“Buy Local” may have once been a notion for trendsetters, but now it’s common practice for many consumers. Last holiday season saw huge growth in sales for independent retailers. Last year’s overall retail holiday sales were 4.1% higher than in 2010. But independent retailers saw a 6.7% increase.
Business Lessons
Sign Design: Effective, Attractive Trade Show Displays
This month, trade shows are on the top of our priority list. First we traveled to Cincinnati for the Signage Foundation Conference. Then we headed off to Las Vegas last week for the SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association) Expo. We saw plenty of great signage. And we also found some fabulous examples of how to […]
Sign Design: Effectively Using Design Elements
We’ve all seen them – signs that are ugly, unreadable or confusing. These signs don’t help the businesses they advertise; they hurt them. Customers shouldn’t have to decipher your sign; its purpose and message should be immediately apparent. When it’s time to make a sign for your business pay close attention to the elements of sign design. […]
Rethinking Business Plans
At the Sandy Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Conference last week, a panel of experts gave advice about how to get financing for a new business. The panelists (one venture capitalist, a representative from a bank, a representative from a credit union and the Deputy District Director of the Utah SBA) each came from […]
3 Things a Vehicle Graphic has done for my Website
Today’s guest post is courtesy of Andrew Johnson, internet marketer and operator of NewsUtah.org. Enjoy! Think about all of the ways to market a product or service these days – there’s search engine optimization, pay-per-click ads, social media, content marketing, trade shows, seminars, radio, television, newspaper . . . the list goes on. I firmly believe […]
The Race to the Bottom of the Pricing Barrel
When thinking about pricing your merchandise or services you might be tempted to look around at your competitors and then price your stuff the lowest. You figure, this way, customers will choose your company and you’ll make tons of money. But is this strategy the best? Breaking it down into the most simple terms, […]
7 Pricing Strategies Every Retailer Should Know
Of all the strategies you’re thinking of for your new business, pricing is the one that can truly make or break your business. Price too high and your competition will get all the business. Price too low and you won’t make enough money. Super-smart business economists have come up with dozens of pricing models […]
8 Shoplifting Myths That Cost You Money
According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), more than $35 million of good are stolen from retailers every day. That’s a whole lot of stuff going out the door. If you’re a retailer, you want to do everything you can to deter shoplifters. And with approximately 27 million shoplifters in the U.S., there’s plenty […]