It's tough to get customers to your retail store -- and tougher still to make them to return again and again. For your retail business to succeed, the key is to provide customers with a great shopping experience. What is a Great Shopping Experience? But what is a "great shopping experience?' The University of Pennsylvania released a study a few years ago on retail shopping … [Read more...] about How Your Retail Store can Wow Customers
Independent Retailer
How to Improve Your Small Retail Store’s Operations
Small independent retailers face a tough road ahead to survive. Small stores are at a disadvantage: the lack of deep pockets and resources, tough competition from big businesses, and declining sales. If you are running a retail store, here are things to consider in order to improve your retail store’s operations and bottom line: 1. Leverage technology Technology is always … [Read more...] about How to Improve Your Small Retail Store’s Operations
Passion and the Independent Retail Owner
You are an independent retail owner. You've spent a lot of time trying to establish your store as distinctive and unique. You've put a lot of effort into trying to differentiate your business from the competition. You're always looking for that edge, the one thing that will make the difference. Look in the mirror. You are the difference. Your business is a direct … [Read more...] about Passion and the Independent Retail Owner
How to Recession-Proof Your Retail Business
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of listening to Victor Cheng speak about how to recession-proof your business. Victor is a well-regarded author and dynamic speaker who has appeared on Fox Business Channel and MSNBC, and been featured in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, SmartMoney magazine, Inc. magazine and TheStreet.com. Victor's advice is centered … [Read more...] about How to Recession-Proof Your Retail Business
Why You Need to Dig into Your Financial Numbers
When you really dig in to the financial numbers of your business, there's always a story to be told, sometimes a story that you just hadn't been aware of before. I was working with a client last week, analyzing June sales results. The month had been mildly disappointing, but there was one store in particular that was off more than the others. What do you do when one store … [Read more...] about Why You Need to Dig into Your Financial Numbers