Retail Strategies For Moving Seasonal Apparel

One of biggest mistakes retail apparel business owners make is allowing out-of-season clothes and accessories to take up valuable real estate in their store. There comes a time when shoppers are no longer actively looking to purchase certain types of clothes, and keeping these items in your store is a waste of space and ultimately a waste of money. This is why it's important for retail apparel stores to move seasonal apparel in a timely manner. But when should you begin to move seasonal apparel? And how do you encourage shoppers to buy it? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

Let's first talk about winter clothing, as this oftentimes gets left behind in retail apparel stores far longer than it should. Scarfs, heavy jackets, sweaters and hoodies are just a few of examples of 'winter clothing.' The problem with allowing these items to remain in you store is that customers no longer want them after a certain time of year. Typically, a few weeks before spring should be the cutoff period for winter clothes. This doesn't mean you should stop selling them, but you should take a different approach to marketing them.

Spring 2014, as you may already know, falls on March 20th; therefore, you can expect shoppers to stop paying full price for winter clothes around the first week of March.

Retail apparel store owners can move their seasonal products by marking them down to clearance. Chances are you've seen or purchased a marked-down garment that's out of season before. This is a highly effective marketing strategy that's a win-win scenario for both the store and its customers. The store benefits from being able to move out-of-season product while generating sales revenue, and customers benefit from receiving exceptional deals.

The lower you mark down your winter apparel items, the faster they will sell. Even if shoppers aren't looking for these items, the rock-bottom low prices may seem too enticing for them to pass up. Ideally, you should mark down out-of-season clothes just enough so you are able to turn a profit. Going any further could result in you losing money on the transactions.

Of course, spring/summer clothes works in a similar manner; the best time to start marking it down is a couple weeks before fall, which is September 01 next year.

Setting Professional Goals For The New Year

With 2013 drawing to a close, there's no better time than now for retail business owners to start making some professional goals for the upcoming new year. Whether your retail business is centered around apparel, sporting goods, pet supplies, groceries, electronics, jewelry, convenience items, or any other business-to-consumer industry, chances are there's room for improvement. Even the world's most successful retail store's are constantly working to improve their numbers. The new year offers the perfect opportunity for retail business owners to look back and reflect at the past 12 months, while setting objectives and goals for the next 12 months.

Looking Back...

Before you begin setting objectives and goals for the upcoming new year, you should first look back at the previous 12 months, analyzing both the good and the bad. You can't expect to overcome your adversaries unless you know exactly what your business did wrong. Depending on the size of your company, you may want to sit down and discuss problematic issues with other managers and executives. Perhaps sales tanked during a specific month, or maybe there was an influx of customer complaints. These are just a few instances that need to be addressed before moving forward.

Of course, retail stores should also recognize their accomplishments throughout the year. Did the store successfully meet or exceed their sales quota for the quarter or fiscal period? If there are certain employees who stood out with excellence, then maybe you can reward them with a personalized trophy, gift card, or company-branded gear.

New Year's Goals

Professional goals for the new year will vary from business to business. With that said, there are some general goals that work for most. Here's a short list of some top new year's goals for retail stores and business:

• Reduce shrinkage
• Reduce employee turnover rates
• Improve sales
• Reduce overhead
• Expand into new markets (or maybe even opening a second store)
• Perform renovations
• Implement a new return policy

Let's face it, most professional goals for the new year remain buried where they are never seen or heard of again. Business owners may initially create these goals, but unfortunately very few owners actually take the necessary action to reach them. If you're serious about reaching your goals and objectives, print out a sheet containing them and display it somewhere in your store. This will remind you and your employees of the company's objectives for the 2014 year.

Why Retail Apparel Stores Should Invest In a Garment Steamer

A garment steamer is an accessory that each and every retail apparel store should own. As you can see in the image to the right, it's a relatively small and simple device that's not going to take up a ton of room in your store. But don't let this fool you into thinking it's a 'luxury' item that your business can do without. There are several different reasons why apparel stores should invest in a garment steamer. If you're still on the fence about purchasing one, keep reading to learn more about these devices and why they are such a critical tool for running a successful retail apparel store.

Safely Removes Wrinkles From Garments

The primary function of a garment steamer is to remove wrinkles from clothes and fabrics. Let's face, most garments are riddled with creases and wrinkles once they arrive at your store. Suppliers and manufacturers pay little attention to wrinkles, passing the buck over to store owners such as yourself. Unfortunately, customers are less likely to purchase a garment if it's wrinkled, which is why you should store owners should remove them before attempting to sell them.

I know what you're thinking -- why you should I use a garment steamer when an iron is just as effective at removing wrinkles? Traditional clothes irons can certainly be effective at removing wrinkles, but they can also permanently damage garments. Their fluctuating temperatures may literally burn a garment's fabric; thus, ruining the garment. A safer, more effective way to remove wrinkles from a garment is by using a steamer. The device is ran over the surface of the garment where the steam pulls out the wrinkles.

Another reason why garment steamers are preferred over irons is because they are easier to use. Let's say you had 100 shirts hanging on rolling racks that needed to be de-wrinkled. It would probably take hours to remove each shirt, place it on an ironing board, and then run a clothes iron over it. Sure, it could technically be done, but it would take an incredibly long time to finish. A much faster method for de-wrinkling 100 shirts is to use a garment steamer like the one shown above. You can leave the shirts hanging in place and simply run the device's wand attachment over each of them.

The bottom line is that a garment steamer is a versatile accessory that will make managing your retail apparel store easier. So, go ahead and pick one up today!

Skills Required To Manage a Successful Retail Store

Store managers have a wide range of professional responsibilities in the retail industry. Even if they aren't technically the owner, they'll still perform many of the same duties. This includes (but not limited to) handling returns and exchanges, making bank deposits, counting the drawer, locking up, ordering product from distributors, talking directly with customers, and training employees. Because retail managers perform so many different tasks, they typically have a varied skill set. In this post, we're going to reveal some of the top skills necessary for managing a retail store.

Skill #1) Customer Service

This should come as no surprise to most retail professionals, but customer service is a top skill required for retail store management. An experienced retail manager knows how to keep customers happy -- even if they are unruly or dissatisfied. Most customers will generally go about their business while shopping, but there are a select few who are there simply to cause trouble. A retail store manager must know how to deal with these customers in a polite way, without create a negative image for the company.

Skill #2) Math

A second skill that goes hand-in-hand with retail management is math. Basic math is necessary to count the drawer at the end of the night. Most retail store owners place the responsibility of counting money and making bank deposits on the shoulders of the manager; therefore, he or she must be able to count large sums of cash accurately. Mistakes are bound to be made when counting money, but keeping them to a minimum will help the store run more smoothly.

Skill #3) Leadership

Retail managers should set an example for other workers to follow. When an employee has a question or concern, they'll likely voice it to the manager on duty. This is where leadership skills come into play. Without acting as a leader and setting the right example, employees may start to slack off with their professional duties and responsibilities.

