Free Range Retailing

I saw the most incredible display of upselling...   

by  Deane Parkes

Studies prove for every 10 customers offered a suggested add-on, six will purchase. If the add-on value is $10, you increase daily sales by $100 for every 10 people. This will add up fast if you make the effort to train your staff on how to up sell. Now, I am sure some of you will be saying – 'I do not like to be pushy with my customers.' I understand that, as no one enjoys being pushed into buying something they do not want....

Marketing Mediocrity

by Doug Muldoon

Settling on something for reasons of convenience is an all too common practice. Have you ever stood in front of the mirror at the clothing store, looking at a new outfit, knowing it's not exactly what you wanted, but you purchased it anyway? Not surprisingly, the last time you wore it was the day you bought it....

The Successful Press Release

by Lisa Petty     Nov/Dec 09
When it comes to getting media attention, there is a hard truth you simply have to accept: most media types don't really care about helping you. What reporters care about is presenting a really good story with a clever angle that will interest a wide audience. Reporters want news. They want you to make their jobs easier....

Marketing and Advertising Ideas Without Spending a Ton of Money

by Doug Muldoon    Nov/Dec 09

In 1984, shortly after what was then thought to be the most devastating recession since the Great Depression, an advertising executive by the name of Jay Conrad Levinson published a book entitled, Guerilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits from your Small Business. This book outlined ideas, anecdotes and strategies small businesses could employ to help them maintain sales and generate consumer interest during a very difficult economic period. This book and the series of books that followed sold over 14 million copies and became the best-selling marketing series in history....

Knowing The Difference Between Leadership and Management

by Deane Parkes  (Nov/Dec 09)

Leadership and management are often thought to be the same. If someone is a manager, it is assumed they are also a leader. From my experience, I have not found this to be true. Though both are vital to the success of any business, leadership and management are two different roles and often a good manager is not a good leader and vice-versa....

Reduce Stress and Increase Profits

Written by Deane Parkes

The vital role hormonal balance has in the workplace

by Deane Parkes

Much has been written about the importance of maintaining hormone balance for a healthy body, yet little can be found about the vital role it has on the health of a business. Stress and the over-production of cortisol creates adrenal fatigue. Many people lay awake at night worrying about work. Why is it that Monday mornings produce more heart attacks than any other time in the week? Should the health of the company be more important than the health of the people who are working there or running it?...

A Visit You Would Pay For

Written by Phil LeBeau

Recently, I attended a seminar on making the most of your time, and it got me thinking about the reps we as an industry employ and if they are making the most of YOUR time during their visits to your store.  As the seminar moved on, the topic touched on an interesting concept: would customers be willing to pay for a visit from an account manager?...

Be The Star Of Your Own Show

Written by Lisa Petty

As an entrepreneur, you've likely read more books about marketing than there are stars in the sky. And many of them are about as exciting as watching snow melt. But in her book Step into the Spotlight!, marketing consultant Tsufit shares a new perspective on getting noticed, based on her years in show business.

Here's how to bask in the glow of success:...

Does Advertising Really Work?

Written by Doug Muldoon

The short answer to this age-old question is... absolutely. You bet it does. For over 200 years, retailers of all types and sizes in a number of very diverse industries have employed advertising to build their businesses. And for the most part, this marketing strategy has paid off handsomely....

Teenagers: Future of the green movement

Written by Bert Dagnon

Teens are the future of the green movement – encourage them! I know that I'm not typical in any way (just ask anyone that knows me), but when I go to the mall with my daughter (still her favorite destination, as with most 15 year old girls), I know I'm raising a teenager that many people will find scary. I have been telling her for as long as I can remember that her power really comes from her pocketbook and she needs to "vote with her dollars," not the string of "strongly worded" letters that she sends to our MP and to the Prime Minister of the day."..."