Month: September 2014

Optimize Sales With Attractive Storefront Display

Posted onAuthoralice@specialtystoreservices.com

ShopWindowAccording to the Wall Street Journal, last year consumers spent more than $3.1 trillion on retail purchases. Plus, 89% of sales in the clothing industry were made in stores compared to online. Where online shopping continues to grow, these stats show that, even today, the majority of retail spending still occurs in brick-and-mortar stores. This means in-store shopping is still very relevant.

Offline and online competition, however, is growing massively. This is exactly why it has become more important than ever for retailers to attract customers passing by their storefronts.

Importance of an Enticing Storefront Display

Your storefront display is the first physical encounter your business has with your potential buyers therefore it should be impactful, impressive and enticing.

Storefront display:

  • Is a valuable tool for marketing your business, because customers are able to see what you have to sell.
  • Improves business visibility.
  • Helps attract walk-in customers to the store and encourages them to purchase, thereby resulting in more sales.
  • More importantly, if your storefront display makes a great first impression on people, they are more likely to shop at your store instead of competing stores.

Clearly, storefront displays are definitely a tool that retailers looking to maximize in-store sales should consider.

How to Create an Impressive Storefront Display to Attract Walk-in Customers

Here are some proven tips to create an impressive storefront and become the go-to retailer:

  1. Signage: Do you have signage? Is it visible to both foot and vehicle traffic? Your retail signage must be visible with appropriately sized lettering that is large enough to be read from a distance. These types of outdoor signs for business make it easier for people driving and passing by to spot your store, helping your business stand out from others in the same line. Studies show that impressive signs attract half of a start-up business’s customers.
  2. Decorate Your Storefront with a Storyline or a Theme: Your storefront functions like a billboard, so make sure you use it wisely to advertise your business. Determine a central theme and a story line to optimize your storefront display. For example, if you sell clothes, you can choose a winter theme to showcase your winter collection. You can change the display theme according to the season and make it more appealing for customers.
  3. Avoid Clutter: A storefront display to attract customers doesn’t mean you clutter the area and display everything from the store. Only display the latest items or most popular products, rather than creating a cluttered mess of various displayed products. By showcasing the latest and popular products in-store, you can easily attract passing by potential customers. If you display everything, it will be confusing for the customers and some will pass by.
  4. Hire a Skillful Sales Person: You can also hire a skillful sales person who has excellent marketing skills to lure people inside the store. Make sure, however, s/he doesn’t sell too aggressively, as that can also turn potential customers away.

The Undeniable Power of Color in Retail

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

Color wheel & emotionThe right color choice can mean the difference between a successful retail shop and one that lacks customer sales.

Psychologists have long agreed that color plays a significant role in people’s emotions. Different colors can invoke an array of feelings, especially during first impressions. It makes sense for retailers and business owners to understand the psychology of color and how it can influence customers’ moods and their buying decisions. The use of color in retail is one of the most effective ways to subconsciously entice customers and spark an emotional response. In this article, learn what emotions certain colors are linked to and how retailers can use these to evoke appropriate responses for their particular businesses.

The psychology of color in retail businesses has been studied for decades.

A study called The impact of color on marketing found that up to 90% of people make assessments about products based on colors alone. Research has also shown that there are physiological changes that take place in people when they are exposed to different colors. Studies found that certain colors can excite, relax, increase appetite, and even change body temperature. Since color has such a powerful effect on customers’ moods and decisions, it pays to understand the psychology of using certain shades. This information can be of great use when deciding what color to paint the walls of a yoga studio or the exterior of a specialty retail shop.

Business owners have the power to use color to their advantage depending on the products they offer. Keep in mind that the brightness and darkness of a color can change the psychological message that a business wants to convey. The amount of color used can also have a certain impact. For instance, red is an energetic and passionate color that can invoke excitement when it’s used in small amounts as an accent color. When a lot of red is used in a retail establishment, however, it could cause anger or aggressiveness. Pink, the calmer and softer version of red, radiates feminine energy and confidence.

It pays for retail establishments to understand the influence of color and how it can affect their customers’ first impressions, mood, and buying decisions.

