Author: ericw@specialtystoreservices.com

Retail Window Displays – Part 2

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We went over some interesting window display ideas in a previous blog entry that I hope you found useful and here are a few more ideas to keep your window displays interesting and draw in more customers.

Phone a friend. Or, in this case, phone a vendor. The vendors who sell you merchandise will be happy to provide you with POP displays and posters to help promote the items you sell. After all, if you sell out of their merchandise you will need to order more so that’s a big incentive for vendors to assist you by providing marketing materials. This is a great way to decorate your window and promote your merchandise at a minimal cost to you.
Spread the love by sharing the window. Create a sense of good will and community by offering your window space to local non-profits who are doing good work in the community. Every few months you can have a local non-profit or community organization use the window for a couple weeks to promote their cause or events. The change of pace will draw attention to your retail window display while giving deserving organizations the opportunity to spread the word about the services they provide.
Get artsy. Approach local artists or art students and ask them to paint backdrops appropriate for your store’s retail window display, images that reflect your store’s brand and personality. They will get exposure by having their work displayed and you will have eye-catching backdrops for your displays. The artists may be more eager to help if you allow them to leave gallery or studio information at the counter for customers to view. Keep in mind, though, that everyone has a different vision so it’s a good idea to go over ideas for the backdrop to make sure you’re on the same page. After all, a painting of a flaming bicycle flying off a cliff may be captivating but will it really help showcase your body oils or pet food?
Scrub-a-dub. Remember to keep your windows clean and smudge-free! You only have a few seconds to capture the attention of potential customers so you want them to focus on your retail window display, not on the sticky hand prints or dusty rain spots.

CD and DVD Displays

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Who doesn’t love curling up with a good movie or relaxing while listening to some music? I do not know one person who doesn’t, I tell you! Even with the popularity of electronic downloads, physical media formats are still popular; many folks still enjoy having a collection of discs they can pop into the DVD or CD player. If you are not currently offering DVDs or CDs in your store, you may want to consider it. I mean, even coffee houses, convenience stores and gift shops are selling them! Take a look at the following CD/DVD/Game disc displays to see what works for you.

Starting small. If you have limited counter space or would like to offer a small selection of popular CDs or DVDs to see how they sell, then check out the following counter spinners. The CD counter spinner has 32 facings, holds up to 160 CDs and only takes up 15″ square inches of counter space. That’s a lot of merchandising in a little area! The DVD Counter Spinner has 24 pocket facings, can display 72 DVDs and only takes up 16″ square inches of counter space. Not too shabby. Both of these displays have steel construction and include sign holders.
The next step up. If the DVDs are selling well and you’d like to increase your selection then the DVD/Game Spinner is for you. That’s right, sell some games while you’re at it because they are as popular as can be! The DVD/Game Spinner has 6 tiers with 72 facings so it can hold up to 288 DVDs and it also includes a sign holder. The CD Floor Spinner has 8 tiers, 64 facings, includes sign holder, takes up less than 20″ square inches of floor space and can display up to 320 CDs. If you’d like a more mobile unit then check out the 10 Shelf Mobile Media Display. This grid display with retractable telescoping legs includes casters so you can scoot it wherever you need it. Display CDs, DVDs, games, books or anything else that can fit on the 24″L x 6″D slanted shelves.
Going gangbusters. Have the space and the demand for even more discs? Then have I got some things to show you! The Super Grid A-Frame Display can be used individually or end-to-end to create a continuous DVD display. The A Frame Display, which has a total of 24 shelves, can display up to 768 DVDs! For a mobile, high capacity display, take a look at the Center Island Grid Display. This grid display has a total of 20 shelves, E-Z roll casters and can display up to 600 DVDs or game discs. This grid display is also great for software, magazines, CDs, candy and snacks. Talk about versatile!
There are many more physical media displays to choose from. If you have any questions about any of the displays, please don’t hesitate to contact a friendly sales representative at 800-999-0771.

