Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk | Tagged markdowns, selling | 19 Comments »
I got an email the other day from a shopkeeper who had read my two past posts on differentiating one’s consignment or resale shop from competition via packaging, and she asked
What else can I do to make my shop memorable? I am in an area with a lot of similar shops, in fact so similar that shoppers forget which store they’re in. That can’t be helping my word of mouth! if they don’t know who’s who. I even have consignors come in to get paid…who consigned somewhere else, not with me!
Great question! Here’s some ideas beyond packaging to take your shop
from AU (Absolutely Unremarkable)
to GOLD (Good Original Luxurious Detail.)
* Outstanding decor. Whether it’s a leopard-print back wall or extravagant dressing rooms, is there something that will impress and be a stand-out? And is it truly impressive enough? One gold-painted frame on a wall display is nice… a whole series of them, outstanding.
* Elegantly-dressed staff. Most of us shudder to think of wearing a uniform, or asking our staff to do so…but is there something that will make your crew look like, well, a crew? Maybe something as simple as striped shirts, tan bottoms, and a seasonal scarf/ tie? Good-looking name badges (naming both the person and the business!), to me at least, are mandatory.
* Unique exterior. Not all of us have a lot of choice when it comes to altering our building or its exterior accessories, but most of us can do outstanding… and outstandingly unique…window displays. Whether it’s a stack of dining chairs for a furniture resale shop or a mock tree fort that fills a big window in a childrenswear shop, consider your display windows as more than just something to show merchandise. Even simply framing the edges of the window glass in a bold motif can be Good Original Luxurious Detail.
This is a topic on which YOU can comment, and I hope you do. What is it that takes your shop to the top of the GOLD standard in your market area?
The two packaging posts that consignment shop owner was referring to? A silly penny more or less and Packaging can make all the difference.
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk | 8 Comments »
Learn from these truly-involved resale shops:
The shops who join their peers as Sponsors at HTC can be truly inspirational to consignment, resale, and thrift shops of all levels. locations and longevity. Here’s just three good ideas I came across this week!
A shop which is on top…and plans to STAY THERE.
This is the broadcast email Patty sent out from her shop, Wandering Wardrobe in Springville Utah. Why is this email worthy of note?
- It’s a photo of the storefront, which is the main way most customers identify any shop. And she was smart enough to get a good shot of her “Best” banner last year.
- Patty mentions that perhaps her fans would like to submit her name for other, allied categories.
- Patty shows her community support by asking if there are businesses that her readers would like her to vote for. Tit for tat and social outreach!
- Oh, and to do that, her readers will have to respond top this email…thus beginning a conversation with her avid supporters.
How could YOU use simple tactics for your business?
A shop true to their mission…and their prosperity!
Kitty, owner of Remarkable Resale in Rochester IL, is a fervent believer in recycling. So fervent, indeed, that it’s a point of pride (and education of her clientele!) for her vast business to use recycled merchandise bags.
But Kitty doesn’t just re-use packing material. She turns each gently-used bag into a point of pride with a 3″ x 5″ sticker in the shop’s signature blue and white, which says don’t be surprised if you’ve seen this bag before/ WE RECYCLE, followed of course with her shop name, address, phone, and URL.
Kinda reminds me of the stickers I used to use, back when most of TGtbT.com’s Products for the Professional Resaler were hard-copy sent by mail. I reused envelopes and stuck a PROUD to recycle! sticker on each. How could you use this idea in your shop?
A shop true to its cultivated image
One of my very first consignment-shopkeeper friends is Irene of Clothes Circuit in Dallas TX. Her great talent, which I always strived to follow? Irene treats her previously-enjoyed merchandise as worthy of the finest, “new” store treatment. As an example, this spring window. The few pieces are meticulously groomed and displayed, and the props and setting show to their clientele that this merchandise is worthy of the finest ownership.
Oh, and as a bonus? The window is amusing and worthy of word-of-mouth. Doncha love it? I have some more examples of Clothes Circuit displays, and I’ll share them with you anon.
(Did you notice the pun in my headline? I am so un-punny that I feel the need to call your attention to it.)
I thank these Sponsors of HowToConsign.com for their willingness to share and, through their Sponsorship, to support our resale industry!
What inspirations do you have to share? We’d love to hear!
Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged resale shopkeeping | 2 Comments »
Can’t you just SEE this
“Frames” wallpaper, by Graham & Brown, in your shop entry or behind your sales desk?
Ready-made Continue Reading »
Posted in My Favorite Things, Shopkeeping talk, Teeny Tips | Tagged display |
One thing about the Internet…you can tap into some of the most brilliant minds in the world from the comfort of your keyboard. And it’s especially rewarding when you
look at a business which has some traits in common with yours, but is a few degrees different,
because you get to become a consumer again, and look at the concept through fresh eyes.
Take this one for example: it’s a “seasonal sale” of sorts. But not a kidswear consignment sale full of clothes and gear, not even one of the many growing adult resale events, no, this is a sale of previously-enjoyed….event props. It’s called The ReEvent. (Update: site now kaput. You’ll have to imagine it.)
First, the web site itself. What can we learn?
- The clean appeal of the uncluttered home page. The crisp white background and the collage of elements all in green is as far from “musty dusty” as possible.
- A single line that motivates, and sums up the event: Feel good being GREEN while saving some GREEN.
- Mailing list sign-up which is so much more: It’s an invitation; it’s an “RSVP” as they call it, which predisposes you to mark the event on your personal calendar; it’s the first page you come to on the menu; and it’s got a poll right there that is customer research and motivational at the same time (brilliant!) which, since it seems to be part of the sign-up process, is less likely to be skipped.
Next, the event and how it’s presented to their prospective consignors, shoppers, and vendors.
- Cute names for 2 consecutive evening demos: All Things Green ~ All Things Bling
- Contest: First, they enter online. Then everyone votes online. THEN the finalists are voted on at the event. Not sure how all of this works, but the whole contest is angled to get attention and audience participation and bodies to the event itself.
But…if you’ve been following me through the web site: just what is this event? A seasonal consignment sale for everything from wedding attire to cameras and chafing dishes, seashells and bolts of ribbon? A vendor event aimed at presenting event planners and suppliers to the public? A bridal fair?
Could be all of the above…wouldn’t you love to see how it all turns out?
(and BTW, if you’re near Overland Park KS, could be a great place to pick up some display props!)
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, Used Stuff in the News | Tagged advertising, mailing list, seasonal sales |
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