How To Set Up an Apparel Store Window Display

Setting up a window display in your apparel store is a simple yet highly effective way to attract potential customers. As people walk by your display, they will notice your product and hopefully want to check it out for themselves. Getting potential customers in the door is the first step to making a sell, and a window display is a pivotal tool that will help you achieve this and more. However, there are some things you should know before attempting to set one up.

Tell a Story

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the secret to creating an effective window display is to tell a story. This rule holds true for all retail establishments, but it's especially true in the apparel store industry. Pulling a large shelf filled with various shirts, pants and other apparel garments in front of your store's window isn't going to cut it. Customers will have little-to-no connection with lacking window displays such as this.

So, how do you tell a story in an apparel store window display? The most effective way to convey a story is by using a mannequin. Shoppers naturally relate to mannequins, envisioning themselves in place of the mannequin. You can use this to your advantage by setting up a theme or story that includes well-dressed mannequins displaying your store's product.

Tips on Setting Up Mannequins In a Window Display

• Stick with a single type of mannequin. Filling your window display with several different styles and shapes of mannequins will create a cluttered, messy appearance that does your store no justice.
• Don't limit yourself to only displaying traditional apparel item on your store's mannequins, but also include accessories like jewelry, handbags, caps, etc.
• Play around with your mannequins' positions to accurately convey a story. For instance, you could raise the hands of your mannequins so it looks like they are playing volleyball.

Keep The Windows Clean!

I always cringe when I walk by a retail store's window display that has dirty windows. It only takes a couple minutes to go over the windows with a class cleaner, and doing so will drastically improve the display's aesthetics and overall appeal. Allowing your windows to gather dust and dirt will take away from its natural beauty, which ultimately reduces its effectiveness at attracting potential customers to your store.

End Cap Setup Tips

Just as their name suggests, end caps are shelving units which attach to the end of long gondolas Rather than allowing this space to go unused, retail stores and businesses can place end caps here to display product. Doing so opens up a whole new world of product display options, allowing business owners to move product more easily. But what types of products should you display on end caps? And how do you encourage customers to buy them? To learn the answers to these questions and more, keep reading.

Use a Banner

A typical end cap will feature a large banner or sign at the top to catch shoppers' attention. Some stores overlook the importance of end cap banners, which ultimately leads to a loss in sales. Sure, you may receive some sales here and there, but a visible banner or sign is necessary to really motivate shoppers to buy the products on an end cap. After all, most shoppers focus their attention on the actual aisles rather than the end caps, so it's up to you to get their attention.

Large Product First

Assuming you intend to display several different types of products on the end cap, it's recommended that you display the taller product first so it's easier for shoppers to see. Ideally, the tallest product should be displayed directly underneath the sign or banner. Following this method will maximize your end cap's visibility, which in turn should increase your sales.

Note: you'll probably need to adjust the shelf heights of your end cap according to your products' height. End caps are quick and easy to adjust, taking just a few minutes to raise and lower the shelves as you see fit.

Choosing The Right Products For an End Cap

Now, let's talk about which products to display on an end cap. The truth is that there's no single “best” type of product for and end cap, as every business has its own unique needs and demands. There are some general techniques, however, that will increase your chances of success when using an end cap. For starters, don't be afraid to try and push impulse buy products on the end caps. When a shopper is walking by and notices the product, they may feel inclined to purchase it even through they didn't intend to.

You can also move products on end caps that are nearing its experiment date. If you own or manage a grocery store, for instance, it would be a smart idea to sell bread or other perishables on end caps rather than counting it as shrink in a couple of weeks.

Green Retailing 101: Create a More Environmentally Friendly Business

“Green retailing” is the term used to describe environmentally friendly practices by companies and businesses. Far too many companies turn a blind eye to the footprint they are leaving behind. By incorporating green, environmentally friendly practices into your normal everyday business operations, you’ll gain a number of unique benefits. To learn more about the benefits of green retailing and where to start, keep reading.

