Retail Trends 2014: Toronto Star Provides Outlook

Keeping up with retail trends is just one part of the pie when it comes to keeping up with the goings-on in the retail industry. No matter the sector you currently reside in, changes can come quickly and have major impacts - and so maintaining a strong hold on those changes is crucial in order to keep a leg up on the competition.

A recent article from the Toronto Star shed some important light on the current retail trends 2014 has seen thus far. “November is the NewDecember in Canadian Retail” illustrates just how much Black Friday has impacted the Canadian market. According to the article, in an attempt to contend with the continuously popular trend to shop south of the border, Canadian retailers are fighting back, offering more deals to try and stem the steady flow of traffic to the U.S.

Additionally, the article speaks to the most recent reports regarding sales thus far in 2014, highlighting the fact that sales were steady in January and February – never a bad omen for the things to come.

So, knowing that November is likely to bring with it a surge in sales as a result of these changes, what can you do to deal? The best plan is to have a plan. Getting things ready now rather than getting slaughtered at the first sign of attacking shopper-hordes is not only smart, it is also essential in maintaining brand loyalty and keeping the competition in check.

For more about the retail trends 2014 has brought with it, or for tips on how to beat back the competition, please contact Storesupport today by calling 1-877-421-5081.

Avoiding Customer Service Slumps and Setbacks

Service, service, service. In the retail industry, this is something we hear on a regular basis, so much so that it sometimes becomes a broken record, one that we are almost too willing to tune out. Sometimes customer service takes a backseat in exchange for other, seemingly more pertinent, issues – but this really shouldn’t ever be the case. Avoiding customer service slumps and setbacks should be a top priority, always.

Here are some tips to take to the bank. Perhaps it is time to rethink those all too common conceptions and change your perspective.

-        Slow things down. What?  Yes, stop rushing. Dealing with customer service sometimes leads to rushing things along, but sometimes taking the slower route is actually more effective. Speedy service might be important, but so is good service – and sometimes the two can’t be delivered simultaneously. In this case, a happy customer is always better served than one who is unhappily rushed out the front door.  

-        Take customer feedback seriously. Again, more common sense, but sometimes this is easily lost in the shuffle of the day-to-day grind. Even when a customer receives service that they are unsatisfied with, they may not complain, and so if they do, you should take the time to act accordingly. If the complaint is serious, rather than a disgruntled individual complaining about something irrelevant, think about how you can remedy the problem and then take the steps to remedy it. Customer feedback is valuable when utilized correctly – so take advantage of it. 

-        Find a balance – know when to be present and when to get out of the way. We all know how annoying it can be to have someone hover around waiting to be needed, asking if any help is required. However, we also know how frustrating it can be to need help only to have to search all over the store to find it. Make sure that you have enough staff on hand to handle customer queries, to ensure shelves are stocked, and to ring people through, but also make sure that employees know that hovering is often highly unwanted.  

-        Invest in your employees. No matter what you do, you will always have those employees that are not really all that concerned with how a customer is treated – and they need to be rooted out as soon as possible. But sometimes other employees just need a little boost and some encouragement. Utilize training methods that are effective yet engaging, and encourage motivation and high levels of service through recognition. After all, your levels of customer service will only ever be a good as those providing it.

Keep customer services levels high at all times – the benefits are undeniable. For more tips on how to easily keep customer service at the top of your priority list, all the time, please contact Storesupport today by calling 1-877-421-5081.

Shrinking Your Store – Some Considerations for Retail Downsizing (or ‘Rightsizing’)

The impacts of online shopping are not news to the retail industry. Over the last few years, many stores have had to make significant overall changes brought on by web-savvy shoppers and their hunt for the best deal with just the click of a button. Retail downsizing, or rightsizing as we like to call it, has become a much more normal occurrence, especially for smaller bricks and mortar locations looking to stay relevant and deal with the onslaught of online competition.

Check out this recent release from Bloomberg Businessweek – “The Smart Way to Shrink Your Retail Store” - http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-09/the-smart-way-to-shrink-your-retail-store. In it, the author references the recent trend of retail downsizing: “Retail space isn’t what it used to be. More people are browsing and buying online. Stores can get products faster from manufacturers, so they don’t need as much space to warehouse inventory. Small businesses are thus moving to smaller storefronts to lower costs.” And the main piece of advice offer: have a plan!

Even in the CPG industry, where the competition is a bit less stifling, there has still been a push to deal with those big box franchises. And yes, retail downsizing has made its way here too. So, if changes in the online marketplace have necessitated a change in location, or rather a rightsizing of your current location, the best thing to do is develop a plan to ensure that the impact this transition has is as positive as possible.

How? Enlist the services of a company that can help you carry out this change without a hitch – one with the knowledge and experience to conduct a shift seamlessly, as well as the additional people support to maintain high levels of customer service during the move and avoid any pitfalls along the way.

For more about conducting a retail downsizing that won’t have any adverse effects, please contact Storesupport today by calling 1-877-421-5081.

Retailers: Getting Ready for Back to School Shopping

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Summer camps are in full swing, the beaches are jammed on weekends, and the warm weather has most people spending as much time outside as possible. For most, July isn’t typically the time to start thinking about backto school shopping. However, if you are in the retail industry, it is exactly what you are (or at least should be) thinking about.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

Start early. Like now. Getting caught too late out of the gate can have you dealing with major issues when it comes time to beat the crowds. Make sure that you have considered all of the factors that contribute to a successful back to school shopping campaign, and have implemented them accordingly. Being well prepared can help you avoid any customer service pitfalls and keep customer satisfaction high.

Have the right people support. Some retailers choose to attempt to handle the crowds with their existing staff pool. Others go on a hiring spree just before the rush and bring on a temporary crew to handle any crushes that arise. Both of these can offer the support you need, but at what cost? Perhaps a smarter idea is to consider working with a company that can offer highly trained, experienced people support available on short notice, and only when you need it. That way, you don’t have to worry about scheduling issues or hiring and training a new group of employees only to have them work for a short period of time.

What about in-store merchandising? Do you plan to have any campaigns running during the back to school blitz? If not, think about taking advantage of the opportunities this time of year represents with a merchandising campaign to target the kids and their parents. Better yet, get in touch with a merchandising company that can handle it all for you, from development to set-up. This way you don’t have to worry about taking time or employees away from regular tasks, and can ensure that the job is done right, the first time.

Don’t get stuck dealing with the rush, during the rush. That will only cause stress and won’t do anything to boost sales.

Start preparing for back to school shopping now. Storesupport has everything you need to ensure that your campaign goes off without a hitch. Contact us today by calling 1-877-421-5081.