Effective Merchandising Tips

It is vital for independent retailers to utilize effective merchandising techniques, as an attractive, organized and creative display of merchandise will always get attention. Merchandising is important year round, but it is especially crucial near the holidays, such as the back to school season and Christmas. Drawing attention to your shelves and displays is all about product placement, many times connecting with the senses and in-store advertising. Following are a few tips for more effective merchandising: 1) Engage the Senses. A store full of... 

NRF Video Contest Finalists Left to Public Vote

What is retail? Who better to tell us than those committed to the industry and making a livelihood from it. With sponsorship from the NRF, a national video contest known as “This is Retail,” was launched to learn more about the role of retail in the U.S. Kicking off the contest, NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay, announced, “We’re on a hunt to find the best retail stories in America, from marketing geniuses to customer service superstars to small business owners, who are the fabric of every local community.” Final Round of Judging on... 

Layaways Return

With families more cost conscious and budgets tight over the past few years, many retailers have tried numerous customer-friendly promotions to get a piece of the shopping budget. Among these promotions are integrated marketing campaigns across all available channels, paid shipping expenses, and this past holiday season favorite, layaway programs. Many big box retailers and chain stores have implemented layaway programs to help consumers fretting over additional debt, and worrying about maxing out credit cards. This is a good way to entice consumers... 

Closing Communication Gaps

Among those of us who serve and cater to customers, it seems a basic universal truth that we want to maintain steady and loyal relationships in order to drive more sales. This fact also drives fairly consistent confusion as to what to do and how to do it. The question, “What?” usually results in a disparate list of marketing tactics, such as promotions, discounts, limited-time offers, and so forth. The question, “How?” is usually answered with different communication channels: email, advertising, special events, social media, mobile, etc.... 

Facebook Ads 101

There still remains a learning curve for many independent retailers when it comes to advertising via Facebook and other social media. Although your marketing team may be a one man show, even the little guy can make a big name in his social network. Marketers surveyed in a recent report from the World Federation of Advertisers, say their fan pages are about generating insight, advocacy, loyalty and engagement from fans. Rewards aren’t always immediate, and it takes time to see a return. The first step is creating an effective business page. Make... 

Tracking Customers

Do brick and mortar retailers know what their customers want and need? Since in-store customer service is all about face-to-face interaction, many would believe this to be true. While the store owner’s goal is to get to know each and every customer with the hope of gaining loyalty, sometimes the shopping rush shortens those personal interactions. So what happens to consumers that come in just to browse, never saying a word and leaving without a purchase; what are they thinking and feeling? Retailers Invest in Real-time Research The truth is online... 

Loyalty Sells

To keep repeat customers you must consider recognition. For instance, keep track of the types of purchases your loyal buyers make, and on their next visit offer them the same or similar product at a special “Repeat Customer” discount. Or you can put into place the increasingly popular Customer Loyalty Program, giving your repeat customers a sense of exclusivity, while also supplying them with discounts, freebies and more. Yet part of being an independent retailer is offering something unique. And while one of a kind merchandise is what brings... 

Walmart Proves Layaways May Help Retailers Bounce Back

With money and spending the root of much household tension over the past few years, many retailers have tried numerous customer-friendly promotions to get a part of the shopping budget. Among these promotions are integrated marketing campaigns across all available channels, paid shipping expenses, and this past holiday season favorite, layaway programs. Many big box retailers and chain stores have implemented layaway programs to help those consumers fretting over additional debt and worrying about maxing out their credit cards. This is a good way... 

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,... 

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)... 

Next Page »