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Archive for the ‘Shopkeeping talk’ Category

Why you need store bucks. 10 Reasons. You can think of more, I’m certain.

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on April 15, 2011| 15 Comments »

Why you need store bucks.

* To reward a consignor for bringing items in at the beginning of the season.

* To add to a payout, if you’re a buy-outright, as incentive for that seller to shop.

* To thank a particularly helpful donor.

* As incentive for staffers.

This could be a million-dollar idea for consignment, resale, thrift shops

One of the simple things that could be worth a million to your shop.

* As appreciation to a volunteer who went above and beyond.

* To add to a restaurant tip for that nice waitperson, or to surprise that nice cashier at your regular grocery store.

* To tuck in a birthday, “thinking of you”, thank-you card.

* As a “nice-talking-with-you” gift to the person next to you in the post office line.

* As a “thanks for being so enthusiastic!” gift for a customer wannabe who comes by when you can’t open for her/him.

Store bucks can make you wealthy

* For anyone who does you or your business a favor.

What are store bucks? Basically, $X in currency redeemable in your business…good for anything anytime. It’s not very gracious, after all, to offer a $5 off on any purchase $25 or more is it? That’s a coupon, not a gift. Or to give a 25%-off coupon. (All that says to the recipient is buy something and I’ll take a little off.) Or to limit what store bucks are good for (that’s like, well, yes, come over for Sunday dinner but no pie for you little missy.) . Give with open hands and heart, or don’t give store bucks at all.

Secrets of Successful Resalers (includes 9 Million-Dollar Ideas)

How to Make More Money

What ways have YOU used store dollars?

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SNOOZE ALARM 3: Over-modest, self-limiting… & rodent-infested.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on April 14, 2011| 1 Comment »

More of our mini-seriesAre you putting your customers to sleep?

SNOOZE ALARM: Really really
boring ways to say things

There comes a time (with luck!) in every consignment, resale, thrift shop, when you are simply over-stocked in something and you need to let your clientele know it to drive sales in this particular area. Could be toddler clothes, sofas… or as we see in this next example of (more…)

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SNOOZE ALARM, Part 2: Tell ’em in a way they really will HEAR.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on April 13, 2011| 5 Comments »

More of our mini-seriesAre you putting your customers to sleep?

SNOOZE ALARM: Really really
boring ways to say things

Facebook and your shop blog are great places to let fans, friends, and followers know what your customers want to buy. And many consignment, resale, and thrift shops do, indeed, mention “what we need.” Good idea….done in an intriguing and interesting way.

But oh, oh, oh. Watch your language. (more…)

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SNOOZE ALARM…really really boring ways to say things

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged on April 12, 2011| 7 Comments »

Today we’re starting a new mini-series called

Are you putting your customers to sleep?SNOOZE ALARM: Really really boring ways to say things

Many consignment, resale, and thrift shops have their digital cameras at the ready, and often snap a few photos of items in their shops to post on Facebook or in their blogs. Good idea….as far as it goes.

But oh, oh, oh. (more…)

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Getting Full Value from the Good you do

Posted in Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , on April 11, 2011| 4 Comments »

Think of all the good your shop does for your community:The good consignment, resale, and thrift shops do in their communities

  • You collect items which, while unsalable in your business, are useful and needed in various charities around town. Quite possibly you even donate your time, sweat, and gas money delivering these items around town.
  • Perhaps you maintain consignment accounts whose proceeds go directly, as cash (always needed!) , to charitable causes. Perhaps you actively seek out non-profits to partner with in this way.
  • You donate door prizes and silent auction items and things for goodie bags to charitable fundraisers. Maybe you take out ads in the Band Boosters program or give the local theater group some costumes and props.
  • Unsold items are carefully sorted by you for donation where they will do the most good.
  • You donate space and your traffic to the Pep Squad booth selling Christmas wrap, the Girl Scouts with their cookies, the animal shelter with their hug-a-pup event.
  • Your provide a sales outlet for handmade crafts from the assisted-living crafts programs or a venue for the community college’s interior design classes. Maybe you do presentations on entrepreneurship at a local school or give a “dress for success” show at the women’s resource center.
  • You donate a portion of sales proceeds from various events (bag sales? dollar racks?) to local non-profits.
  • You provide X jobs for the community and plow back $Y into your community…a substantial figure, when you count consignor/seller income from selling through you, salaries, rents, local business supply purchases, on and on…)

Do you get full value from the good you do in your community?

Do you publicize your good deeds and the helping hands you extend to a broad spectrum of local assistance?

It’s one thing to donate clothes to a church’s free clothing pantry or to give $1 per bag sold at your bag sale to the emergency shelter. It’s another thing to let your marketplace know that you are fully vested in, and active with, people helping people right here at home. That, when they patronize your business, they are taking part in a network of loving concern that reaches not only their lives, but their neighbors’ as well.

Think of it this way: when you let people know that you’re doing good, you’re inspiring them to do the same.

Toot your horn. Modesty only becomes those who sit back and don’t do anything to interweave their lives with others’.

Be bold in declaring that when folks do business with you, it benefits not just them, but also your community. Step up and say

“We step up and we thank YOU for doing the same by dealing with us.”

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