Holiday Retail Planning: Why Sooner Is Better Than Later

Are you worried about customers walking into stores in early autumn and looking for pumpkins, only to cringe when they see Christmas displays? Forget about it! It is common knowledge that retailers have begun putting out Christmas decorations sooner and sooner every year. It may seem too early in some cases, but retailers benefit from Read More …

Nothing Scary About Americans Spending More On Halloween

For those who wonder if Halloween is growing in popularity each year, the answer is a resounding yes. Based on consumer spending alone, there is no doubt an increasing number of Americans are opening their wallets and getting into the Halloween spirit more than ever before. Spooky? Scary? Hardly. How much do consumers spend during Read More …

Spring Cleaning

  It’s that time of year again: spring cleaning! For most people, this is an annual ritual in their homes to purge unneeded items and clutter; however, this is an important idea for retailers to remember, too! Take inventory of the fixtures in your store; evaluate your best sellers vs. the fixtures that may not Read More …

Addressing the Challenge of Holiday Demand versus In-Stock Merchandise

For most retailers, monthly volume doubles or even triples during the holiday season. It also seems that every year, retailers are scrambling to make sure they have the items consumers want in stock. This is very apparent in the toy industry when every child wants that ‘special’ toy and hardly anyone is carrying it. There Read More …

Trend Surfing: Merchandising and The Art of Trend

Trends, whether they are seasonal events, holidays or the latest video game craze, are a great way to feature and sell what is “hot” and “new”. In this post we are going to discuss ways in which you can use trends, both popular and not-so-popular, to your advantage. This is the time of year when Read More …

After the Holiday Buzz is Over: How to Keep the Magic Alive (and Avoid the Hangover)

If a group of retail professionals was asked this question, “What lies at the core of high sales and profits?” how would they answer? Some would say great products and others might suggest competitive prices, but they are both wrong. Studies have proven over and over again that an outstanding customer experience is the number Read More …

There is No Such Thing as Being Too Prepared: Tips on How Your Business can Survive the Impending Holiday Season

It’s not uncommon to spot Halloween and fall merchandise on the sales floor by September 1st. For most store owners, managers and employees, this incites a sense of pressure and anxiety for the upcoming holiday season. There are simple steps and action plans you and your team can take to ensure you are prepared for Read More …

Retail Sales – A Positive Attitude Yields Positive Results

So, the busy retail holiday shopping season is really, truly, officially here! Woo-hoo! All the hustle and bustle and money changing hands…it can be so fun and energizing. It can also be very draining. It is hard to be upbeat and cheerful when you’re really just feeling tired, annoyed, hungry because there’s no time for Read More …