Skill #4) Time Management

One skill that's oftentimes overlooked in retail management is time management. There are only 24 hours in a day, and most retail stores are only open for 8-10 of those hours. A retail manager must learn to balance his or her workload to finish all of their duties. Focusing too much with returns and exchanges, for instance, may limit their time to place new orders with distributors.

Taking a Brick-And-Mortar Store Online: What's The Best Approach?

Thinking about taking your brick-and-mortar business online? Some people assume this is a relatively simple and straightforward transition, but this typically is not the case. Whether your brick-and-mortar store sells groceries, electronics, apparel, jewelry, sporting goods or any other consumer product, there are certain hurdles you must face when selling these items over the internet. And not preparing for these hurdles could lead to disaster. Here, we're going to reveal some key tips and tricks on how to transition from a strictly brick-and-mortar business to going online.

Bump Up Inventory

One of the biggest mistakes store owners make when taking their business online is not purchasing enough product inventory. With an entirely new medium for sales available, you can expect to go through product much faster than before. Unless you want to tell customers "Sorry, we are currently out of X product," you should prepare for the increase in sales ahead of time by ordering a surplus of your 'hot' products. Depending on the current size of your store, you may need to rent an additional store, garage or storage facility to house this surplus.

Shipping Logistics

Another area of online sales that's oftentimes overlooked is shipping logistics. After a customer purchases an item online, how do you plan on shipping it to them? Choosing the wrong form of logistics could end up costing you thousands of dollars per year in unnecessary costs. On the other hand, the right form of logistics will make your online business run more smoothly.

Assuming you are selling strictly to the U.S. market, you can always count on USPS for your online business's shipping logistics; they're fast, reliable, and usually have the lowest rates. Other companies you may want to consider include UPS, FedEx and DHL. Find out the shipping rates, guarantees and terms of each delivery company.

Building an E-Commerce Website

Arguably, the most difficult step in taking a brick-and-mortar business online is building the actual e-commerce website. To help you get started on the right foot, we've compiled a few key tips:

• Use a clean website design with easy navigation.
• Make sure the purchase form on your website is secure (SSL).
• Include your company phone number and physical address for greater transparency.
• Use discount and promo codes as an incentive for customers to purchase products online.
• Offer 'standard' and 'expedited' shipping options.

What Is a Flagship Retail Store?

"Flagship" is a term that's oftentimes tossed around in the retail industry. The term was originally used to describe the commanding vessel in a military fleet, but the term is now primary used in the retail industry. If you spend any time visiting some of the nation's most populated cities, chances are you'll come across some notable flagship stores. But what exactly does this term mean when used in the retail trade? And what are some of the common characteristics of flagship stores? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

As previously stated, the term "flagship" was originally used to describe the leading military vessel in a fleet of ships; it was the largest, fastest and most powerful ship in the fleet. Military fleets were organized and controlled by the flagship vessel. While the term is rarely used in this fashion today, the fundamental principle remains the same. A flagship retail store is the company's most successful and reputable store (oftentimes the largest as well). Here, retail companies can launch new test products to see how they fare in the market. If a product performs well, the company may choose to offer it in their other stores.

Examples of Flagship Stores:

• Lane Bryant - Manhattan
• H&M - Times Square
• Abercrombie - Multiple flagship stores throughout the world
• Old Navy - San Francisco
• Macy's - New York City
• Nokia - New York City
• Prada - New York City
• Saks Fifth Avenue - New York City

As you can see, New York City is a 'hub' for flagship stores, and for good reason: it's one of the nation's busiest, most populated cities. The examples listed here are just a few of the dozens of flagship retail stores located in NYC.

Objective of Flagship Retail Stores

There are a few key objectives of flagship retail stores, one of which is to set a good example for the company's other stores to follow. Most large retail chains send their best employees to run their flagship store. After all, these stores tend to receive higher sales volume along with more press attention than other stores, so it would only make sense to make sure they are run according to the company's standards.

Another objective of flagship retail stores is to test new product to see how it performs. Rather than releasing a new product in hundreds or even thousands of stores, a retailer may send it through their flagship store first.

Equipment Checklist For Starting a Retail Apparel Store

Thinking of starting your own retail apparel store? If so, you'll need to purchase the right equipment to store and display product. Apparel stores are unique in the sense that they require specific fixtures, such as mannequins, which aren't found in other stores. Overlooking this critical step could send your business tumbling downwards long before it even opens. For a checklist of essential fixtures and equipment necessary to start a retail apparel store, keep reading.

Rolling Racks

Arguably, the single most important type of equipment for starting a retail apparel store are rolling racks. As the name suggests, these are mobile racks with wheels that can be moved around the store as you see fit. Rolling racks are incredibly versatile, allowing apparel store owners to display shirts, jeans, pants, dresses and practically any other garment that works with a traditional hanger.

So, how many rolling racks do you need for your retail apparel store business? There's really no easy answer to this question, as it depends on the size of your store, type of apparel you offer, store layout, and your professional goals. With that said, I recommend new apparel store owners create a detailed floor plan to determine exactly how much space they have available. Look at your store's blueprints and choose a location for all of your store fixtures.

Mannequins

Of course, mannequins are another essential piece of equipment for retail apparel stores. You can hang garments on rolling racks all day long, but nothing compares to the realistic figure and frame of a mannequin. Customers can see how a particular garment looks on the human form thanks to the use of a mannequin, which naturally encourages a greater amount of sales.

The only real downside to using mannequins is their space requirements. A single full-sized mannequin will take several feet of valuable real estate in your store.  And using too many will limit the available space for rolling racks and other key fixtures, so try not to go overboard with your store's mannequins. Strategically placing a couple in your window display and scattered throughout your store should suffice.

Other Equipment Necessary To Start a Retail Apparel Store:

• Track lighting (particularly helpful when used in conjunction with mannequins).
• Slatwall or gridwall.
• Garment bags.
• Cash registers.
• Security tags for high-dollar garments and accessories.
• Hangers (you'll need plenty of these).
• Body forms
• Signs

Risks of Starting a Retail Business

Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that a new retail store or business will succeed. According to StatisticsBrain.com, only 47% of retail businesses are still in operation four years after opening. This is the third worst sector, only behind Transportation Communication / Utilities and Information. Does this mean you hopeful entrepreneurs should give up on their dream on opening their own retail store? Absolutely not, but it's important to fully understand the risks of starting a retail business. Once you've identified these risks, you can make better decisions on how to safeguard your professional investment from failure.

City Planning and Zoning

One common risk of starting a retail business is new city planning and zoning that reduces the number of customers walking into your store. For instance, if the city approves the construction of a new highway that's located on the opposite end of town, your retail business may suffer as a result. Or even if the city decides to re-route traffic in a different direction, the end result could harm your sales. To make matters worse, there's very little business owners can do to prevent this from happening. The best approach is to remain active and vigilant on matters such as this. If there's a town meeting on new road proposals in the vicinity of your business, make sure you voice your opinion here.

