Shopping Books

I love this book, I belong to Refund Cents this is how I heard of it. I love to use coupons and use them alot and save lots of money. In the back of the book it gives you names of Companys, I called them and asked for coupons and I rcvd alot of them. It's a must read book if you want to save money and use lots of coupons like I do.

I have been named as a "coupon expert" by local and national media sources & I give this book high reviews! I am always looking for ways people can save money as the owner of the website: www.couponcorner.net I highly recommend this book!

I was very happy after I read your book. It taught me how to budget my money, and having a good time doing it. I look forward to couponing and refunding many years to come.

She shows you short cuts on clipping coupon. Teach you where to find coupons and rebates and the best way to use them. Teach you the ins and outs of coupons and rebate. I have saved hundreds of dollars thanks to this book.

'Starting Your Secret Shopping Business' was a great investment. Although I already had some experience with mystery shopping, Judith Rappold's manual saved me so much time and energy in terms of planning and outlining my business and marketing strategies.
I was initially very nervous about the monetary investment for a document not directly in front of me to review and evaluate. But after careful consideration, I went for it! It was well worth it!! There was even more information than I had expected. I can't stress enough the time savings. It allowed me to put my time and focus in other areas. In a nutshell, 'Starting Your Secret Shopping Business' allows you to get closer to the ACTION phases of business!

I have been using this book in the development and building of my Secret Shopping business for the last three years. I keep it handy to use for reference when I get stumped on something. The book covers all the basics from getting set up to the preparation and tracking of shoppers to a billing system, to pricing and publicity. It gives you solid examples to start from and use until you feel comfortable to add your own personality to your business. The variety of basic forms for evaluations have been of great value to me. Many of the forms can be used in a variety of situations and evaluations, saving me many hours of trying to develop something. I find one form, in particular, is widely used by my clients in a variety of businesses. I would have a hard time running my business without this book.

"Starting Your Secret Shopping Busines" has made a positive difference in the development of my mystery shopping company. Information provided in the manual has allowed me to concentrate my efforts and resources on areas that make the greatest difference to my clients. Much of the positive response I have received from my press releases, marketing letters, and business proposals has been due to adapting this material to my own business. The report formats have saved me hours of research and development. I frequently refer to the examples of well-written reports and the tips for hiring effective mystery shoppers. From the first to the last page, this user friendly manual is filled with important information needed to launch a successful Secret Shopping Business. I would strongly recommend this manual as required reading for those launching a mystery shopping business. After ten months, this reference manual continues to be an important, always-at-my-fingertips, tool in the marketing and day-to-day operation of my company.

I have been able to use the materials in the manual as a reference guide. I fine-tune the wording and content based on my business opportunity. This manual has certainly saved me many hours which add to up saved dollars. I started my business in 1996 and have many contracts. I have to believe I would not be this far along without the start-up manual. This tool has helped make me successful.

Mallword stands out to me as Somtow's most memorable early work. The vivid scenes that he paints in these stories are still engraved in my mind long after the images of lesser authors have faded. I will devour this latest version yet again. Spectacle!

By the way... What is so unpronouncable about Sucharitkul? (see author's review)

My father has the first printing of the paperback edition of Mallworld, and I read that book near to tatters over the course of my youth. Although I haven't read the new edition (yet) I'm sure that the addition of new stories and artwork will only elevate this delightful, hilarious book nearer to perfection. I loved it then, I'll buy it now, and I'll read it over and over again. Get it!

The Earth has been quarantined by a race of superintelligent pan-dimensional aliens who deem us too violent/dangerous/weird to be exposed to the rest of the universe. So a dyson sphere(look it up)force shield is put up outside the orbit of Saturn and dragged out of the universe completely. Until we're ready to play with others.

O well, there's always Mallworld.

A shopping center the size of a planet. Makes the Mall of America seem like a flea market.

A collection of short stories that feature an assortment of characters, many members of the BarJulian family, the richest people in the little universe we have left.

Funny, witty, creative, and still hold up after over 20 years.

Well worth a look.

