Amazon’s massive catalog and extreme convenience is extraordinary, but even Amazon has its flaws. Amazon’s flaws are the reason why retail stores are experiencing a resurgence; They can’t control product quality because of how massive they are, and still, people want what they want WHEN they want it. Are you willing to wait 1-2 days (if you have Amazon Prime) to get an item you could go down the street and get in the same day? The answer depends on the person. Here are some great ONLINE STORES and RETAIL STORES that are great for both types of people - those who are willing to wait, and those who are not.

ONLINE: Uncommon Goods
Great For: Literally, uncommon goods. Sort of like Etsy with a better shipping/return policy.
The Jist: Jam-packed with elegant gift items of things you’d never dream up in a million years, Uncommon Goods offers great customer service, seasonal catalog updates to keep things fresh, a great sale section and an awesome quarterly mail catalog. This is a ‘Must Bookmark’ for the holiday season.

RETAIL: Duluth Trading
Great For: Quality clothing particularly (but not exclusively) for outdoor work and sports, underwear and footwear.
The Jist: For 2019, no one does mens and womens retail quite like Duluth Trading. I take advantage of work travel to stop into one of these (most recently in Denver, CO) since we don’t yet have one in NJ and it never disappoints. The store is always pristine and organized, evenly split between mens and womens items and a large variety of gifts, accessories, pet supplies and healthcare. They’re expensive, and it’s worth it. EVERY… time. Their website is good, but I can’t bring myself to buy off their website. I must have one of these near me soon or I’m going to lose it.

ONLINE: Wayfair Group - Wayfair, AllModern, Joss & Main, Birch Lane
Great For: All things HOME; furniture & decor for inside and outside at discount pricing.
The Jist: I’ve purchased many things over the years from one of the websites owned by Wayfair for both personal and professional use, and the results have always been positive. They offer an optional white glove delivery where they unbox and assemble products for an extra fee. Otherwise I’ve always had a great experience with shipping and delivery with Wayfair. Often I’m looking for something uncommon, and their website’s search feature is very well done. Start bookmarking your room redesign now!

RETAIL: Bed Bath & Beyond
Great For: Gifting, Kitchen, Wedding Registry, seasonal goods
The Jist: With the resurgence of retail shopping demand, chains like Bed Bath & Beyond have started revamping their storefronts and layouts for a modern refresh. With probably one of the best mail and text-based coupon marketing on the planet, almost everyone that goes up to the counter in a BB&B has a coupon (or three) waiting to go. Talk about keeping your retail business relevant! With a fantastic sale and closeout section always at the ready to churn through seasonal items, Bed Bath is a great place for not only fits for the holidays, but for home decor, drapery, kitchen must-haves … and of course the almost default spot for a typical wedding registry. There’s something for every bride and groom at BB&B!

ONLINE: Tire Rack.com
Great For: All things tires at great prices.
The Jist: This is the default first-spot to price shop for tires, wheels, tire and wheel packages and accessories. You’ll quickly learn that there was no real reason to go anywhere else; They have the best selection and prices, so just stop. The website is built and managed beautifully - simply enter in your make/model vehicle and the site will tell you what tires and combinations will work for your specified vehicle. When in doubt, their customer service team is exquisite and can assist you almost instantly. Delivery time is short and orders are completed quickly with zero damage. I had a dealership tell me to order tires from here and just have them delivered to their shop - I guess TireRack.com is giving everyone a run for their money.

RETAIL: CVS
Great For: Consistency in layout nationwide providing staple pharmaceuticals, beauty and health supplies, gifting items, food and accessories.
The Jist: Traveling across the country often produces situations where you realize, “I forgot my deoderant…” so a trip to CVS is in order. I know where things are, I know what they carry, and I can always count on them in a pinch. CVS is also known for their obnoxiously long receipt full of coupons for your next visit. Once you get over how many trees were cut down to create these receipts, you’ll appreciate hanging on to the ribbon-length of savings.

Do you have a favorite place to shop on or offline? Share it with us on our FACEBOOK PAGE!