Consumer Trends

Of course, consumer trends is another risk of starting a retail business. You can research current trends all day long, but something that's 'hot' today may be gone tomorrow. It wasn't too long ago when the baseball card industry was thriving. If you lived in or around a large city, you probably remember seeing half a dozen or more baseball card shops open. Although there are still some baseball card shops open, most of them have closed down over the years due to lack of consumer demand. This is just one example of how consumer trends affect retail businesses.

So, what steps can you take to ensure your retail business remains relevant and popular in the eyes of consumers? One helpful tip is to stick with industries that are constantly in high-demand, such as apparel and jewelry. Consumers are always looking to purchase new clothes and jewelry, so retail businesses focused around these niches are 'safer' than other niches.

Overhead

Retail business owners who aren't fully prepared for the expenses of overhead may find themselves in financial hot water. Overhead includes (but not limited to) leasing a building, electricity, gas, water, security system, insurance, payroll, advertising, taxes, phone, and other business-related operating expenses.

Boost Your Online Sales With 'Cyber Monday' Promotions

Today is the official start of the nation's busiest shopping day -- Cyber Monday. If you own or manage a retail store that sells product online, you should leverage this massive consumer shopping day to boost your sales. The fact is that it's not too late jump on the Cyber Monday bandwagon. And with a little bit of work and the right promotional material, you can skyrocket your online sales. For some more pointers and tips on how to maximize your Cyber Monday sales, keep reading.

Cyber Monday: How Did It Start?

While millions of consumers purchase products, good and services on Cyber Monday, most people remain in the dark as to how this shopping holiday started. Cyber Monday is a relatively new holiday that began in 2005 when Scott Silverman, CEO of shop.org, made a press release saying that the Monday following Thanksgiving was one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The term "Cyber Monday" seemed appropriate for this consumer shopping holiday since it was based around online sales. Retailers, companies and news outlets followed suit and the term has stuck ever since.

Offer Sales and Promotions

If you're looking to boost your sales on Cyber Monday, you should offer steep discounts to drive customers. Remember, there are thousands of other companies dropping their prices during this 24-hour stretch for the sole purpose of attracting more customers. Even if your net profit is reduced, offering special sales and promotion will build a larger, stronger following that ultimately helps your business in the long run. Some of these first-time customers will visit your company's website in the future to make additional purchase at 'normal' price.

So, how much should you discount your product for on Cyber Monday? Some apparel store retailers are offering discounts of 30-40%, while Amazon.com is offering up to 50% on select toys. These are just a couple of examples, however. Retailers should create a customized sale that's tailored towards their goals and objectives.

Cyber Monday Tips For Retailers

• Offer steep, competitive discounts.
• Add a banner or header saying "Cyber Monday Sales."
• Send a newsletter out to inform customers about your Cyber Monday sale.
• Don't limit yourself to the 24-hour time frame; many companies run sales throughout the entire week.
• Snoop around on your competitors to see what they are offering.

These are just a few tips to help businesses maximize their sales on Cyber Monday. Above all else, though, make sure your customers know about your special deals and promotions.

How To Identify Counterfeit Money

Counterfeit currency is a serious problem that retail store and business owners need to be aware of. It's estimated that $3 billion of fake bills are currently in circulation, and with all of the recent technological advancements in computer software and printing, this number will likely grow. Retail stores are responsible for spotting fake bills when used by a customer to purchase goods. Overlooking this step or simply turning a blind eye could leave your business in legal 'hot water,' which is why all retail store owners should educate themselves on how to spot counterfeit money.

Feel It

Real money has a very distinct texture and feeling when you run it in your hands. Experienced federal agents are oftentimes able to determine whether or not a bill is fake simply by feeling it. This is because U.S. currency is printed on a very specific type of paper (25% linen and 75% cotton) that feels quite soft yet equally strong. Counterfeit currency is typically printed on cheap paper before being tumbled in an attempt to 'mimic' the feeling of authentic currency. Spend some time rolling around real money in your hands to familiarize yourself with this feeling. Just remember to wash your hands afterwards, as currency is germ haven!

Border Lines

When visually inspecting currency, pay close attention to the lines defining its borders. If you compare a counterfeit bill with an authentic U.S. currency bill side-by-side, you'll probably notice the real bill has stronger, cleaner lines that really stand out. On the other hand, counterfeit bills have almost mottled border lines that blend into the background. This is just one of the many nuances between real and fake bills that retail store owners should look for.

Treasury Seals

Of course, you should also closely inspect the treasury seals on currency as it passes through your store. Authentic currency possesses clean treasury seals with straight, non-bleeding lines. If the seal is uneven, misaligned or bleeding through to the background, the bill could be fake.

Other Tips For Identifying Counterfeit Money:

• Look for the embedded security thread by holding the bill up to the light (not present in $1 bills).
• Look for the watermarks.
• U.S. currency is printed with color shift ink which causes it to change color when moved around in light.
• Real money contains small individual fibers which are also noticeable in the light.
• Use a counterfeit marker on large bills.

Retail Insurance 101: Is It Really Necessary?

One of the most common questions new retail business owners ask is whether or not insurance is necessary. No matter how much time you spent preparing and planning for your business, disaster can strike at any given time, without prior notice. This, of course, is where retail insurance comes into play: while you may never use it, insurance will give you the peace of mind knowing that your business is financially covered in the event of a disaster. But is this reason enough to purchase insurance for your retail business? And how much coverage should a good policy include? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

Liability

While retail insurance policies vary in terms of coverage, you'll find that most of them offer premises liability. If a customer happens to injure themselves in your store, your insurance company will take the financial burden of the accident. Of course, liability isn't limited strictly to customers; some policies may also employee, contractors, and freelance workers. Talk with your insurance provider to determine what forms of liability are covered.

Protect Your Store From Counterfeit Currency

You might be surprised to learn that some retail insurance policies actually protect businesses from the use of counterfeit currency. While local police and federal agents have stepped up their action against counterfeit currency, the problem continues to grow as a result of the advanced software and printing technology of today. It's estimated that over $300 billion of counterfeit currency is currently circulating within the U.S. And if some of this currency happens to pass through your store, is could take a significant chunk from your net revenue while forcing you to spend time contacting the authorities.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are a real threat to retail businesses, especially new businesses trying to lay the foundation for their success. Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes (in coastal regions) can leave retail stores and businesses is shambles. While there's no way to prevent natural disasters from striking, retail business owners can purchase insurance to protect themselves financially.

Other Coverage Offered In Retail Business Policies:

• Loss of revenue from power and/or utility interruption
• Sewer backup
• Renovation damage
• Fires
• Theft
• Accounting or financial errors

The short answer is that yes, retail insurance is necessary to run a successful business; however, you should take the time to create a plan that's customized to fit the needs of your business.

3 Ways To Move Product Faster In a Retail Store

Allowing product to sit unsold on your store's shelves for several months is a poor business strategy that will ultimately hurt your sales in the long run. If a customers aren't purchasing a particular product in your store, then you'll need to use some creativity to help push it out the doors. In turn, this will allow you to fill the space with product that is selling well. But how exactly do you move product that customers don't seem to purchase? Keep reading to learn 3 incredibly easy ways to move retail product faster and more efficiently.