This is a great reprint to pick up! I have lost a number of loaner copies and worn down one of my own copies of Mallworld over the years. While many of the basic thematics are very much of the 1980's (when malls reigned supreme in US culture) the collection of stories in the planet sized mall, dubbed Mallword have a timeless theme.

Where many of Sucharikul's longer works feel haphazard and muddled at times the shorter pieces revolving around this theme are well done and portray a larger picture than they individually convey. There is not a turkey amongst them and Mallworld is not only good, it is also fun.

Ok Guys, just look at the front cover: a purse, a lipstick, high heeled shoe, diamond encrusted wrist watch and a big multi colored fabric thing.

Absolutely nothing there that you'd possibly want.

So what are you going to get her for Christmas, birthday, anniversary?

Here's a bunch of things that I guarantee you would never have thought of yourself. Well, there's the Aston Martin on page 156 - there are some Aston Martins listed on E-Bay for less than $100,000. And the Vespa motor scooter doesn't seem like such a bad idea at all in these days of $3 a gallon gasoline.

One problem is that this book is written in England. The authors are a couple of stylish British ladies. But that's OK. The high end products like these are pretty well distributed anywhere in the world. And for most of us, just knowing the brand names on things like cosmetics makes shopping a lot easier. And anyway, this is (for men) just an idea book, you can probably find something similar locally -- maybe even at Target or WalMart.

And a lot more interesting tidbits that make this book not only fun to read but also a learning experience. After reading about it, makes perfect sense why civet coffee should cost so much. And the colorful pictures are a great complement to the descriptions. Okay, so no-one absolutely needs the best expresso maker before they go to the great Starbucks in the sky, but a pair of comfy cashmere socks would be nice or the same after shave lotion that Prince Charles favors. A great gift either for that significant shopper in your life or yourself.

I don't really have the kinds of friends that know a lot about what's out there. If I tell one of them that I think I want to by a new fridge or sofa, or that I wish I could find a good pair of jeans, they tend to stare back blankly. They certainly don't have any good advice or suggestions. So I use this book like a directory of quality. I don't have a lot of money to waste on things trying to find what I want. I only want to buy something once and be happy with the result. That's why this book is perfect for me. It has suggestions on just about everything as well as what to look for and where to get it. I've used the book to buy about a dozen things and all of them have been exactly what I was looking for.

London was our 5th trip with Suzy: as usual she directed us to all the right places and with her usual wit and flair, to boot. You know you have a great source when the husband of the group (who has to carry everything) says that the only guide book for the day will be by Suzy.

This book alone is worth a ticket to London. Whether you're a power shopper or just want to pick up a few souvenirs, Suzy Gershman has insider secrets for the perfect item at the perfect shop. And she's great fun to read (even if you're not ready to plan a trip yet.) I've used her books in 3 countries, and she's never steered me wrong. In this edition: don't miss Jo Malone, Lush, and tea at Stafford's.

The book has been and continues to be an excellent resource for shopping needs. London can be overwhelming -- after all it is the city of shopkeepers -- but following the recommendations in the book have proven successful everytime. I have sent a copy to each of my guests planning to visit London and all have been able to highlight areas of shopping to save time and get what they want. The helpful tips, shortcuts and general information about the markets is fabulous. If planning a trip to London and shopping is on your list of things to do -- don't be caught without the ulitimate shopping guide.

Recently I needed a set of tires. I made the rounds of the traditional tire chains in my small town. The quotes from the three stores were just about identical at $600. I went to WalMart -- $400. Same mileage guarantee, same 'we fix flats and rotate,' and a warranty that was truly nationwide. Please explain why I shouldn't have bought the tires I needed at WalMart.

Category Killers are those giant specialized stores that are wiping out the competition in the areas in which they have chosed to compete. Toy-R-Us for instance has basically wiped out the KB toy chain that had before done a lot to wipe out the mom & pop toy stores. Category Killers operate in many, if not most, of the traditional specialty marketing area. You know their names PetSmart, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, and many more. This has created a change in the way we shop, the way taxes are collected, the way producers market and position their products.

Of late there is some backlash against the big stores, particularily WalMart as it's the biggest, some towns don't want them, some lawsuits have been files, the INS has raided a few stores for using illegal workers. But $600 over here, $400 over there.

