Too Bad I Don’t Sell Swimwear
By businessbroad | August 24, 2008
A lot of gift stores in my area dabble in apparel items like t-shirts, lingerie, or swimwear, but I’ve always shied away from selling clothing. I’ve watched others struggle to get rid of odd sizes, deal with customers who get deodorant and makeup stains on their clothing, and generally lose a lot of money in clothing. That’s why I always left it up to the experts - actual clothing stores.
Of course, now that I find myself getting ready for the lake next weekend and looking for some sexy swimwear for the occasion, I’m having some mild regrets. It would be awfully nice to be able to shop for a bikini without that awful fluorescent dressing room lighting.
Have you ever sold apparel in your gift store? How did it go over?
Topics: General | No Comments »
My Labor Day Weekend
By businessbroad | August 24, 2008
Given that Labor Day is sort of the last weekend before the holiday inventory madness, I always close up shop for the long weekend (crazy, I know) and head out to some place warm for one last summer hurrah. This year, I had considered looking into Outer Banks rentals, but I ultimately decided to stay closer to home. Gas prices and all, you know.
So next weekend, I’ll be out at a nearby lake with family, food, and pets. We’ll boat, we’ll eat, and we might even swim if the weather cooperates. It should be a weekend to remember. If you’re able, I encourage you to gather with those closest to you and do the same. It’s a heck of a lot more enjoyable than a weekend at the mall, no matter how good the sales may be.
Topics: General | No Comments »
Holiday Stress: Incoming
By businessbroad | August 24, 2008
Next weekend is Labor Day, and everyone in retail management knows what that means. Summer is officially over. From here on out, it’s nothing but Christmas up through the new year. It’s time to stock up on relaxation CDs, hot tea, and acne cream, because it’s going to be stressful.
This Christmas should be a little different than other recent holiday seasons, given the sad state of the economy and the price of gas. Last Christmas was a pretty weak season, so I can’t even imagine what this one will be like. How are you preparing? Will you be ordering less inventory than usual?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Personalized Products for Your Store
By businessbroad | August 23, 2008
If you’ve ever read many catalogs, you’re probably well aware of the popularity of personalized products. Whether it’s a rug, a yard sign, or a t-shirt, personalized items go over extremely well with certain segments of the population.
Since personalization is usually something done at a factory, it might seem like it’s something you can’t offer in your store. Really, though, there’s no reason not to. Just locate a few suppliers who would be willing to do the work, then take orders from your store and have the items shipped directly to your customers. You could do personalized pens, aprons, wreaths, or even toilet seat covers (though I wouldn’t recommend that one).
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Wow - Just Wow
By businessbroad | August 23, 2008
I had always thought that personal auto insurance was expensive until I looked into insurance for my business. Since I occasionally send employees out on errands in my car, I thought it would be wise to just get a vehicle for the business and arrange to compare auto insurance options for the best deal.
After doing a bit of shopping, however, I’m going to have to decided against the move. With the economy the way it is now, it’s just not a smart move. Both the car and the insurance would be much more expensive than I would have expected.
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Is This Legal?
By businessbroad | August 23, 2008
I’m curious. A friend of mine would like to sell eyeglasses in her boutique - not the actual prescription glasses, but the frames, and possible clear lenses. She’d like to cater to those who want the look of glasses but without a prescription.
Is it possible to buy frames like that? Is it legal to sell them? If you happen to know from experience, let me know here in the comments. I’ll pass the message along to her.
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Evaluating Your Clientele
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
Depending on who’s coming into your store, you may actually be able to target groups that don’t come into your store. For instance, I get a lot of women in their late 30s-late 40s. After some thought about this age group, I realized that many have teenagers. With that in mind, I tested out items like acne treatment, yoga mats, and books on teaching your teen to drive safely. All three were a hit, despite that fact that they weren’t actively used by my customers. They bought them for their sons and daughters.
Have you ever had indirect success like that? Do share!
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Trends I Won’t Be Accomodating In My Store
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
Despite the fact that we’d all love to be able to profit on every single consumer trend, it’s just not possible. We each have to assess our stores and investment abilities to determine what’s going to be most profitable for each of us. Below, check out some of the trends I won’t be hopping on this year.
Home theater seating - I love it, but I just don’t have the capital or the space.
Colon Cleansers - I’m not prepared for this one.
Video Games - My customers just won’t go for this.
What about you? What are you passing on for now?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | 1 Comment »
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
It’s only July, but already I’m dreaming of the holidays - not just the money they’ll bring in, but the general hum of the season. I love happy customers. Of course, once December rolls around, I’m sure I’ll be totally stressed out and dreaming instead of St. Barts villa rentals - we always want what we don’t have, right?
That’s why I need to be sure to take a vacation before the holiday season starts. It’s best to work hard during the summer, then take a nice long vacation in the fall, and get back to the real work with a fresh mindset. How do you mentally prepare for the holidays?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Memory Fitness
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
Another item that’s been popular in my shop is a memory fitness kit. I noticed earlier this year that games like Brain Age and Su Do Ku have been really popular in recent years. Although they can be a little intimidating for the older clientèle that I serve, I reasoned that they might like a kit or book on the topic of memory improvement or mental fitness. With that in mind, I decided to locate a kit and it’s been selling like hotcakes ever since.
