Location A Factor In Video

When it comes to video content, it’s long been conventional wisdom that mindset can be a determining factor in the consumer’s interaction. For example, if a commercial for a product airs during his favorite TV show, he might be annoyed by it; yet if he is in the market for said product, he might view the same commercial as highly informative. But there are also indications that physical location could be just as much of a determining factor in consumer response. For example, a consumer in a brick and mortar store is not likely to view... 

Pacific Solution Marketing

Pacific Solution Marketing began as a retail company, selling its products mainly at flea markets. But after nearly a decade of operation this way, the entire structure and direction of the company was changed to strictly wholesale. This was back in the mid 1990s, and the company hasn’t looked back. Specializing in edged products such as swords and knives, Pacific Solution was appearing at retail trade shows, Renaissance fairs and the like. However, a shift in philosophy prevailed, and it was decided there were better opportunities in the... 

3D Framed Art

Paintings and posters have long been a retail staple, but now a new twist on the old product is becoming a hot retail seller. Framed art in three dimensions is finding its way into retail stores and shopper’s hearts. “This is not your standard art, which is flat,” explains Gary Chandler of Western Sales. “This actually sticks out from the image and goes towards you, so you can see the sides of the face, the nose, everything. Almost like a statue on the wall.” The product is extremely popular in religious themes, especially... 

Facebook’s Location Feature

Marketers are excited by the recent announcement by social networking giant, Facebook, of an upcoming location based feature. The new feature would allow users to include their location as part of their status updates, and it is already being investigated by corporations and independent retailers alike, as a means to increase brand awareness and drive offline sales. Many companies are already planning location based campaigns to possibly be built around the new Facebook functionality, including the fast food titan, McDonald’s. Marketing firms... 

Summer Discount Promo

Summer is traditionally the slowest period of the year for many independent retailers. To combat that problem, last year some local merchants in the Yuma, Arizona area came up with the, “$20 on the 20th,” campaign, a promotion in which many of the area businesses advertised special offers on the same day, July 20, in a concerted effort to lure customers into their establishments. This year, the $20 on the 20th campaign was put into action once again, with the sales of some local retailers getting a boost. Three days prior, on July 17,... 

Pocket SmartString

A new four-in-one multi tool takes a clever idea and makes it into a must have gift item. Pocket SmartString, by Pocket Workmate LLC, can measure, calculate, level, and illuminate. “It’s a thin calculator that has the ability to electronically measure distances with a string,” says Pocket Workmate owner, Jeff Freed. “You have a button that you can use to toggle between calculator or measurement mode. When it is in measurement mode, when you pull the string out, it reads on the screen the distance the string goes out.” The... 

Be Happy: Be Your Own Boss

At last, the secret to happiness has been discovered: be a small business owner. A survey conducted by TD Bank reveals that 69 percent of American small business owners polled said they would describe themselves as, “very happy.” In addition, 61 percent said they think they are happier than their peers. Moreover, the stress of running a business during the worst economy since the Great Depression has not turned these happy entrepreneurs off to the advantages of capitalism, since 87 percent say in the next five years, they are just as... 

Hobby Shop Going Strong

Dannie and Opal Slavin have owned and operated the Family Hobby Center in Naples, Florida since 1965. They got their start after buying up the inventory of a former Naples hobby store, and haven’t looked back since. The Hobby Center means everything to them, and for years they’ve put the store’s profits back into the business. “You can make more money selling stuff than you can working with your hands,” says Opal Slavin, 87. More than just a source of income, hobbies are both a passion and a pastime for the Slavin... 

Med Memory Keeps Health Info

As debates on the future of health care become a staple of our private conversations and public discourse, Med Memory is offering a product for the times. The company sells USB medical information storage devices that can be carried simply as a card, key chain, or pill box. According to vice president of sales, Bernard Senita, this product takes the traditional medical alert bracelet and brings it into the future. “MedMemory is a management tool for a person’s entire medical, health, and lifestyle records, held on one portable device,”... 

Retailers Must Reach Out

Retail managers need to change their corporate culture if they want to make the most of all their assets, whether digital or physical. That’s the conclusion of a new study conducted by Retail Systems Research, in partnership with the National Retail Federation. According to the study, “Creating a single brand identity across all channels,” remains the top opportunity for most retailers. The study, titled, “The Cross-Channel Wake Up Call,” focused on how retailers can achieve the goal: Learn about emerging consumer... 

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