Category killers are what's happening in retail, to the dismay of many, and to the benefit of consumers. In this book Mr. Spector uses his background in retailing to examine the current revolution in retail -- yes, it's just the current revolution, there have been many before such as the construction of malls, and to make some predictions about the future of retail and the consumer culture.

For what it's worth, I think he is dead right.

In the Introduction, Robert Spector characterizes category killers as "the most disruptive concept in retailing" because "their goal is to dominate the category [e.g. toys, office supplies, home improvement] and kill the competition - whether it be mom-and-pop stores, smaller regional chains, or general merchandise stores that cannot compete on price and/or location." Spector notes that category killers "have helped to expand and upscale the 'mass market' by aggressively driving down the prices of goods and services." That was precisely Charles Lazarus' pricing strategy when he adopted the supermarket model and opened the first discount toy store in 1958, offering a wide variety of toys at 20-50% lower prices. Lazarus was the founder of a children's furniture store that became Toys "R" Us and is credited with establishing the first "category killer."

Spector carefully organizes his material within three Parts. First, in Chapters 1-3, he provides an "explanation of category killers and where they fit in the evolution of modern retailing." Next, in Chapters 4-7, he explains "how and why these retailers have come to dominate their categories." Finally, in Chapters 8 & 9, he examines the "category killers' need to expand their reach to urban, suburban, and rural areas, and the challenges they face in maintaining their competitive edge, both in their ability to grow and in their dexterity in fending off challengers." Spector acknowledges that a discussion of the transformation of consumer culture would be incomplete without considering the impact of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Costco because "they take huge bites out of category killers." Today, Wal-Mart sells more toys than does Toys "R" Us and Costco sells more books than does Barnes & Noble.

One of the several reasons that I think so highly of this book is that Spector provides a context, indeed an historical frame-of-reference, within which be examines with rigor and eloquence a process of natural selection in the retail industry since the 1950s. He helps his reader to understand how category killers such as Toys "R" Us, Korvette, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, Office Depot, PETCO, PETsMART (which "eschews the term `category killer'"), Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, K-mart (with the hyphen later dropped), and warehouse clubs (e.g. Price Club, Costco, and Sam's Club) established and then sustained dominance, at least for a period of time, only to find themselves challenged or, in some instances, eliminated by a new generation of competitors. "A constant theme of this book is that retail and consumer culture are always evolving. Retailing in a free market is always fluid. Concepts, locations, population migrations, tastes, brands, pricing, and executive leadership are forever in motion." Spector then goes on to suggest that in retailing, "you get a new report card every day" and "past performance is no guarantee of future success."

What is intriguing to me is what all of these (and other) "big box" category killers share in common in terms of pricing, competition, growth, and expansion. All offer self-service, high volume, deep discount pricing, huge inventory, numerous locations, and extensive selection. By intent, members' clubs (especially Sam's) reduced their costs with bare bones facilities. To this last point, Spector shares a joke, popular around Costco circles, that "illustrates the traditional difference between Costco and Sam's: A Costco shopper spots a display of Polo Ralph Lauren shirts, regularly retailing at $60, for $37. 'I'll take four in white and one in blue,' says the customers. A shopper sees the identical display at Sam's Club and declares, 'I don't care how good a shirt it is, I'm not spending that much.'"

In Chapter 9, "The Changing Shape of Retail," Spector suggests what the course of natural selection may be for category killers, their victims, and what may well prove to be their predators. Lifestyle centers and other small shopping concepts, for example, are being developed in response to "time-pressed consumers" who are buyers, not shoppers, who want to "drive up to the store, get what they need, and get out. As of when Spector wrote this book (2005), there were more than 100 lifestyle centers in the U.S. and at least 60 new ones were planned for the next two years. He concludes the chapter and his book acknowledging that "category killers are not ensured of another tomorrow. To the extent that they adapt [there's that word again] or tweak or fine-tool or reorganize they will continue to be vital and important arbiters of retail survival. Otherwise, like the retail dinosaurs that once ruled the American retail landscape - Montgomery Ward, Kmart, and others - they will slowly fade from the scene, replaced by newcomers who best capture the needs of the consumer cultures."

