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Archive for the ‘Shopkeeping talk’ Category
The darndest things come in PINK!
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, display, promotions, resale shopkeeping on April 4, 2016|
5 “oops!” moments in consignment and resale
Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Shopkeeping talk, tagged resale shopkeeping, small business, success on March 22, 2016|
Once upon a time, I dreamed up a promotion where every one of my customers who returned a postcard to my shop would get entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate.
Trouble was, I didn’t get someone else to proofread my copy…
And it so happened that about fifty of my customers mis-read it, thinking
THEY would receive a $50 gift certificate just for returning the postcard.
Chances are, everyone who read it thought the same, but most of them had the good sense to realize that that was probably NOT what Kate meant.
Now that was an “Oops!” moment.
So in an effort to save you the embarrassment, financial cost, or lost business that you might make, here’s 5 ways to avoid an “oops” in your business.
- Make sure your web site tells the world where you are. I just visited one, very attractive, consignment shop web site with six pages. The usual: Home, About, How to Consign, Gallery, and so on… but there was only one place where I could actually determine where this shop was. It was (finally!) on the Contact Page… and even there, it as way down at the bottom of the page.
- You work so hard on your broadcast emails. Provide multiple links in that email to your web site or your Facebook page, so folks can refresh their memories on why they adore your shop, where you are (see number one above!) and when you’re open.
- In the news? Terrific! When strangers click to go to your site, make sure your home page assures them that they’re in the right place. Something as simple as a nice big photo front and center of the reporter in your shop (taken by a friend or staffer) with a “Thanks, Susie Cutesie and Channel 7 News, for stopping by the other day!” Leave it up for a week or two, then swap it out with another “talk-of-the-town” moment.
- An oops that’s all too easy to make. And a simple memory trick to avoid making your friends, followers, and fans wince (not to mention your high school English teacher.)
- And last but most definitely NOT least… get somebody else to proofread your public announcements and promotional copy. Not just for typos, but for understanding. Better yet, get several somebodies. That way, you won’t have to hand out $50 gift certificates right and left.
A few more “oops” moments: Here and here.
No more excuses: take GREAT photos on your smartphone
Posted in Functional Friday, Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, blogging, daily operations, resale shopkeeping, selling, web on March 18, 2016|
Phones are handy in your shop for taking quick snaps of merchandise… but are those photos turning out as wondrous as you would like?
“People don’t need to go shopping anymore.”
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged customers, daily operations, resale shopkeeping, word of mouth on March 16, 2016| 5 Comments »
While reading the paper about a local shopping district that’s being revitalized, I came across this quote from Samantha David of WS Development:
At the end of the day, people don’t need to go shopping anymore. You go shopping if you want to. If you need to buy a new sofa or a pair of sneakers, you can do it online from your sofa in your house.
The important part of that quote?
You go shopping if you want to.
Ms. David goes on to add:
The burden is much
Needed: Some Store-Moving Advice
Posted in Shopkeeping talk on March 13, 2016| 9 Comments »
A resale friend recently asked me for some advice on how to plan for an anticipated move. She writes:
I have approximately 3 1/2 more months on my lease so I have to hustle to put things in place to move. I would like to know when and how to notify customers /consignors about the move. I am anticipating moving approximately 6 to 8 miles from my current location.”
I told her I’d ask YOU, the experts!
Those of you who have moved, what is your best advice to this peer?
The do’s? The don’ts? Things that went smoothly, things you wish you’d done differently?
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