Adventure Planet, a division of Rhode Island Novelty, is looking forward to this year’s IGES/SSS show for one simple reason: “It’s the top show for gift shops,” says Jeff Shaughnessy, sales manager.
Browsing: For Buyers
The U.S. convenience store industry boasts a total of 151,282 stores (as of December 31, 2013) across the country and posted $696 billion in total sales in 2013.
OFFPRICE is all about speed, says Stephen Krogulski, CEO. “The OFFPRICE shows are about writing orders,” Krogulski says. “You come to an OFFPRICE show, buy your goods, and the goods will ship immediately.”
ShopKeep.com is tacking on an extra month onto their “Race to 1 Million” promotion, giving away an additional $500k worth of product to help businesses prepare for the holiday season.
With increasing competition from online stores and the opportunity to participate in the projected $1 trillion online ecommerce market, it is vital for owners of traditional brick-and-mortar stores to expand their digital reach. Small businesses that ignore this trend will quickly lose market share to bigger competitors.
In today’s increasingly digital world, it’s important for online retailers to leverage social media and develop a memorable online “window” shopping experience. One common misconception among retailers is that money can’t be made directly through social platforms, but there is indeed potential for a clear stream of revenue driven by branded, strategic and innovative social media activity.
It’s no secret that in our busy 21st century world, there’s a growing trend toward handcrafted, local, and American made goods. In an era where so much is mass-produced overseas and the latest gadgets come out every six months, people increasingly want to experience more authenticity in what they carry, wear, and bring into their homes. As a retailer, there’s nothing like the reward of supporting small-scale makers, enabling them to follow their passions by connecting them with new customers.
Ask anyone: “Do more knowledgeable, experienced, passionate people create better buying experiences?” The inevitable answer: “Of course!” Successful brands and retailers know that engaged and knowledgeable sales associates are a key part of competing in today’s retail environment.
Candy retailers are discovering that using the Internet to market their wide selection of candies and products in their stores is helping to increase their profits at a rate like never before. Candy retailers have evolved into diverse businesses that sell everything from your classic lollipops to artisanal creations. There are countless media outlets that can be used as a resource and this makes business only sweeter.
To sum kiosk and cart success up in a word, it would be “focus.” While it seems like having easy access to foot traffic would be a huge advantage, running a successful kiosk is a discipline that begins long before the first product is offered for sale. Kiosk owners who are focused in their design, marketing, and product selection stand the best chance of success. Those who are relaxed, thinking that just being in a busy mall environment and offering a bunch of loosely connected “popular” products will guarantee sales, risk failure.