Does your consignment, resale, thrift shop ever attract tourists? Visitors? Seasonal residents?
Or are there folks you run across in your store who might want to know the best places around to hike, bike, eat, shop, stroll?
You have insider knowledge. Why not share it?
Create a simple The Best of Ourtown handout with your recommendations of what’s unique in your area. Best Place for Pecan Waffles…Best Bowling Alley…Best Park for Kids. You know best what to include!
Of course, this handout is branded with Compliments of MyShop, Best Place in Town for Unique Treasures and Surprises.
After all, visitors may forget to pack all they need. And shopping is a MAJOR tourist sport. Wouldn’t they like to know about your shop?
You could offer a supply of these customer-service brochures to local innkeepers and fellow merchants to hand out to their visitors, in addition to having them available in your shop. If you’re in an area where tourists are strolling, put a poster in your window inviting them in for their Insider Knowledge pamphlet.
Free advertising, friendly advise, and making your shop stand out from the crowd. What’s not to like?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Oops, should have scrolled down….
This is the fb post, so you don’t have to double click.
We have a visitor center & village association in our small town so that is an easy place for brochures & cards. Don’t overlook the buses and bus drivers. Other shop owners told me to befriend the bus driver and the tour guides. DITTO is ne…w (one tourist season so far) but have also had these suggestions: Get a list of tours, for a small fee, (~$50) you can include a stuffer in their tour packet or a coupon – advertise a freebie like freshbaked cookies on Saturday. (ready to bake ones are inexpensive and easy) Eating & clothing is not a good mix so I try to keep it to a tiny one bite size that doesn’t make crumbs. 🙂 Some owners say they call the driver or guide – invite them in to have a look around and give THEM a gift – even take them out for coffee. They are the one constant to hundreds of people coming to town. Obviously tourists are not going to be your suppliers, but it’s a lot of fun when they are your buyers.
Jan has some great comments, but she posted them over on my FB page for some reason. Worth reading, for sure: http://www.facebook.com/notes/kate-holmes/insider-knowledge-your-hidden-talent/10150090940928927
Awesome idea Auntie Kate!!!!!! I love it, my shop is two minutes from Sesame Place in PA. Great idea when business tends to slow down during yard sale season!
Hi Kate, I Ashland Oregon we have thousands of visitors for the Shakespeare Fesival. Our season starts this month! Thanks for the timely tip. I’ll let you know what I come up with for Mixed Vintage. As for Hospice Unique Boutique, we hand-delivered full color rack cards to the B&B’s and have had wonderful response!
Lynn