Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged daily operations, resale shopkeeping, small business on June 6, 2016|
Paris flooding! Recent news told of curators at the Louvre moving priceless treasures up above the flood waters of the Seine. Closer to home, a high-end resale shop was completely ruined last week when the building’s sprinkler system burst. What would you do if such a disaster struck your livelihood?
Can your resale or consignment business survive a disaster?
While some businesses are devastated by disaster, others continue with (more…)
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, customers, kidswear, resale shopkeeping, small business on April 12, 2016|
I’m a great believer in reminding your browsers, customers, and suppliers about your business as often, in as many places and in as many ways as possible. And one of the best, cheapest, most touchy-feely ways to do this? Give them (more…)
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
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.
A few more “oops” moments: Here and here.
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged merchandising, resale shopkeeping, small business, word of mouth on February 28, 2016|
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged display, resale shopkeeping, small business, starting a consignment shop on February 22, 2016|
let’s examine how it illustrates some basic display window ideas that are quick, inexpensive, and simple to do.
TGtbT.com, Too Good to be Threw, uses a fab photo (alas, cannot find the originator of the photo which I found a while back on Pinterest) to illustrate some display concepts for consignment & resale shops:
A: Try a one-note display window. Handbags… JUST handbags.Or you could do side tables or shoes or flower girl dresses. You don’t have to tell the whole story of your shop… just intrigue passers-by enough to get them to come in and see your shop.
B: Kraft-paper-wrapped boxes as risers.Varying heights are a must in any display, especially one like this with more height than width. A variety of sturdy boxes, here wrapped in blend-into-the-landscape Kraft paper, are an essential display prop. (Tip: Use boxes open on the underside… that way, you can nestle for storage.)
C: Triangles: Always use odd numbers of things. In a display, use threes, arranged in an acute triangle. Here, the pile of risers and their displays are in a triangle whose apex points to the upper display of the three dress forms…. whose apex points DOWN to the lower half of the display.
D: Color distribution. Squint: see how the darks are distributed, as are the “neutral” prints.Putting too many darks close together gives a “hole” in the display… and too many lights would steal the spotlight from the entire picture. Distributing lights and darks leads the onlooker’s eye all through the display… to find the One Perfect Purchase for her!
Too Good to be Threw is the flagship site of the TGtbT Family of Sites for the Professional Resalers
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 