Blue tends to have a therapeutic and calming effect on customers. Shades of blue suggest a sense of loyalty and dependability, which are two traits customers look for in a business. Blue reduces tension, invokes a feeling of trust, and suggests honesty. Green is another color that creates a sense of calm and compassion. Green is also associated with nature and healing, and it is surprisingly stimulating to thirst.

Yellow in retail stores signifies happiness, playfulness, and mental clarity. But too much yellow can be agitating and stressful for customers, signifying a get-in-and-get-out type of establishment. Orange is usually associated with affordability and value, and it induces excitability and optimism. While it’s softer than red, orange is a color that should not be used in excess, except in businesses like gyms.

The use of color is a wonderfully effective tool that can gain favorable results and responses when approached in the right way. Of course, this depends on the particular type of retail business. For example, orange is an ideal color for retailers who wish to promote affordability and dependability in their products. Stores who want to set up special displays for women’s products may choose pink or purple for a soft, feminine touch, while men’s clothing stores are better suited with blues. Exercise establishments should consider opting for red or orange for accent colors, while shops that sell baby products may want to use lots of light blue and mint green. Toy stores might consider bright and basic colors such as yellow, blue, and red.

The right color choice can mean the difference between a successful retail shop and one that lacks customer sales. Taking the time to understand color psychology is a great way for any business to get favorable responses using colorful promotional efforts!

The retail experts at Specialty Store Services can help you choose the right display solutions for your store that can help you use the power of color to your store’s advantage. Call 800.999.0771 or visit our website for more information.

 

Employee Theft Prevention: Is It Possible?

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

employee_theftLearn how to prevent and deal with employee theft by implementing measures such as comprehensive background checks, cameras, and even prosecution if necessary.

Theft is a prominent problem in a majority of businesses. While shopper theft is common in retail businesses, even more common is employee theft. Small businesses deal with the issue of theft more than large businesses, making the “inside” stealing even more detrimental and personal. In the end, the business and/or the customers wind up swallowing the cost. Worse, many businesses don’t even report the theft to authorities. This means that the thief gets away with the crime while everyone else loses. So, is it possible to prevent employee theft within a company? In this article, we’ll discuss the problem of employee theft and how companies can lessen the probability of theft by taking preventative measures during the hiring process and beyond.

Employee theft is a big problem many companies are uncomfortable talking about. Theft by employees costs small businesses more than $75 billion each year. It’s also estimated that almost a third of this country’s employees will steal from their employer at one point or another. Theft can take the form of stealing money and merchandise or helping themselves to office supplies. Almost 75% of employee theft goes unnoticed, eventually leaving the owners of the business wondering how they are losing money. Only 16% of small businesses report employee theft to authorities because of factors that include emotional ties or feeling like they may never fully recoup the stolen money even when payments are made by the prosecuted.

One of the keys to preventing employee theft before it happens is a comprehensive hiring process. While an employer will never get to fully know a potential employee before he or she is hired, measures can still be taken to find with the available tools. An employer can get a background check on a candidate simply by searching online in some cases. Most sites charge a fee, but background information is available. Some states even have a free public database that displays court information including arrests, warrants, and prior convictions.

Another way to possibly prevent employee theft is to provide a plan that discourages stealing within the company. Make sure employees have a safe and confidential outlet to express any suspicions of others stealing. They should feel comfortable knowing that they will not face any form of repercussion for coming forward. This should be the standard for management and owners as well.

No one likes to be watched at work, but one of the most effective ways to prevent employee theft is through the use of cameras. Installing a DVR based security system in areas such as shipping and receiving, as well as near cash registers and safes, is a smart idea for business owners. Cameras not only catch thieves in the act, they can also deter stealing as well.

In some cases, employee theft is inevitable no matter what preventative measures have been taken by the employer. When all else fails and an employee steals, he or she should not get away with it. Prosecution is the only way for employers and business owners to get justice. While it may seem unpleasant, time-consuming, or costly, sometimes the prosecution of thieves is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that they pay for their crimes. Further, it makes clear that, as an organization, you prosecute internal theft as a rule, which can also act as a strong deterrent.

Need some help with stamping out theft and store security? Specialty Store Services can help! Our retail experts can help you choose the right security solution for your store to get you ahead of theft. Call 800.999.0771 or visit our website for more information.