We asked what inspired Lou Kief and Bill Walls to write Doing Retail Right?
Lou: “Very early one Sunday morning during a seminar at a market I asked a sleepy audience a simple question. “How many of you can’t wait to get to the store in the morning and put your key in the door? Raise your hands.” To my amazement less than a dozen hands popped up. Most people looked down at their laps trying to ignore the question. I couldn’t resist the temptation to ask the rest of them why they are in business. I think the chapter of the book; “Knowing When It’s Time to Get Out” was born at that moment.”
Bill: “After years of giving market seminars to help retailers make their stores better Lou discovered an amazing thing: They didn’t come to learn actual tricks and techniques as much as they did to get re-motivated about owning and operating a retail business. Many of them were bored to death with a routine they felt trapped in. So we began mixing simple motivational techniques in along with our messages about lighting and floor layout planning and guess what happened? At the end of the seminars people began to line up to say thank you. ‘Thank you for opening my eyes and making me think’.”
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Lou: “That’s what “Doing Retail Right” is all about. It’s filled with short inspirational tips, techniques and messages for not only running a business, but for staying happy and fulfilled while doing it. The lessons are timeless and thought provoking.”
Doing Retail Right
Reader Reviews
You have given retail a BREATH!
"You have given retail a BREATH! I am overwhelmed by the scope, the simplicity and the heartfelt delivery."
- Steve Drake
The Villages, Florida
“Way back before Wi-Fi, iPads, even social media, . . back when “CHANGE” was a dirty word, Lou Kief and Bill Walls were revolutionizing the retail selling floor through “practical adjustments”, “creative alterations” and “marketing innovations”. As well as the creativity, flair, sensitivity, and professional integrity for which they were known, Lou & Bill brought “change” (by any name) to the selling floor, and embraced changes made by creative retailers when they found them. In a long marketing career that was focused on bringing potential buyers into retail stores, I’ve known few to equal their talents. That they have encapsulated their past history and continuing experiences into something of a “how to” book called “DOING RETAIL RIGHT” is hugely exciting.”
- Sondra Boyd, CMK Corp. COO
V.P. Cleveland POPS Orchestra
"Working with Lou Kief and Bill Walls of Kief-Walls Group has been a marriage of 2 companies that have created a great admiration of respect for each other over 20 years of working together. We were in the beginning stages of creating HOM Furniture when we were fortunate to meet Lou and Bill. With Lou's vision for design and Bill's detailed eye they have helped HOM create some of the most compelling retail home furnishings
showrooms in the industry. Since our 1st project together HOM has gone on to become one of the most respected furniture retailers in the US ranking in the top 50 furnishings retailers annually for the past 10 years and we truly believe Kief-Walls Group were one of most important partners helping us achieve this goal."
- Rod Johansen
President and CEO
HOM Furniture
Showrooms in Greater Minneapolis, Minnesota
“After building and remodeling over 3 acres of retail space in past few years with Lou Kief and Bill Walls I heartily recommend their professionalism, expertise, integrity and creativity! They are a joy to be around, to work with and include in meaningful creative work sessions! Their ideas are cutting edge and the techniques and technology they suggest are understandable for any knowledge level. I would invite anyone looking to improve sales performance or their store’s professional appearance to read their book; Doing Retail Right!”
- George Moore, COO
Wilcox Furniture, Corpus Christie, Texas
The Villages owner, Sharon L. Morse, VP (wife of H. Gary Morse, CEO) and myself, were fortunate to have been introduced to Lou Kief through a sales associate at the High Point Furniture Show 22 plus years ago. He was touted as the consultant capable at creating the Perfect Retail Space and we had interest in getting his help in the design of our Southern Lifestyles first showroom. He considered the market, business plan, space plan, lighting plan, placement of product, displays, the story, and the accessorizing that is so important to the creation of the right ambiance, allowing customers the unique opportunity to preview furniture/furnishings in a homelike atmosphere (all the way to the smell of freshly baked cookies and fresh coffee). This also created higher sales volume per square foot and profits.
We also enlisted Lou’s talents in merchandising an area of home products (our Street of Dreams) where The Villages customers could preview and specify the professionally displayed home products for inclusion in their new home. We have always found Lou to be at the top of his craft, demonstrating and sharing gifted and knowledgeable retail talents, second to no one. He is very artistic, technical, down to earth, and a joy to work with. We did a second store, and many more home merchandising areas, always coming back to Lou for his most talented perspectives and help to accomplish our retail goals.
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And along the way, we became FRIENDS, which to me is the most PRICELESS GIFT.
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You will find his book to be a treasure trove of common sense and gifted perspectives which should continue to drive Retail for decades to come.
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With The Highest Regard,
- Stephen J. Drake
Director of Purchasing
The Villages, Florida’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown