Retail Planning & Best Practices

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?

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!

Merchant Services: POS System and Free Cash Register

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I hope that you found the blog about email marketing and custom logos informative and helpful! Let’s go over some more Merchant Services offered through the Specialty Store Services website that can help save you money and keep track of your sales.

Specialty Store Services and United Bank Card, in partnership with Casio, are offering retail and hospitality merchants the opportunity to receive a free cash register with fully integrated credit card processing services! You will be able to accept all major credit cards and ring up cash sales on one machine so there is no need for a separate credit card machine. The cash registers offered also feature drop and load thermal printers, further streamlining your transaction process. Two machines are offered: one geared toward retail merchants and a one geared toward restaurant merchants. Both machines will track your daily cash, check and credit card sales and both feature large memory capacity, large LED display, 72 flat keys, customizable keypad layout with user friendly online wizard, are PCI PED compliant and allow dial-up or Ethernet connection. Best of all, you are guaranteed a replacement cash register free of charge in the event your register breaks or malfunctions if you process credit cards with Specialty Store Services/United Bank Card!

Businesses generating more than $250,000 in yearly sales may want to consider a more complex Point of Sale system, or POS system. More complex POS systems are capable of running detailed reports and also may have inventory management capabilities that will allow the store buyer to generate purchase orders based on sales and product popularity. Time clocks, touch screens and accounting features such as credit card verification may also be integrated into a POS system. Restaurant POS systems have the ability to print order tickets directly in the kitchen which will speed up the serving process. So, as you can see, POS systems can be as simple or as detailed and you like. Check out POS systems for yourself and see how your company could benefit from employing one.

Retail Store Curb Appeal

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So, in an earlier blog we talked about the importance of the outside of one’s store. The outside has to look presentable because a dirty exterior could deter potential customers from stepping through the door, right?

Here’s a little something to help keep the outside of your store a little cleaner: a smokers Ceasefire Cigarette Receptacle. When smokers are done with their cigarettes and there is no place for them to dispose of them, the cigarette butts just may end up on the sidewalk. With the cigarette receptacle, you will give smokers the option to dispose of their cigarette butts while keeping your sidewalk and gutter clean! There are several styles of cigarette receptacles to choose from so you are sure to find one that will complement the outside of your store.

Another way to make the outside of your store more appealing is to offer a comfy bench or other seating area for weary shoppers to sit down and rest their tired tootsies for a few minutes. Taking a little rest outside of your business gives folks a chance to look inside your windows and when they see something that interests them, they just may walk their rested and refreshed selves right through your door.

Hiring Temporary Employees

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It’s on the way. The busy summer season! Are you ready for the influx of customers that the nice weather will bring? One thing that will make your summer season flow smoothly is a dynamic, friendly and helpful staff, and this includes your seasonal employees. Here are some helpful hints to make sure you find the temporary employees that are right for your business.

Don’t delay when getting your summer staff roster in order. Start scouting for your talented staff early, before your competition snatches them up. Giving yourself enough time to interview, hire and train your new crew will mean you won’t be flustered when the busy season sneaks up on you, like it’s apt to do.

Check work references. Starting your screening process early also gives you ample time to verify employment and run background checks on your potential temporary employees. Applicants should have previous employers who can attest to their work ethic, reliability and character. Remember, Federal laws prohibit potential employers from asking the applicant, or references, about certain topics that could be used as a basis for discrimination including age, race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, color, pregnancy, marital status, citizenship or disability, along with others.

Dip into the applicant pool. College students and retirees make fantastic employees. The college students’ flexible schedules while on school break coupled with their energy make them ideal candidates for temporary employment. Retirees possess years of work and life experience that can be valuable to your company and, like college students, retirees also have flexible schedules.

Get your ducks in a row. What positions are you looking to fill? What skills are you willing teach and what skills do you need your new employee to possess right off the bat? What sort of personality best fits with your business’ culture? Think about what you need and then ask the same questions of every applicant so you can measure them all with the same yardstick. Develop a scoring system to help you score various areas of expertise and then tally the scores to help you keep track of and compare applicants.

Don’t lead the way. Asking “Can you do ____?” leads the applicant to tell you what you want to hear, not what they have to say. Asking broad questions will lead to more insightful answers. For instance, “Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer or coworker” gives you insight into how they would handle a difficult situation and is more telling than a simple yes or no question.

Think team player, not temp. Hiring seasonal help with the “I just need them to get through the next couple months” attitude can trick you into lowering your standards. You want an employee who will be a positive addition to your company, whether as a temporary or permanent employee. Treat your temp employees with the same respect and consideration that you would your permanent staff. If you like what you see during the summer season, you can always invite your temporary employees back for the holiday season, or even as a permanent team members.

Good luck on your search!

Credit Card Processing

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We are all aware that “cash money” is a universal language but in case you haven’t noticed, many people are now fluent in speaking “credit card”. Paper or plastic doesn’t just refer to bags any more! The question is, are you speaking your customers’ language?

There is no doubt that people like to have choices. Choices in clothes they wear, the food they order, the fancy (or not-so-fancy) coffee they drink and they like to have options in how to pay for it. I, for one, do not carry cash with me very often and I truly think I could not survive without my debit card (I do not know how I functioned before they came along!). I cannot run across the street to my neighborhood store for a gallon of milk because the merchant only accepts card purchases over $10. I know several people who use their credit cards exclusively so they can rack up points with the credit card company. I understand that many businesses do not offer credit/debit card processing because they are leery of the fees incurred and contract commitment but I wonder just how many customers have been lost to businesses that only accept cash?
If these items don’t convince you that credit/debit card processing is important to a bottom line then check out this little tidbit: Credit card users spend 12%-15% more than those who pay with cash. Now, wouldn’t it be nice if that little boost ended up reflected in your sales?
If you’ve been kicking around the idea of offering card processing to your customers, now is the time to check it out. First Payment Services can set up a card processing program that is right for your business. Nervous about entering into a long contract? Don’t be, because FPS offers month-to-month contracts if that is what you desire. If you already have a card processing company, First Payment Services offers a $1,000 guarantee that they will save you money over your current card processor. Nice deal!
So, why not explore the possibility of offering card processing? You just may get more people fluent in the language of “credit card” walking through your door if you do.