 

Effective Retail Store Lighting

Posted onAuthorericw@specialtystoreservices.com

Have you ever walked into a store and it just seemed kind of…meh? The displays are nice, the staff is friendly and the product is good but the store still seems to be lacking? Well, what kind of lighting did it have? Was it dim, was it too bright, were spotlights used ineffectively? We need to remind ourselves every now and then that sometimes just having sufficient lighting in order to see the merchandise isn’t enough.

In the spotlight. It is important to remember the different between spotlights and floodlights. Spotlights focus on a limited area whereas floodlights light up a large, expanded area. Using floodlights will flood the entire floorspace with light and if everything is highlighted then nothing stands out. We want to utilize spotlights to create a contrast in lighting and to draw attention to featured items and to create focal points, such as highlighting displays that showcase higher profit margin items. Spotlights will naturally draw the eye so also use them on wall displays, near the checkout counter and at the front of the store.

In the mood… For shopping, of course! Lighting can really set the tone of your store and the displays therein. Colored lights can help convey a mood within a store and a customer that makes an emotional connection may be more likely to make a purchase. For instance, you can use a blue-ish light on your sparkly winter displays or a reddish light on Valentine’s Day displays to suggest the appropriate mood. Colored LED rope lights around display windows can convey a festive mood while also drawing attention to the storefront.

On the shelf. Small spotlights and LED light strips can do wonders to draw attention to merchandise in a showcase. LED strip lights, for instance, can be quickly mounted to the inside of a showcase with mounting clips or adhesive strips and these little lights are very bright. Many showcases, including these large floor model lighted tower showcases and smaller countertop showcases, come equipped with halogen mini-spotlights

Practice safe shopping. Create a safe environment for your customers with outdoor lighting at the storefront and in the parking lot. A well lit area outside the entryway will help prevent trips and falls. A brightly lit parking area will make customers feel more safe and people are more likely to shop in areas where they feel secure.

What other ideas can you come up with to make lighting more effecting? Using strobe lights to showcase some fun displays? Ensuring that there is flattering lighting in the dressing rooms? Take a look around your store. Maybe you’ll come up with some ideas to make the lighting a little more effective and creative.

Remodel Your Retail Store to Increase Profit

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We all are excited about seeing an increase in our business’ profits so what can we do to achieve that goal? Well, what Old Navy did was to remodel some of their stores. You may think “Old Navy is a huge chain store so what has that got to do with me?” Let me tell you that the big boys do a lot of market research and analysis to know what works and what doesn’t so following their lead can be a good idea.

The remodeling of 300 Old Navy stores resulted in buyers spending $1 to $2 more per visit. What did the remodel consist of to bring about this increase in revenue? An Associated Press release dated July 11, 2011 states “Some of the components of the store remodelings include light wood, white shelving, wider aisles and lowered racks and fixtures for better store visibility. There is also a play area for children and more workers helping out in dress rooms, which have been moved from the back of the store to the center.” A more open feel and a brighter color pallet generates a comfortable atmosphere and it only makes sense that people are more inclined to spend more time (and more money) in an environment in which they feel comfortable.

A remodel doesn’t have to break the bank. What small changes can you do in your store to make it feel more open, to feel brighter? Invest in white or lighter color shelves, perhaps. Or possibly utilize more wall displays, such as grid panels (as low as $14.99 each ) or slatwall panels in order to get some of the display racks off the floor, giving a more open feeling. What changes in merchandising can you make so the sales floor appears less cluttered and overwhelming? Keep your displays neat and organized because no one wants to rummage through a jumble of items is if they are at a yard sale, unless they are at a yard sale, of course. Check out the Give Your Store a Facelift blog entry for some ideas to make your store shine.

So, have you got any ideas on how you can do some simple remodeling to make your store more inviting? Does it seem like a lot of work with an uncertain payoff? Let’s do a “for instance”, just for the fun of it. How many customers make purchases at your store in a day? Let’s say 30 customers, just as an example. If each person spent one dollar more per transaction, and your store was open seven days a week, that equals $10,560 additional profit per year! Sounds to me like it just may be worth investing in a little elbow grease and a couple new displays. What do you think?