#1) Mark It Down To Clearance

Arguably, one of the easiest ways to move product in a retail store is to mark it down to clearance. Shoppers are naturally attracted to the clearance rack, so use this to your advantage by placing old/hard-to-sell products here. Whether your store sells apparel, electronics, groceries, sporting goods, pet supplies or basic convenience items, you can always toss up a clearance aisle to move stubborn product faster.

Of course, you can't expect to sell clearance product for full price. In order to keep it moving fast -- rather than wasting valuable real estate in your store -- you need to mark it down to an attractive price. Don't be afraid to discount your clearance products by 30, 40 or even 50%.

#2) Display on End Caps

Another simple yet highly effective technique retail store owners use to move product is displaying it on end caps. If a particular product is currently being stored/displayed in some obscure location that doesn't receive a lot of attention by shoppers (if any), there's a good chance this technique will work. By moving the product to the end of aisles (fixtures known as end caps), shoppers will notice it more when they are browsing through your store, and this translates into more sales. Just remember to mix your end cap displays up on a regular basis, as using the same product here over and here will reduce their effectiveness.

#3) Advertise It

A third solution to moving product faster in a retail store is to invest some of your time and resources into advertisements. For instance, you could send out a print advertisement through the mail showcasing product that you're having a difficult time selling. The increased exposure gained through advertisements such as this will draw in shoppers with the sole purpose of purchasing it.

How To Perform Inventory Management In a Retail Apparel Store

Inventory management is the process of organizing, counting, and displaying product in a retail store. Far too many store owners either overlook or underestimate this critical step, resulting in a loss of sales and performance. While all retail stores can benefit from routine inventory management, it's especially important for apparel stores. If you're the owner of a retail apparel store, keep reading to learn the step-by-step process to performing inventory management.

Choose The Right Fixtures

The first step in performing inventory management in a retail apparel store is to choose the right fixtures. Using the wrong fixtures will make this process ten times more difficult by creating a mess of cluttered product that only becomes worse throughout the day. So, how do you know which fixtures to use in a retail store? It really depends on the type of apparel sold in your store. General apparel stores that sell full outfits and accessories would likely benefit the most from a collection of mannequins along with some gridwall or slatwall, while a shirt-only retail store may benefit the most from basic gondolas.

Keeping Track of Inventory

Of course, another important step in inventory management for retail apparel stores is keeping track of inventory. Most stores have a computer system in place designed for this purpose, but unfortunately computers won't automatically account for shrink products. This is why retail apparel stores should go back and manually count their product on a regular basis, as this will provide a more accurate reading of their current inventory. And when your store gets low on a particular product, you can go ahead and order more.

Refold Apparel

One tall-tale sign of a successful retail apparel store is unfolded clothing that's strewn all of the place. In a perfect world, shoppers would come in and 'neatly' browse through your store's inventory while leaving it nice and folded. Nine out of ten times, however, shoppers will unfold product, creating a display of cluttered mess. While this is a sign that your store is receiving a sizable amount of shoppers, it can also send the wrong message to your customers.

Part of inventory management in retail apparel stores includes refolding product. Allowing your store's product to remain strewn across the shelves in a cluttered fashion may send some potential customers out the door. If you haven't done so already, train your employees on the proper way to fold each garment in your store. In addition, make sure they perform regular refolding routines to keep your store in top shape.

Tips For Choosing The Right Mannequins For Your Retail Apparel Store

Mannequins are arguably the single most important accessory in a retail apparel store. While store owners can always display their product on traditional shelving units, rolling racks, gridwall and slatwall, nothing compares to mannequins. Their human-like form and shape portrays an accurate representation of what a particular garment looks like when worn, and this translates into more sales from shoppers. With that said, store owners should carefully choose the mannequins that are right for their particular needs. If you're still scratching your head trying to decide which type of mannequin is right for your business, keep reading for some important tips on how to choose the right one.

Male vs Female Mannequins: Which One Should I Choose?

One of the first considerations you should make regarding which type of mannequin is best suited for your store is gender. Does your store focus strictly on female apparel and garments? If so, you'll obviously want to stick with female mannequins. On the other hand, if your store sells both female and male garments, then you'll probably want to choose both types of mannequins. Think about your target demographic and match it with your mannequins.

Remember, the ultimate goal of using mannequins in a retail apparel store is to display how a particular product looks on the human form; therefore, store owners should choose the appropriate gender for their mannequins. Placing a dress on a male-body mannequins isn't going to have the same effect as it would on a female mannequin.

Full-Body, Headless or Torso Mannequins

Of course, you should also decide whether you want to use a full-body, headless or torso-only mannequin in your retail apparel store. While each of these different mannequin types offer an effective way to display garments and accessories, they each have their own pros and cons that owners should be aware of.

Torso mannequins are inexpensive, lightweight, easy to set up, and take up minimal space. The disadvantage to using them, however, is that you won't be able to display full outfits. Headless mannequins are an all-around better choice simply because they have arms and legs attached, but yet they still lack the head. Full-body mannequins are oftentimes preferred by retail apparel store owners; they maximize sales, offer the best visual representation of a garment/outfit, and they are easy to set up. The only real drawback to using full-body mannequins is the space requirements (full-body mannequins take up more space than headless or torso-only models).

How To Encourage 'Retail Therapy' In Your Store

Looking to boost your store's sales but don't know where to start? While there are hundreds of different marketing and promotional techniques businesses use to attract more customers, understanding the psychology behind shoppers will allow you to make business smarter decisions, which in turn will boost your sales numbers. Retail therapy is one such term that's frequently used when discussing shopping psychology. But what exactly is retail therapy? And how can you leverage it in your business? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

Retail Therapy 101

In short, retail therapy is the act of shopping with the goal of improving the shopper's mood and disposition. By purchasing new products, the shopper's mood is instantly uplifted, which is the fundamental principle of retail therapy. It's literally a form of therapy that helps soothe emotional distress.

The truth is that each purchase has a 'trigger' that's causing the shopper to say "Hey, I have to buy that item." Some shoppers buy items because they're a necessity for everyday living, while others purchase them because they improve their quality of life. As a retail business owner, it's your responsibility to identify these triggers so you can encourage more sales.

According to a study performed by TNS Global survey, approximately 52% of all American engage in retail therapy. With that said, it's important to note that retail therapy is more heavily geared towards the female demographic, with 64% of females engaging in this activity and only 40% of males.

Top Purchases For Retail Therapy:

• Clothes
• Food
• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Fashion Accessories
• Movies
• Music
• Games
• Toys
• Books
• Magazines

Focus on Impulse Buys

One technique that's helpful for generating more sales through retail therapy is to focus some of your efforts on impulse buys. Just as the name suggests, this is a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment purchase that shoppers don't 'intend' on making. Shoppers with the goal of achieving retail therapy will see these items and hopefully make a purchase.

Nearly all successful retail stores and businesses display impulse buy products around the front of their store and/or checkout lanes. When shoppers are standing around waiting to check out, they'll notice these items. Assuming they are visiting your store with the purpose of performing retail therapy, there's a good chance they will purchase some of these items simply because they are conveniently placed here.