More Companies are Going Green

A 2009 study performed by Retail Systems Research found that slightly less than half (49%) of U.S. retailers surveyed supported green, environmentally friendly initiatives. In the following year, however, this number rose dramatically to 61%. What’s even more impressive is that just 4% of retailers surveyed believe going green is a fad.

Benefits of Going Green

Still on the fence about going green with your business? Here are just a few of the top benefits of going green…

• Reduces overhead costs (electricity, gas, water, etc.)
• Possibility to receive federal and state tax credits
• Attracts environmentally conscious consumers whom only want to purchase from green retailer
• Creates a positive example for other retailers to follow
• Gain additional press exposure for green practices
• Better sustainability

How To Go Green With Your Business

After reading the green benefits above, you’re probably wondering where to start. The truth is that there are dozens of environmentally friendly changes business owners can make, one of the easiest being the use of recycled material. Most grocery stores and supermarkets have already made the switch to recycled paper materials.

Whether you operate a grocery store, apparel store, electronics store or any other type of retail establishment, you should look into recycled materials. There are several companies out there who specialize in recycled materials, and they oftentimes cost less and perform just as well as their non-eco-friendly counterpart.

Another step retailers can take to make their business greener is using energy-efficient lighting. Incandescent light bulbs are the worst in terms of energy-efficiency, but unfortunately they are the most commonly used. Business owners choose them due to their inexpensive price. It’s not uncommon to find incandescent bulbs available for sale for $.30 cents or less, making them the least expensive. However, you’ll end up paying more in the long run in the form of a higher electricity bill.

Instead of using incandescent bulbs in your store or business, try using compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, both of which are last longer and use less energy.

The Growing Trend of Mobile Payments In The Retail Industry

One reason why retailers should consider accepting mobile payments is because it offers a greater level of security and protection against fraud. Last year, Target, Michaels, Neiman Marcus and several other major retailer experiences a massive security breach where millions of customers’ credit card and debit card data was stolen – including pin numbers and contact information.

Ease of Use

There’s also a certain simplicity to paying for products on a mobile smartphone or device. Here’s a scenario to consider: you pick up a product and make your way to the checkout lane only to discover that 20-30 other shoppers are waiting in line. Depending on the store’s policy and setup, you may be able to pay for the product via your smartphone without standing in line.

Current State of Mobile Payments In The Retail Industry

You might be surprised to learn that some retailers have already begun to accept mobile payments. Google launched their mobile payment solution Google Wallet earlier this year, which allows customers to purchase products via their mobile smartphone from retailers which use PayPass or PayWeave. Google Wallet remains somewhat limited in terms of function due to the fact that retailers must use the two previously mentioned payment processors. However, we’ll likely see some improvements and modifications to this technology in the years to come.

Apple has also expressed interest in designing a mobile payment processor for iPhone users. Nordstorm Inc. and certain food delivery companies currently accept payments via the iPhone or iPad.

What’s Next?

Only time will tell what the future has in store for mobile payment processors in the retail industry, but all of the evidence suggests a growing trend in this direction. It’s highly unlikely that traditional point-of-sale cash registers will become obsolete, but mobile could very well overtake them in terms of popularity within the next few years.

2014 Trends For The Retail Fashion Industry

With the new year upon us, retail fashion store owners across the country are preparing and strategizing for the 12 months ahead. In the world of retail fashion, trends play a pivotal role in the success of a business. Stores offering 'hot' garments that are popular and in high demand will ultimately trump stores offering dated, low-demand garments. This goes back to the basic economic principles of supply and demand. So, what are some retail fashion trends to look for in 2014?

Niche Stores

If you live in a highly populated city or suburban area, you're probably well aware of the growing number of niche apparel stores opening up. There are still plenty of national chain retailers which offer all types of apparel, but small businesses tend to have greater success when operating niche stores focused around a specific type or category of apparel. 

For instance, female teen clothing stores have become a popular niche, as they target a specific demographic. If a young girl wants to purchase an outfit, which store do you think she would choose: a general apparel store or one that specifically sells female teen apparel?

You read more about how to choose a niche for your retail apparel store in our previous blog post located here.

