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Archive for the ‘5- Minute Fixes’ Category

The basics. Or so I thought.

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, I've been meaning to tell you, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on May 6, 2014| 5 Comments »

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I opened my consignment shop, I included a couple of basics in my business that I thought everyone did.

Now, they came in so handy for my ease and enjoyment, that I figured it was way too simple to have to ask my consultees, attendees at my workshops, and correspondents whether they took advantage of these lower-than-low-tech shop tools.

But it seems that I have been neglectful. Recently, I (more…)

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Killing doorknobs

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , , on April 15, 2014| 6 Comments »

Sometimes when you’re taking a quick photo for your social media, you really don’t want to take the time to set up a backdrop.

That’s understandable. But kill the doorknob.

Please.

Case in point: (more…)

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Make some shelves into MORE shelves

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on April 12, 2014| 1 Comment »

Need lots of shelf space, but only want to invest in a few of those plastic shelving units? Here’s (more…)

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Good thoughts in a jar

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on March 27, 2014| 6 Comments »

Here’s a way to keep yourself and your staff attuned to the happy reasons you run a consignment, resale, or thrift shop.

Too Good to be Threw is the Premier Site for Professional Resalers

And a way, too, to put the not-so-happy aspects of running the shop in the proper perspective.

Keep a jar on your sale counter. Every time something NICE happens, write a “happy memory” note and tuck it inside.

  • Compliments, friendly customer, the perfect display everyone adores.
  • The little boy who HUGGED the toy car his father bought him.
  • The home-baked cookies Mrs. Jones dropped by.
  • The sun shining.
  • The customers who clapped when shy little Lucie came out of the dressing room in her first-ever prom dress.

Every time something NOT SO NICE happens, and you’re irked or upset or downright mad, open the jar and throw away a happy memory note. If you can. Is the NOT SO NICE happening…

  • the short-tempered consignor,
  • the customer who always wants you to sell her something for less than it’s priced,
  • the neighbor who smokes right near your open shop door

… really worth tossing a happy memory for? If it is, fine, throw one random happy memory away.

But I think you’ll find you’d rather hold on to the happy memory, and toss the bad incident where it belongs: in the trash.

Here’s to a packed-full jar of happy memories, and to your very seldom feeling that something unhappy requires you to fish a happy out and throw it away. Hey, here’s an idea… at your staff year-end holiday party, how about opening that jar and reminiscing about

all the wonderful times you’ve had all together in your shop?

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The photo, as far as I can tell, is originally from inchmark.squarespace.com

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Turning ODs into a Boutique Must-Have!

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, I've been meaning to tell you, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on March 2, 2014| 3 Comments »

Did you see this Pinterest pin a few days back (more…)

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