Those needs are certain to change over time. Obviously, the challenge to retailers is to recognize emerging trends before their competition does and then make necessary adjustments of their product selection, pricing, distribution, and marketing strategies (especially positioning) to accommodate whatever the new needs of consumer cultures may be. After I read this book, I doubled back to review the passages I had highlighted along the way and thought about the subtitle, "The Retail Revolution and Its Impact on Consumer Culture." Based on what I have learned from Spector and others who have also written about the retail industry, it seems to me that Starbucks (the only non-big box com[pany Spector dfiscusses), Barnes & Noble/Borders, Home Depot/Lowe's, Staples/Office Depot, PETCO/PETsMART Circuit City/ Best Buy, and Costco/Sam's Club) did not "kill" categories. Rather, they devised a new business model for the merchandising of toys, books, home improvement, office supplies, etc. They realized that, if given the choice, consumers would prefer to have what mom-and-pop stores, smaller regional chains, and general merchandise stores could not offer to them. Just as a liquid almost always assumes the shape of a container, whatever has the greatest appeal to a consumer will almost always generate the most sales....but only so long as that appeal is sustained.

To Robert Spector, I offer a grateful "Well done!"

In a well-written and researched book, Spectre provides a good understanding of the trends impacting retailing and how those changes in retailing impacts our society as a whole. The book is written in three parts - part one providing the background and history of major companies defined as category killers (includes the Walmarts, kmarts, borders, etc and Starbucks!). Here the information contained, though well presented, is essentially nothing new. If this is your first book on retail industry, there is much to be gained from the first part which provides a succinct summary on the origins of the major players in retail industry. You will learn snippets such as Borders was originally part of Kmart and so on...Part two talks more on the trends impacting the industry and how it has evolved, while the third part provides some insights on how things will emerge from now.... The discussions from Chapter 7 onwards is very insightful and provides a good account of what can be expected from the reatiling giants. Discussion on how the companies try to expand to non-US markets and analysis on some of the failures (HomeDepot in Europe, for example) is particularly engaging and informative.
Overall, the book provides a reasonably good account of the future, an excellent analysis of current trends, and a decent summary of the background. Written in fairly simple language and style, the author manages to keep it entertaining and engaging. A good read.

I wish I had had this book in hand the first time I visited Florence. This guide lists everything from art supplies to vintage clothing, organized by walks and located on tiny maps. On my next trip this tiny volume will be in my carry-on baggage--I don't want to risk its not getting off the plane with me. I wish there were volumes for Venice, Edinburgh, London, and all my other favorite cities. The Civilized Shopper's Guide is a treasure of a book.

Makes you want to hop on a plane (with a tasteful wallet full of crisp Euros) and explore the art of shopping or even just window shopping in this city with already so much to please the eye. A lovely guide with just the right tone of voice and beautiful images. The handsome package and handy size make it a must-have for a stay of any length in Firenze.

This little book made the difference between a great trip to Florence and an "off-the-charts" fabulous adventure. It's filled with descriptions of tiny shops of every imaginable kind that you might never find on your own -- the best of the best, unique items, real craftsmen. There's 90 year old glove shop where they simply take one look at your hand, immediately know your size and can make the perfect recommendation (and they did!) We met a 3rd generation leather craftsman who makes exquisite polished boxes and other items, and just as the book described, he works alone, and is more that happy to stop his work, greet guests and tell them all about his work. Every restaurant that we went to listed in this book was out of this world, and didn't break the bank. Oh, and Grom gelato is reason enough to hop a plane right this minute. This book got us off the tourist track and into a wonderful world we might have otherwise missed. Literally 4 inches square, the book fits into any civilized purse or jacket pocket. I don't even like to shop, and this book made be excited to get out of bed (despite the jet lag) and see as much as I could see. If you've been to Florence before, then this is the ONLY guidebook you'll need on your return trip. The author has apparently written a companion book on Rome. I can't wait for her to take on other great cities of the world. Ciao!