Go Mobile

If you aren't incorporating mobile into your retail apparel store's overall marketing strategy, you're missing out on a massive amount of untapped potential. According to a recent State of The Internet Webinar, mobile web traffic will trump desktop traffic in 2014. This means store owners with a web presence must cater to the unique needs of smartphone and mobile users; otherwise, all of this traffic will end up going to their competitors.

Even if you don't operate an e-commerce website for your retail apparel store business, you can still utilize mobile into your marketing strategy. Quick read (QR) codes have become a hot trend that's growing in the world of retail. These square-shaped bar codes allow businesses to market their products and services to mobile users. Users scan the QR codes with their smartphone or device to access to a webpage. This webpage may contain promotional codes, discounts, coupons, new products, or practically anything else the store owners chooses to display.

Fashion on a Budget

There's a growing consumer demand for inexpensive fashion garments as opposed to luxury, high-dollar items. Don't get me wrong, consumers are still buying the $1,000+ handbags, but not nearly as much as the lower-dollar items. If you operate a retail fashion store, consider offering more of the budget-friendly garments and accessories to your clients.

Full-Body vs Partial-Body Mannequin: Which One Should I Choose?

Mannequins have been used in retail apparel stores and businesses for centuries. While their construction and design has changed, their overall objective remains the same: to provide a realistic human form for displaying garments and accessories. If you plan to use them in your retail store or business, however, one of the decisions you'll have to make is whether to choose a full-body or partial-body mannequin. Both are fully capable of displaying garments on a human-like form, but there are some nuances between the two that shouldn't go unnoticed.

What's The Difference?

Full-body mannequins, as their name suggests, feature a complete human form. A typical full-body mannequin contains the body, head, legs, feet, arms and hands. partial-body mannequins, on the other hand, are more basic and consist of just a torso.

Function

Let's first talk about the different functions of a full-body vs partial-body mannequin. The primary benefit of choosing a full-body mannequin is its ability to display garments and accessories anywhere on the body. Since full-body mannequins feature an entire body, you'll have more options when it comes to displaying garments and accessories.

Does your store sell accessories like handbags, hats and necklaces? If so, you'll probably want to choose a full-body mannequin for the simple fact that you can display these items and more. Thanks to its complete design, you can transform a full-body mannequin into the ultimate in-store product display.

Space

Space is also something that retail store owners should consider when choosing between a full-body and partial-body mannequin. Full-body mannequins naturally take up a greater amount of space than their counterpart. Sure, they offer a more complete display of the human form, but their space requirements is a disadvantage that store owners should be fully aware of.

If you haven't done so already, use a measuring tape to determine exactly how much free space is available in your store. You might be able to free up some space by moving around and adjusting product, but it may still not be enough for a line of full-body mannequins.

Price

The price of a mannequin varies depending on a number of factors, but full-body mannequins typically cost more than partial-body mannequins. If you're on a budget and looking to launch a new store without a large amount of capital, stick with partial-body mannequins. The cost-savings it offers allows store owners to display their garments without sending them into the financial red zone.

Understanding Point of Sale (POS) In Retail

Point of sale (POS) is a term that's frequently tossed around in the retail industry. Market analysts, retailers, accountants, and more use the term on a daily basis. Even with its widespread use, however, some people are completely clueless as to what exactly a point of sale system really is. In this blog post, we're going to take a closer look at POS and how it relates to the retail industry.

POS: The Basics

The short definition for POS is the location where a customer exchanges money (or credit) for a retail store's product (see image to the right). The most commonly used type of POS in the retail industry is a cash register. Here, an employee takes the customer's cash, credit card, debit card, etc. in exchange for the product. It's a simple process that plays a critical role in the overall function of a retail store.

Why POS Are Important In The Retail Industry

The bottom line is that retail stores and businesses can't operate with a POS. The entire purpose of a POS in the retail industry is to perform the exchange of goods for money. Without it, stores wouldn't be able to effectively sell their merchandise to customers.

However, point of sale systems serve an additional purpose in stores and retail businesses: they help manage inventory. Depending on the particular type of system used, some POS systems automatically subtract the purchased item from the store's inventory. This automation takes some of the burden of trying to manually count each and every item off the store's employees. Once a customer purchases an item at the POS, the system subtracts the item from the inventory, allowing the owner and manager to see exactly how many of which products are currently available.