Tips For Throwing a Re-Grand Store Opening

Throwing a 're-grand opening' is a simple yet highly effective way for retail store owners to attract new customers while notifying them of any new changes to their business. Some store owners throw them after performing major renovations, while others throw them for no reason. In any case, they are almost certain to have a positive effect on the business as a whole. To get the most benefit from your store's re-grand opening, however, there are a couple of things you should know.

Identify The Goals of a Re-Grand Opening

The first step in throwing a re-grand opening is to identify your goals. Ask yourself -- what do I hope to accomplish from throwing this event? In most cases, you'll have a primary goal and secondary goal. Perhaps your primary goal is to attract more customers and sales, while your secondary goal is to notify customers of a new layout or decor in your store. These are just a few examples of common goals with re-grand openings in retail stores.

Identifying your goals for a re-grand opening will give you a better idea of what's necessary for success. Assuming your primary goal is to attract more customers and sales (always a positive goal to have), you should probably run some special discounts and promotions to maximize revenue.

Re-Grand Opening Setup

With your goals clearly defined, you are now faced with the task of setting up a re-grand opening. If you need a little inspiration, don't be afraid to check out re-grand opening events of other retail stores and businesses. While the exact details vary from store to store, you'll find that most successful large-scale businesses throw celebratory re-grand openings with lots of balloons, confetti, streamers, etc. This creates a fun, laid-back mood that shoppers enjoy.

Don't be afraid to ask friends, family members or even some of your store employees for help setting up the re-grand opening event. Just a couple extra set of hands on deck can prove immensely valuable during this process. And besides, they will provide constructive criticism over which decorations are attractive and which ones aren't.

Market Your Re-Grand Opening Event

Of course, a re-grand opening event is only successful if people actually know about it. The sight of a large 'Re-Grand Opening Event!' banner in the front of your store is bound to attract some shoppers, but ultimately you'll need to spread the word through in-mail advertisements, social media, flyers and word-of-mouth to truly generate the most revenue.

5 Ways To Grow and Expand a Retail Business

It's easy for owners of retail stores to grow complacent in their current business setup. Once you've garnered a loyal customer base and have made a name for your business in its respective industry, you might not see the point in trying to expand it any further. Regardless of your store's current level of success, though, there's always room for growth. To learn more about how to grow and expand a retail business, keep reading.

#1) Perform Renovations

Physical store space is a factor that oftentimes limits the growth of retail businesses. When you're forced to consolidate and selectively choose your products, you'll naturally leave some untapped business on the table. This is why it's important for store owners to perform space-saving renovations. If you haven't done so already, consider hiring a professional contractor to open up more space in your store. Something as simple as tearing down a non-load-bearing wall could yield a ton of additional store space.

#2) Take It Online

If your retail business relies strictly on local sales and not the internet, you're missing out on one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow your business. The fact is that nearly all retail stores and businesses can benefit from having an active web presence. It will give you the chance to reach out to an enormous amount of customers. Of course, there are some logistical hurdles owners must tackle if they plan to take their business online, but it's still relatively easy when compared to running a local retail store.

#3) Open a Second Store

A third way owners can expand their retail business is by opening a second store. After running a successful store for 1-2 years, you should look into expanding your business into a second store. By replicating your business model elsewhere, you can create a chain of self-sustaining, profitable stores that continue to generate revenue.

#4) New Products

Adding new product lines to your retail store is a simple way to grow your business. Let's say, for instance, your store sells women's apparel. By venturing into handbags, scarves, footwear and other accessories, you'll attract more customers; thus, growing your business. Customers looking for fashion accessories rather than actual pieces of apparel will visit your store instead of your competitors.

#5) Market Aggressively

A fifth and final technique for retail store owners to expand their business is to market aggressively. I know this probably sounds like common sense to most entrepreneurs, but you would be surprised at how many stores fail to realize the importance of marketing.

How To Attract More Customers To Your Retail Electronics Store

Looking to attract more customers to your retail store? I think most retail business owners would say yes to this question. Common sense should tell you that the more customers your store has, the more sales it will produce. Rather than relying strictly on word-of-mouth and 'dated' marketing methods, however, you should consider some of the high-tech methods listed above.

Create a Smartphone App

One incredibly effective high-tech solution to attract more customers is to create a smartphone app for your store. Dozens of the country's top retailers currently offer their own apps for Android and/or iOS, allowing them to reach out to a new customer base. There are a couple of different ways to approach an app for your retail store, one of which is to create a game. Smartphone users love to pass the time away with simple games, so this idea is bound to generate some downloads. Another option is to create a smartphone app consisting of sales, promo codes and discount news for your store. Penny-wise shoppers will download and use this app to save money on their next shopping trip.

Of course, some retail store owners may turn their head at the idea of creating a smartphone app simply because they have no previous experience in this field. While coding a functional app is a painstaking process that require skill, you can always hire one of the many companies out there to handle it for you. Don't be afraid to email various app development companies for custom quotes on your project.

Social Media Engagement

If you aren't actively updating your social media networking accounts on a regular basis, you're missing out on of the easiest ways to attract new customers to your retail store. Facebook is a powerful marketing tool that store owners oftentimes overlook. if you haven't done so already, take a few minutes to create a business account here. Use the official name of your retail store so customers can easily find it. Also, be sure to add a custom profile pic and cover page to add more depth and professionalism to your account.

A Facebook page is only useful for retail stores if it's updated frequently. Allowing your page to grow stagnant will discourage customers from viewing it. So, how often should you update your Facebook business page? There's really no easy answer to this question, as it depends on your specific niche, clientele, etc. A good rule of thumb, however, is to update it at least a few times a week. This should keep customers interested and engaged, which also increases the chance of them sharing and 'liking' your posts.

5 of The Biggest Productivity Killers In Retail Stores

Does your retail store or business suffer from a general lack of productivity? There's nothing more frustrating than investing all of your time, money and energy into creating a solid retail business only for your productivity to come a crawl. In the highly competitive world of retail, this can spell disaster for an otherwise profitable business. To learn more about some of the biggest productivity killers in retail stores, keep reading.

#1) Poor Employee Work Ethics

One of the biggest productivity killers in retail stores comes from poor work ethics among employees. Some store owners hire employees based on a 'gut feeling,' without taking the time to analyze their applications and perform in-depth followup interviews. While you may get lucky and find a hard-working employee on occasion, chances are you'll end up with slackers who simply want to earn a paycheck for showing up to work each day. And in turn, this lowers the productivity of your store.

#2) Accounting

Of course, another major productivity killer for retail stores and businesses is accounting. When you're busy analyzing sales, expenses, revenue and profit, it's easy to overlook other steps of your business. Rather than performing all of these operations yourself, a better option is to invest in a professional accountant. The additional money it costs to hire a professional accountant will prove to be well worth it in the long run.

#3) Not Using a Computer System

In today' fast-paced world, there's no reason why any retail store or business should not be using a computer system for performing transactions. Unfortunately, however, some store owners sill prefer to do things the old fashioned way, writing down transactions and customer card numbers by hand. Not only does this take more time, but it also leaves the customer vulnerable to card theft and identify fraud.

