Updated Articles and Resources

From Shari Waters, Former About.com Guide

Types of Store Layouts Created: Thursday, August 03, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A well-planned retail store layout allows a retailer to maximize the sales for each foot of the allocated selling space within the store. Store layouts generally show the size and location of each ...
Buy Newspaper Advertising For Your Retail Business Created: Saturday, June 03, 2006 Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2012
In-store, retailers rely on personal selling techniques to make money. The salesperson has direct contact with a customer and can gauge a reaction, tailor a pitch or strike up a dialog to better un...
How to Build Customer Loyalty - Retail Practices to Keep Customers Coming Back Created: Monday, July 13, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The Pareto Principle says that 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers. To keep these customers coming back, you need to help them remain loyal to you. Here's how to build customer loyalt..
Going Green: Tips for Retailers - Ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - Go Green Created: Monday, April 21, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Retailers who think going green is just another fad or marketing ploy should think again. Consumers are becoming more aware of their overall impact on our communities. Here are some ways retailers ..
50 Marketing Ideas for Retailers - Creative Marketing Ideas (Part 1) Created: Thursday, July 06, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Small business owners can easily get too involved in the day-to-day operations of their retail stores to spend any time brainstorming marketing ideas. Some retailers worry that marketing is too exp..
Trade Show Attendance Tips - Maximize Your Time at a Trade Show Created: Saturday, March 04, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
No matter how small your retail business may be, the benefits of attending a trade show sponsored by vendors or industry associations far outweigh any reason not to attend. To get the most from att..
Why Is Your Retail Store Location Ideal? Share Your Choice Created: Monday, October 26, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
There are many factors retailers should consider before choosing a store location. From traffic analysis to zoning requirements, there is a lot of data to examine before deciding on the perfect spo..
Share Your Community Involvement - Getting Your Retail Business Involved Created: Saturday, September 19, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Participating in area activities not only helps promote brand awareness, it can also leave a retailer feeling good for giving something back to a supportive community. What type of local events doe..
Share How You Deal Disgruntled Shoppers - Customer Service Advice Created: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
No matter how wonderful your products are or how committed you are to provide the best customer service, problems do occur. When dealing with a dissatisfied customer, how do you stay cool and diffu..
Share Your Competitive Edge Created: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
While you can't control what your competitors do, you can minimize their impact on your business. It's all about standing apart from the rest. What makes your retail business different from the com..
Share Your Ways of Building Customer Loyalty Created: Monday, July 13, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
In order to keep customers coming back to our stores, we have to create a bond with our shoppers and implement practices to solidify those relationships. How does your store build customer loyalty?..
Share Your Tips for Attending Buying Events Created: Friday, January 08, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Knowing what to bring, where to go, who to see and how much to buy can make any trade show easier for the participants. First-time attendees often rely on the advice from seasoned buyers in plannin..
How Do You Increase Sales? Created: Monday, May 25, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
When the daily sales receipts are down, what does your store do to get them back up? If your retail store never has those days, what's your secret? How do you increase sales? Share your tips for su..
Retail Store Atmosphere -What turns You Off In Certain Stores? Created: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
We all have our own little pet peeves and what may turn off one customer may not bother another. When you walk in to a retail store, what part of the store's atmosphere may affect your shopping exp..
Share Your Funding Story - Finding Start-up Capital for New Retailers Created: Thursday, May 14, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The truth is a great business model and good looking business plan may help convince a financier to give you a chance, but all too often start-ups are turned down for loans and credit lines. Share ..
Share Ways Your Store Has Reduced Business Expenses Created: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
In most every retail business there are generally areas in spending in which retailers can reduce without compromising customer service or quality. Share ways your business has reduced expenses or ..
Share Your Green Efforts - How is your store implementing sustainable practices? Created: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
How is your store implementing sustainable practices? Share your retail business' green efforts.
Share Your Store Meeting Topics Created: Monday, April 06, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
If you're a retail manager or business owner, we want to know what topics you've discussed during store meetings. If you're a retail worker, which store meeting topic have you found to be the most ..
Share with us your shoplifting policy and how your retail store handles shoplifters. Created: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Does your store prosecute? Does it depend on the value of the stolen products? What do you do with children caught shoplifting? Share with us your shoplifting policy and how your retail store handl..
Retailers Share Scheduling Tips: How to Overcome Challenges When Writing the Work Schedule Created: Thursday, April 22, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Once the retail manager understands the factors involved in scheduling employees, he/she can become skilled at balancing the store's staffing issues. Scheduling becomes easier over time but what ti..
Share Your Daily Schedule - Retailers, How Do You Get It All Done? Created: Thursday, March 18, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Retail store owners often play the role of manager, sales clerk, buyer, accountant security, receiving clerk and even the janitor. So how does one do it all? What does a typical day in retailing lo..
How Does Your Store Prepare for Peak Sales Periods? Created: Friday, February 12, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
How does your retail store prepare for peak sales periods? Share how you and your staff survive the busy selling season or special sales event.
Share Your Marketing Ideas For Retailers Created: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Do you have a creative marketing idea that has worked for your store? Share your marketing ideas for retailers.
Reader Submissions: How Did You Market To Consumers With Coupons? Created: Thursday, April 29, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
There are so many different ways to create promotions with coupons and some retailers really get creative when it comes to designing and implementing an effective campaign. About.com wants to hear ..
Reader Stories: Share Your Retailing Success Story Created: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Here is your opportunity to receive additional exposure for your retail shop and share your success story! If you are a retail business owner and have tips, advice or other information that those i..
Reader Submissions: Show and Tell: Submit Your Merchandising Photos Created: Friday, January 22, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Here's your chance to show off your best visual merchandising work. If you have created a unique product display, we want to share it with our readers. Just follow the instructions and send us your..
Submit Visual Display Photos | Share Retail Merchandising Pictures Created: Friday, January 22, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Here's your chance to show off your best visual merchandising work. If you have created a unique product display, we want to share it with our readers. Just follow the instructions and send us your..
Toll-Free Number - How to Get a Memorable, Toll-Free Phone Number Video Created: Friday, January 13, 2012 Updated: Friday, January 13, 2012
Finding the right toll-free number not only saves your customers the dime, it can be a great supplement to your marketing efforts. Here's a video on how to get a memorable toll-free number.
Markdown - How to Calculate Retail Markdown Video Created: Thursday, January 12, 2012 Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2012
Markdown is sometimes necessary in order to keep your business going. It's important to markdown prices the right amount, though. Here's a guide to calculating retail markdown accurately.
Calculate Markup - How to Calculate Retail Markup Video Created: Thursday, January 05, 2012 Updated: Thursday, January 05, 2012
Calculating markup is an important part of operating a retailer; you need it to make a profit and stay in business. Here are instructions for calculating markup.
Inventory Turnover - How to Find the Inventory Turnover Video Created: Thursday, January 05, 2012 Updated: Thursday, January 05, 2012
Calculating inventory turnover is an important part of owning and running a store. Here's a quick guide to calculating inventory turnover.
Retain Customers - How to Retain Customers Video Created: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Learning how to retain customers is necessary in order to keep a business alive. Here, see tips and tricks for retaining customers.