Retail Planning & Best Practices

Retail Training Classes

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I don’t need to tell you how competitive the retail sales industry is. As competitive as this business is, the good news is that there ways to increase your competitive edge. One way is to attend retail training classes that can teach you and your staff new skills and help you fine-tune the ones you already possess. The downside is that, although these classes can be a valuable tool, they can often be expensive and time consuming. Not so with RetailTraining.com.

The on-line classes offered through RetailTraining.com average 20 minutes in length and the best part is that you can take them whenever you want to; all you need is a computer. Not only are these classes concise and and informative, they are very cost effective.

You will discover how to:

  • Utilize impulse merchandising and visual merchandising to enhance your customers’ experience and generate unplanned purchases
  • Retain valuable employees by building morale, skills, confidence and loyalty
  • Use key financial statements to assess and analyze the fiscal health of your retail business
  • Develop a strategic retail plan and store audit to keep your business on track
  • Implement a Customer Loyalty program and discover how your business will benefit from the program

Sign up for a free, no-obligation on-line retail training class to take the first step toward building a stronger foundation for you business by further developing your greatest asset: the knowledge you and your staff possess.

Instructional Videos for Product Assembly

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I’ve noticed lately while surfing the web that more and more videos are being posted on news links in addition to, or even in place of, written copy. While I am an avid reader, there is something to be said about just being able to click a button and having information told and/or shown to me. Apparently, video clips are the way to go and Specialty Store Services has definitely caught the video wave by creating video assembly instructions.

Need to know how to assemble our 2-way garment rack? Well, check out the video to see how to assemble a 2-way garment rack (#2621)! You can also view the instructional videos on how to assemble the Waterfall Stacking Basket Display (#3387) and the Bucket Seat Stool (#5860B). See all of our current instructional videos at Specialty Store Services’ channel on Youtube. You can also see the videos on our Facebook page. While you’re there, be sure to “like” us so you can stay on top of product and merchandising information as well as receive special promotions exclusive to Facebook friends. The instructional videos will soon be posted on our website, as well, so stay tuned.

Are there any SSS products for which you’d like to see an instructional video made? Let me know!

 

Calming the Retail Customers’ Fear of Purchasing

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You have customers walking through your door every day. They are cordially greeted by you or your staff, they browse, they ask questions and, if all goes according to your plan, they purchase your merchandise. But sometimes they do not. Hmmm! What could be the reason for this? Perhaps you don’t have quite what they’re looking for…or perhaps they’re afraid. Not afraid of you or your oh-so-not-scary merchandise, but afraid of the item not working out for them, after all.
Let’s look at some reasons a customer might be afraid to purchase. They are afraid that:
    • the item may be less expensive elsewhere

 

  • their significant other won’t like it

 

 

  • it won’t match (their sofa, their pants, etc.)

 

 

  • they won’t know how to use it

 

Have a meeting with your staff and ask them why customers may be hesitant to purchase in your store in particular. Once you pinpoint possible reasons, you can prepare your solutions. For instance, if the customer fears they will find the item cheaper elsewhere, you can implement a price-matching program if you don’t already have one in place. People may be more inclined to purchase if they know that they will be reimbursed the difference if the same item is found to be cheaper somewhere else within the next 30 days (or whatever time frame you choose). If the item doesn’t match or their significant other doesn’t approve, let them know they’ve got nothing to lose by trying it out since they can always return their purchase for a refund or store credit. If the customer is nervous that he or she won’t know how to operate whatever it is they are purchasing, offer them a training session and let them know they can always call the store for assistance.

As we’ve all heard said “The best offense is a good defense”. Being prepared for any objection or fear that may pop up means that you don’t have to fear losing a sale.

