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.

Too Soon? Your Back to School Retail Strategy

We know that it is only June, and with the school year just ending, most people are not even thinking about September and heading back to the classroom. But, when it comes to merchandising, even with summer displays out, you really need to be thinking ahead. Don’t leave your back-to-school retail strategy to the last minute.

Here are our top tips for ramping up your retail merchandising for August:

·        Create connections. A smart back-to-school retail strategy is one that creates connections, not only with your customer, but in the customer’s mind as far as product connections. Draw customers in by playing on their emotions (example: moms who care about healthy snacks or the idea of ‘brain food’).

·        Set up an experiential marketing campaign to get parents thinking about healthy snack and lunch options. Play on the desire to pack items that are both nutritious and fun, that kids will like. Parents want to know about the options they have for packing healthy food for their children, so give them ideas that lead to more sales.

·        Use sensory technology to create engagement. Displays that are interactive give customers the chance to find out about the nutritional benefits of certain products, or the advantages some products have. Having an interactive display gives them the chance to take in this information, while at the same time getting their attention in a way that static displays cannot.

When it comes time to implement those visual merchandising tactics, keep on top of customer service. Back to school shopping can wreak havoc on your shelves – make sure that you have the staff on hand to ensure that shelves remain well stocked and tidy. If customers can’t find what they are looking for, they can’t buy. Also, ensure that line-ups don’t get out of control – this can be hazardous to your customer loyalty levels, and thus your bottom line. Make sure that you have enough staff to handle peak periods and increased traffic.

People support should be a big part of your merchandising strategy. Ensuring that crowds don’t have an impact is critical. This year, instead of going through the process of hiring for temporary positions and having to train new employees, why not work with a company that can provide you with the staff at very short notice, individuals who are already trained, trustworthy, and experienced. That way, you save yourself the time and money!

For more about getting your retail strategy for the back-to-school shopping season in place please contact Storesupport 1-877-421-5081.

Visual Merchandising: Mass Merchants Need Displays

When it comes to visual merchandising, we all know that having a plan in place is important – but how important is it? Do customers really pay that much attention? Can a visually striking display actually garner that much attention and increase sales? According to the 2014 Mass Merchant Study by Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), yes, they can!

Discussing the Mass Merchant Study, an article on RetailWire made some important points. The study revealed some really interesting results as far as visual merchandising, and keeping these in mind the next time you sit down to re-establish or fine-tune your marketing strategy is probably a really smart idea.

Perhaps the most notable finding was that 82% of purchase decisions are made in-store. What does this mean for you? The article had this to say: “Consumers who shop at mass merchandisers make a lot of decisions about what they're going to buy at the shelf. Getting them to buy more has a lot to do with retailers' in-store media and display strategies and tactics.”

Additionally, according to the article, the study found that 34% of shoppers don’t rely on a shopping list. Again, this means far more opportunities for you to entice and attract.

Check out the full article here: http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/17334/mass-merchants-need-displays.

So, how can you take these stats and turn them into ROI? By implementing various strategies into your visual merchandising plan that yield real results. For more about how to get your in-store visual merchandising strategy up-to-snuff, please contact Storesupport today by calling 1-877-421-5081.

Creating Connections: Sensory Technology in Retail Merchandising

The retail CPG industry is as competitive as ever today, and with the continued rise of online shopping (even in the CPG market), competing is as tough as ever. Utilizing intelligent retail merchandising tactics remains one of the best ways to attract attention and build customer loyalty. And one of the newest trends when it comes to this is sensory technology and increased consumer engagement.

What is sensory technology? We have all seen it – those retail displays that entice consumers through the use of interactive displays and screens. The use of visual images that shift or flow, rather than remaining static, have proven to be far more effective at grabbing attention. Furthermore, the use of touch and sound, rather than just sight, works wonders as far as bringing customers in and driving sales.

Why use this newer form of retail merchandising? Studies have shown that it goes a long way as far as influencing in-store purchasing. Those spur-of-the-moment purchasing decisions made on the store floor are often a result of really effective merchandising, and sensory technology seems to be at the top of the list. Just as last minute purchasing choices are made at the cash register, sensory technology can be very influential down an aisle.

Creating connections through the use of sensory technology is also key here. The relationship you build with your client depends largely on that client, and so knowing your key target demographic is essential. When you have determined this, using specific colours, themes, even specific sounds can not only create a one-time sale, it can build a memory that that customer will continue to return to time and again. The ability to interact, often by providing more information to a customer which they can access on their own, increases the level of awareness and is equivalent to having a brand ambassador standing by your product at all times.

Although not typically considered sensory technology, experiential marketing can also mean big gains when it comes to creating that connection through a taste testing or a free trial. Developing a campaign that fits the season (for example, a BBQ party in the summer) can mean huge gains when it comes to both attracting new customers and maintaining loyalty with existing customers.

For more about sensory technology, creating a higher level engagement with your brand, or for other effective retail merchandising techniques, please contact Storesupport today by calling 1-877-421-5081 or visit us online at www.storesupport.ca.