In my workshop on Creating Compelling Communications, I pointed out that inspiration for usable, clever, and most of all compelling messages is everywhere. This is what I ran across, barefoot in my kitchen the other evening, making dinner: (more…)
Archive for the ‘Shopkeeping talk’ Category
Inspiration is everywhere!
Posted in quotations of use, Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising on July 21, 2010| 9 Comments »
Deja Vuesday: A better way to advertise your season-end sale in your consignment shop
Posted in Deja Vuesday, Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, display on July 20, 2010| 3 Comments »
Ditch the screaming SALE signs that every small business seems to use. BECAUSE every small business uses them, they become “invisible”, background noise.
Put some personality, and some word-of-mouth worthiness, into your window displays
as you reach the end of (more…)
Here’s a birthday present for you.
Posted in Kate's Must-Sees, quotations of use, Shopkeeping talk, Slices of (my) life, tagged success, thought for the day on July 18, 2010| 6 Comments »
Wow look at ALL those candles...I must really be OLD.
The greatest gift one can receive, I think, is to feel that one has made a difference.
That’s the birthday present I give myself today, and the one I wish for you every day.
At the NARTS 2010 C0nference a few weeks ago, I was honored to be asked to present a workshop on success.
Of course, doing a workshop for such diversified shopkeepers as those who attend Conference means thinking about what the very word “success” means to each of us. My point was that no (more…)
The Consignment/ Resale Weekend Warrior
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Weekend Warrior on July 17, 2010| 3 Comments »
Ah, the weekends. Yeh, right.
What’s a weekend to a retailer? Maybe a few extra hours, but it’s still
time to work on your business, even if you may not be working in it.
In fact, your weekend projects could be more valuable to the health of your shop than you realize.
Just in case you have (more…)
Filing things at your consignment shop, or featuring for resale?
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged accessories, display, home decor on July 16, 2010| 7 Comments »
Here’s what I mean by filing:
It’s neat. But are you really tempted by any of these items?
You want your shoppers to get involved in the merchandise, not just glance, yawn, and move on. Tell a story, even if (to you) that story looks over-dramatic.
Here’s story-telling in resale:
Layering merchandise makes it look SO much better.
A quick and simple solution: A: Add plate rails to the back few inches of your shelving units to display plates, plaques, and platters. B: Vary the colors, shapes, sizes and textures. Yes, it looks jumbled and you’d never do that at home. Forget home; your goal in your shop is to tempt, not to line up.
Here’s a test. If a browser can walk through your shop with hands in pockets,
never tempted to touch a teapot, stroke a sundress, caress a couch…
your store’s uninspiring.
Okay, so they can look but not touch, as in a display case? The principle still holds: make it look opulent. Make them desire it. Make their mouths water!
Nice, but pass-up-able.
I call this photo “don’t be shy.” It’s Vicki’s, from Little Specialty Shop.
Besides, telling a story, clustering things together, gives you more room. More room’s always a good thing in resale!
- Pile on the pearls (multiple necklaces on that mannequin.) Displays should be WHOA! not HMMM.
- Fill the spaces beneath (a basket filled with books under that side table.) Tempt ’em to look under, over, above and beyond.
- Drape it (the baby afghan over the stroller, the messenger bag over the urban-look 4way), puddle it (the scarf under the display head), tie it on (rep ties as belts on that jean display.) Opulence…and ideas…sell.
More on this topic at Is your shop a STORE or a STORAGE FACILITY?
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