There is much more to a blowout sale than simply marking down merchandise. You have to prepare your store so that shoppers know exactly where to find discounts, as well as put them in the mood to buy things on sale they might not normally buy for full price. Additionally, department stores and specialty stores are still trying to make up for lost holiday sales which creates more competition.

With the consumer trend still going toward price point and shopping around, when you are preparing a blowout sale leave no question in the customer’s mind that your store has the lowest price. We recommend choosing your sale dates well in advance and making them special. You don’t want to be the store that has dusty sale signs because they are never taken down.

Make sure you change the look and placement of your displays from the norm for huge sales. When your store reflects the sale message, customers will be more likely to buy sale merchandise. For example, when Express has their box sale they literally have cardboard boxes out with discounted apparel. Shoppers know to go directly to the boxes for low prices. These boxes are essentially dump bins that are sorted according to size. They are extremely easy to maintain, involve no hanging and can fit lots of products.

Sale signage is huge. From large sale window banners to the marked down tags on merchandise, clearly indicating a sale to customers outside and inside your store is crucial. Everything down to your packaging and bags can send the message out that your store is having a blowout sale.

Spread the word with advertisements, employees and friends to create buzz around your sale. Have employees tell customers about sales before they start by saying things such as “Next week all of our outdoor gear will be 30% off.” Now is the time to use those email addresses you have been collecting. Additionally, if your store is online, make sure that the sale message carries over to your online customers.

Do you have any tips for other store owners on how to prepare for blowout sales?

One of the most necessary things for any store to have is an open sign. We recommend a sign that can either be turned on and off or be switched so that it is extremely obvious to shoppers when your store is open. Especially for storefronts that are in strip malls or have sidewalk traffic, an effective open sign draws customers in and convinces them you are ready for business.

The best option is by far is the neon or LED signs that light up. These signs come in a variety of shapes including square, oval and vertical. The lights guide customers to your business and tell them from even far away that your store is either open or closed. Light up signs encourage drop in traffic, especially during “off times” or on Sundays and holidays when some stores are closed.

If you don’t want a lit open sign, or if you business is in an area that has regulations against lit signs, there are many traditional open sign options. One of our favorite options is the sliding open and closed sign. A panel slides back and forth to tell your customers if you are open or closed. Plus, there is space to list your hours of operation or other messages.

Horizontal Sliding Open and Closed Sign

Other options include outdoor or indoor flags that will make sure customers know that you are open for business. And don’t forget to try out other lights and signs as well to welcome customers into your store.

What type of open and closed signs do you use?

On Tuesday, we talked about ways to increase foot traffic. And one of our suggestions was to improve the signage at your store. Today, we are going to go into more detail about some effective signs to increase foot traffic.

Well, one of the easiest ways to increase traffic is to increase the number of eyes that look at your store. The simplest way to do this is through signage.

The first sign you should always have is an OPEN sign. While this sounds obvious, some stores forget this crucial sign. LED open signs are our favorite option because people can see that your store is open from a distance. These signs are especially popular for stores in strip malls or near a street.

If you are in an area with high walking traffic such as a mall or town center area, sidewalk signs are extremely helpful. They are also very useful for restaurants. Our favorite is the dry erase board sidewalk sign.  These come in a-frame or spring versions. The dry erase board sign allow you to easily customize the sign without having to purchase a new sign from a printer. They are great for sales, specials, menu items, promotions and special events.

Another type of sign that is perfect for catching attention is the moving message board sign. These signs are easily customizable and their vibrant colors are guaranteed to make shoppers stop and look.

Don’t be afraid to have some fun attracting attention. Pennant strands and promotional rope lights bring some color to your store front. Tube lights and promotional beacon lights will light the way to your store.

And don’t neglect the standbys. Traditional banners and window cling signs are sure to help bring in traffic.

These signs will ultimately increase the number of eyes that look into your store. By bringing attention to your store, you can improve sales and coveted foot traffic.

While many of your customers plan a trip to your store, a high percentage of new customers find a store by “stopping in” while shopping for something else. By increasing the foot traffic into your store, you can raise profits and introduce your brand to a whole new customer base.

Right now, many stores are feeling the pain of the economic downturn. One thing that everyone needs is more customers in their stores. Fewer people are shopping, so you need to attract the attention of the people who are out and about shopping. So how do you increase foot traffic?

Our first suggestion would be to increase the visibility of your store. One way to do this is to feature signs and promotional lighting at the entrance. Sidewalk signs, beacon lights and banners are extremely effective for improving foot traffic.

Another way to get people in your store is through a sale. We have discussed this before, but featuring items outside your store will get people browsing. Put merchandise in a dump bin or on a rolling rack so that it can be easily transported during store hours.

Finally, for the more courageous owner, consider some sort of stunt. Liberty Tax has waving Statue of Liberty costume characters outside their store during tax season. Great Clips often has a dancing shampoo bottle on the sidewalk. While you don’t necessarily need to be that extreme, consider having one of your workers hand out fliers or carry a sign to alert other shoppers about your sale.

By increasing foot traffic into your store, you can then show off your merchandise and entice shoppers to make a purchase. Hopefully they will become frequent shoppers after that first “stop in” to your store.