The winter of 2014 has had a crippling effect on retail businesses, but small retail stores have taken the largest hit. Between the extended period of sub-zero cold from the mid-west to the northeast and the constant barrage of snowstorms it has kept consumers inside. Even the southeast experienced snow and ice to bottleneck the entire area for days. When consumers do venture out between storms or quick thawing, they tend to go to the larger big box retailers so as to not make as many stops. It's bad news all around for small retailers. What can be done to generate business?............ Read more

Choosing the right Plastic Bags or Paper Bags? Sounds almost like a non-event, but in reality everything you do in your business affects your bottom line. Your store, flea market or craft stand has an image and part of it can be enhanced at the end of the sale with the right Plastic Bag or Paper Bag. For high traffic areas it's to your advantage to give the customer a unique looking bag. This can be as simply as............. Read more

The start of a New Year: clean slate, new ideas, new promotions, new products and more sales. Those are a business persons goals. However cleaning out the old is necessary before working on the new. By that we mean products and displays that you need to clear out to run a successful business. Slow selling and out of season products need to be discounted or completely closed out. Truly slashing prices and advertising closeouts will move these products. Excessive inventory needs to be reduced as you free up cash when you do this. It's all about........ Read more

Proper displaying of your merchandise is a low cost way to increase your sales. The thing to remember is to catch the customers eye. Whether that customer is walking past your store or already inside the store it's key that you attract them to your products. For bulk items, it's stack, stack and stack higher. Note how the big box stores display their products. Popular, fast selling items and low priced items in the front of the store. Stacked high of course. They also use aisle corners for................ Read more