Pop-Up Shops

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We’ve all passed by empty storefronts or offices, wondering what business will be opening up next. With the economy in its current state many people are hesitant to start a new venture or expand their current business, which leaves these stores empty and landlords eager for some sort of income. Enter Pop-up Shops.
As defined on Wikipedia, a “pop-up retail space is a venue that is temporary — the space could be a sample sale one day and host a private cocktail party the next evening. The trend involves “popping-up” one day, then disappearing anywhere from one day to several weeks later. These stores, while small and temporary, can build up interest by consumer exposure. Pop-up retail allows a company to create a unique environment that engages their customers, as well as generates a feeling of relevance and interactivity. They are often used by marketers for seasonal items such as Halloween costumes, holiday gifts and Christmas trees, or fireworks.” Pop-up shops can also be used as an opportunity to test a brand or market without committing to opening a permanent shop. Department stores are known to open pop-up shops to generate buzz about designers or to focus on several new items each week. Some online stores will also open up these temporary stores to unload overstock. Many landlords are now willing to negotiate short term leases in an effort to generate some revenue so obtaining a temporary space is easier than ever. Sound good to you? If you think that you might want to test out a market or idea let’s think about what you’ll need to open up a pop-up shop.
First of all, you’ll need displays and fixtures that are quick and easy to set up and knock down. Slatgrid and grid panels answer that need. Grid panels can be assembled into multiple configurations to meet your display requirements and can also be easily attached to walls with wall brackets for a more (semi)permanent display. Attach peg hooks, shelves, hang rails, faceouts, waterfalls and/or baskets and you’ve got everything you need to display a wide variety of different items. Install some casters and you can scoot the displays all around the store to change the floorplan. Keep in mind that slatwall accessories also work on slatgrid so if you’ve already got slatwall, you’re all set. Grid panels can also be purchased preconfigured in various ways such as quads, H displays or simple impulse displays if you don’t want to bother coming up with your own arrangement.
If you are looking for quick and easy garment racks then the heavy duty folding rack and professional Z rack may be just the ticket. The heavy duty folding rack is available in single and double rail and the casters also make it easy to rearrange the floorplan. The folding Z rack also sturdy and mobile and has the option to add another rail as well as a bottom shelf for more display space. Single rail garment racks are a good idea if you don’t plan on rearranging the floorplan during your stay in the store. Don’t forget your sturdy folding hand trucks to help you move merchandise in and out of the shop.
Well, we’ve touched on items you’ll need to display your merchandise but before you get going, don’t forget to publicize your pop-up shop! Send out an email blast on Constant Contact, post on FaceBook and tweet away on Twitter. If you want to print out invitations or advertisements, remember to keep the color scheme and font simple (think Arial or Times New Roman) and wording to a minimum. Don’t forget to order a banner for your pop-up shop so people know that you’ve come to visit for a while. Good luck and let me know if you’ve decided to “pop up” anywhere!

Retail Store Presentation: What is Your Store Saying?

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What is the appearance of your store telling your customers? Are smudges on the door and front windows yelling “Hi! We’re messy and unprofessional”? Is your clean floor stating “My owner cares enough to vacuum me”? Is there clutter on your cash wrap or register counter saying “We’re so disorganized”? Your store may be speaking volumes without you knowing it! Let’s put on our retail merchandising hats and figure out what your store may be saying.Take a few minutes to look at your store from a customer’s perspective from the beginning to the end of their visit. The entrance is your first chance to impress the customer. When you walk in the door are the glass and the handle sparkling clean or are they a hotbed of germs? Is there a clean floor mat just inside the doorway to keep dirt and water off your floor? To ensure you are presenting a professional image from the get-go, take a peek in your windows to make sure there are no burnt out bulbs or any dust bunnies lurking in your window display or on the sills. Think about what pleases you when you first walk into a store, or even before you walk into the store.

After surveying the entryway, take a stroll around the store. Are your shelves and racks stocked and organized? Make sure that your items are priced and that sale signs are attractive, legible and prominently displayed. If you have fitting rooms, are the mirrors and floors clean? Are there ample hooks for customers to hang their selections in the fitting rooms?

