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.

Comparing The Different Flooring Options For a Retail Store

One of the many decisions you'll have to make when launching a retail store is choosing a floor type. Since this will have a direct impact on both the aesthetics and function of your store, it's important to choose the right type. Some store owners may try to save a couple bucks by using cheap, low-grade flooring, but unfortunately this typically ends with disastrous results. You have to remember that retail stores see a lot of use and wear from customers constantly coming and going; therefore, you need a durable type of flooring that's able to hold up under this pressure.

Laminate

Laminate has become an increasingly popular choice of flooring in residential and commercial establishments. While it looks similar in appearance to hardwood, laminate is actually stronger and more durable, making it a better all-around choice for retail stores. Its stylish wooden appearance is easy on the eyes and matches with a wide variety of decor styles. If your store currently features similar wooden fixtures, walls or elements, this type of flooring will naturally compliment the atmosphere in an attractive manner.

Polished Concrete

Of course, polished concrete is another popular choice of flooring for retail stores. Most grocery stores and supermarkets choose this type of flooring due to its unique properties. Polished concrete is superior in terms of strength and waterproof characteristics. If an employee accidentally spills a gallon of milk inside the store, the polished concrete will hold up just fine without suffering from any damage.

Although it sounds rather rough and uncomfortable, polished concrete is actually somewhat soft on the surface. Most stores using this type of flooring repolish their flooring on a regular basis, giving it a smooth and shiny surface that's easier for customers to walk on. Beware, though, polishing your floors too much can result in an overly slippy surface that leaves customers vulnerable to slip-and-fall accidents.

Carpet

Another flooring option that shouldn't be overlooked is carpet. In terms of comfort, there's no better choice than carpet. It's soft, springy, and it comes in a countless number of different colors and styles. But the downside to using carpet flooring in your retail store is that it's not as resilient as polished concrete or laminate. Spilled drinks and liquids will soak into the carpet where they are nearly impossible to remove.

Fashion and apparel stores oftentimes use carpet flooring since there's little-to-no chance of spilled liquids. Carpet is also a relatively cheap flooring option, which is another reason why some store owners prefer it.

How To Display Product In a Retail Apparel Store

One of the biggest hurdles faced by retail apparel store owners is trying to effectively display their product so customers can easily see it. Storing and displaying product incorrectly will make it more difficult for customers to see, which then results in fewer sales. And unlike most other retail stores, you can't place apparel on a shelf and call it a day. To maximize your store's effectiveness, you must think outside of the box when it comes to displaying apparel and accessories...

Mannequins

Using mannequins is arguably the single most effective way to display and showcase apparel in a retail store. They allow customers to see firsthand exactly how a particular garment looks when worn on the human body. Rather than placing clothes on the shelves where customers are forced to guess what they look like, you can set up some mannequins in your store with popular garments. The bottom line is that each and every retail apparel store should invest in some mannequins. It's the best all-around method of display for retail apparel and accessories.

The only real downside to using mannequins in a retail apparel store is the amount of space they require. If your store is somewhat small, you might not have enough room to store a dozen or so mannequins. However, you can use something like a half-sized body form rather than a full-sized mannequins. Doing so will allow you to showcase apparel items without taking up as much space as a full-sized mannequin.

You don't have to limit yourself to only displaying apparel on a mannequin. Think outside of the box by venturing into accessories as well. For instance, you can compliment the look of your mannequin by accessorizing it with items such as a handbag, hat, shoes, scarf (perfect for fall and winter seasons) and even a watch. The more realistic and lifelike your mannequin is, the more of an effect it will have on shoppers.

Hanger Costumers

An alternative to traditional mannequins is to display your store's apparel using hanger costumers. If you don't know what these are, let me explain: basically, hanger customers are large free-standing poles metal poled equipped with a single hanger on top. You place garments on top of the hanger to showcase them in a similar manner as a mannequin. Of course, hanger costumers are much smaller and lighter than actual mannequins, which is why so many stores used them.

What To Do With Damaged Clothes In a Retail Apparel Store

If you run or manage a retail apparel store, you are almost certain to come across damaged product at one point or another. Whether it's a stain, bad seam, torn fabric or a basic manufacturing error, damage is bound to occur. And unfortunately, you cant -- or at least you shouldn't -- sell damaged product for the same price as your normal items. So, that leaves the question: what should I do with damaged clothes?

Discount It

One idea is to place all of your damaged clothing items on a separate discount rack for customers to purchase. As long as you are transparent and let the customer know about the design flaws and damages these products contain, this shouldn't be a problem. In fact, most customers will be more than happy to purchase slightly damaged clothes at a discount price. It's a win-win situation for both the store and the customer; you are able to move the product while still producing revenue, and the customer is able to take advantage of a discount price for the item.