Budget-Conscious Shoplifting Prevention

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Few things are more frustrating than having people steal merchandise right out from under your nose. That’s your livelihood they’re messing with! Keep reading to find out how you can stop these thieves in their tracks.

Sales staff – the first line of defense. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: approach customers, look them in the eye and offer a sincere greeting and smile. Making eye contact while greeting customers decreases the rate of shoplifting incidents because potential shoplifters know that you are really aware of them. A casual “Hi, how are ya?” called from across the store lets a potential shoplifter know that they are just in the sales’s staff peripheral vision and not really an object of interest so they will be more likely to act boldly.

Smile, you’re on camera…sort of. Security systems are fantastic theft deterrents but even if your current budget cannot cover the cost of a system, there is no need to forgo the security of cameras. Simulated cameras have come a long way; many of them now look, move and light up like real security cameras! The Motion Detection Simulated Camera, complete with mock cable wires and red LED light, rotates when the motion sensor is triggered giving a constant watchful impression, all for under $20. There are many different styles of simulated security cameras to choose from including the metal encased indoor/outdoor camera or indoor simulated dome camera which has a red LED light that lights up when motion activated for less than $10. Give the impression of real security cameras at a fraction of the cost!

Rearrange your floorplan. Place your more expensive or popular items closer to the counter where sales staff can keep an eye on things. Move your displays around to eliminate blind spots which are areas that security cameras or sales staff cannot clearly see. If moving fixtures is not an option then you might want to think about getting a few security mirrors so you can keep an eye on those nooks and crannies. Also, it’s a good idea to employ lower displays, no taller than shoulder height, so you can see clear across the store at all times.

Give me a sign. Policy signs stating that shoplifters will be prosecuted will garner some attention. Post your signs prominently, especially near fitting rooms and exits, and then follow through so shoplifters know that you mean business.

Get schooled. If you’re not up to speed on shoplifting techniques then you won’t know what to look for. Look up websites that describe popular shoplifting techniques, learn about these techniques and share them with your staff so you all know how to identify possibly thievery in progress. For example, I learned that a shoplifter will carry a loosely closed umbrella over their arm and drop small but valuable items into the gaping top of the umbrella. Tricky! I found several websites that can tell you what to look for so check them out.

More looky, less touchy. To keep popular hanging items secure you will want to use locking hooks for slatwall, pegboard or slatgrid. These nifty hook are locked onto the display itself and also have a lock on the end of the hook to keep items from being swept off the hook and into thieving hands. A simple magnetic lock key allows staff to unlock the hooks in seconds. If you’ve already got peg hooks in use then you’ll want to use peg hook locks. Just snap the peg hook lock to the end of your peg hook to keep items secure and unlock with the magnetic lock key. Quick and easy!

I hope that these suggestions keep more merchandise available on your sale floor and not walking unpaid for out the door.

Slatwall for the Retail Store

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Hmmm…what can I say about slatwall? Well, a lot, actually! Slatwall is attractive, versatile, strong…kind of like Russel Crowe or a Transformer sports car/robot. You may think I’m reaching but slatwall can really make a huge impact.

First of all, slatwall really is attractive. It can be purchased in several different colors to complement your decor such as black, almond, grey, white or paint grade that is ready to paint any color you choose. Slatwall comes with uncolored grooves which bring out the color of the slats, but you can also order it with brushed aluminum inserts which add strength and finesse to the panels. When installing the slatwall panels, you can drill screws right through the aluminum and into the wall, reinforcing the panels and making your display more durable.

Slatwall can be purchased as 4’W x 8’H standard slatwall panels or 8’W x4’H vertical slatwall panels that you can install directly on your walls. Slatwall can also be used in the form of freestanding slatwall displays which are available in black, cherry, maple or white. Slatwall displays are available as double sided displays, revolving slatwall displays, “H” island displays, quad displays, and even as service counters with slatwall fronts for more display space. Check them all out to see all of the merchandising options you have!