#4) Poor Management

A fourth productivity killer in retail stores is poor management. You have to remember that management is there to set an example for other employees to follow. And if they are constantly slacking off, exhibiting an unenthusiastic attitude, or a general lack of professionalism, your entire store will suffer from a loss of productivity.

#5) Taking Personal Calls

Last on our list is taking personal phone calls at work. If you currently allow employees to use their cellphones while working, you may want to reconsider this position. Even if it 'appears' your employees are able to multitask while using their cellphones, it's almost certainly lowering their productivity levels.

Retail Grand Opening Marketing Tips and Ideas

Once your retail store is stocked and ready to go, you'll want to throw a grand opening to inform potential customers about the new business. Overlooking this critical stage could spell disaster for your newly opened store, resulting in a lack of customers and sales. Thankfully, you can set your retail store on the patch to success by throwing a grand opening. To learn more about how to market a retail grand opening event, keep reading.

Am I Ready For a Grand Opening?

Grand openings aren't events that you should rush. If your store isn't completely ready for a wave of eager customers, postpone the event for a future date. So, how do you know if your store is ready? Ask yourself -- is my store 100% complete with all of the products, fixtures and decorative accessories? Throwing a grand opening when work is still being done in your store will send the wrong message to customers and clients. And instead of visiting your store again in the future, they may send their business to one of your competitors.

Perform a thorough inspection of your retail store before throwing a grand opening event, double-checking all of the products, fixtures and displays. If you believe a particular product will be a 'hot seller,' then it's probably a good idea to stock up on it for the grand opening event. Running out of an advertised sale item will undoubtedly upset some customers, so make sure this isn't a problem by stocking up on the appropriate products.

Know Your Target Demographic

Store owners should research their target demographic to determine who exactly they are selling to. Using this information, you can better market and advertise your products, resulting in more customers and higher sales. Don't be afraid to spend some time driving around your store's location to get a better feel for the market. Pay attention to the amount of traffic in the area, competing businesses, nearby highways, etc.

Spread The Message

Retail grand opening events are only successful if people know about them. You can have the most extravagant, well-planned grand opening for your retail store, but it's not going to have much of an effect unless people know about it. This is why it's so important for store owners to invest some of their time and resources into marketing their grand openings.

Here are some effective solutions for marketing a retail grand opening event:

• Mail advertisements
• Phone book advertisements
• Sponsor a local sports team
• Hand out fliers
• Use online marketing platforms
• Social media networking
• Radio commercials
• Television commercials

How To 'Go Green' In Your Retail Store

There are several benefits to creating a 'green' retail store. Owners who place an emphasis on reducing energy and waste will end up saving money on monthly utilities. This alone can yield a savings of thousands of dollars per year. But the real benefit of creating a green store is the positive message it sends to your customers, competitors and your employees. So, how exactly do you create a green retail store? Keep reading to learn how any retail store can accomplish this.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

You can't expect to run a green retail store unless you have a proper recycling program in place. Far too many stores and businesses throw away recyclable materials like cardboard, aluminum and plastic without thinking twice. Tossing a couple pieces of plastic or used cardboard boxes into the trashcan may not seem like a big deal, but you have to realize that all of these materials begin to add up over time. Rather than clogging the landfills with unnecessary items, you should implement a recycling program in your retail store. This is a great way to reduce waste while setting a good example for your employees to follow.

A recycling program is only useful if your store's employees follow it. Set up individual bins in a convenient location and inform your workers about the program. You can then contact some of the various recycling companies in your area to schedule a pickup date. Most recycling companies will be more than happy to set up a pickup schedule with your store. And depending on the type of material, you might even receive some financial compensation for your recycling efforts.

Lighting

Store owners should also examine their current lighting situation. Does your store use energy-hogging incandescent bulbs to illuminate the floor? If so, try swapping them out for LED or CFL bulbs. Both of these are energy-efficient alternatives that will reduce your monthly electric bill while lasting longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. It's a common assumption than incandescent light bulbs are the best choice simply because they are the cheapest. While they typically cost less than LEDs and CFLs, incandescent bulbs burn out faster and use far more energy.

Of course, you can also bring in natural light to help illuminate your retail store as well. Try pulling back the curtains so the sunlight beams through the windows. This isn't a suitable replacement for overhead lighting, but it will help to illuminate your store without the use of electricity.

How To Choose Customer-Friendly Fixtures For a Retail Store

Fixtures are an integral part of any retail store or business. The right fixtures will maximize your space while offering a more enjoyable shopping experience for customers. However, the wrong fixtures will limit your display space while clashing with the surrounding elements in your store. This is why it's important for owners to carefully choose their store's fixtures. In this post, we're going to reveal some simple steps on how to choose the best 'customer-friendly' fixtures for a retail store.

Ease of Setup

Unless you want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a professional contractor, it's recommended that you choose fixtures which are easy to set up. There's nothing more frustrating than finally acquiring your new fixtures only to be faced with the nightmare of trying to piece it together. This is one of the reasons why gondolas are such a popular choice in retail stores. They feature just a couple different parts which connect together to form a simple yet highly effective shelving system.

Space Requirements

Of course, you'll want to take into consideration the space requirements when choosing fixtures for your retail store. For instance, there's no better way to display apparel and fashion accessories than by using a full-body mannequin, but the downside is that mannequins take up a lot of space. Think about how much space you have available in your store and choose the right fixtures to match. If you own an apparel store with limited space, perhaps you could strategically place a couple mannequins up front and use a basic shelving system for the remainder of your product.

Gridwall and Slatwall

Both gridwall and slatwall offer two excellent fixture choices for retails stores. They are easily installed directly on the wall and use a basic hook system to display product. Store owners can move product around to achieve the best fit. If you're looking for an effective way to display product without consuming an unnecessary amount of space, you can't go wrong with either gridwall or slatwall.

Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding as to which fixtures are the best choice for retail stores. The truth is that each and every store has different needs; therefore, it's best to go through all of the available options before making a final choice. Gondolas, slatwall and gridwall are all popular choices that allow store owners to effectively display product without wasting space.

Important Social Media Networking Tips For Retail Businesses

Retail store owners can benefit from the use of social media networking in a number of different ways. If you aren't actively engaging users through social media on a regular basis, you're missing out on a simple yet highly effective way to attract more customers while drawing more exposure to your brand. Whether your store sells apparel, sporting goods, groceries, home furnishings, collectibles, convenience items or practically any other 'retail' product, you should take advantage of the social media's massive reach.

To put the power of social media networking into perspective, an article published on Nielsen.com states that Facebook users alone share over 2.5 billion pieces of content each day. And Facebook is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the various social media networking sites on the net. Once you begin to create accounts on other social sites, you'll boost your exposure even more.

Choosing The Right Social Media Sites

Facebook is by far the most powerful social media networking site available; therefore, you should begin with it. Users can create a 'business page' while logged into their personal account. The process is pretty straight forward and should only take a couple of minutes to complete. Facebook will ask you some basic questions about your business/company/brand. Do your best to enter in the correct information, but don't worry if you are unable to accurately answer some of the questions, as you can always go back later to fill it in.

