Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘display’

Gawd. How embarrassing. I had to leave immediately.

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Shopkeeping talk, Slices of (my) life, Teeny Tips, tagged on February 12, 2013| 8 Comments »

I was making the rounds of a few consignment shops here in Sarasota recently, being all cheery and sociable (I have to, now that my hair is purple. No standing in the background possible.)

I found a little something in a vintage shop (remind me to go back with my camera… they do incredible vignettes) and a great shirt from a favorite designer in a womenswear shop across the road.

Then came my moment of shame. In the next consignment shop, just past (more…)

Read Full Post »

Come in, take a look around, grab some ideas.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Teeny Tips, tagged , , , on February 6, 2013| 2 Comments »

You can learn a lot by looking. For example, this lovely photo just BRIMS with exciting ideas (more…)

Read Full Post »

One good idea deserves another

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on February 4, 2013|

You know how you can be looking at one thing, and create something new from it?

This Pinterest picture is apparently (more…)

Read Full Post »

Let’s Make a Staff Selling Manual!

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on January 26, 2013| 6 Comments »

Employee manuals in consignment shopsI’m sure most established consignment, resale and thrift shopkeepers have two employee manuals around.

One about procedures and policies, and one about expectations for their jobs. Maybe these all-important publications are combined into one. That’s a good start towards having an effective crew of employees or volunteers, but it’s nowhere near enough to truly succeed.

Your business needs a “Staff Selling Resources” manual. Do you help your helpers by giving them the opportunity for self-education?

Here’s how:

First, get a loose leaf binder and some page protectors. It’s fun to shop for these, but if you are adamantly REUSE, or just cheap, post a note on your shop’s community board asking your customers if they have any of these to pass on.

Then, find materials that will teach your staff whatever they need to know about the merchandise you sell. Most of this information can be found on the Internet, and here’s some ideas to get your “Staff Selling Resources” binder started and to save you time, courtesy of Too Good to be Threw’s Pinterest boards. (As always, click to see the graphic full-size and read the helpful captions):

Helping a customer’s all about knowing what will work for her/him:

.
.
.

A picture’s worth a thousand words, particularly if you have to explain what a houndstooth check looks like compared to a gingham check.

.

.

Calling merchandise by its right name, or knowing styles and eras, makes staff more confident and helps them communicate with shoppers:

Source: stylinspire.com via Kate on Pinterest

.
.
.

Your selling resources can even include styling tips, which help your staff show their professional expertise and impress their customers!

Source: Uploaded by user via Ana on Pinterest

.
. .

.

Many more Pins can be found here and here.

Do you have web resources that your staff find helpful? Share in the comments!

Read Full Post »

Have a heart, times two. Perfect window for your consignment shop.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on January 24, 2013| 5 Comments »

People (smart, stylish, chic, thrifty) people love consignment, resale and thrift shops. Shopkeepers love simple, eye-catching window displays.

Everyone loves a lover.

Hence, our two easy Valentine’s Day windows. One, you can do in an hour. The other, takes some pre-planning, so hop to it! Click the pix to see the thinking behind these examples.

If your shop hasn’t been open very long, all you need is a paint brush and some red paint:

Source: 23hq.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: 23hq.com via Kate on Pinterest

.

On the other hand, if you have built a loyal cadre of regulars, all you need is a bunch of paper hearts that your customers can write on, with a few words about why they love your shop:

.

And, a little bonus idea (on the theory that one must ALWAYS give their “customers”… that’s you, Dear Reader… more than they expect):

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »