News

Art supplies retailing is one of those industries where owners work hard, the shelves are full, the shop feels busy… and yet the bank account tells a completely different story.

But the Top 20%? They play a totally different game — and the numbers prove it.

Here’s where the best operators sit:

• Revenue: $800k–$1m
• COGS: 45–50%
• Wages: 15–20%
• Rent: 5–8%
• Net profit: 10–12%

And they win on the operational stuff most owners never measure:

• Higher transaction values ($40–$80)
• Stock turning 3–4.5x a year
• Their top 20 products drive 50%+ of sales
• 20–35% of revenue comes from online
• Repeat customers sit above 45%
• Sales per sqm exceed $6,000

These aren’t “nice-to-have” numbers. This is exactly why the Top 20% grow while everyone else fights for scraps.

When I look at underperforming stores, they’re almost always struggling with the same three things:
weak margins, slow stock, and soft pricing. Fix those — even a little — and the profit shift is immediate.

This is where accountants can genuinely change a business. Not with reports. Not with dashboards. With context. With benchmarks. With a clear picture of what “good” actually looks like.

Show retail clients the Top 20% numbers — and watch how quickly their mindset changes.