Archive for June, 2008
Store Accents that Make a Difference
Sunday, June 29th, 2008Most 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?
Things I Won’t Carry
Sunday, June 29th, 2008Sometimes 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.
Selling Medical Devices - Yay or Nay?
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008Should you sell medical devices in your gift store? Given that the population is aging at an alarming rate, and Americans are getting less healthy by the day, it might make sense. In fact, you could go so far as to partner up with a pharmacist the way they did back in the old days. The two of you could sell medical equipment, gifts, cards, and possibly even food to provide a more well-rounded shopping experience. A store here where I live has taken this approach and does extremely well with it.
Researching Products for Your Store
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008One of the hardest parts of getting good products for your store is researching the products and finding the best items in each category. It would be nice if you could simply go to Google and get a list of best diet pills, but in most cases, it’s not going to be that easy.
You want my suggestion? Instead of wasting hours of your own time, outsource it. You can hire an Indian virtual assistant at around $5/hour, and you’ll get the work done while you work on more important things.
Have you ever outsourced? Feel free to leave your stories in the comments.
Themed Gift Stores
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008Does your gift store have a theme? Sometimes, a theme can be exactly what it takes to breathe life into a store that isn’t doing all that well. If you like horses and the outdoors, you could start pushing your store in that direction with accessories and equestrian clothing. If you enjoy cooking and baking, you could start carrying recipe books, dry mixes, and kitchen gadgets.
What do you think? Do you enjoy shopping at themed gift stores?
Promotional Pens for Your Business
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008Does your store use promotional pens or other products? Although I haven’t always been a big fan of them, I recently found myself visiting a store simply because I kept seeing their pens everywhere. Ever since then, I’ve been shopping around looking for the best pens for my own business, all the while encouraging everyone else to get their own.
What do you think? Have you used them before? Do you have a compelling reason not to?
All Natural Products to Consider
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008Interested in selling organic or all natural products? I’ve been thinking of topic lately and I’ve come up with the following potential products you could research. Feel free to add additions in the comments.
recycled home decor
bamboo products (cutting boards, etc.)
insect repellents
shampoos
household cleaners
acne treatments
organic snacks (non-perishables)
tea
Conference Tips for Small Businesses
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008I know a lot of small businesses skip out on valuable industry events because of the expense, but it’s important to consider how much you’re missing by not going, too. Below, I’ve compiled a few tips I’ve gotten from other small business owners who found a way to make it happen:
-Start looking for flight deals at least 4-6 months in advance. If you can’t, buy your ticket at the last minute.
-Be sure to have enough business cards up front. It’s much cheaper than getting them printed there.
-Try to eat at events. Most conferences have a plethora of events with free food.
-If you’re staying away from the conference hotel, consider renting a car. Taxis get expensive.
Webinar Series on Retail CRM
Friday, June 6th, 2008I’ve never been a big fan of taking in webinars, but I know some people swear by them. Perhaps I’ve just seen a few too many for one lifetime. This one actually sounds like it could be halfway useful, though, especially if you’re selling high-end products like luxury watches or designer clothing. Take a look if you’re interested in seeing the results of their studies.
Mobile Panels: Room Dividers For Your Business
Thursday, June 5th, 2008Although we’d all like to have the perfect office where rooms are naturally divided perfectly, it’s just not a reality. Even if you construct a building exactly to your specifications, it’s likely you’ll need to move things around at some point.
Rather than re-structuring the rooms to accommodate your changing needs, you can use Mobile Panels
In addition to the 8 foot mobile panels shown, Amazon also has a 6 ft. version (and possibly other room dividers, too). To get a set of mobile panels , visit: Mobile Panels / Room Dividers at Amazon
Professional Restaurant Equipment - Hobart Stand Mixer Bowls
Monday, June 2nd, 2008If you need a mixing bowl for a Hobart mixer, it’s usually best to steer clear of your local commercial restaurant supply company. With a little research, you can actually pick up a large Hobart mixer bowl for the same price you would have paid locally for a smaller mixing bowl. Below, I’ve found several great deals on Hobart mixing bowls. They have 12, 20, 30, 40, 80, and even 140 qt mixer bowls, so you’ll be able to handle almost any kind of project with these.
Personally, just looking at this stuff makes me want to start working in a restaurant or commercial kitchen. Heck, it’s better than living out a real-life Office Space sequel - Office Space Connecticut.