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How is it that retailers like Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, The Buckle, Aeropostale and Hot Topic seem to be able to defy gravity? In the last several quarters, each of these retailers have very positive posted results in an environment where very few publicly traded retailers posted a comp store increase of any kind. How are these stores able to do what seemingly nobody else can, particularly in the specialty store segment?Each of these stores is testament to the fact that a strong, focused retailer can succeed spectacularly even in the toughest of economic times. Take Urban Outfitters Inc, which operates Urban Outfitters and Anthropology. Richard Hayne, founder and chairman of the company, has been widely quoted for his belief that “big is the enemy of cool”, and many observers have pointed out that the company would rather open a new concept in proven markets than saturate every last retail corner with new stores. They go on to note that no two stores are alike, that each store is given a great deal of autonomy, and that the company places a premium on execution.All of these are valuable points to take away from the story, but there’s another lesson to be drawn that’s specifically applicable for any small, entrepreneurial retailer building a successful, sustainable strategy into the future.Walk into an Urban Outfitters or an Anthropology store and you immediately sense that there’s something very different going on there. They are selling apparel and accessories, that’s obvious as soon as you walk in the door, but there’s also home furnishings and décor, as well as books and knick-knacks, even furniture here and there. Then you notice the store layout, fixturing and décor, the salespeople and the customers… the customers. The customers are the giveaway to this story. This store isn’t so much about stuff as it is about a mindset, an attitude, a lifestyle.Building a store around an attitude or a lifestyle isn’t necessarily new, but seldom has it been done on the scale and with the impact that you encounter when you walk into these stores. Here you can glimpse the future of retailing in a niche driven, Long Tail world, and in these stores you can immediately grasp the immense potential for small entrepreneurial retailers to extend these concepts around their own particular niche and strategy. It’s been called lifestyle retailing. In fact, the very best small entrepreneurial retailers have been practicing lifestyle retailing for years.Lifestyle retailing starts from a completely different premise than traditional retailing. It may seem like a bit of a cliché to say that lifestyle retailing is customer-centric, but, as you see when you walk into an Urban Outfitters or an Anthropology store, that truly is the differentiating characteristic.Traditional retailing starts with the products and services to be offered. This may be the result of an entrepreneur’s particular product expertise, perhaps an entrepreneur’s background in a very specific market. It is product driven, and asks the question, “This is what we sell, who can we sell it to?” Growth is often defined as expanding the customer base, reaching a broader audience, finding more customers to sell to, and is measured most directly by transaction counts.Lifestyle retailing begins with the attitude and lifestyle itself, and all that it represents. It is, by definition, narrow and exclusive, focused on a very clearly defined niche. It is customer driven, focused on a narrowly defined customer who identifies with the attitude and lifestyle, and aspires to be a part of it. It begins with the question, “These are our customers, what can we offer them that fully represent the lifestyle they aspire to?” Growth is achieved by offering these customers a broad array of offerings, in an almost infinite possible number of categories, and is measured most directly by units per transaction.In lifestyle retailing, the physical store itself most directly defines the lifestyle, in its décor and ambiance. The store is unique, distinctive and conceptual. It is not merely a presentation of merchandise, it is a carefully considered synergy of space, materials, textures, colors, sounds, and aromas meant to excite the senses. Stepping into the store is to fully immerse oneself in the lifestyle, to experience the lifestyle and all that it represents.The salespeople extend the experience, with their knowledge, interest and enthusiasm, in the very way that they engage their guests. They are actors on a stage, except this is not acting; for them this is real life. Their dress, hair, manner, speech and vocabulary are an integral part of the experience, for they are the very embodiment of the lifestyle. They interact with customers as they would with intimates, for to be part of the lifestyle is deeply personal. Their customers are part of the group, in a profoundly sociological way.And within this context, business is transacted. Price is not nearly as significant an issue as in other retail strategies, because customers aren’t merely buying merchandise, they’re participating in the community, in the lifestyle. Assortments are often broad and shallow rather than narrow and deep because the lifestyle is the driver, and new items are the key to frequent visits and units per transaction. The merchandise itself may seem to be highly discretionary, but in fact is as essential as bread and milk because it is so closely linked to the customer’s sense of identity. It is, by definition, a fashion business.As the retail landscape fragments between large-scale corporate retailing descending further into price-driven commoditization of mass market merchandise, and each consumer’s desire for things they treasure as a reflection of their individual interests, lifestyle and identity, the opportunity for entrepreneurial retailers is clear. A retail strategy built and marketed passionately around a personally held, clearly defined lifestyle or interest is the path to building a powerful retail presence and a very successful business.

For most people their home is their biggest investment. And when that investment is in need of repair, sometimes only a home repair loan can provide the money you need to maintain the upkeep of your home. Fortunately, there are a number of options available to finance the home repairs that your house needs.Private Lending InstitutionsIf your roof leaks or shingles have to be replaced, you can’t put off doing emergency repairs just because you think you can’t afford it. You need money to fix your roof, and you need it right now. But if you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, this may not be as simple as it seems.Banks and private lending institutions offer home equity lines of credit. This type of repair loan is based on the equity you own on your home. Banks as well as credit unions offer this type of loan at very reasonable interest rates. The amount you can borrow will depend on the lending institution. Some private lenders allow up to 70% of your home equity for the loan amount.Requirements for the home repair loan will vary from one lending institution to another. The interest rate will depend on your credit score. Some lenders even approve loans for borrowers with less than stellar credit scores. However, you should expect higher interest rates if your credit is not good.Government Home Repair LoansThe federal government also offers home repair loans for qualified borrowers. These low-interest loans are available to people with low income whose homes need repair and maintenance. Repair financing offered by the government has strict guidelines specifying the types of repairs that the loan can be used for.The Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD along with the US Department of Agriculture offers loans administered by local housing authorities. These loans come with a low interest rate. Prospective homebuyers can even apply for the HUD Rehabilitation and Repair Home Loan that will allow them to combine the purchase and repair or renovation cost into a single mortgage.203(k) Rehabilitation Loan – To be eligible for this loan, the house must be at least one year old. Home repairs must amount to at least $5,000. Repairs under this type of loan include flooring and roof repairs, weatherization, minor renovations, repainting, and making your home more energy efficient.Home Repair Loan and Grant – The Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Program provides low-interest loans for rural residents with very low income. The loan can be used to upgrade or repair their homes to meet safety standards. The Home Repair and Loan Grant program also provides grants for senior citizens 62 years and over for home repairs and renovations.