When placing damaged apparel items for sale in your store, make sure they are clearly marked with the appropriate display. Customers who purchase the item without realizing it's damaged may grow irate when they discover the flaw later. To prevent this from happening, clearly label the product with a sign stating "damaged" and make a note regarding the flaw on the price tag.

Return It To The Merchant

Another option is to contact the merchant to see whether or not you can return the damaged product. If the product arrived at your store already damaged, the merchant should allow you to return it. Of course, most merchants won't accept products that were damaged after arriving at your store. If you haven't done so already, pick up the phone and give them a call. The short amount of time it takes for a phone call will reveal the merchant's stance on returning damaged product. In some cases, the merchant may even pay for your return shipping, which is a huge benefit that ultimately results in higher store revenue.

Donate It

A third option is to donate your store's damaged product to local charity center. Rather than tossing your damaged clothes in the trash, take them to a charitable donation center around your area.  Doing so will give you the satisfaction knowing that you are helping others who are less fortunate. In addition, you can typically receive a tax-deductible receipt for your donation.

Planograms: Planning The Way Towards Retail Success

One of the biggest hurdles faced by retail store owners is trying to decide exactly how and where to display product. It's no secret that product placements plays a critical role in the success of a retail store or business. When it's done right, customers will naturally feel more inclined to make purchases; thus, increasing your sales and profits. However, the wrong placement will have an opposite effect by discouraging customers to make purchases. The good news is that visual representations know as planograms can help owners choose the right location for their products...

What Is a Planogram?

First and foremost, let's go over the basics of a planogram, as some people are likely hearing about them for the first time. Although there are dozens of different types of planograms, they all share some basic similarities. A planogram is essentially a visual representation of how product is set up and displayed in a retail store. Nearly every major retailer use them to instruct crews on the proper way to set up product. Rather than trying to guess what the best way to display product is, a planogram will reveal exactly how it should be done.

Shelves, Grid Wall, Slat Wall and More

It's important to note that planograms are used for more than just basic shelving units. They are also used to define product display and placement on gondolas, end-caps, slat wall, grid wall and checkout lane fixtures. Store owners and set crews may have a difficult time trying to organize product on new fixtures which they aren't used to working with. Thankfully, planograms are available to guide them step by step through the process.

Benefits of Using a Planogram

Unless you've used them before, you might be wondering what the benefits of planograms are. Well, planograms for traditional gondolas, for instance, reveal the exact placement for product along with the appropriate heights for each of the shelves. This is a huge benefit that will save you both time and energy in the long run. With each of the shelves designed on a visual planogram, you'll have no problem adding all of the necessary product.

Planograms also reveal SKU numbers along with a short description of each product. If your store is running low on a particular product, you can circle or make a note on the planogram to order more. With the SKU number already printed on the planogram, you don't have to worry about trying to manually write down or remember some long code.

4 Important Tips For Using Grid Wall

Grid wall offer a convenient and highly effective way for retail store owners to display product. The heavy-duty wire grid is fully capable of holding large racks of apparel, accessories and practically any other small-to-medium sized product. As long as the product fits on the designated hooks, you can successfully display it on a grid wall. For more tips on how to get the most benefit from your store's grid wall, keep reading.

Tip #1  - Choosing The Right Location

Location is critical when setting up a grid wall system in a retail store. Try to keep it low enough so that customers can easily remove the product themselves, without requiring the assistance of a store employee. If you are set on installing grid wall above the average person's reach, only use it for product that's sparingly purchased by customers; otherwise, you'll find yourself constantly going back and forth to access product here.

Tip #2 - Color and Style

The most commonly used type of grid wall is basic chrome metal; however, there are several other types of grid wall that shouldn't be overlooked as well. In addition to the standard chrome models, you can also find grid wall in both white and black colors. Try to picture each of these styles in your store and then choose the color/style that matches the rest of the decor. Black grid wall is a popular choice simply because it doesn't show dust as easily, but some owners prefer the subtle appearance of white-colored grid wall.

Tip #3 - Maximize Your Display Space

You can maximize the amount of grid wall display space by adjusting your product hooks accordingly. Ideally, each of the product should be resting directly next to one another. If there are large open gaps of several inches between products, then perhaps you should move them closer together. Not only will this maximize the amount of display space on your grid wall, but it will also result in a cleaner, more uniform appearance. Whenever your store receives a shipment of new product, make the necessary adjustments on your grid wall so the product fits appropriately without wasting space.

Tip #4 - Wall Mounting

Rather than standing your grid wall straight up, you can mount it to the wall using brackets. This is an excellent way to fill unused walls with functional product displays. However, it's important that you use the appropriate brackets to mount it on the wall.