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!
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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.
While sitting in traffic, drivers often find themselves behind construction and freight trucks. Besides the company name and telephone number, they might not notice much about the company. However, if a truck displayed a bold QR code on the back of the vehicle below the phone number, it might attract a little more attention. A QR, or Quick Response, code is a barcode that provides rapid access to information through a smartphone app.
With five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year than last, 32 percent of indie retailers are starting their holiday promotions earlier than last year, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express. American Express founded the event, which is November 30 this year, in 2010. Many small business owners who are aware of Small Business Saturday say the day will be a part of their promotional calendar as it will be helpful in attracting new customers.
Retail payment solutions can and should be optimized to the needs of each individual business. Todd Robinson, VP of Marketing for North American Bancard, a full service payment solutions provider, recently spoke with Independent Retailer magazine about the range of small business payment products such as credit, debit, EBT, and gift and loyalty cards, available to help indie retailers support and grow their businesses.
We have all heard the sensational proclamations that email is dead, but that is simply not the case. Regardless of what new technology makes its debut, email is alive and kicking, and has consistently ranked as one of the most popular behaviors among online adults for the last decade. According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of online adults use email today. Over time, online adults have increased their daily email use from 49 percent in 2002 to more than 60 percent today.
Bill McNulty, publisher of Independent Retailer magazine since October 2011, has been named in the 2013 Folio: 100 list of media industry innovators and influential professionals. The list represents all facets of publishing from every corner of the industry, including big and small publishers in the consumer, B2B, regional and association markets. Media professionals were named in four categories: C-Level Visionaries, Director-Level Doers, Industry Influencers and Under the Radar. In addition, 15 entrepreneurs were honored in the 15 Under 30 category. Folio: 100 honorees were invited to attend an award ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on October 30th.