New Store Security Mini Catalog

The new Store Security mini catalog is now being sent out with every order. In it there is Specialty Store Services complete line of do-it-yourself security systems and security cameras. Our systems are easy to install and set up. We have also included our line of safes, cash counters and our ever popular cash drop boxes. If you would like to receive one of our new Store Security mini catalogs please call us and we will send one out to you.

In the meantime you can click here to browse Specialty Store Services complete line of store security items on their website.

How to “Turn Passion Into Profit”


One of the local giants in the video retail business in the Chicago area, John Sarantakis, President of People’s Choice Video Express, has written a great article in the Video Business Magazine. It is about how video retailers can stay competitive in today’s market. Click here for the link.

In the article he refers to the IDEA Chicago which is a local chapter of the iDEA Group:

“The iDEA vision is to place independent retailers in control of our own destiny. The iDEA is going to empower the independent sector of our industry to grow our businesses through networking, communication, education, and business tools.”

Click here for link for that trade group’s website and where you can find out more information on their nationwide and local events..

A few weeks ago there had been an iDEA event at People’s Choice Video Express where more than 80 independent video store retailers, including Specialty Store Services came to swap success stories and talk to vendors and suppliers. The above picture is our outside sales staff from left to right: Q, Stew, Hope and Lee.

Retail Merchandising 101

We have a new showroom here at Specialty Stores. The other day I went in to it and took a look around. There is gleaming bamboo floors, a wall color that was pleasing to the eye and a series of suspended black grid panels that hang above the showroom floor and give the space a modern appearance. We have some displays out on the floor and shelving on the walls. The problem is there is nothing displayed on them. There was even a female mannequin hiding naked behind a slatwall display.

The room had very little in terms of styling: it was empty, a blank slate. I could imagine a new store owner in the same situation: what do you do to make your product look nice and attractive to the customer? I imagined myself as a customer coming in though the front door of the showroom, was I impressed? To be honest I was not. The sales floor was crowded, there was nothing that attracted my eye(except the naked mannequin) and on top of it all there was no product on the displays or shelves as I had said before. So to start I rearranged the what was on display, clearing path so that the first thing the customer sees when the enter the showroom is our great looking maple showcase display. I raided the photo studio for clothes to hang on the clothing racks and I put a dress on the mannequin and moved it to where it could be seen by customers. And do you know what happened? The mannequin sold two days later and customer asked what was different in the showroom. And this is just the start and I will keep you updated on my progress.

As retailers you have to be always conscious of what your customer sees when they enter your business: what kind of impression do you want to make? What is the “item” you want to promote and sell? The top retailers spend thousands of dollars on designers to make their stores work and by that I mean sell. As an independent business owners we do not have the money to hire fancy designers, but as long as we keep our attention on the customer experience, we can be just as successful. A store is not just a random conglomeration of merchandise; a store is a sensual experience and by that I mean pleasing to the senses. Use color, such as retail signage, to attract the eye, use risers to create interesting displays, and most important keep your business clean and neat.

Specialty Store Services has thousands of items to help you make your stores work for you. Our phone reps can suggest new merchandising ideas for you new or existing project.

We have just had a nice write-up in an industry magazine

A couple of weeks ago an associate editor from AVN Novelty Business, Nate Johnson, contacted me about an article he was working on for the magazine. He wanted some background information about Specialty Store Services. After several e-mail exchanges and a phone call or two I finally got him all the info he needed. The title of the article is “Bringing Special Back: Putting the Service in Specialty Store Services.” It is a well-written article about the company’s history, product line and a little taste of what is to come in the future. One of the best lines in the article is “Several things will always remain consistent: top quality products, low prices and great service.” These three ideas are something that is in the DNA of this company, but it is nice to see it in print once in a while!
Attention: due to the content of the AVN magazine, the following link is not appropriate for people who are offended by things of a sexual nature:

One thing he did not include in the article was a picture I had sent of one of our salesmen, Stew Gershbaum. For the sake of posterity I am including it in this post.

Patents

I was doing some searching online the other day and found that our company presidents have several patents in teier names. There is a patent for the CD and DVD Security labels. We call them “donut” labels. There is another patent, United States Patent 5277308 or the “Transparent display case with resilient long-life hinge.”
You can go to this site to see the actual patents at www.freepatentsonline.com. They look more official on other site.

New (sort of) Security Catalog

We are putting the finishing touches on a small security/cash handling catalog. It will feature our customer favorites in those categories. I think the benefit of a smaller catalog is that in a bigger catalog sometimes it is easy to overlook categories, especially in our media/video retailing catalog. We have a great line up of security and cash handling products that can help business and others protect themselves and their investments. Items such as currency counters, video security systems, safes, cash drops, security mirrors and door chimes. Don’t look for it in your mailbox, this catalog will be sent to our customers as a box-stuffer with every order we send out.

There always is a discussion around here about the impact of box-stuffers. I know when I get my credit card bills there are always “extra” items in there selling stuff like ceramic figurines to term life insurance. I guess it works or they would not do it, right?

One new item that is not making it into this security/cash handling catalog is a complete Point of Sale (P.O.S.) system. It is pretty sweet in that all you have to do is plug it in and start using it. Most times systems like this are not sold together; where the hardware and software are sold separately. The best thing about the system is that it electronically keeps tabs on all your inventory and sales.

Interesting

I imagine that I will title a lot of blog entries ‘Interesting’, but one of my co-workers gave me an article out of a magazine called “EdDealer.” The article is called “21 tips for a better store experience” by a guy named Doug Fleener.

The 21st tip is “Smile!” and on the surface it seems silly, like a throw away feel good kind of a thing, but if you think about it, it really makes sense. I mean, how many times have you gone into a store and behind the counter was a grim-faced teen greeting you with a scowl? One time my wife and I went to the movie and they had a place to buy ice cream. My wife wanted a milk shake so we went to the counter and asked for one. The 2 girls behind the counter were talking and looking at their cell phones (I think cell phone should be banned from the place of business, but that is for another discussion).

The FMI Show Was in Town

The FMI show was in town over the weeked, May 5-9th. It is a huge trade show, mostly aimed at grocery and food specialty stores. It is necessary to go hungry because everyone is handing out FREE samples of food. I stayed away from all the snack foods and cakes due to the fact that my wife and I have been on the South Beach Diet for the last month(I lost 10 pounds), but I made up for it by eating more than my weight in cheese. I did try some aloe vera juice which was good. Apart from the food there were all the newest models of grocery carts and anti-bacterial wipes for carts. I knew 2 people who say they got seriously ill from touching grocery cart push rails. So if you have carts, get the wipes, because I think your customers would really appreciate them.

A few of us went to the show to look for interesting new products for the catalog and website. We found some great new stuff, but I have to keep it under wraps until we finalize the deals. You’ll probably see them in our Fall 2007 Specialty Store Services catalogs. Trade shows and suggestions from our customers is how we keep bringing our customers the best and newest items from around the world.

I would also like to thank Aruba Networks for my $50.00 Amex gift card. They were doing a promotion at the show to get people into thier booth. I walked by and a woman asked me if i’d like to win a trip to Aruba. I didn’t win the trip or the $5000.00 gift card, but $50.00 is a nice dinner.