Of course, Facebook isn't the only social media networking site that's beneficial for retail stores. Here's a short list of our picks for the 'top' social sites:

• Facebook
• Google+
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Include Contact Information

I can't stress enough the importance of adding your retail store's contact information to your various social media accounts. Some customers may try to find your store's phone number or physical address by scanning your social accounts, and if it's not there, they may take their business elsewhere. It only takes a minute or two to add your store's contact information, but doing so could yield more customers and ultimately more sales.

Update Frequently

If there's one thing that ALL successful business social media accounts have in common, it's the simple fact that they are updated frequently. You can't expect your accounts to generate 'buzz' or 'likes' unless you're adding new content to it on a regular basis. Try to get into the habit of updating your accounts at least once every other day. The more you post on your accounts, the better your chance at attracting new friends and followers.

The Do's and Don'ts of Hiring Employees For Your Retail Store

Employees are the backbone of any successful retail store or business. In addition to offering another set of helping hands, they'll represent your store's brand when you aren't along. This is why it's important for owners to choose dedicated, passionate employees who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty at work. To learn more about the do's and don'ts of hiring employees at a retail store, keep reading.

Don't: Hire on a 'Gut' Feeling

One of the biggest hiring mistakes retail store owners make is hiring candidates based strictly on a 'gut' feeling. It's easy to feel the need to hire a candidate on the spot when he or she maintains a positive and energetic attitude. However, you need to set your feelings aside to perform a more thorough analysis of the candidate. Only then can you decide whether or not they are a good match for your retail store. Basing your hiring decisions strictly off a 'gut' feeling could have disastrous consequences for your business in the long run.

Don't: Under-Hire

Another all-too-common hiring mistake among store owners is not hiring enough workers. Yes, the more workers you hire, the more money you'll have to spend on payroll. However, under-hiring could place you between a rock and a hard place. In the event that one or more of your employees is injured, becomes sick or quits their job, you won't have enough workers to effectively run your store. It's always good to over-hire employees rather than under-hire, so keep this in mind when you're going through the stacks of applications.

Do: Perform a Followup Interview

Performing followup interviews on job candidates will give you a better assessment of their personal traits, work ethics and characteristics. Use this time to ask candidates more about themselves, including both personal and professional goals. Ideally, you should hire candidates who are eager to learn more about your store and work their way up the ladder. This is especially important if you plan to open additional stores in the future, as you'll need someone to manage the current location while you handle the second store.

Do: Ask For a Resume

If you really want to cover all of your bases with hiring employees, ask job candidates to submit a resume. Just because the job is retail business and not office-oriented doesn't make resusmes any less important. On the contrary, resumes offer a more in-depth look at candidates' backgrounds, allowing you to see what type of education they have, where they've worked in the past, character references, etc.

How To Prepare Your Retail Store For The Upcoming Holiday Rush

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means shoppers are going to be out in full force. Most retail store owners report their highest sales during the months of November and December. The single busiest shopping day is the day after Thanksgiving (also known as Black Friday), but retailers can expect huge numbers throughout the remainder of the year. So, how exactly do you prepare for large customer turnouts? Keep reading to learn some important tips to help prepare your retail store for the upcoming holiday season.

Stock Up!

I can't stress enough the importance of stocking up on produce before the holiday season hits. If you wait until the months of November or December, there's a good chance you could find yourself out of stock with certain products. And when a customer visits your store only to discover that you're out of a certain product, guess what they'll do -- yep, go to one of your competitors. When it comes to the retail holiday season, it's better to be over prepared than under. Contact your distributors to order a surplus of product that you expect to sell a lot of this holiday season.

Offer Holiday Sales

Shoppers expect to see huge sales and promotions during the holiday season, so make sure you are incorporating this into your retail store. When customers get a good deal on a certain item or product, they'll likely tell their friends and family members about it, drawing more customers to your store. As the word begins to spread about your store's holiday sales, the customers will keep pouring in through the doors. The bottom line is that you need to give shoppers a reason to choose your store over your competitors, and one of the most effective reasons is through special sales and promotions.

Holiday Marketing Done Right

Of course, you shouldn't overlook the important of marketing this holiday season. Relying strictly on word-of-mouth marketing will only take your business so far; it's up to you as the store's owner to attract shoppers through other mediums. Whether it's sending out advertisements in the mail, setting up promotional booths at local events or even purchasing ad spots on the radio, you need to advertise your store this holiday season. Contrary to what some people may believe, advertising doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. There are dozens of low-cost advertising mediums available, so spend some time researching the available promotional methods to determine which ones are suitable for your business.

5 Questions To Ask Before Opening a Retail Apparel Store

Are you a fashion fanatic who loves to meet and interact with new people on a daily basis? If so, then you might want to consider launching your own retail apparel store. Since people are always in need of clothes, this is one industry that's considered "recession-proof." Launching your own retail apparel store will give you the opportunity to earn a living while helping people achieve greater self-confidence through fashion.

Question #1 - Is The Store Location High Traffic?

If there's one thing you shouldn't try to save money on when opening a retail apparel store it's the location. Sure, there's a good chance that you'll save a couple hundred dollars or more by leasing a store in a hidden part of town that no one knows about, but unfortunately this will hurt your customer base. Spend the extra money to lease a store in a high-traffic location next to a major road or highway.

Question #2 - How Am I Going To Find Employees?

Even if you plan on doing most of the work yourself, you'll still need a couple of employees to run a successful retail apparel store. Perhaps you can place a classified ad in the paper stating that you are looking for hard-working employees for a new retail store. Another option is to place a "help wanted" sign in the front of your store. The bottom line is that you need to find hard-working employees which are dedicated to helping your store succeed.

Question #3 - Are Loans Necessary?

The cost of opening a retail apparel store from the ground up can easily place a heavy burden on your finances. Thankfully, banks and lenders have numerous loan options available for hopeful entrepreneurs looking to launch new businesses. If you don't have 100% of the necessary cash on hand, do some research into the different types of business loans.

Question #4 - Do I Have a Reliable Supplier?

Of course, you can't expect to run a successful retail apparel store without a reliable supplier. And by "reliable" I mean someone you can always count on to deliver the product on time. Some store owners spend countless hours networking with factories and dealers overseas. Having a strong relationship with a good supplier is essential to running a successful apparel store.

Question #5 -  What Kind of Fixtures Do I Need?

A fifth question you should ask yourself is what type of fixtures are required for your apparel store. Setting up half a dozen or so mannequins is an excellent way to show customers exactly how a particular garment looks when worn on the human form, but it's not an effective method for storing large quantities of product. Instead, consider using something like gridwall, slatwall, gondolas, or a combination of the three.