Different Types of POS

While cash registers are the most commonly used type of POS system in the retail industry, there are several other types as well. Ever visit a grocery store or national department store and notice the self-checkout registers? These self-checkout registers fall under the category of a POS. Even though there's no employee present, they are still responsible for performing the exchange of goods for money.

Of course, POS systems don't necessarily have to be high-tech. A street vendor accepting cash for his or her goods is technically a POS.

Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of POS systems in the retail industry.

Common Pitfalls of Operating a Retail Apparel Store And How To Avoid Them

Thinking of opening a retail apparel store? It's an exciting and lucrative industry that allows you to connect with customers on a daily basis. If you have a knack for fashion and enjoy building relationships with new people, this is the industry for you. But like all retail industries, there are some unique hurdles that new owners need to be aware of. In this blog post, we're going to reveal some of the most common pitfalls of operating a retail apparel store and how to avoid them.

Pitfall #1) Not Selecting a Niche

Arguably, one of the biggest mistakes new apparel store owners make is not selecting a niche. Unless you're a massive retailer with an established and well-branded business, chances are you won't experience much success -- if any -- taking the 'general' route.

A more effective approach to the retail apparel industry is to choose a niche. You can read more about retail apparel niche selection in a previous blog post here, but some ideas to consider include:

• Teen apparel
• Swimsuits
• Men's big & tall
• Baby clothing
• Suits
• Trend

Pitfall #2) Not Creating a Business Plan

Launching a successful retail apparel store begins with the creation of a structured business plan. Regardless of your store's niche, you should take the time to create a business plan which details your goals, objectives, finances, and overall strategy. If you need help with your business plan, don't be afraid to seek assistance from a professional CPA.

A business plan is important for any business, but it's especially important for the retail industry. Having a written business increases the chance of approval when applying for loans. If you need a capital to help get your apparel store up and running, bring your business plan to banks and financial institutions. Doing so shows lenders exactly how you plan on running your business, which ultimately makes them feel more comfortable lending you capital.

Pitfall #3) Too Much Shrink

Shrink is defined as the loss of product between the manufacturer and point of sale. For instance, if a shirt gets knocked under a shelving unit or some other fixture where it's ruined by dirt and dust, it's counted as shrink. Allowing your store's shrink to spiral out of control can take a huge toll on its profits, which is why it's important to constantly work on identifying and reducing shrink in apparel stores.

Customer Retention 101: What You Should Know

Customer retention plays a key role in the overall success of a retail store or business. Once you make that initial first sale with a customer, you need to go the extra mile to encourage future transactions with them. Relying strictly on one-time-purchase customers isn't a sustainable business strategy, and it will ultimate allow your competitors to weed you out of the market. So, how you keep customers coming back to your store for future purchases?

Why Customers Leave

The first step towards improving customer retention in a retail store or business is to understand why they leave. Unfortunately, determining the answer to this question isn't always an easy task. Each and every business is unique, so there are different elements that affect customer retention. However, we've compiled a list of some of the most common reasons why customers leave a retail establishment listed below:

• Poor customer service
• Dissatisfied with the product and/or service
• Lower prices offered by a competing store
• Bad location
• Bad store hours
• Strict or non-existent return policy

Note: the single most common reason why customers leave a retail store is poor customer service. Employees with unfriendly or aggressive attitudes can send shoppers packing in the other direction. This is a serious issue that all retail businesses need to address, as it can send an otherwise profitable business spiraling into the red zone.

It's easy to overlook the importance of customer service in a retail store when you're busy counting inventory, placing new orders, creating layouts, etc. However, allowing your store to suffer from poor customer service will negatively impact its customer retention. The bottom line is that shoppers want a friendly, welcoming environment, and if they aren't receiving it from your store, they'll head towards one of your competitors.

Keep Customers Coming Back With a Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs are becoming more and more commonplace in today's retail industry. These programs 'reward' customers for their 'loyalty' -- hence the name. An example of a popular loyalty program is the Kroger Plus card, which offers steep discounts on both grocery items and gas.

