Dancer in the Aisles

January 26, 2010 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

Do you have such loyal customers as Willow Glen, CA, retailer Natalie Thompson discovered that she has?

Who is Natalie Thompson and why do I ask, you wonder …

Her story, which ran in the San Jose Mercury News was brought to my attention. As with many independent retailers, 2009 was difficult year for Thompson's gift store Fleurish. Her 8-year-old business was struggling in a difficult economy, she had to cut back on inventory, and on top of that Thompson had other personal financial setbacks. She decided to close the store. Within 24 hours of sending out an email notice to her neighborhood customer list, she received an outpouring of messages from customers noting how much the store meant to them. But she also received much more … Learn what else her customers did; ...Read More

December 30, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

I know, I know. We haven't even rung in the New Year yet and I'm reminding you about filing taxes? Well, we all get very busy this time of year and we all need a nudge to help us get organized and plan ahead. I ran across a press release today that brought this subject up and I thought that I would share. Af ter all, sharing is caring, as my friend Nancy says.

The points in the release are directed to small business owners, but some of the points make sense for each of us personally as well. The following five points were provided by DebtGuru.com. More can be found at: http://www.debtguru.com/finances/top-twelve-tax-tips-for-small-businesses.

The release notes out that tax deadlines do vary according to when a business' tax year ends, so the first thing you need to take ...Read More

December 1, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Ask for the Money
“Self service means no service,” as I wrote in last week’s blog. We all know what kind of service we hope to offer our customers through our friendly, sales personnel well-versed in the benefits of every product we sell.

Certainly Ron Popeil, who you may know as the king of television marketing, is friendly and well-versed in the benefits of the products he is selling -- many of which he often invented as well. But as Malcolm Gladwell points out in his new book, What the Dog Saw, Popeil possesses one key additional strength t...Read More

November 24, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Veteran retailer Carol Schroeder shares her blog with Gifts & Decorative Accessories.  Our "Savvy Store Solutions" contributor will share her experience and perspective on the everyday ups and downs of being a gift and decorative accessories retailer. Carol Schroeder is author of Specialty Shop Retailing: Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store published by John Wiley & Sons. She is also a retail advisor to the Gift and Home Trade Association.

Enjoy her first shared posting with us:

Giving Thanks
This Friday has been termed “Black Friday” by the media, because of the idea that th...Read More

November 5, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (3)

As a shopper, I am curious about something that annoys me during the checkout process. When and why did it become common practice when giving back change for a purchase to place the coins on top of the bills? I always end up dropping the coins because they spill off of the bills. My wallet has a very small section for change that is not easy to manage when I am holding it and juggling my purse and my purchases as well, especially when there is a line of people behind me. Why can't the salesperson place the change in the palm of my hand where I can easily hold onto it and still take hold of the bills? Just curious … Perhaps some of you retailers can enlighten me?