Let’s go check out. The check out counter should not be where old notes and broken pens go to die, nor is it the place to keep potato chips while you nibble throughout the day. You want to convey a professional and clean environment, the image that you and your store are reliable and responsible, so make sure the counter is not cluttered, dirty or chipped. A good cleaner can wipe up any dirt, spilled drinks or icky tape residue. Information for staff reference should be out of the customer’s line of vision, ideally in a binder or behind the counter. However, some things you may want your customers to see are information about your upcoming promotions and return/exchange policies. This should be one of the few places in the store where your signage can be more detailed than “sale” signs. Take advantage of your captive audience and let them know what else you have to offer!

So, are you satisfied with what your store is telling people? If so, well done! If not, don’t be discouraged. Every day brings a new learning experience and now is your chance to make some positive changes! Retail merchandising and presentation can be a challenge but if approached creatively, cleverly and with enthusiasm, it can also be very profitable and rewarding.

Organizing for Easy Shopping

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Not all of us are gifted with organization skills. Sure, some of us have our own brand of “organized.” We can tell you what’s in each mountainous stack of paper on our desk or direct you to the calculator (which we last saw in the closet… or maybe on the shoe rack) but do your customers want to search and guess while shopping? That’s a big “No!” They don’t want to work for their purchase and so are more likely to revisit your store if their shopping experience is made easy for them.

If someone is dashing in on their lunch break or running errands in between chauffeuring the kids from Point A to Point B, they don’t have the time to sift through items to find what they need. Be sure to walk through the store periodically to straighten shelves, untangle hangers and put misplaced product back where it belongs. When straightening clothing racks make sure that the clothes are all sorted sequentially by size so your customers can locate, grab and go.

You can also help make the shopping experience easier by grouping together items that are commonly purchased together. For instance, if you are selling cell phones, it would be a good idea to have the phone protective covers on display near the appropriate phones rather than having all the covers displayed together on one rack. This way the customer won’t have to search the rack for the cover that will fit their phone. Think about what your customers purchase together and see if you can group items without interrupting the flow of your store or creating multiple displays for the same item. You get the idea.We all enjoy a challenge (to a certain extent) but most of us don’t care for running obstacle courses while running errands. Are your aisles clear of boxes or do customers need to sidestep around your incoming shipment or stocker? Stocking is absolutely necessary, of course, but it’s best to do your stocking during the slower part of your day, or even before or after hours of operation. If you do need to restock or accept deliveries during business hours, just remember to keep things orderly. Think about using a work cart to keep boxes off the floor to minimize tripping hazards. A cart with a large work space and supply drawer can keep you organized and mobile while stocking.

And make sure your customers are still getting the service and attention they need even when you or your staff are busy restocking! But that’s a blog for another day.

3 Second Marketing: Sidewalk Signs

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Quick, read fast! You have about 3 seconds to capture a potential customer’s attention as they walk or drive by your store! How are you going to get their attention? Well, an eye-catching sign on the sidewalk or in the window is a great start.

A sidewalk sign needs to be big enough to get the attention of drivers but also concise enough for them to read as they are whizzing by. As our teachers told us in school, keep it simple. Just give enough information to make customers eager to enter your store and you can provide the details once they are inside. The XL Springer Sidewalk Sign is a good option to attract the attention of potential customers. It is large enough to announce “Sale” or “Special” with 10” high headers but compact enough that it will not cause sidewalk gridlock. The XL Springer Sidewalk Sign also includes 289 large 5” letters, numbers and symbols so you can change your sign daily. The strong contrast of the black/red letters and white board makes the sign very easy to read.

