So You Want to Own the Store: Secrets to Running a Successful Retail Operation

In the highly competitive retail world, the small-business owner needs pragmatic, current, down-to-earth advice to be successful.So You Want to Own the Store is a comprehensive handbook that provides step-by-step help for the prospective shopkeeper or home-based retail-business owner. Included are helpful hints from experiences store owners about every aspect of the business: choosing a location, defining store policies, training personnel, ordering, pricing, and displaying merchandise--even negotiating with the bank.

Mort Brown has been a retail merchandiser for almost 30 years. He now works as a consultant for small businesses ranging from ice cream parlors and gift shops to video stores.

Thomas Tilling is a financial columnist who has been a contributing editor to theNew York Times, Parents, Success, and New York magazine, among other publications.