Have you ever had one of those moments of merchandising brilliance?
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More Ideas for Your Store
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
I’ve been thinking about holiday inventory, and I just thought I’d include a few notes here on things I’ll be putting in and pulling out of my shop for the upcoming holiday season (can you believe it’s already almost August!).
Going Into the Shop:
Stockings
Christmas Trees
Red & Green dishes, decor, and textiles
Coming Out of the Shop:
Diet Pills
One section of books on summer recipes
Gardening Items
Outdoor entertaining housewares items
What about you? What are your plans for merchandising this holiday season?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
What Are Your Trophies?
By businessbroad | July 27, 2008
In every business, there are certain trophies that you display to your customers. Maybe you’ve won a local award, maybe you’ve been honored in a trade publication, or maybe you’ve actually won a trophy for some reason or another. In other cases, the store itself is the trophy, demonstrating serious time and commitment to excellence. Regardless of how it’s expressed, your store should display some kind of trophy.
Does yours?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Dreaming of a Vacation
By businessbroad | July 17, 2008
I’m trying to get away. I’ve been working non-stop for months now, and I’m in desperate need of some time away. I’ve been dreaming about Vegas vacations, Caribbean cruises, and European backpacking trips. I really can’t decide, though.
If you could go anywhere for 2 weeks, where would you go? And tell me why, too. I could use a bit of inspiration here, as my own mind is just overwhelmed.
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Cards, Gifts, and…Weights?
By businessbroad | July 17, 2008
Recently, I went to a friend’s store and noticed she had started carrying weight equipment. At first, I was a little surprised. She runs a tiny gift shop that’s most often frequented by little old ladies.
Then, I saw two little old ladies chatting about dumbbells. My friend went over and helped them patiently, and they thanked her for being so nice. They explained that the sporting goods stores scare them and they never get help. For looking at things differently and being patient, she managed to open up a whole new market.
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Hot Electronics Items You Probably Won’t Be Selling
By businessbroad | July 17, 2008
Every year, there are certain hot items that you know you’ll never be able to buy for your tiny store. This year, those items include the Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii, iPods, and the iPhone. So what’s a small business owner to do?
Get accessories. No one buys just an Xbox or just a Wii. Once they have the big item, you can be poised and ready to get the rest of their cash 
Topics: General | No Comments »
College Town Tips
By businessbroad | July 16, 2008
If you run a gift store in a college town, you may be able to capitalize on your location by offers items commonly pursued by college students. Remember, if you can get them in your store once or twice, you stand a great chance of getting them to come back at Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas. A couple of tips that can help make that happen:
-Make a “dorm supplies” section. Depending on your preferences, this could include stuff like extra long twin sheets, college apparel, gadgets, or even crazier items like beer pong tables.
-Start an e-mail list and reminder service. Use a provider like Aweber to manage your e-mail list, but also include reminders to students a week or two before gift-buying occasions like friends’ birthdays or major holidays.
-Contact student groups to see if you can work out some kind of deal to get promoted in their e-mail lists. One cheap way might be to offer up a prize and let the list publicize the contest.
If you have additional suggestions, let us know in the comments!
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Furniture Stores That Carry Pet Furniture
By businessbroad | July 11, 2008
I came across a furniture store that struck me as absolutely brilliant the other day. Instead of merely carrying human couches and chairs and beds, they offered animal versions of most styles. I’m not sure where they sourced the products, as it’s a unique concept I’ve never seen before, but it definitely had an effect. I saw several people weighing sizes of pet pieces right alongside the human pieces. Not only does the store get a chance to upsell you on something like a cat condo, but they make it more likely that you’ll buy from them, given that no one else will have that particular piece to match.
For a pet lover like myself, it’s absolutely brilliant.
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
More Product Ideas
By businessbroad | July 9, 2008
Looking for product inspiration? Have you considered the following for your gift store?
Weather Stations
wieght loss pills
Dishware
Accent Pillows
Lamps
Accent Lights
Wall Decals
Just search Google for something interesting and see what pops up. You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the manufacturer.
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Store Accents that Make a Difference
By businessbroad | June 29, 2008
Most gifts stores are pretty much the same as the next. It’s actually kind of rare for me to see a store that really stands out in my mind, and when I do, it’s usually because they’ve either specialized significantly (like horse gifts!) or because something about their store is incredibly unique. It might be an ice cream theme, a huge aquarium, metal roofing, or an all-black storefront, but anything that makes your store stand out (in a manner that’s consistent with the image you want) will definitely help burn your brand into the minds of your customers.
Have you ever seen a store that was incredibly unique and memorable to you? What was it like?
Topics: Brick & Mortar | No Comments »
Things I Won’t Carry
By businessbroad | June 29, 2008
Sometimes in business, knowing what you don’t want is as important as knowing what you do. For instance, I’m open to a lot of diversification in my stores, but you’ll never catch me stocking knitting needles, incontinence supplies , or udder cream. Those items might be useful to someone, but they’re just not appropriate for what I hope to achieve in my retail spaces.
When you have sales people coming in and trying to push their latest lines on you, it can be easy to lose site of your vision for the store. It’s their job to do that, you know. If you spend a little time thinking about what you don’t want to carry, though, you’ll find that it’s a lot easier to get what you DO want.
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