By Adam Kinsey The modern retailer needs some technological prowess to maximize profits and efficiency. However, some of the most useful technology seems to be an…
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No matter what the industry, employees are the face of a company. Sure, the products you are selling are why customers first visit your business, but it is employees that keep them coming back. Engaged and happy employees improve the customer experience, which results in loyalty and increased revenue and growth.
Smart indie retailers are always looking for ways to attract customers and build business. One way to grow is to cultivate a local following. Here are some tips for expanding your local customer base and sales.
Loss prevention has entered the digital age. Some of the latest advancements to stop shoplifters are security cameras that can be monitored from a cell phone or home office, specialty tags to stop shoppers from buying garments with the intent of wearing them once and returning them, and tags that beep if a pin is tampered with, a lanyard is cut, or the thief tries to grab an item and run.
Building customer loyalty is essential for brick and mortar merchants, and today that requires online customer appreciation. Not only will this encourage engagement on your social networks, but it also will keep your brand top-of-mind when your customers decide where to shop. Your independent business will thrive as long as you address online comments and questions as attentively as you would in your retail store. Here are four tips to help you do just that.
Holidays are a time for cheer. A recent survey reveals B2C small businesses planning their holiday marketing strategies will have something to cheer about come 2014!
Boutique Window, co-founded by Ella Wirtz and Courtney Rodgers, is an online marketing tool built specifically for small retailers running brick and mortar shops. “Our goal is to help business owners take advantage of all the online opportunities that are going to help them connect with local customers, and drive foot traffic into their stores,” Rodgers states. “We know that small retailers have a ton on their plates, and managing a website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest can be a lot of work that they do not have time to do.”
Closeouts and liquidated products, which often sell for well under regular wholesale prices, can offer indie retailers generous profit margins. Closeouts exist as a result of excess inventory, discontinued products, packaging changes, customer returns and slight imperfections, as well as merchants going out of business. They are the same name brand, designer labels and first quality merchandise found in department stores and retail chains.
In store advertising, just like every other type of advertising, asks the question, “How do I capture customers’ attention and keep it?” If you are an independent retailer, manufacturer or product designer that retails through this channel, it is important to answer this question. Competing for attention in a smaller shop can be especially challenging without the ample square footage larger retailers have. Here are some creative ideas for in-store advertising to increase engagement and sales.
Making buyers lifelong customers should be the goal of everyone operating an online store. Retailers want this golden goose because it is less expensive to keep a customer than it is to acquire a new one. However, it takes a concerted effort to keep first time buyers around for life. Following are three strategies you can incorporate to keep shoppers coming back to your eCommerce site.