Implementing a loyalty program in your retail store will encourage customers to come back to your business for future purchases. Each time a customer makes a purchase, they'll feel like they are getting something extra for being a member of your loyalty rewards program.

5 Tips For Taking Better Pictures of Your Merchandise

Merchandise pictures are an essential tool in a retail store's overall marketing campaign. Store owners post them on social media, send them out in newsletter, mail advertisements, magazines and more. High-quality pictures will naturally encourage your target audience to make a purchase, but poor, low-quality pictures can have the opposite effect by discouraging sales.

Tip #1) Learn Your Camera

You can't expect to take professional-quality pictures of your merchandise without first learning and understanding your camera's functions. Unfortunately, it's not as easy pointing and clicking the button. In order to take truly remarkable pictures that convey all of the positive features of your merchandise, you must learn things like shutter focus, viewing angle, etc.

Before you begin photographing your store's merchandise, spend some time reading through the user manual for the camera. It's not a bad idea to perform some test photos to help you get used to it.

Tip #2) Backdrop

Have you thought about what type of backdrop (if any) will go behind your merchandise? Rather than leaving your store as the backdrop, consider setting up an actual picture backdrop that's white, green or some other solid color. Doing so brings more attention to the actual product by removing 'normal' background elements.

Tip #3) Natural Lighting

I can't stress enough the importance of using natural light for your merchandise pictures. Even if your camera has a flash, natural light offers better clarity while minimizing glare and reflection. So turn off the flash and set up additional light around your merchandise.

You can try using an additional floor lamp around your product, or you can set up an actual studio light kit.

Retail apparel store: photo by jheffryswid™ d e s i g n.

Tip #4) Close-Up

A fourth tip that's worth noting is to focus on close-up photos of your merchandise. There's certainly nothing wrong with experimenting with distance photos, but the bulk of your pictures should be close-ups. Doing so will highlight the small details and features of your product, which in turn translates into more sales. Just remember to set your camera to the close-up mode/function; otherwise, you'll lose some of the image quality during the process.

Tip #5) Editing

Last but not least, run your pictures through a photo editing program to perform some basic touch-ups and optimization. Whether it's removing glare, cropping unwanted objects out of view, rotating, etc., subtle editing procedures such as this can have a drastic impact on your merchandise photos.

Visual Merchandising 101: What You Should Know

Visual merchandising is defined as the creation of three-dimensional product displays to encourage higher sales. Nearly every retail business has at least some type of visual merchandising display. Apparel stores, for instance, typically use mannequins styled and fashioned to look as realistic as possible, while grocery stores use cardboard cutouts to market their products. Visual merchandising is a highly effective way for retail stores and businesses to market their product without spending a fortune on traditional advertising mediums. To learn more about visual merchandising in the retail industry, keep reading.

The history of visual merchandising dates back to the 1800s, when the nation's leading apparel stores shifted their focus from wholesale production to direct-to-consumer. Since this was such as competitive industry, these companies needed an edge to win customers over, and visual merchandising gave them this edge. Companies like Marshall Field & Co. set up full-scale displays depicting 3D mannequins and other objects to display their goods. This proved highly effective at capturing shoppers' attention, at which point they continued to experiment with visual merchandising with their competitors following closely behind.

The most obvious goal of visual merchandising in a retail store is to encourage more sales. When a flowing dress is placed on a life-like mannequin, shoppers are more likely to purchase it. Numerous studies have shown a direct link between increases sales and visual merchandising. However, there are other 'secondary' objectives that shouldn't go unnoticed. See below for a brief list of visual merchandising objectives:

• Helps customers locate a particular product or type of product.
• Helps customers see exactly how a garment looks when worn on the human form.
• Moved product faster.
• Creates a more aesthetically pleasing store environment.
• Helps customers make smarter decisions regarding their accessories.
• Highlights key areas within a store.

