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Posts Tagged ‘sea of sameness’

We may be small, but we’re mighty full of promotional ideas!

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on October 26, 2011| 1 Comment »

Consignment, resale and thrifts can participate in Small Business SaturdayHow is your consignment, resale, thrift business going to use Small Business Saturday to advance your success?

Here’s the lowdown.

What they don’t mention, of course, is what you as a merchant who does not accept American Express (many small merchants don’t, which is probably the motivating force behind their promotion) can do to take advantage of the media attention Small Business Saturday will receive.

Let’s hear some ideas.

I’ll start. You know all that info about contests as a promotion? (See the section starting on page 7 of 229 Promotional Events for Resale & Consignment Shops.) How about a contest for the best drawing of your business area, a poetry contest with the theme “small”, a scavenger hunt where participants have to “find” something specific (and preferably local!) in your small-business neighbors. Depends on your clientele, your shopping area, even how much you want to invest, time- and energy-wise. But

it would be very short-sighted not to take advantage of this (small) opportunity.

So tell us… what will you be doing to become one of those “small businesses” that welcome shoppers as touted in the media and the AmEx ads? To stand out from the crowd? To tempt folks who simply don’t think about where their dollars go to explore your business? Comment below.

 

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Lagniappe as a word-of-mouth tactic

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged on September 9, 2011| 3 Comments »

You want to please and delight your clientele so that they remember you, and talk about you, and tell their friends (more…)

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Giant images…DO try this at home

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on September 7, 2011| 3 Comments »

Giant images…do try this at home

Blow up your resale store.... ad!There’s a web site where you can enlarge an image much bigger than (more…)

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Don’t make them suffer through one more boring subject line about Halloween

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on August 25, 2011| 1 Comment »

Halloween subject lines for resale and consignment shops from TGtbT.com

If I see one more “Now accepting Halloween Costumes & Decor” subject line from a shop I’m gonna SCREAM.

Talk about snooze-ville.

Now, assuming your shop has a bit of a flair, your subject line could be:

Know those funny clothes in the back of your closet? (and then your text would continue on… “that disco dress from 1979, the overalls you loved in college… well, they’ll make GREAT Halloween outfits, which our customers LOVE…so bring them in etc etc”)

or how about: Cobwebs add to the value (and your text could address both costumes and decor in a light-hearted manner)

or even Now’s your chance to unload those losers (“we all have clothes and accessories we’re not proud of, the leg warmers from Jazzercise class 15 years ago, that poufy down vest that makes you look like a lumberjack… etc etc”)

One more then I’ll leave you to your own devises: Spooky, isn’t it? Or do you prefer sexy? (“it’s amazing how many of our buyers are eagerly awaiting anything fun for Halloween, so go through your clothes and your accessories. Especially popular: slinky black stuff, leotards in any color as a base for costumes, unusual accessories and props…”)

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I like the sound of that.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on July 22, 2011| 4 Comments »

I love, adore, highly endorse the whole idea of

Girls’ Night Out

for consignment, resale, and even the most modest of non-profit thrift shops. Having an after-hours event is a great way to support community and to draw attention to your shop. It even can attract brand-new clients to your shop.

But, as a woman (more…)

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