Running a business can be hard work and very costly, especially if you’re just starting out in the field. Instead of throwing any extra change into a piggy bank like your mother taught you, there are easier ways of cutting costs, and Independent Retailer has put together tips for just that. Between advice from CEOs […]
management
How to Create an Immersive In-Store Experience
70% of our economy is driven by consumer spending. Mark Mathews, NRF Vice President for Research Development and Industry Analysis, says “as long as you have a strong consumer, you have a strong position.” How do you create strong consumers for your store? By offering them a great experience. Jill Standish of Accenture said at […]
Ingredients for a Successful Direct to Consumer Startup
What do Casper, Allbirds, Brandless, Burrow, and Snowe all have in common? For starters, they are all ecommerce startups launched within the past few years that are extremely successful in terms of revenue, brand identity, and recognition. What else do they have in common? They all used the same brand company to launch their business. […]
4 Steps for Choosing a POS System
Choosing a point-of-sale (POS) system is a big decision. The right system can make your business operate much more efficiently, help manage inventory, provide data to make better purchasing and staffing decisions, and improve customer service. Many of the POS systems available for retailers advertise similar features. But, they are not all created equal. Here’s […]
Back to Basics: Freshen Up Your Store with Merchandising 101
Spring has sprung. Well… almost. There’s no better time than the present to freshen up your store for yourself, and for your customers. Having a great retail display can make all the difference. The way you display products and organize your store can be the difference between stellar sales or a deadbeat season. So, let’s […]
Spring into Action: How to Increase Apparel and Accessory Sales
It is not enough just to stock your store with apparel and accessories for the new season, you need strategies to move those products. Spring is a time for new beginnings, and there’s no better time to reinvent your store and optimize for sales. Here is a step-by-step guide for increasing apparel sales in your […]
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses
A new year, a fresh start – there’s no better time to take a step back and evaluate your business. Hopefully you finished the year with a strong holiday sales season. No matter where you landed last year, there’s always room for improvement. Take advantage of the slower winter months to revamp your store operations, […]
Small Changes, Big Savings
Earlier this year, Walmart announced that they will save $200 million by changing their light bulbs and save $20 million by using a new floor wax. Those kinds of numbers are cause for anyone to stop and re-think routine purchases. Making supply or operational changes in your store probably won’t save you $200 million, but, […]
Ecommerce’s Serial Return Problem
Last year, UPS delivered 1.4 million packages back to retailers on January 3rd, also known as “National Returns Day.” Brick and mortar retailers see about 8 percent of all purchases returned. For ecommerce sellers, that number swells to 30 percent of all purchases. Online apparel purchases are returned at a rate of nearly 40 percent. […]
How to BLAST Away Customer Complaints
The holiday season is a stressful time for everyone, including shoppers and employees. It’s inevitable that every retailer will have an upset customer at some point during the holiday season. No matter what the cause of the complaint, it’s essential that retailers address and de-escalate the situation promptly so that the customer is satisfied and […]