Of course, there are some potential disadvantages to performing visual merchandising in a retail store, one of which is the space requirements. Because it consists of 3D elements, visual merchandising takes up a greater amount of space than using standard posters or banners. If you're struggling for space in your store (which is an all-too-common problem), you may not have the extra room for large, complex visual merchandising displays.

The pros of visual merchandising tend to outweigh the cons. Even if your store has limited space, chances are you can still make room for a couple small-sized visual merchandising displays. Once these displays are set up, you'll reap the benefits of higher sales along with 'secondary' benefits mentioned above.

Tips For Seasonal Businesses To Survive The 'Off Season'

Businesses that generate a large portion of their revenue during a particular time of year are known as seasonal businesses. A party supply store, for instance, is a considered a seasonal business because most of its sales occur during the months of October, November and December. Customers may still purchase items during the other nine months, but it's Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve during the final three months of the year that drive the most sales. Unfortunately, this oftentimes places seasonal businesses in hot water since they're forced to struggle to turn a profit through the rest of the year. If you own, manage or run a seasonal business, keep reading for some essential tips on how to survive the off season.

Venture Into New Products and/or Services

One idea for seasonal business owners to consider is venturing into new products and/or services that aren't restricted to a particular time of year. Even if 90% of your sales occur during a certain month, perhaps you could offer a new line of products that customers will purchase during the other months. There's no guarantee this technique will work, but it's certainly worth the effort just to try. After running a small test for a couple months, you should have a better understanding as to whether or not this new product or service will work.

So, what are some products or services that seasonal businesses can offer? It really depends on their niche/industry. A bakery that specializes in seasonal pumpkin pie and apple cider, for instance, could broaden their horizons by offering custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, wedding cakes, etc. Another example would be a retail winter apparel store venturing into spring and summer clothes.

Capitalize During The Peak Times

Taking advantage of the high sales and profit margins during the peak time of year will make it easier for your business to survive the off season. If your business is typically closed on Sundays, perhaps you could stay open 7 days a week during the peak time of year. The bottom line is that you want to generate as most sales and revenue as possible to make up for the off season. This revenue will help your business stay afloat when sales begin to slump downwards.

Seasonal businesses aren't a new concept by any means; they've been around since the early times of trading, and it's doubtful they'll be going away any time soon. Following the tips outlined here will give your seasonal business the upper-hand during the off sseason.

How To Reduce Employee Turnover Rate

Does your business suffer from a high employee turnover rate? There are both direct indirect costs associated with high turnover rates. Some of the direct costs include training programs for new employees, time and resources spent hiring new employees, and the cost for new equipment. Indirect costs may include gaps in production, reduced morale, reduced performance, etc. Allowing your business rate to suffer from a high employee turnover rate will only hinder your professional goals. Thankfully, there are some simple steps business owners can take to encourage longer tenure among employees.

Screen Potential Job Candidates

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is hiring the first candidates who apply for the job. Even if they have all of the right credentials listed on their application, this doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for the job. And hiring candidates such as this without screening them beforehand could have disastrous consequences for your business. Some workers strictly want temporary jobs for a little side cash, so try to determine candidates' short and long-term goals.

So, how can business owners determine a candidate's goals? When you're interviewing a candidate (you should always interview candidates before hiring), ask them how long they plan to stay with the company if they are hired. A good answer to this question is "as long as possible," but you'll want to beware of candidates who say a couple months or even a year.

Show Appreciation To Employees

There are many factors that can drive employees to quit their current job and look for work elsewhere. The single most common reason why workers quit their job, however, is because of lack of recognition. Cutting your employees a check once every two weeks isn't enough; instead, you should implement some form of recognition program to show appreciation for everything they've done. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive gifts, but a simple recognition will go a long ways in reducing turnover rates.

An employee-of-the-month program is one example of an employee recognition program. Perhaps you could dedicate a wall in the office to employees of the month. There are dozens of companies that specialize in plaques, trophies and other gifts specifically for this reason.

Other Tips For Reducing Employee Turnover Rates:

• Allow employees room to grow and work their way up the professional ladder
• Keep employees involved in current and future changes within the company
• Make sure employees are given time off
• Maintain a positive attitude

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