Get ready for this visual journey. There is no other guide book like it. I love the pictures, I love the descriptions, I love learning about the people behind their businesses. If you're looking for a new way to look at an old city - this is your book.

The Crown Guide takes a very different spin on a City Guide. It gives insight into various types of truly unique businesses in the City that are not the standard trendy places so often frequented by the SF crowds. From delectible new bars restaurants, to unique shoe and clothing boutiques, to creative home stores, the Crown Guide has selected excellent places to check out. Adorned with great color photos of these unique establishments and their owners, you get a great sense of what each one offers. As a San Francisco native who likes to try out all the interesting places in town, I've found several cool new places I was unaware of and have been pleasantly surprised with those I've visited so far. For those daring tourists who want to get to know SF beyond Fisherman's Warf and the Cable Cars, a definite must!

We received this book as a gift, and I am purchasing it on Amazon as a gift for another friend. It is one of the most beautiful books I have seen - both visually and literally. The illustrations are stunning - vibrant colors, slightly abstract nature, she even shows all races and ages when painting people - lovely! The rhyming text is wonderful - not your run-of-the-mill children's rhymes, but more like poetry...."empty crates, stack 'em around, button mushrooms on the ground...". She also gives an excellent story depicting the real life of an active farmer's market, and obviously has personal knowledge of Pike's Place Market, using some of the vendor's real names. I highly recommend this book for any age child - I am reading it to my 16 month old daughter and she loves it!

While the rhyming text to this book is fresh and fun, the real joy in sharing this book with your child comes from the amazing colorful pictures in vibrant colors that cover every page. Beautiful!

Sometimes you know a place so well, you memorize it like a song in your heart. Such is Anderson's obvious feel for Seattle's Pike Place Market, where she's lived and shopped and created for 25 years.

Open this dazzling book and plunge into the bustling farmer's market, where vendors hawk and customers scurry and even a hobo dumpster dives. Color explodes off pages of cut paper, with windows that offer peeps into other pages and crowded new vistas.

I've visited this national treasure only once, as a special treat for my 40th birthday. Our pixelated photos can't do justice to what Anderson captures with rhyming text that rips along in a syncopated approximation of street noises and market chatter:

Bakers baking,
heaven lingers ...
Plain or frosted?
Cinnamon fingers.

In a word: Yummy.

Margaret Thomas and Lois Johnson did a splendid job writing "Detroit's Eastern Market". I found the book a delight because I not only shopped there many times but when I was a young I sold produce there grown on my Uncles farm in Northville, MI.. I tried some of the recipes and again I was very impressed. I conceder myself a friend of Margaret and hope to have my copy of her book signed soon and cook a dish from the book for her too.

I also as the first reviewer know the authors Lois Johnson and Margaret Thomas. Their approach to writing to me is as fresh as the produce found in the market. I was extremely lucky recently to be part of a tour of the market led by them. Their enthusiasm for the subject is very evident first hand as is their obvious repoire with the traders who generally greet the authors with smiles and hugs. The whole experience I felt was very worthwhile as is reading the book. It has become a stock "Detroit" gift, when I go back to England I take copies for my family and friends who delight in this little piece of Americana.

Sure, Margaret Thomas is a good friend of mine, but I can still manage to be objective. This is a really great book.

Set out as a walking guide to the Market, the text is clear and informative, but maintains a friendly, informal style, just as if you are walking along with the authors in the Market. You will learn about the Market's nearly 200 year history, meet the store owners and get some great recipes while on your "walk". Of course, all the ingredients can be found right in this open air marketplace.

Michigan is a four season state, and this market is open in all seasons, not just summer. A section featuring 8 full menus is organized by seasons-A spring Mediterranean feast features lamb, summer brings fresh salads, autumn has satisfying soups, and a winter highlight is veal scaloppine.

In the index, you will also find individual recipes from appetizers to vegetables (more than 25 unique offerings for vegetables alone) The recipes come from shop owners, employees, farmers, dealers, shoppers and restaurant owners, as well as the authors themselves. Wonderful color photos by Bruce Harkness capture the hustle and bustle of the Eastern Market, and spotlight fresh Michigan Produce.

Like the market itself, this book is "highly useful, convenient and beneficial".