Posts Tagged ‘retail’
by Rebecca Button on April 28th, 2008
It’s begun. The Great Consumer Schism is effectively working its way through America-an event last experienced in this country in the ’70s. Economic disparity in America is nothing new. But in times of recession the division is inflated and even more apparent as seen through shifts in spending habits. It makes perfect sense of course that middle to lower income households are switching from brand name items to generic in order to save a few bucks.
So what does this mean for retailers? Well, if you sell cheaper products, this is great news! If you sell brand name (and therefore... Read more »
by Carrie Hinkel on April 25th, 2008
For a brick-and-mortar retail store, getting customers in that shopping mood is key. For some, “browser shoppers”, shopping is entertainment. Browsing through stores, soaking in the new merchandise and hoping something strikes them as a “must have”. These shoppers love whimsical product displays, winding floor plans, upbeat music and bright colors. They don’t mind being distracted by new product displays or fun and funky decorations.
For others, “mission shoppers”, shopping is purely a mission to purchase a specific item. They are searching for something in particular and most likely won’t take the time to browse around the store. These customers... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on April 18th, 2008
It’s almost like that gopher pounding game at the carnival. As soon as you bop one on the head another pops it’s mocking little head out of the hole which you must smash into oblivion…and so on and so forth for what seems like forever. Just as law enforcers find a way to prevent a crime, criminals find another way to commit it. We often stereotype criminals as dumb but in reality, in order to be a successful criminal you have to be smarter than the system that’s designed to keep you from violating it. It’s the nature of the... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on April 16th, 2008
Okay, don’t freak…there was no Part I so don’t go looking for it. Well, there sort of was…this is simply an addendum to my previous post Oh So Textual! *Text Message Shopping Has Arrived* .
When you bought your cell phone did you ever imagine that one day it would allow you to pay for things? No seriously, your cell phone as a form of currency? Yeah, neither did I. But now you can. I know! It’s nuts!
Ok, so here’s how it works (courtesy StorefrontBacktalk.com ):
Step 1: You download an applet on your phone. Said applet would be... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on April 15th, 2008
Grab your coconut bras and grass skirts and jump on the organic textiles bandwagon! More and more retailers are beginning to cater to green fashion and it would appear that it’s more than just a fad.
The reason for this? One day not long ago some forward thinking entrepreneurs realized that people will spend bucket loads of money on fashion…so why wouldn’t people do the same for organic clothing as well? They looked around and said to themselves "the only organic clothes available look like burlap sacks!" "Ces’t tres horrible! " they gasped in unison, aghast at the utter disaster... Read more »
by Larry Slusser on April 2nd, 2008
Have you heard some terms that you do not know what they mean? Do you appear to have the ‘dear in the headlights’ look when someone mentions a term that you should know, but do not? Below is a list of 20 not-so-common retailing terms. If you are just entering into the retail business, these terms will help to indoctrinate your lingo in the retailing industry.
Ad Impressions: Ad impressions are simply the number of times an ad is made available for consumers to view the product or service. These are also known as banner impressions.
Asset Protection: Assets protection... Read more »
by Larry Slusser on March 31st, 2008
Spending time with your staff and observing how they go about their business can help tremendously. More specifically, there may be a small adjustment needed on a task that has ‘always been done that way’ and is no longer effective. Small changes to the simplest of details can pay off some of the biggest dividends. Below are some tips for engaging with customers in a retail setting.
Instead of positioning yourself where you would have to approach the customer, stand in the middle of the store. This will give you a better opportunity to greet and engage customers without the... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on March 31st, 2008
Interesting thing isn’t it? How the internet has completely replaced the need to leave your house to buy things. Shopping malls were once the great meccas of consumerism. What a shame….What’s that you say? They still are? Oh….how is that possible? The internet has EVERYTHING and you don’t even have to get off your duff to get it!
Sarcasm aside, in spite of the incredible convenience the internet affords, people are still flocking to malls around the world to find what they are looking for. So why is that? I thought the internet was supposed to make things easier?
The... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on March 18th, 2008
There is quite a lengthy article on the Modern Distribution Management website that explores one of the biggest problems the wholesale/retail industry faces — counterfeiting. It sites statistics such as "The Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau estimates counterfeiting accounts for 5 percent to 7 percent of world trade" and "most counterfeit goods (close to 95 percent) can be traced back to China, according to a report from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition."
While counterfeiting is not a new trade by any means, what IS new is how the development of e-commerce has aided in its proliferation. “The Internet has made it possible for... Read more »
by Carrie Hinkel on March 12th, 2008
Whether your business is expanding or just starting out, the space you choose, whether for retail or office work, can be crucial to your business’ success. Many business owners have learned that, regardless of price, certain compromises shouldn’t be made when it could negatively affect the business. When considering a location for your office or retail space, here are some of the most important things to consider:
Location – For many, a location can either make or break a business. If you are a retail store, you should keep your customers in mind. Find the area where your target market... Read more »