(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best retailing industry books

I'd recommend checking out the book "Likable Social Media". Lots of great ideas and perspectives on there, which should give you some direction!

https://www.amazon.com/Likeable-Social-Media-Revised-Expanded/dp/0071836322

Want me to save you about $1500?

Your business model is horrible and setting you up for failure. You're not ready to start with FBA.




I have an idea for an item but i worry about alibabba/aliexpress being unreliable and i can't afford dozens of samples. Would like 1 to 2 be good enough?

Yes, 1-2 samples would be perfect if you want them to scour their inventory of shit to find the best 2 items to send you as a representation of their products, so you base your total business startup capital on an unknown production build.


Private label is just me putting my logo on the item and labeling it as such on amazon?

Yes. I'm taking for granted that you already incorporated, had a logo designed, have a federal tax ID number, are registered in your state as a business, and have a working website to showcase your private label so Amazon approves your new PL.



How do you handle inventory because when i sell my item eventually and it takes 30 days or more for them to make how can keep it up and no lose rank on amazon?
I think you should read a book on forecasting and inventory management. I would recommend this one: http://www.amazon.com/Inventory-Strategy-Maximizing-Operations-Performance/dp/0071847170



Will i be able to earn 3-5k in 6-8 months? i mean would that be a realistic goal if work hard and do things mostly right?
No, you will be broke, and maybe even in debt after you are done with your venture once your unsalable returns come back from your customers.

Here are some that I enjoyed, I am particularly interested in cultural history. Jackson Lears: Rebirth of a Nation and William Leach: Land of Desire.

In my experience, the best books on the subject:

http://hauteluxe.net/the-book/

https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Prestige-Branding-Secrets-Ueber-Brands/dp/0749470038/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M0XRA0TNNAQXTJVDF83J

https://www.amazon.com/Kapferer-Luxury-Brands-Grow-Remain/dp/074947436X/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M0XRA0TNNAQXTJVDF83J

https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Essentials-Essential-Insights-Strategies/dp/069236126X/ref=pd_sim_14_66?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M0XRA0TNNAQXTJVDF83J

https://www.amazon.com/Meta-Luxury-Culture-Excellence-M-Ricca/dp/0230293573/ref=pd_sim_14_24?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=P57W41NY374A29M852WP

https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Strategy-Break-Marketing-Brands/dp/0749464917/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KYS1K5Z8RVH14TC4QH9S&dpID=41kAvjId7eL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail

One of the best word-of-mouth marketing books I have read: Word of Mouth Marketing by Andy Sernovitz (no Amazon referral link).

as I was checking out at a bookstore with a music magazine ('Long Live Vinyl', a UK mag devoted to... well, you can guess) the clerk asked me what kind of records I listened to, and related chit chat. Then he recommended a book. And now I will order a book that will sit on my shelf for months before I read it...

I can't speak for this book but for 8 bucks I'd buy this mofo and read it cover to cover: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Grow-Successful-Station-Business-ebook/dp/B013M5G4OA

And maybe this dude knows what he's talking about: http://www.gasstationbusiness101.com/

I don't know shit about running a gas station but I can guarantee you that all your profit lies in inventory management and all your behind-the-scenes shit.

Controlling shrink, managing labor, efficient ordering, product rotation, controlling energy costs, saving dimes that add up to dollars.

I've read How to buy, sell and make profit on eBay.

It really is a great place to start. You won't make loads of cash, but a steady income stream. A LOT of people make $10k per year on eBay. But they work for it, probably averaging $15-$20/hour.

Have you checked out Shopper Marketing? I think it could be helpful to you. Also, you could look further into Brian Harris's chapter in the book which talks about the history of retail and how his specialty, category management, ties into shopper marketing.

"Gorilla Marketing" is a good start. Not sure when it was last edited, so parts might be out of date.

Another one deals with social media.
http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Social-Media-Marketing-Influence/dp/1599183838/ref=pd_sim_14_1/175-0641272-6732218?ie=UTF8&dpID=51IkQro9ISL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=0A04V66C6T78JJWJ0X95

9780133507164

https://www.amazon.com/Commerce-2015-11th-Kenneth-Laudon/dp/0133507165

If you only read one book, read this one: Marketing in the Age of Google

The one from Bruce Clay.

quindi un sito per incontri? se non dici almeno il settore non vedo come la gente possa esserti d'aiuto, non esiste una startup uguale ad un altra come non ci sono due imprese uguali, di conseguenza ci saranno problemi diversi
>sapere come cominciare l'attivita' dal punto di vista legale? in generale, ci sono siti dove potersi tener aggiornati, magari su come cambiano le leggi in italia su questo campo?

avvocato, qualsiasi attività sia non ti basta un portale, specialmente se hai a che fare con le informazioni degli utenti

>qualcosa su business per total beginners?

magari prova questo

https://www.amazon.com/Give-Ultimate-Facebook-Advertising-Generate/dp/1619615762/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1511794309&sr=8-4&keywords=facebook+ads

I don't know of any documentaries but there is a book. http://www.amazon.com/But-Wait-Theres-More/dp/B003B652Y4

You're right on this score, absolutely.

Have you read this book? If not, I highly recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Box-Swindle-Mega-Retailers-Independent-Businesses/dp/0807035009

The LCS owners that I am friendly with all recommend this:

• https://www.amazon.com/Tilting-Windmills-Towards-Successful-Retailing/dp/0971977577
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Tilting-At-Windmills-Brian-Hibbs/dp/1600103707/
  
  They swear by these books. Guy continues to write editorials for ComicsBeat and is the owner of the Comics Experience stores in San Francisco.
  
  Also, you might wanna listen to Kowcast, the Kowabunga Comics podcast -- they talked about how they took a failing store and turned it around -- particularly Episode 17, which is exclusively about opening your own store.
  http://kowabungacomics.com/podcast/2017/02/02/kowcast-ep-17-shoptalk/
  
  
  Also, listen to Season 1 of this: http://www.flatsquirrelproductions.com/mycomicshophistory
  
  It's about the fall of a comic book store that lasted several decades and learn what led to their downfall so you avoid mistakes.