If you’d like the option to change the look of your slatwall at will then you’ll want to consider slatwall inserts or slatwall snaps. Slatwall inserts come in 130′ rolls and are available in black or white. Simply slide the vinyl slatwall inserts into the grooves and cut at the correct length. Slatwall snaps, available in 8′ lengths in red, white, black or grey, are easy to install and only take seconds to uninstall. Use inserts of the same color as the slatwall to give the display a more uniform look or use snaps in a contrasting color to make your display pop! No matter if you choose wall panels or displays, you have a wide variety of slatwall accessories to choose from. Choose from slatwall hooks to display hanging items, slatwall faceouts for clothing or body forms, slatwall waterfalls for clothing, purses or belts, slatwall jar displays for smaller items such as pens or hairgoods, slatwall hangrails for all types of apparel or acrylic slatwall shelves for any numbers of items.

Your slatwall display options are nearly endless! All the colors, configurations, display options…I’m nearly dizzy. Take a look and I’m positive you will find something slatwallish that will make a positive impact on your merchandising.

Shopping Baskets and Shopping Carts

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Okay, so you’ve got customers in your store, happily shopping and browsing your merchandise. Uh-oh, their arms are full…what to do, what to do? Well, offer them a shopping basket or shopping cart, of course, so they can keep on shopping in comfort!Shopping baskets are great for those quick in-&-out shopping trips and for small stores. The

Standard Size Shopping Baskets and Jumbo Size Shopping Baskets come in handy in any retail environment from convenience stores to stationary stores. I know that when I stop into a store for “just one thing”, pretty soon I am juggling several items (I am a fantastic impulse shopper!) and am searching for a shopping basket to use. The shopping baskets are available individually or in sets of 12 in blue, red or yellow. And, since you asked, we listened. The shopping baskets are now also available in assorted color sets consisting of 3 each blue, green, red and yellow! You can also have your store name printed in block letters on these personalized shopping baskets for free! A basket stand and sign are also included with the plastic shopping basket sets. If your customers are like me and just cannot stop shopping, those baskets can get heavy so make sure you have browsing basket carts on hand. The browsing basket cart, constructed with steel nickel finish, has two shelves that can each hold a jumbo size shopping basket.

If you’d like a more contemporary look for your store, wire mesh shopping baskets are just what you are looking for. Are your customers’ arms getting tired from carrying the baskets? Relieve their discomfort by offering them rolling shopping baskets! The rolling shopping basket, available in sets of 10 in black, blue, red or green, comes with a long handle and wheels for easy maneuvering and also includes a strong molded plastic carrying handle, as well.

Now, let’s not forget the sturdy steel shopping carts which are perfect for grocery stores, pet supply stores, convenience stores…and any kind of store you can think of! The mini shopping cart with double baskets and the single basket mini shopping cart are compact, easy to maneuver and are great for those smaller stores with narrow aisles. Also good for narrow aisles is the mini grocery shopping cart. The mini grocery shopping cart measures 17 1/4″W x 35 1/2″H x 29″L and the carts nest, saving on storage space when not in use. If your customers need a bit more room for their purchases, try a larger shopping cart. The standard size shopping cart measures 20 1/4″W x 37 1/2″H x 36″L and also nests with the other standard shopping carts. Both the mini and standard shopping carts are made of easy to clean, sturdy steel and include child seats complete with safety belts.

There! Now you’ve got plenty of options to make your customers’ shopping experience more comfortable and a comfy customer is a happy customer. Happy selling!

