Indie Retailers Resolve Security Breaches with Proper POS Management

A study titled, “The Checkout,” sponsored by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C in 2009 revealed that retail customers’ top criteria for selecting a store was, “accepts my credit or bank cards.” Only a few years later, and little has changed. Retailers may be plagued by swipe fees and a never-ending battle with the bank, but business and the overall bottom line depend on sales, and sales depend on meeting consumers’ expectations. In today’s world, the customer is expecting to shop and checkout at a pace that is fitting to their busy schedule.... 

Affordable Greeting Cards for All Life’s Moments

Every stage in life may be unpredictable, filled with different responsibilities and new people, but there is one thing that can be counted on, there is a greeting card to mark the occassion. John Fenwick, co-owner of Stockwell Greetings, agrees, saying, “There are cards to celebrate or recognize almost every important moment in life. People give cards for birthdays, graduation, engagement, anniversaries, retirement and more.” This never seemed more true than during the recent recession, as the sale of cheer and encouragement cards... 

Discount Wholesalers: Best Practices in the Warehouse and Online

What good is a website if no one can navigate through it? Bryan Eisenberg, co-author of Call to Action, a how to book on creating customer friendly websites, explains, it’s about, “making sure that everyone can get in quickly, buy quickly, then get out again quickly.” Retailers won’t be buying anything if they can’t find it, select it and checkout. Supplying retailers with thousands of everyday necessities, Discount Wholesalers, Inc., utilizes its online space to efficiently and effectively showcase every item it offers.... 

Retailers’ Role in the Business of Being Prepared

The intent of National Preparedness Month, held each September, is to encourage Americans to prepare for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. The key is to take action to be prepared, not simply write plans or hold discussions. When it comes to preparedness, retailers have a dual mission: to ready their own organizations for emergencies and also to support other businesses, families and individuals in their efforts to be prepared. September offers a great opportunity for retailers to make preparedness a primary issue... 

Branding and Good Will: Winning Combination for Retail Business

Supporting local independent retailers is a sure way to be certain money stays in the community, and many customers are happy to do so. According to the Northwest Earth Institute’s Choices for Sustainable Living, “A dollar spent at a locally owned store is usually spent 6 to 15 times before it leaves the community. From $1, you create $5 to $14 in value within that community.” Yet retailers can’t expect customers to support their buy local campaigns, without verification that the retailer they are supporting is in fact an active, involved... 

Newood’s Durable Displays Allow for Economical Store Design

Current retail displays have evolved into a variety of styles and forms to equip the common needs of today’s retailer, who is spending less on replacing fixtures due to the economic times. Mick Thaxton, national sales manager of Newood Display Fixture Manufacturing, confirms, “It used to be people would replace fixtures every two or three years, just because they wanted a new look.” Now, all that any brick and mortar store, whether a hospital gift shop, book shop or clothing store, needs to concern itself with is a display’s longevity, functionality,... 

Asia America Trade Show: Wholesale Trade Opportunity

Acclaimed as a diversified show for a diversified market, the Asia America Trade Show (ACS America) provides buyers, suppliers, and many trading companies in Florida with the opportunity to exhibit and acquire general merchandise, gifts and toys, housewares, apparel, consumer electronics and much more. Surrounded by 43 countries from Central and South America and the Caribbean, Miami has been chosen for its high marketability to host the tradeshow scheduled for September 20 to 22. Florida alone has over 6,000 exporters who may need new technology... 

When Disaster Strikes: Nothing Else Matters

Envision the unimaginable: a terrorist plot successfully carried out in your store. A natural disaster of such force that it leaves your store in shambles. Who in your organization would be prepared to take action? How would their actions impact the outcome? Would panic or order prevail? Loss prevention professionals conduct critical activities on a daily basis; activities that salvage the retailer’s bottom line. And while these daily activities of a loss prevention manager are critical, even more significant may be the time and effort spent... 

Indie Retail Success with Mystery Shopping

Ron Welty, vice president of Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), the largest professional trade association dedicated to improving service quality, told me in a previous interview that he believes that using a mystery shopper may help independent retailers better evaluate their customer service. Unlike a customer survey, which often receives emotional responses and opinions, a mystery shopper is trained to research specific service areas and provides an unbiased evaluation. Carl Ashby, president of Ann-Crittenden Hallmark Gold Crown stores,... 

Cotton Activewear at Competitive Pricing

A wholesaler of activewear in Chicago and the Midwest, Cotton Connection began in 1980 in the north side of Chicago and quickly expanded. Now the company sells to independent retailers, as well as screen printers and embroiderers. As distributor of Fruit of the Loom, Gildan and Jerzees brands, the company looks to maintain its mission of providing the best quality and the best selection of name brand products at the wholesale level with outstanding service and value. It does so by offering items as low as $0.50  to $12 wholesale. To Download... 

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