How To Encourage Better Safety Among Employees

Each year, companies shell out billions of dollars towards the costs of on-the-job employee accidents. The most obvious cost of work-related accidents is worker's compensation and lost wages, but there are well over a dozen lesser-known costs. For instance, higher insurance premiums, time spent looking for replacement employees, administrative costs, reduced morale and damaged equipment all factor in to the true cost of accidents. Thankfully, you can reduce the chance of work-related accidents by encouraging better safety among your employees.

Training and Education

The first line of defense against work-related accidents is to train and educate your employees on safe practices. Even if your employees were originally trained during the initial phase of their job acquisition, it's still a good idea to send them through followup training once in a while. Although this requires both time and resources, it's sure to benefit your company in the long run with a safer work environment.

Identify Potential Dangers and Hazards

Owners and managers should also go through their workplace to identify potential dangers and hazards. This includes obvious dangers such as chemicals and heavy equipment, along with more discreet dangers like slippery areas on the floor. There are a couple of different ways to approach this task; you can either perform the inspection yourself, or you can hire a third-party company to come in and perform it.

Fixing The Problem

Once the 'danger' areas are identified in your workplace, you should work to fix them. If there's a slippery area on your floor, for instance, perhaps you could lay out a carpeted rug to increase traction here. The cost of purchasing an area rug is a small price to pay for the increased safety of your employees.

Of course, some dangers and hazards in the workplace aren't easily fixed. If there's no solution available for the problem, place a sign up to notify employees. Increasing awareness of the problem is one step closer to creating a safe environment for your employees.

Crunch The Numbers

Are employee accidents occurring frequently in your workplace? The only way you'll know the answer to this question is by crunching the numbers. Small business typically won't have a problem trying to identify the number of work-related accidents. Large businesses with multiple work locations, however, will likely experience difficulty with this issue. Perform routine safety audits to determine the frequency of accidents along with their causes. Using this information, you can then target the most problematic areas resulting in work-related accidents.

3 Reasons Why You Should Use Grid Wall In Your Retail Store

There are dozens of different ways to display product in a retail store; however, one of the easiest and most effective ways is to use grid wall. Regardless of what your store sells, whether it's groceries, convenience items, clothes, accessories, sporting goods or practically anything else, chances are it can benefit from the use of grid wall. To learn more about the unique advantages of using grid wall in a retail store, keep reading.

Reason #1 - Easy To Install

You might be surprised to learn just how easy it is to install grid wall. In fact, most store owners can do it themselves without spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a professional contractor. There are two different ways to install grid wall in a retail store: by placing it on free-standing 'legs' or by attaching it to the wall. Installing it on rolling legs will allow you to move it around your store more easily, while opting for the wall-mount installation is a more permanent solution.

Reason #2 - Versatile 

Another reason why you should grid wall in your retail store is because of its sheer versatility. While other forms of product displays are limited in terms of what they offer, grid wall is incredibly versatile. As long as the product fits on hook, you can display it on a grid wall panel. The simple 'grid' design allows store owners to move their product around with ease. Play around with the different hook placements to determine the best overall layout. Ideally, all of your grid wall hooks should be nice and snug so there's no unused space in between them.

Reason #3 - Maximize Display Space

A third reason why store owners should use grid wall is because it allows them to maximize their display space. Space is arguably the single most valuable commodity in a store. Thankfully, you can take full advantage of your store's available space by using grid wall. Even if your store is relatively small with little-to-no available space, there's likely still more than enough room for a couple panels of grid wall. Once it's installed, you can move the hooks around to maximize your display area. And since grid wall displays product in a vertical fashion rather than horizontally, you'll naturally get more bang for your buck.

Don't be afraid to install grid wall panels above the average person's reach. There are grabbing tools available for employees to access product stored on tall grid wall.

Tips on How To Interview Candidate Employees For a Retail Store

Employees are the backbone of any successful retail store or business. They'll not only help to physically run your store, but they'll also represent your brand as a whole. It's the subtle things such as an employee's friendliness and attention to detail that leave a lasting impression on customers. But how exactly do you find hard-working, loyal employees to run your store?

The first step towards finding employees for your store is to accept resumes and applications from potential job candidates. There are a couple of different ways to go about doing so, but it's usually best to create three separate stacks of applications: a 'yes' stack, a 'maybe' stack and a 'no' stack. Once you've gathered a sizable amount of applications in each of these stacks, you'll want to call up some potential candidates for an interview.

Questions To Ask During an Interview

Far too many store owners to hire employees on the spot without first performing an interview. While you might get lucky and find a 'diamond-in-the-rough' employee, the truth is that it's really a toss up. A better way to find employees for your retail store is to perform a followup interview on those with applications in your 'yes' stack. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about the person and decide whether or not they are a suitable match for your store.

Here's a short list of questions to ask candidates during a job interview:

• Why do you want to work with us?
• Do you have retail work experience?
• What are your short and long-term goals?
• How can you help this business succeed?
• What type of education do you have?
• How long do you expect to work with us?
• Are you looking for full-time or part-time employment?
• How many hours can you work?
• Are there any days you can't work?

Answer Candidates' Questions

Of course, a job interview shouldn't be a one-sided process where you are asking all of the questions. At the end of the interview, see if the candidate has any questions for you. Most candidates will have at least a couple questions regarding the job. Be sure to answer these questions accurately and honestly.

Testing

Some store and business owners give candidates a short test during the interview to determine whether or not they are qualified for the job. For instance, it's not a bad idea to test the job candidates  with basic math questions to ensure they are capable of handling money at the register.

Am I Ready To Open a Second Store?

In the world of retail business, more stores translates into more money. This is why so many successful retail entrepreneurs own multiple stores. When you have several different stores under your belt, you'll have different sources of passive income, which is exactly what some owners strive for. But how do you know if you're ready to venture into a second retail store?

Business owners should think long and hard before making the decision to open a second store. If it's not done right, it could turn into a downwards financial spiral that eats up more and more money. When all of your resources are being allocated towards the second store, your original store gets neglected.

Experience

You shouldn't even think about opening a second store until you've had multiple years of experience running the first. Far too many owners open one store after another without gaining basic fundamentals of the process first. Stick with one store, master it, and then you can move on to a second store.

Get comfortable in your position as the owner/manager at your first store, because you'll need plenty of experience here before moving on to a second store. One of the biggest mistakes owners make is rushing the process, which ultimately hurts them in the long run. Perform your job duties to the best of your ability and really strive for excellent with your store. Using this same format in future stores will increase your chances of success.

First Store Success

This is probably common sense to most people, but you should only open a second store after you've experienced success with the first. Go over your store's financial records to determine when it became profitable and for how long. Ideally, you should wait until your first store has turned a solid profit for at least 2-3 years before jumping into a second store.

Capital

Opening a second store requires a fairly significant amount of capital. You'll basically have the exact same expenses as your first store's opening with the exception of a select few items. Either hire a professional account or personally go through your business's financial documentation to determine whether or not you have the capital necessary for a second store. You can always apply for business loans, but the high interest rates oftentimes make them a poor decision.

Employees

Of course, you'll also need a handful of employees to help you open a second store. The good news is that you can oftentimes pull some workers from your first store to give you a hand at the new store. Even if it's only temporary, they can help you find and train new employees at your second store.