Retail Superstars: Inside the 25 Best Independent Stores in America

This is a business book? I opened Retail Superstars expecting to find the usual dry prose and even dryer statistics we have come to expect in business tomes. Wrong! This book is fun! George has defined a new retail category: destination shopping. Yes, I know, we have Beverly Hills, Rodeo drive and that ilk, but this is different. These stores are unique, interesting, stand-outs that are worth seeing because of the special... Read Full Review

If you find the retail business interesting, this is the book you want to read. It's obvious that George Whalin is extremely knowledgeable about the retail business and his passion for the exceptional craftsmen of this art is apparent. Georges's writing style is from the heart and he connects instantly with the reader. Try it, you'll love it!

I love George's great descriptions of the one of a kind stores. He makes me want to do a road trip and go visit these unique places. The book is well written and very factual since George visited them all. The stores are a real inspiration for improving costomer service and new ways to attract customers. It is a fun read about very unusual stores acoss the country and includes the bits about the history of each place. Looking... Read Full Review

Just like the stores it profiles, Retail Superstars stands out from the crowd of business books. Instead of giving you a list of rules for what makes a retail store work, George Whalin wants to inspire you to do something different. Each business in the book has defined itself so clearly that it's impossible to forget them once you visit. They don't just inspire customers to spend money, they create passionate followers... Read Full Review

Initially, both James Cash Penney (The Golden Rule in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in 1902) and later Sam Walton (Wal-Mart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962) opened one retail store that eventually became a major chain. The same is true of others such as Home Depot, Staples, and Walgreens. Of course, not all chains have fared well, nor have most so-called "Mom and Pop" stores as well as franchisees of major chains. In this... Read Full Review