by MacK Seale @ merry makery

last updated march 2025

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welcome to the ultimate retail reading list.

you just unlocked the best-kept secret in retail.

the ultimate reading list for store operators, brand builders, and retail obsessives.

finding great retail books shouldn’t be this hard. trust me, i’ve spent years hunting down the best ones, digging through out-of-print titles, chasing obscure references, & pulling insights from retail’s greatest minds. now, they’re all here in one place, curated for you.

this isn’t just another book list. it’s a living, growing resource designed to help you sharpen your strategy, spark new ideas, & avoid costly mistakes. from legendary playbooks to hidden retail gems, every book here is worth your time.

here’s how to use it:

📌 bookmark it as ****i’ll be adding new finds regularly

🔎 browse by category, author type, or decade

🚨 have a must-read to add? dm me, i want it all

this is more than a reading list. it’s the blueprint i wish i had when i was scaling stores at apple & warby paker.

now, it’s yours.

happy reading & even happier retailing! 🚀

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browse based on your interests ↓

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my top 10 books

← click this to find your required retail reading 🤓

books by author type

← click this to see the list grouped by who wrote the book: 💡 owner, 🛠️ operator, or 🔎 observer.

books by retail type

← click this to see the list organized by the type of retail: 🛒 giants, 🛎️ hospitality, 👠 apparel, 🎩 luxury, & 💅 specialty

books by year

← click this to see the list sorted by the year first published, going back all the way to 1993

full reading list

← click this to see all 50+ books i’ve found that will teach you something about brick & mortar retail

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curated for you by MacK Seale in atx

🛍️ i'm a retail consultant helping brick & mortar brands build scaling strategies that delight

🤝 i spent 10+ years working behind-the-scenes of stores @ warby parker & apple

✨ every week i share stories about stores in my newsletter → merrymakery.com

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if you like this, i’d love to connect!

→ follow me on linkedin

→ sign up for my weekly newsletter

→ schedule time with me to talk shop

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