When you look at your sales numbers, high revenue doesn’t always mean you’re actually making a profit. The contribution margin is the amount of revenue left over after subtracting the variable costs of producing or selling a product, which then goes directly toward paying your fixed costs. Tracking this metric helps you pinpoint exactly which…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
Miami Beach, FL – August 19, 2026 – Aaron Mapp and Ryan Lewis celebrated their engagement at Medium Cool, gathering with friends and loved ones for an exciting night out marking the special occasion. The celebration brought guests together over drinks, dancing, conversation, and a memorable night in Miami. Josh Wagner, Aaron Mapp, Ryan Lewis,…
Yes, mocktail kits have quietly become one of the smartest corporate gifts you can send. As workplaces grow more diverse and health-conscious, a non-alcoholic gift shows thoughtfulness in a way a bottle of wine can’t. It’s inclusive, on-trend, and genuinely useful, making it a memorable corporate gift. But does a box of syrups and garnishes really…
For retailers, the holiday season can bring some of the busiest and most valuable trading weeks of the year, but it can also put pressure on almost every part of the business at once. Inventory needs to be planned, stocked and on the shelves before the rush begins. Staff need to be ready for higher…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
Open-to-buy (OTB) is an inventory budgeting strategy that determines exactly how much merchandise a retailer can purchase over a specific period to meet forecasted sales targets without overstocking. When you are scaling a multi-location business, relying on gut feelings for your purchasing budget usually leads to tied-up cash and dead stock. Let’s break down exactly…
Anyone building a home bar tends to obsess over the same details: which spirits to stock, which glassware looks best, whether a copper mug is worth the extra cost. Fewer people think about the mixer sitting next to the vodka. That’s a mistake, because ginger beer, soda water, and juice do more work in a…
Whether you run a brick-and-mortar shop, an ecommerce site or both, getting a grip on how your retail business is performing is key to pulling through. When it comes to performance, numbers don’t lie. Are you at a loss with what’s happening in your business? One of the first things you should do is look…
