Here’s a video (and a person) that you can learn from on so many levels.
First: I’ve chosen this specific video, 8 Tips to Networking, because (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘small business’
Why we do this. Do your shoppers KNOW?
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged resale shopkeeping, small business, Thrift on September 18, 2012| 5 Comments »
It’s obvious to you,
the NFP resale shopkeeper, manager, and staff. It should be obvious to your customers and donors as well. I mean, it says “Serving those in need” or “Exodus House” on your signs, right, and that says it all,
Why We Do This,
doesn’t it?
Well, no. Just like a restaurant frames its reviews, and a for-profit consignment or resale shop has its Brag Wall of professional affiliations and thank-you letters from clothing or household pantries, so a nonprofit thrift store needs to give its supporters as many reasons to support the store as you possibly can.
This is one universal that I have come across in each and every consultation I have done with nonprofit thrift stores: they don’t use the reason why the store exists to
build the base of the business.
In every case, I give the strong recommendation that they make a point of showing shoppers and suppliers just why the store exists.
Even as well-known as Salvation Army or Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul stores are, do their customers realize what the stores help finance? I’d be willing to bet my best thrift-store treasure that the answer is “no, they don’t know everything we do to help the community.”
The photos here show how beautifully and effectively this can be done. TheResaleShop of the National Council of Jewish Women sponsors a wide range of charities, and they’re not shy about putting that information out there. On the soffits. On colorful banners flanking an entry. As a well-lit backdrop for a display area.
And don’t you think that this knowledge would
build donations,
inspire more sales,
and maybe even build loyalty
(and less price-quibbling!) to your business?
Click the pictures to see in more detail.Tell us by commenting below: how, where, and how often does your thrift store educate its customers and donors about “why we do this”? Or do you think the retail operation should stand on its own merits? Maybe your customers just don’t care… all they want is bargains?
How do you get them to say nice things about you?
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged consignors, customers, promotions, small business on September 7, 2012| 2 Comments »
Gathering testimonials and good online reviews is hard nowadays. But it can be helpful to your business.
Just asking may not be enough. Maybe you could (more…)
Fear of Networking
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged small business, success on September 5, 2012| 1 Comment »
Whether NARTS Conference or your local Chamber of Commerce, we all need to network. If not with our resale peers, then with other business people in our community, a social group at our place of worship, a family reunion… and it can be intimidating. This article was one of my Grow Your Biz columns in the NARTS newsletter. We now have a collection of the best of those columns, available in the TGtbT.com Build your Shop Products Collection
Networking. Notice how “working” (more…)
Does your consignment or resale shop need a dongle?
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged selling, small business on September 2, 2012| 2 Comments »
Is a cash register too limiting for your business? (After all, it’s a pain to pack up for an off-site show, and there’s no 
electrical outlet for it during your sidewalk sale.)
Is the POS (more…)
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