Counterfeit Detectors

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You work hard for your money so make sure the money you receive isn’t counterfeit. Although the government has modified bills to make it more difficult for thieves to counterfeit, the thieves have gotten pretty crafty at faking bills. Counterfeit bills are circulating throughout the U.S. so a counterfeit detector is necessary for any business.
The most common types of bill detectors are ultraviolet (UV), watermark, magnetic and pen. The UV detectors use a light to detect built in features in authentic bills. Watermark detectors also use a certain light spectrum to detect hidden watermarks in the bill’s paper. Magnetic detectors detect magnetic ink in authentic bills. Pen detectors use a special solution that turns a certain color when applied to the bill to indicate if the bill is fake. Bleached bills, which are created by bleaching a $5 bill and printing 50 or 100 over the bleached areas, can be difficult to detect so it’s best to employ several different methods when verifying bills.
One of our most popular counterfeit detectors employs UV, infrared and magnetic detection and can even detect bleached bills. No cashier training needed, just feed your bill into the machine and an audible and visual alarm will let you know if the bill is fake. Another popular model, the 4-way Counterfeit Detector, also uses magnetic and UV detection in addition to watermark detection. This machine also magnifies the bill so you can see microprinted words on authentic bills. The UV function on this machine can also verify other documents such as driver’s licences, birth certificates, major credit cards, traveller’s checks and more. The Infrared Camera Counterfeit Detector displays an image of the bill on the screen so you can check for the infrared stripe on authentic bills. A handy chart on the machine displays the areas in which infrared stripes are located on U.S. currency. A pleased owner of this infrared detector says this machine works like magic!
If you’re on the go at festivals or open markets, a Counterfeit Detector Pen is the mobile, economical, quick and easy way to make sure you’re not taking any funny money. Simply draw a line across the bill; if the line stays amber the bill is authentic but if the line turns black the bill is fake. Either mark will fade after application so you won’t have a drawer full of marked up money. Happy customers say that the pen works great and is small enough to keep next to the register.
Check out the full inventory of our currency counterfeit detectors to see which one best suits your needs. If you accidentally accept a counterfeit bill, be assured that the bank will not accept it and then you will be out of luck. With all the fake bills in circulation, how can you afford not to use a counterfeit detector?

Greeting Customers 101

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Have you ever gotten whiplash in a retail store? You know, when you walk into the store and slowly start taking in the layout and merchandise when a gaggle of sales clerks at the counter or a clerk at a display across the store yell out “Hi, howyadoin’today?” Then you have to look around to see where the half-hearted but strident greeting is coming from so you can acknowledge them?
I know that clerks think they are doing their job by promptly greeting customers in this manner but whiplash greetings are not the way to go. You don’t want to distract the customers while they are just settling in and getting acquainted with the store and products that they may purchase. The quality of the greeting is more important than the speed of the greeting so take the time to approach the customer, even if you cannot get to them for a minute or two. A sincere face-to-face greeting along with a warm smile will make a more positive impression than an indifferent greeting shouted from across the store.

Phone Systems, Postage Meters and more!

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We’ve already covered several merchant services available via the Specialty Stores Services website and here a five more helpful services for you to explore.
Phone Systems. There are so many options of phone system that it can be a bit tricky to find the right system for your business. You want a phone system that will give you all the features you need, none of the add-ons that you don’t and will be cost effective. Learn more about different phone systems and check out some tips on how to compare services before committing to a new phone system.

 

Postage Meters. Businesses that send out bulk mailings can really save time and money by stamping, postmarking and mailing right from their own place of business. No more wasting time by running to the post office or dealing with rolls of stamps!

 

Telemarketing. By outsourcing your telemarketing to a telemarketing service company, you are putting your calls in the hands of professionals who know how to contact the right people at the right time to close a sale, renew a business relationship or inform existing customers about new products or services.

 

Stamps and Badges. Create and maintain a professional image with name badges, custom stamps, nameplates and embossers. Email your custom artwork to have original stamps created or choose from stock stamps. Use the stamps to inexpensively customize sales slips, stationary and envelopes.

 

Buy Gold for Cash. You see Cash for Gold stores everywhere and these shops would not be everywhere if they weren’t turning a profit. You can start buying gold from your customers and generate extra revenue averaging $2,000 a month with no up front start up fees incurred. Click the link to find out more information!