If there’s one thing that I wish every Too Good to be Threw resaler, heck, every RETAILER, would resolve to do in the upcoming year, it’s to polish up their shop so that it razzle-dazzles their clientele.
Shopping used to be a joy. It was FUN. They made jokes about the ladies in the department stores squirting perfume. They ohhed-and-ahhed over the fantasy Toyland at Macy’s. Women looked forward to a day browsing in the sleek atmospheres of Bergdorf’s or Marshall Field’s or Neiman Marcus. Even your home-town dress shop: La Boutique Chic or Lyman’s for the Ladies was a palace of sights, scents, sounds and elegant little touches. Maybe a flower-trimmed hand mirror in the dressing room, or a trio of colorful ribbons tied to the handle of your shopping bag.
Now, what do you get? A supermarket-style checkout counter that you can only pray won’t snag the silk blouse you’re trying to buy. Shopping carts that either haven’t been cleaned lately…or which are abandoned in the middle of an aisle. No price tag? The best you can hope for from a “sales associate” is a wave of a limp wrist towards some electronic terminal where you’re invited to self-serve.
There’s a more serious reason that I wish my resale shopkeeper friends would work on the total experience their clients have while shopping:
Depression. Jobs are disappearing, homes aren’t selling, the dollar’s down and gas is up. People and the economy are not in the most optimistic attitude right now, and they need, want, love, will PAY FOR razzle-dazzle. Think about it: shopping is supposed to be fun. A little treat, a reward. So, if you’re shopping somewhere that’s FUN… you’re more than willing to pay a bit extra for the entertaining experience. An item worth $X in a dull, boring place (name just about any “new” retailer you choose, that description will fit!) is, to the buyer, worth $X +Y% in a shop which provides an enjoyable shopping experience.
So. Razzle-dazzle your shoppers. Make sure the five senses are pleased. Have a smile on your face, compassion in your heart, and please, no ink pen lying on the counter where it’ll mark my silk blouse. Razzle-dazzle can cost a lot of money, or it can be cheap. (Guess which I recommend!) Either way, it’s a great ROI for your business. Will 2008 be the year your shop’s income razzle-dazzles your wallet?
It’s showtime, folks!
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
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Woo Hoo, I hardly ever win anything! Well, except for the “name the Used Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet newsletter” contest. Is my prize for that contest still valid?
I’m taking the day off today, and Kenny thinks I’m busily cleaning and organizing my little home office (one of my many new year’s resolutions) instead of researching your life! But I can never quit digging and researching until I get to the bottom of things, which is why my study looks like it does.
So now I’m wondering, who runs Pin Money now? No, don’t tell me – finding out will keep me from this dreaded task a little longer!
Actually I do have an autographed copy of the Picker, but it’s awfully dog-eared from reading it so much, and so another personally autographed copy would be treasured.
Nope, I’m not giving it to my favorite customer, and yes, of course they all are, so how would I choose?
YOU WIN!! The Village of Babylon LI NY is indeed my home town. My brother and his family still live there, in the family home. My wedding pictures were taken at Argyle Park, I was the Babylon High School football mascot (big fuzzy panther costume), and I was the Saturday help in my mother’s consignment shop, Pin Money, on Main St next to the white-steepled Methodist church. Got my chocolate egg creams three or four doors down at the diner. Sudder Bazzaar was across the street…
Now I know you already have your copy of The Picker Who Perished, so how would you like your prize copy autographed? “To Patty’s Best Customer”? (Aren’t they ALL?)
Babylon, New York?
Well, Patricia Googled and came up with my hometown being in Pakistan at the turn of the last century (oops) and Patty remembered that I’m from Long Island, which narrows it down to 4 counties (well, two counties and two boroughs, if ya wanna be a New Yorker!), and 125 miles by 15 or so. Getting warm!
FWIW it’s Long Island NY, not Long Island in the Bahamas or Long Island KS (who knew? Go figure! Population 155, that’s where The battle of Prairie Dog Creek took place… and there’s Long Island Maine, population 202… ain’t the Internet wonderful 😉 ) Long Island NY has a population of, oh, 8 million give or take a few.
Without resorting to Google, I’m guessing Sudder Bazaar was somewhere on Long Island??