Live Blogging

Live blogging (e.g., Tweeting, time-stamped news feed updates) holds great promise for retailers looking for a new and better way to engage core customers. It’s a novel way for brands of all sizes to deliver valuable and interesting content to receptive consumers actively seeking information on products, and interaction with retailers offering those products. What’s more, live blogging can be a low cost, highly rewarding marketing strategy. The appeal of live blogging is easy to understand. Retailers hosting events (i.e., sales, charity events,... 

Dollar Stores on Roll

A 2011 survey, conducted by America’s Research Group, reveals that Americans plan to stretch their dollars by shopping at discount chains, rather than at pricier department stores and specialty chains, with 753 out of 1,000 survey participants picking discounters as potential shopping destinations. Britt Beemer, president of America’s Research Group, notes that even low price leaders will be faced with intense competition, saying, “Walmart has a new enemy called the dollar store.” A study by Colliers International reveals that dollar stores... 

Caddy Wrap Products

What do 200,000 Americans getting a facelift annually and 10 million Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder sufferers have in common? Their symptomatic care requires hot and cold therapy. And while a bag of peas and hot towels have been the method of relief for decades, John Lucas, designer and inventor of the FaceCaddy, wanted to introduce a no-nonsense, hands-free product, for a more effective targeted therapy relief. Targeted Therapy Relief You Can Take Home FaceCaddy is available in Midnite Black or Hot Pink, and is made of strong, but soft... 

Uncovering Hidden Losses

It is said that, “What you can’t see won’t hurt you.” But in retail, nothing could be further from the truth. While loss prevention (LP) professionals are usually very focused on highly visible causes of loss, such as shoplifting, organized retail crime and administrative error, they also must consider hidden losses that occur without being noticed or tracked: A shopper does not receive adequate customer service and leaves the store. Merchandise isn’t replenished on the shelves, driving customers to a competitor. Or, worst of all, lost... 

Advanced Pet Products

People aren’t the only ones enjoying the technological advances of the 21st century, as Advance Pet Products (APP) has introduced its Stay Clean line of jackets and beds to the market. Using nanotechnology, the study of manipulating matter on a molecular scale, APP has altered the fiber of these jackets and beds to repel anything and everything from water to sludge. “Nothing is done to the surface of these products to repel liquids and other messes, but rather it is the altered fiber that allows them to retain their original properties and stay... 

Better Care for Eyewear

EyecareAmerica.org recently issued a news release on the ABCs of eye health, reminding those who are visually impaired, “that it is never too late to learn how to take better care of your eyes.” Rick Hopper, creator and founder of ReadeRest, also believes the same is true for eyewear. He comments, “ReadeRest keeps your eyewear investment safe when it’s not on your face.” The ReadeRest, rebranded as SpecSecure, is an eyeglass holding solution featuring a stainless steel design, strong enough to hold the weight of 50 pairs of glasses on... 

Fairness for Indies

In a recent bipartisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed both the Regulatory Accountability Act and the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, a crucial first step toward returning balance to the federal rulemaking process for many small businesses, including independent retailers. “Bringing more accountability to the federal rulemaking process is a top priority for small businesses,” said National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) president and CEO, Dan Danner. A recent Gallup poll found that compliance with government... 

Rock’n Natural Products

The state of Utah promises limitless outdoor adventures, with mountains, deserts and mineral filled lakes to explore. Surrounded by such a rewarding environment, it seemed only natural that Western Woods of St. George, UT, should go into the business of wholesaling natural products. While its roots are in woodworking (clocks and desk accessories), the company now produces home decor and collectible lines using the natural material of rocks and minerals. Just as Western Woods has found its niche in rock products of all types, Daren Aitken, sales... 

Revamping Your Visuals

While you may not have the budget to do a complete signage overhaul, there are several cost-conscious ways to boost your business’s visual communications strategy in 2012. Consider these creative and innovative ideas: 1) Wall Decals and Graphics. Wall decals can transform a space from boring to impressive. Consider the merchandising possibilities for placing goods on a giant image; sell more sleeping bags with a beautiful outdoor scene, more guitars with a picture of a raging arena crowd, or more basketball shoes with intense dunking imagery. 2)... 

Predicting the New Year

Retailers, while not acclaimed fortune tellers, quite often are asked to predict the future. How much inventory must be purchased to meet demand? Will markdowns be required? How will the new selling year fare? Without proper analysis of your financial situation, these predictions are nothing more than uneducated guesses. Instead, retailers must perform a thorough evaluation of their business and its success in past years. This can be done by answering the following five questions, before a business plan is set in full motion for the new year: 1)... 

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