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Friday, September 21, 2007

Increase Employee Loyalty and retail Sales

Learn how in-store promotions can boost employee loyalty and positively affect your bottom line. Get some tips to increase customer sales that are fun and easy to implement. This short article has a lot of great ideas.

The store owner or manager will designate an item to promote for one week. Sales can be tracked by cash register tapes or retaining product ticket stubs. The employee who sells the most during the promotional period will receive a certificate of appreciation and a reward. This might be a choice of a special discount on store merchandise, a check, or a gift card for a free dinner at a fine restaurant. Let employees know that these promotions are meant to be fun and profitable for everyone, not a way to pit employees against one another.

Hold paid monthly sales meetings which all employees attend. Ideally the meeting should be before or after store hours. If this is not possible, designate a different employee to attend each month so no one is left out. Serve light refreshments and hand out a printed agenda. Employees who are free to make suggestions will feel valued and more loyal to the company. They can bring a fresh perspective to the business which often results in more sales and/or higher profitability.

*Start with the positives, i.e., shop looks attractive, displays are creative, etc.
*Discuss any negatives and ask for ways to improve.
*Discuss new merchandise and ideas for promoting.
*Solicit ideas for rearranging product or creating a new display.
*review problems encountered with customers and how the situation was handled or should have been handled.
*Have a suggestion box for employees; reward employee if idea was implemented.

Most shops are faced with end of season items and other products that have been on the shelf too long. Create a Mystery Bag as a fun way to move some of this merchandise. Use a small bag or box that is opaque and put a few items inside. Leave original price tags on items so your customers will know the outstanding value they are receiving. Seal the container and decorate it with a ribbon or bow to make it as festive as possible. Price it to sell fast. This may mean breaking even or accepting a loss, which can be a hard pill to swallow. However, it will generate some income which can be invested in new products. Place the Mystery Bag near the shop entrance.

If your profit margin allows it, consider offering a freebie. For example, you might choose "buy 2, get 1 at 1/2 off" or "buy 2, get 1 free" offers. These types of promotions have higher perceived value than discounting (33% off).

If your store has mostly small to medium sized products you might offer gift wrapping. You can charge a nominal fee ($2.50) or nothing if the sale exceeds a certain amount. Place a small sign near your cash register and train employees to offer customers this option. Choose a neutral box or bag and two colors of grosgrain ribbon. This type of ribbon holds up well and is suitable for male or female gift recipients.

Selling is all about service, courtesy, product knowledge and the challenge of matching the customer to the product.

Sell Happy!

Sheri Orloff grew up in the much-maligned San Fernando Valley before it became forever associated in people's minds with airhead "Vals." Since fleeing "The Valley" in the early eighties, she has been somewhat of a gypsy with stopovers in California, Hawaii, and Florida before settling on the southern Oregon coast. Since 2001 she has operated WicksWorks Candle Emporium, a successful online candle boutique. The following year she became an independent distributor of Mia Bella's Gourmet Candles and discovered a new passion for helping her network marketing business partners achieve the financial freedom and personal goals they desire.

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