Article 10: Loss Prevention

The seriousness of this term is often underestimated and costs retailers thousands of dollars every year.
An important part of any retail business and probably the area that retailers should be aware of is loss prevention. Following are some areas of concern and tips on reducing theft in your store.

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Article 9: 8 Tips For Growing Your Business Through Marketing Strategies

The rules of successful retail have changed. The business with the best product or service is no longer the winner. Today, the winner is the business with the best marketing position.

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Article 8: Advertising Techniques For Your Business

Advertising is crucial to the success of any business. Any major retailer knows this. The proof is in your mailbox, your local paper, major newspapers, in your car windshield plus numerous other places. Retailers spend millions of dollars a year in advertising because it works. You don't need to spend millions if you know how to market your business effectively.

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Article 7: Healthy Outlook for Dollar Stores

Rapid new store expansion, a compelling price / value / convenience model, combined with a growing consumer appeal has created a healthy outlook for the small format value retail sector in general and dollar stores in particular, reports Retail Forward in a recently released report, Dollar Stores and Other Small Format Value Retailers.

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Article 6: How Can I Compete with the Big Discount Stores?

Question:
"Whenever I turn around, another big discount store is popping up in the area. As a small business owner located on the square of a small town, what can I do to stop people from buying in the big city or at the nearest discount store and shop locally?"

You've taken the first big step by asking your question "What can I do?" No one else but you can save your business from the increased competition supplied by the superstores. Only you have the power to change this trend. I attended a workshop this fall presented by Rita Hogsett Friberg, from Pueblo Community College, who shared nine successful survival strategies for small business retailers that want to stay competitive in today's market.

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Article 5: Checklist Of Things You Can Do To Keep Customers Coming Back!

Most retailers say they care about their customers. Few retailers mean what they say. They talk about giving good customer service, yet fail to define it. Is it a one-time shot or the total experience that counts? Here are some practical, everyday, in-your-face tips from the customer's perspective.
Tips for growing your business through improved physical environment, sharper marketing strategies, better customer service and creative visual merchandising.

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Article 4: Christmas Decorating Market

"Our job today is to predict the future of Christmas 2003 and beyond," said Pam Danziger, the president of Unity Marketing and author of the book “Why People Buy Things They Don't Need". She explained that the fortunes for consumer marketers lie in anticipating the shifting demographics of North American population..

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Article 3: Greeting Cards. The Complete Picture

Greeting card stores and card shops within large retailers still represent the majority of cards sold in Canada. Despite this fact, Discounters and Dollar Stores have become destination stores for cards and gift wrapping accessories. Offering a consistent, quality, value based selection of greeting cards, flat & rolled wraps, gift wrapping alternatives, and wrapping accessories was difficult until just recently. Many retailers have now discovered that being a complete source for these items guarantees sales and customer loyalty.

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Article 2: Greeting Cards. Planning for Growth

Discounted Greeting cards have become a major component of the overall greeting cards sales in Canada. Even major retailers such as Wal-Mart have embraced the concept of selling cards for a price lower than the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSR). As the quality and selection of Dollar and Percentage Discount cards increases so will the demand for these lines. As suppliers and retailers we must recognize these future trends and plan for them now..

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Article 1: Oh Baby, What a Great Business!

Market reports show that buying gifts for newborns is big business and is expected to get even bigger.
It's time to "baby" your business. According to a new tracking study from American Baby Magazine, the percentage of new mothers registering for baby gifts has jumped from 24 percent in 1998 to 42 percent in 2000. For expectant mothers, it is 25 percent registering. The prime customer is the first-time, new mother, with a 62 percent registration.

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