The Gifted Retailer: Flowers by Whitney
GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 10/18/2010 4:14:00 PM
Gifts & Decorative Accessories: What do you like best about being a retailer?
Whitney Cooper: My favorite thing about being a retailer is the one-on-one relationships with my customers. I love to help my customers find that perfect gift for someone special. I also enjoy supporting my community and other charities through donations and fundraisers in the store.
G&DA: What was the most valuable piece of business advice that you ever received?
WC: One of the best pieces of advice that I've received was to be honest with customers. By doing this it creates a friendly and easy going atmosphere in the store. The second best piece of advice I received was to not get in over your head! Try to stay small and know your inventory and be able to control and manage the store well.
G&DA: What is/was your most successful promotion?
WC: Our most successful promotion to date is definitely our Weekly Facebook Giveaways!!! We have a great fan page of over 2,500 fans and every Monday we post an item that we will giveaway. Fans sign up by either commenting or "like" the photo then we randomly choose the winner every Friday. The prize can be a number of things, but is usually a $30 value or higher! We have around 700+ entries per week. We have also been chosen Favorite Gift Shop in our town four years running which helps attract new customers through promoting.
G&DA: What three products/lines are you best sellers?
WC: Mud Pie Everyday and Children's, Mainstreet Collection, Coton Colors Pottery, Magnolia Lane, Glory Haus and Tervis Tumbler.
G&DA: What are you doing to attract new customers?
WC: We try to attract new customers through Facebook, email, our website and our 7 Open Houses throughout the year. We have recently started using Trafficbuilder by SnapRetail which we hope will help draw in new customers to see the variety of products that we offer.
G&DA: What was your most effective display?
WC: Our most effective display is our building! In the beginning we decided to use bright bold colors and it was the best decision I could've ever made because our building is visible from blocks away. We painted the outside brick white and added a Bright Red Tin Roof. We have also added a permanent display outside that consists of RoundTop Collection's Seasonal Outdoor Stakes. This helps potential customers see some of what we offer from the road. We have customers tell us that they pulled in because of the display outside or the brightness of the building.
G&DA: How do you find your best employees?
WC: We find our best employees through personal friends, church members, or Referrals. We've got some great ones!
G&DA: What was your biggest retail problem and how did you solve it?
WC: Our biggest retail problem is the size of our store! We have such a small building, but try at the same time to offer so many different products to fit our customers needs. Let's just say, we make do by rearranging the store and creating new displays every week. We need to expand but really this is what makes us YOUnique!
We would love your feedback!
-
The Gifted Retailer: The Village Shoppes
May 18, 2012 -
The Gifted Retailer
Mar 11, 2011 -
The Gifted Retailer: Paper & Chocoloate
Jul 30, 2010 -
The Gifted Retailer: The Field Museum Stores
Apr 2, 2012 -
The Gifted Retailer
Dec 8, 2011
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