If you are feeling creative and would like to announce your information in freehand style then the Double-Sided Write on/Wipe Off Sidewalk sign may be the one for you. It’s great for indoor/outdoor use and is foldable for easy portability and storage. If you are fortunate enough to have someone in your employ with beautiful handwriting and an artistic flair then creating an original, changeable sign can be a creative way to draw attention. Remember to keep your color scheme simple and not to add too many distracting artistic details; you want to get your customers’ attention, not lose it by making the sign too busy to read in just a few seconds. Also keep in mind that the sign does still need to be attractive and be more than just simply legible. I, myself, have the writing and artistic talent of an over-caffeinated 5 year old so a custom banner or pre-printed sign would be my best option.

Don’t miss the next blog when I expound on the benefits of custom and pre-printed banners for those of us artistically challenged.

Some video supplies to spice up the holiday season and beyond

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Everyone out there would swear by the fact that reclining on a couch on a chilly winter afternoon with a hot steaming cuppa held in one hand and a movie playing on TV is the perfect idea of the run up to Christmas. And moreover with films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Gallows, Faster or the Warriors Way already released and another slew of new releases in the pipeline the movie buffs will be completely spoilt for choice this season.

And to make this already vibrant season even more colorful, you can dole out some of the best movies and CDs both from the past and present from your store and make this time of the year the most memorable one. For storing CDs and DVDs, however, you would obviously need certain supplies like cases, albums etc.

Now the big question is where would you procure them from? The answer is simple. Specialty Store Services, the one-stop shop for all kinds of retail supplies. We have multiple paraphernalia related to video like cd/dvd cases, disc repair/and disc verifiers, dvd cases, media supplies, media storage, game cases, vhs cases, media mailers, custom imprinted video rental forms etc.

Each item is unique and caters to your needs perfectly. So after you store the CDs and DVDs in these cases and albums, you can then lock them up safely in the cabinets. Also, don’t forget to check out our mobile video return and display cart. Made of steel with chip-resistant epoxy finish the best thing about the display cart is that it can be easily transported from one place to another. In addition to this, you can also check out the replacement cases for disney VHS tapes for they can make the torn and tattered Disney CDs look all new and dazzling. In fact they are great for home theater collections too.

So browse through our stock and I bet you would be absolutely hooked on the startling variety that we have!

The Importance Store Window Displays

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I was walking around town the other day and I noticed some store windows and it made me think about presentation. When people walk or drive by your store the first impression they get is what they see in your windows. When store windows are all covered with flyers and junk it does not make me want to go in, in fact it makes me suspicuis. On the other hand when a store window is well decorated and clean it is inviting and welcoming. Which one do you think is more effective?

Specialty Store Services has a lot of great items to help you make a graet first impression with your store windows. We carry a huge line of LED window signs, including the best selling LED Open Sign. Get you message seen with fully programmable LED motion message signs. These eye-catching signs are muli-colored and can display your promotions, sales and more.

To attract attention to your store use our energey effiecient Rope Lights. These long life rope lights have 144 lights per 13 ft section. Nothing attracts attention like flashing lights!

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New Cash Deposit Safes are Perfect for Small Business!

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Specialty Store Services has added a line of deposit safes that are the perfect combination of security and convenience. Our customers have been asking for these deposit safes and Specialty Store Services delivers. Our top of the line Cash Deposit Safe is 17-3/4″W x 17-3/4″D x 33″H with a whopping 3.88 cubic feet of interior space. And with a separate locking drawer it is great for multiple cash drawers and personnel shifts. It features a 6-1/2″W x 1-3/4″H deposit slot with an anti-fishing baffle that keeps cash secure. This Cash deposit safe is also sold without the locking cash drawer but with all the same features as above in a smaller footprint and 2.48 cubic feet of interior space.

Another great safe now in stock is the Dual Compartment Safe with Electronic Lock. This safe features 3.88 cubic feet of interior space in two separate locking compartments. It is like getting 2 safes in one. Bottom safe features locking drawer and top safe features an adjustable shelf.

Specialty Store Services has been the leader in Cash Handling products for the independent retailer and small business for years. Click here to see more of our selection of Safes, Currency and Bill Counters, Coin Sorters, Counterfeit Money Detectors and More.

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