Operations

Get Covered

Let's face it: You can have the greatest stock in the world, but it will still sit on your shelves collecting dust if nobody knows about it. Newspaper coverage can be one of the most... more »

Competing to Win

What Should I Change? At the time, dropping the line of dolls that sold so well in her Stillwater, MN, shop was the last thing Meg Brownson wanted to do. But when she learned Target... more »

What marketing and sales techniques do you use in your post-holiday sales?

Siobhan Connolly of MoonRiver Siobhan Connolly of MoonRiver Pearl River, NY 845.920.0272 MoonRiverGifts.net "We send postcard specials to our loyal customers inviting people to an 'after-holidays' party that gives them exclusive special discounts. We say,... more »

Online Buying

I have a 75+-year-old mother-in-law who took a computer class at her local junior college. She now whizzes around in her golf cart assisting her friends and neighbors with her computer-savvy ways. Go exploring with... more »

Top Ten Tax Tips

The bottom line is simple: Each year, many gift shop retailers miss all kinds of deductions simply because they are not aware of them—or because they neglect to keep the records necessary to back them... more »

Show Me the Money! Saying Yes to POS

Getting the Right POS The right point-of-sale software system can save you as much as five hours a day, and retail establishments can see an average of 15 percent of their gross annual sales as... more »

What do you do to attract and keep valuable employees in your store?

Bettie Edwards of The Little HouseBettie Edwards of The Little House Vashon Island, WA 206.463.9033 "Our location is a little different. We live on an island, so we are a pocket-type of community, and that... more »

Cause and Effect

Marketing for a Cause As a small business owner, it's almost certain that you're frequently asked to donate money to local charities, to sponsor neighborhood Little League teams and to supply products for school or... more »

‘Seeding’ Your Retail Year During the Holidays

As you prepare for the 2006 holiday season, I recommend that you take a moment to stop and admire the flowers. You have way too much to do, you protest? Give it a try anyway.... more »

How does your shop encourage impulse purchases?

Cindy McAdams of Silver CrossingSan Diego, CA619.325.4925SilverCrossing.comCindy McAdams of Silver Crossing "My clientele has a large range from tourists to locals to people attending business conventions. So the key thing to encourage impulse purchases for... more »