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The holiday season accounts for 20% of the retail industry’s annual sales, and it is responsible for up to 30% of some individual retailers’ total sales. Are you prepared? The accompanying infographic, Small Business Holiday Prep Guide, is intended to serve as a holiday preparation checklist when it comes to two of the most important … Continue reading Holiday Prep Guide [INFOGRAPHIC]
Store managers are the backbone of your business. The right store manager can make a store a huge success, while the wrong manager can break a brand. This is why it's critical for head office to put a culture and systems in place to support store managers and help them achieve success. Remember, store managers … Continue reading 3 Ways to Support Retail Store Managers
The new year is (practically) here, and while we don’t have a crystal ball that can predict what will happen in the next 12 months, we’re certain that 2020 will be an exciting time for brands and shoppers alike. Consumers are getting behind major issues such as sustainability, health and wellness, inclusivity, and more. In … Continue reading 5 Major Retail Trends for 2020 – and How to Capitalize on Them
Seasonal hires are just as important to your brand as your permanent, full-timers because customers do not know the difference between seasonal and regular employees. Both represent your brand; both are responsible for creating a great customer experience.
Your front-line employees play a critical role in the success of your retail business. Sales associates are often the first live touchpoint the shoppers have with your brand when they walk into your store. They can influence a customer’s mood, shape their perception, and ultimately impact a shopper’s purchase decision. For this reason, you need … Continue reading How to Turn Underperforming Retail Associates into A-Players
A point of purchase display (aka POP display) is a critical sales and marketing tool for retailers and CPGs. POP displays can introduce and educate shoppers, encourage them to try a product, and ultimately drive sales. Point of purchase displays can also enhance a retail store. The best ones breathe life into your space, making … Continue reading 10 Point of Purchase Display Tips to Increase Retail Sales
Emerging technologies, a booming population, and rapidly developing economies are changing the retail landscape of Africa. Below, interesting facts and trends shaping the future of African retail. Demographics and UrbaniZation Africa has the fastest rate of urbanization in the world, with more than 40% of its population currently living in urban centers. By 2030, Africa’s 18 … Continue reading Retail in Africa: Interesting Facts and Emerging Trends
Shrink is a real threat to retail success. Every year, businesses across the globe lose around $100 billion to shrink, and the average shrink rate of 1.44% in the U.S. costs American retailers $48.8 billion annually. That’s a lot of money left on the table! Here’s the kicker: Most businesses are actually reducing their investment … Continue reading 5 Tips to Reduce Shrink in Retail
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in becoming a retail district manager. Maybe you want to be in a management position that involves overseeing different teams and moving parts. Perhaps you’re passionate about the retail industry, and you’re eager to play a role in helping stores grow and succeed. If that sounds like … Continue reading How to Become a District Manager — and What You Need to Succeed in the Role
The holidays are a time of cheer, celebrations, and (unfortunately) stress. Days are busier, nights are longer and the overall well-being of yourself and your store staff is often compromised due to the extra demands that the holiday season brings. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to preparing for this … Continue reading Tips for Smooth Store Operations This Holiday Season
In-store sales accounted for 80% of all sales during the 2018 holiday season. That’s huge! And every retailer knows it. That’s why we see hints of Christmas and other winter holiday promotions creeping into stores as soon as the first leaves turn brown. So how do you differentiate your brand and your products to customers … Continue reading Boosting Holiday Sales: Visual Merchandising Tips for the Golden Quarter
To assist multi-unit retailers starting or improving their retail audit program, Compliant IA regularly publishes how-to guides, best practices and checklists. Eighty-six percent of retailers agree there is a correlation between well-executed visual merchandising and conversion rates. Using a Visual Merchandising Checklist in-store helps ensure your programs are executed on time and across all locations. Use … Continue reading Visual Merchandising Checklist
We’re in the 4th quarter of 2019, and you know what that means — some of the year’s top holidays — Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas are upon us. The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to increase between 3.5% and 4.4% over 2019, citing the continued growth of the U.S. economy and a rise … Continue reading 7 Holiday Merchandising Examples to Win Over Q4 Shoppers
Miscommunication in retail happens. But when it happens in your stores, it feels like a surprise every time. It’s easy for HQ to miss out on essential information from physical stores––especially when your corporate headquarters is housed separately from your brick-and-mortar locations. If you feel like you’re dropping the ball on the communication front, you’re … Continue reading Miscommunication in Retail (And How to Fix It)
Socially conscious customers make up a growing percentage of consumers who are – quite simply – ones retailers should not ignore. It’s important for merchants to understand and support this consumer audience – ultimately aiming to also support sustainability efforts along the way. To help retailers accomplish this, consider the below. Identify Small In-Store Strategies … Continue reading Sustainability & Stores: Realistic Tips You Can Begin Applying Today
Nobody said running a retail business would be easy. Even the most conscientious retailer can get bogged down trying to juggle the tasks that comprise day-to-day responsibilities. That’s why business operations need to be approached strategically. From managing sales associates to keeping a fresh flow of inventory stocked on the shelves, you can cut costs … Continue reading Retail Best-Practices to Help You Streamline Store Operations
Halloween is now a huge commercial holiday. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 68% plan to celebrate this year spending up to $3.2 billion on costumes, $2.7 billion on decorations, and $2.6 billion on candy. Retailers who tend to focus their marketing efforts on Thanksgiving and the end of Q4 are missing out on … Continue reading Un-BOO-lievable Halloween Strategies for Retailers
Excellent communication is one of the pillars of a well-managed retail organization. Open communication builds trust between managers and employees and creates a better store environment. Not only that, but team members need honest feedback from their leaders to be able to do their jobs well and execute retail programs properly. As such, improving store … Continue reading How to Better Communicate with Your Store Teams
Q4 is the busiest selling season for retailers. This means more consumers in your stores and restaurants. This is an opportunity to sell and create brand awareness among consumer groups you may not normally interact with at other times of the year. Take advantage of this chance to boost your bottom line. We have 5 … Continue reading 5 Not-to-be-Ignored Shopper Demographics for Q4
Have you heard of the retail apocalypse that wasn't? Still, retailers face major challenges in today's climate. Here are 6 key challenges faced by retailers worldwide. Challenge #1 Merchandising Merchandising compliance is still staggeringly low. Studies show 60% of promotional displays are not executed properly. 60 percent! Properly executed retail displays register as much as … Continue reading 6 Key Retail Challenges [Infographic]