Month: August 2012

That’s a Wrap!

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

Gift wrapping attracts and keep customers coming back.
I have been in many situations where I needed a birthday gift for a party and it was starting in 15 minutes and I didn’t have the time to wrap a gift. In my neighborhood I have many stores that have complementary gift- wrapping, now I never have to think twice about where I go to get that extra special gift. I always go to the stores that have pre- wrapped or a gift-wrapping service for a purchased gift. I have a store for boy gifts, girl gifts and friends and hostess gifts all wrapped up with a bow! 
Gift wrapping saves the customers time and gives the retailer a chance to reinforce their brand. It also positions products that are in high demand or expensive. Think of everything you sell as a gift to your customer. How you package a product to send it home is just as important as the product itself. A customer will notice if the sale is just thrown in a bag and they will appreciate when a sale has been wrapped in tissue, placed into a bag and tied with a ribbon.  It doesn’t seem that difficult so why not give your customer that extra personal touch.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, gift-wrapping is a great way to help your customers in deciding on the perfect gift. Why not have pre-wrapped items dispersed around the store for the customer that is in a hurry? I am sure they would appreciate the convenience.
Points to consider when thinking about gift-wrapping in your store:
·        Have a few strategically placed signs with the words, “Complimentary Gift Wrapping” displayed in your store or the If you have gift-wrapped boxes, they can be used as an integral part of your store’s displays.
·        Include your logo on the packaging. Whether you order custom imprinted labels or making your own, showcasing your logo acts as an extra form of advertising.  
·        When deciding on a gift wrap make sure they are not too trendy and styles everyone will like. When picking a style that is too trendy it may not be available for long. Pick a print that will be known only to your store and that people know exactly where it was purchased.  
·        Remember to give some thought to whether you are going to include ribbons and bows when choosing your design.
·        Keep a variety of gift bags ready to go with sheets of tissue to keep things simple. So, when a gift is purchased it’s ready to go!

There’s never been a more important time for your store to look for additional ways to promote its brand and stand out from the competition, and this is a great way to do just that. Remember, whether you have one store or twenty stores your brand is vital to everything you do to promote your business.

Email Marketing is a proven way to increase your Sales

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

At Specialty Store Services we know the importance of emailing marketing, which is why we have partnered with Constant Contact.  With Constant Contact it is easy to send out sales, specials and events email right to your customers.  Constant Contact is easy to use, they have over 400+ templates to choose from. Stand out from your competition.  Sign up for a free trial offer. 
Now that you have the marketing tools now you need to get the email addresses from your customers.  Here are five legitimate and unobtrusive ways to obtain your own customers email addresses:
1.      Ask them while they are in the store
 As a business owner, you have an advantage with your own customers — they are YOUR customers.  Usually they want to see you survive and they’d be willing to help you out.  Set up an email sign-up sheet right near your register.  At the top of the sheet make a simple note like “Sign up for our email list”, add a note about confidentiality and state that you won’t sell or trade their email address  You’ll be surprised how many people will give you their email.
2.      Put a fish bowl on your counter
A quick and easy way to get your customers to provide an email is to ask customers to fill out a form. Have them drop it into a contest box and have a drawing for a free service or product. 
3.      Add an email sign-up link to your website
You should take advantage of that moment and have a prominent spot on all of your web pages pointing to an email signup form.  Make the signup as painless as possible with only the necessary fields “First name” and “Email Address”.  Any more requirements could prompt them to just close their browser.  Remember to apply the same courtesy here as on your signup sheet: note confidentiality and don’t forget “please” and “thank you”.
4.       Give something away
Put together a quick monthly or weekly giveaway of a product or service. The sign-up
slips should always require an email address.
5.      Use your social media connections
      If you have an active Facebook page you probably have access to many of your customer’s emails already.  Getting their email address should not be difficult. Take the time to ask your connections  for their email address.  It is a fairly simple process to post a link to your web sites “contact us” page on your Facebook page or even just to say “Hi, could I get your email address so I can send you our  company newsletter?”  Many people will provide their email address when asked by an established connection.
Click Here to learn more about Constant Contact and what it can do for you!!!

Watch for the New Fall Catalog!!!!

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

Specialty Store Services, Chicago retail supply company, mailed out their latest catalog last week. Highlighted in the newest catalog are a wide variety of products with new lower pricing as well as new products. 
With Back to School right around the corner customers are flocking to stores for newest in products from clothing to school supplies so why not grab the customers attention with mannequins.  Mannequins can make the statement; clump them together for a dramatic look or individually for an item that you want to grab more attention. Also a great way to display the Back to School products is to have made a separate display that will have the customers focus on items they didn’t even know they needed.  
A great way to have a special display is to use Nesting Tables to keep related products together to a wall display.  The wall display can be a grid panel with either shelving or peg hooks to get as much product on it as possible. As a Retailer you want to take advantage of all the shopping that takes place before school starts. 
The fall season tends to be the retailers busiest time of year with the beginning of the school year to the start of the holiday season, Specialty Store Services wants the retailers to be ready and fully stocked with Holiday Bags, wrapping paper and boxes. By offering all the products sooner retailers can have time to choose from the wide variety. This holiday season, Specialty Store Services will have a new Holiday Bag design that will be coming out the end of September
For more information about Specialty Store Services or to request the new catalog, visit the company’s website: http://www.specialtystoreservices.com