Posts Tagged ‘promotion’

Attract Last Minute V-Day Shoppers

 Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

As with any holiday, last minute shoppers will be out and about these next few days. Make your displays inviting and impulse buys convenient in order to maximize profits during this special time of year.

Valentine’s Day is a very good holiday for convincing shoppers to pick up something extra. Jewelry, flowers, candy and stuffed animals are always go-to items for Valentine’s Day, so place these items near the register and in close proximity to other Valentine’s Day gift items.

Also, considering pre-assembling gift baskets or grouping similar items together in order to encourage people to pick up another item that complements the original gift. For example, place coordinating earrings next to a necklace. Put together a variety of spa items such as robes, lotion, pedicure supplies, slippers, etc.

Here are some ideas for gift sets that not only will draw in customers, but will encourage them to spend just a little bit more for a quality gift this year.

Gift Sets for Men

  • A toiletry bag filled with nice shaving essentials such as a razor, shaving cream warming, shaving brush, aftershave and cologne.
  • Cigar Sets that include nice cigars, cutters, lighters and a cigar box.
  • Grilling sets that include utensils, rubs, marinades, spices, smoking chips and kabob skewers.
  • Any alcohol gift set that includes alcohol, glasses, a wine opener or bottle opener, a flask and various accoutrements.

Gift Sets for Women

  • Spa/bath set including salt scrubs, bubbles, lotion, loofahs and candles.
  • Manicure/Pedicure sets with foot scrub, nail polish, pumice stones, hand lotion and cuticle oil.
  • Chocolate gift packs with assorted candies.

Another idea would be to provide baskets and a “build your own gift set” with complimentary basket wrapping. Then have a table with various items like perfume, stuffed animals, chocolate and more so that people can build their own gift set that is in range with their exact budget.

Then don’t forget to have some flowers, stuffed animals and extra Valentine’s Day cards at the register so that shopping can pick up these last minute items and add them to their total.

How do you encourage people to purchase gifts in your store?

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Tuesday Tip: How to Increase Impulse Buys

 Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Impulse buys are items that shoppers purchase that they had not planned on buying beforehand. Items near registers are not put there on accident. They are strategically placed to capitalize on impulse purchases. Usually these items are smaller, easily identifiable and priced lower than other items in your store. Though the register is a key place for merchandise, you can utilize other areas by creating special displays in high traffic locations or next to related merchandise. For increasing impulse buys, here are a few tips that we recommend trying.

Change out merchandise frequently. We have given this advice before about displays in general, but it is especially important for special displays designed for impulse buying. Regular customers look for updated merchandise, new products and featured sales. Make sure that you are regularly featuring new items so they keep coming back. Try to keep track of what you have displayed, where you setup the display and the success rate. This will help you know what works and what does not.

Highlight return policies near impulse purchase displays. Customers will be more likely to purchase higher priced merchandise on the spot when they are assured that it will be easy for them to return or exchange if they regret the decision later. Also, make sure that you clearly communicate if sales are final either with signs or at the register.

Put accessories next to related items. Accessories are great impulse merchandise sales. For example, when someone is looking for a great coat and sees scarves, gloves and hats to match, it will be too good to pass up. This also works with items that have accessories that are sold separately such as games, toys and tools.

Remember, you won’t know what works until you try it. Now is the time to experiment a bit with holidays such as Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day so you will be extra prepared for maximum sales during the next Christmas season.

What are your best impulse purchase displays?

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Friday Feature Product: Lights

 Friday, September 18th, 2009

Earlier this week we talked about using current trends as selling points in your store. If you decide to create a green or health section to your store, don’t let it go overlooked. We recommend featuring these products with lights. Lights are a simple, economical way to draw attention to your displays.

There are many different types of lights to choose from, so you can feature any type of product. Tube lights are perfect for glass display cases or outdoor use. These 12 foot long, weather resistant lights are available in Clear, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Green and Red/Green. Consider switching up the colors to match the season or theme. You can also connect up to three tubes together for a 36 foot long strand. Add motion to your tube light with a Chase Speed Control. The controller lets you vary the speed of your chase sequence.

To drive traffic to a particular area of your store Rotating Sale Beacons are ideal. Offered in Red and Blue customers won’t be able to help stopping. Also, Mini Strobe Lights that come with a speed controller can flash up to 10 flashes per second. These lights will draw attention to any corner of your store and are ideal for Halloween displays.

If you want to highlight merchandise on slatwall or wire grid, attach a light for noticeable emphasis. Available in white or black, these lights include a 12 foot cord, 12 inch extension arm and adjustable swivel head. You can’t go wrong with easy and attractive lighting.

You work so hard to create beautiful displays, so shed some light on them. Try adding a light to a display and watch your profits glow.

How do you use lights in your store? What difference does it make?

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Tuesday Tip: Pay Attention to Trends

 Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

You never want your store to become dated when it comes to your merchandise and displays. There are some classic products that will always be profitable but you should keep a close eye on the newest trends and your inventory. This is not to say that you should jump at every pet rock craze that comes along, but it’s never a bad idea to know what your customers are talking about and looking for.

Here are some trends with long term value that might be selling points for you now or in the future.

Go Green
According to the 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey, 34% of Americans are more likely to buy environmentally responsible products today. And 70% indicate that they are paying attention to what companies are doing with regard to the environment right now, even if they cannot buy until the future.

Online Sales
With gas prices still high, consumers are looking to the internet to save themselves a costly drive. If you already have an online store consider offering free shipping for spending over a certain amount or advertise a free gift with purchase. However, if you are thinking about creating a new online store, be prepared to advertise or discount aggressively to drive initial traffic in order to build an online customer base.

Buying American
This is not a new concept, but with struggling economy and the American car industry urging consumers to buy American made cars, some consumers are looking at the tags on other items as well. Look at your inventory and weigh if highlighting some of your American made products could make a difference. However, be cautious of this tactic if the majority of your products are not American made, as it will only highlight that you carry imported products. While there is nothing wrong with imported products, certain customers may not like it.

Health
The boomer generation of Americans that were born between 1946 and 1964 are moving into the senior citizen bracket, 65 years of age and up. With the life expectancy hovering around 80, the boomers aren’t going anywhere. In their retirement they have money to spend and are looking to healthier lifestyles to keep up with the grandkids.

Do It Yourself
People are looking for money savers. Instead of paying someone for labor, some are finding that they don’t mind rolling up their sleeves themselves. If your product is suited to do-it-yourselfers, capitalize on your expertise by hosting workshops. People will buy your products for their project and call on you if things don’t end up looking like the picture.

Have you noticed any current trends that have impacted your business?

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