can’t afford to ignore this advice. This week, we’ll take a look at the valuable customer service lessons independent furniture retailers share that apply to all businesses. We’ll also dive into why brands are bringing back old-school catalogs, but in digital form.  

But before we get into it, check out J. Crew’s latest campaign for some brand nostalgia and summer vibes. 

_{[ FIRST GLANCE ]}

Electronics, evolved: Best Buy announces plans to move beyond retail

Taking pride in it: How these Dallas businesses use Pride Month to grow

Debate: Are small businesses getting tanked by fake reviews?

Let’s bag this: Is the luxury handbag era over?

Giving back: Minneapolis fund aids SMBs affected by ICE raids

_{[ THE TOP LINE ]}

How do independent furniture retailers perfect customer experience? Not only is it a major purchase, but there are endless options from big-box stores. Some tactics include going hyperlocal by emphasizing your place in the community and treating customers like neighbors. Or creating a space in your store that functions as a live music venue or art gallery. Respect and value your employees, and they’re more likely to treat customers the same way. Make sure that each of your departments shares the same vision by walking the floor daily, and ensure your in-store and online experiences are consistent to keep customers coming back. 

Why this matters: Furniture is a big-ticket purchase that requires a lot of work to sell. Taking a page from these retailers’ books is a smart move for people selling items of any size and price point. (Furniture Today)

Janina Moza, CMO at digital publisher Flipsnack, makes a strong case for the comeback of the catalog in digital form–think your lookbook or product guide PDF replaced by a navigable format. Digital catalog sessions outperform standard e-commerce product description pages on key metrics: time spent browsing, pages explored per session and rate of return visits. While a PDP presents one item in isolation, a catalog creates context and a browsing experience similar to how people shop stores in discovery mode. Plus, a digital catalog tracks every interaction, behavioral data that feeds into decisions about merchandising, content and targeting.

Why this matters: People not only spend more time with curated, browsable content, they return to it and convert on their own timeline. Brand-owned formats are also valuable sources of customer behavior. (Retail Customer Experience)

_{[ THE LOWDOWN ]}

What are Yelp’s fastest-growing brands of 2026? 

These are the most-trusted retail brands

U.S. consumers expected to spend $27.9B for Father’s Day

Consumer sentiment finally rises after 4 months 

SMB operators cite operational “friction” as a roadblock

_{[ THE DOWNLOAD ]}

As AI-assisted cyberattacks proliferate, so do new models designed to detect website vulnerabilities and help secure them. Have a regular AI-driven security testing schedule and patch issues as soon as they’re detected. Grill third-party providers about their security practices. Reduce your “attack surface” by deleting unused software and accounts. Put an incident response plan in place (how to isolate systems, restore backups and communicate with employees and customers). 

Why this matters: You don’t know what you don’t know. AI-assisted security tools help eliminate guesswork but the basics are still best: limit access, increase authentication, train employees to recognize scams. (Co.)

_{[ THINK TANK ]}

As America celebrates its 250^th birthday, Ted A. Baker reminds us that our country was one of history’s most successful startup ventures. That spirit remains in today’s small businesses, and organizations like his that empower entrepreneurs with resources, guidance, financial support and connections help create jobs and build communities in regions like East Central Indiana.

Why this matters: Incubating small businesses is not just the work of mission-driven organizations. Supporting your fellow SMBs helps ensure your own future by strengthening your local Main Street community. (Muncie Journal)

_{[ POLL ]}

You can reach the newsletter team at [email protected]. We enjoy hearing from you.

Interested in advertising? Email us at [email protected]

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter.

The SKUpe is curated and written by Marcy Medina and edited by Bianca Prieto.