Visit our Thursday, June 19th post for Part 1 of "Great ideas to build store traffic and fatten up your wallet!"
9. “The Boss Is Gone!” Sale: We love this idea! Send out an e-mail blast to all of your customers and make it look like it came from one of your staff. The e-mail should read, “________________________ has gone to the __________________ trade show and I’m putting everything on sale!” The contributing retailer said customers thought the employee did this on the sly and sales were brisk. Try this idea the next time you attend a trade show or go on vacation. Any time you are away from the store for a few days.
10. “Summer Solstice Sale”: Begin at sunrise on the day of the summer Solstice, offering discounts that decrease hourly: 40% off from sunrise to 7:00 AM, 35% off from 7:01 AM – 9:00 AM; 30% off from 9:01 AM – 11:00 AM; 25% off from 11:01 AM – 1:00 PM; 20% off from 1:01 PM – 3:00 PM; 15% off from 3:01 PM – 6:00 PM, and 10% off until close.
11. “New Arrivals!” Update: Send out an e-mail blast, and place notes on your website and blog, whenever you return from a trade show or when new product arrives. Talk it up! Romance the copy so that it encourages customers to come to the store and shop. Create and distribute Bag Stuffers, and place signs in your windows and throughout the store. Add “As Seen Online” signs next to the merchandise.
12. Twice a month hold a “Lunch Break Make & Take” that’s targeted to working women. Run this free event from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and watch what happens. This event is so successful for the contributing retailer that she’s added a “Stop-in Saturday Make & Take” with longer hours.
13. “Annual Scavenger Hunt”: Hide unusual items throughout your store and give customers a list of all the things they must find in the store. Be sure to include boxes they can check off when each item is found. This list will encourage them to walk through your entire store, where they’re sure to see all the cool things they just have to have. Give a prize to the customer who finds the most items.
14. “Frequent Shopper Program”: Customers earn a free class for every $100 they spend in the store. The contributing retailer calls her program the S.M.I.L.E. Card”, which stands for “Scrapping Makes Ideas Look Exciting”.
15. Hold a “Scrappers’ Yard Sale” where participating customers can “sell” all of the product they had to have, but never used, plus gently used supplies. Set up tables throughout your store or in the classroom. Sales are translated into store credit.
16. In-store Craft Fair: Why should your customers go to the craft fair at the mall when they can just as easily come to your store? Feature local crafters and artisans; assign each participant a table to showcase his/her wares. Build a buzz about town with e-mail blasts, in-store signage and Bag Stuffers. Encourage each participant to advertise their participation in church bulletins, neighborhood newsletters, and community publications. And make sure that your store is open for business during the entire event!
10. “Summer Solstice Sale”: Begin at sunrise on the day of the summer Solstice, offering discounts that decrease hourly: 40% off from sunrise to 7:00 AM, 35% off from 7:01 AM – 9:00 AM; 30% off from 9:01 AM – 11:00 AM; 25% off from 11:01 AM – 1:00 PM; 20% off from 1:01 PM – 3:00 PM; 15% off from 3:01 PM – 6:00 PM, and 10% off until close.
11. “New Arrivals!” Update: Send out an e-mail blast, and place notes on your website and blog, whenever you return from a trade show or when new product arrives. Talk it up! Romance the copy so that it encourages customers to come to the store and shop. Create and distribute Bag Stuffers, and place signs in your windows and throughout the store. Add “As Seen Online” signs next to the merchandise.
12. Twice a month hold a “Lunch Break Make & Take” that’s targeted to working women. Run this free event from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and watch what happens. This event is so successful for the contributing retailer that she’s added a “Stop-in Saturday Make & Take” with longer hours.
13. “Annual Scavenger Hunt”: Hide unusual items throughout your store and give customers a list of all the things they must find in the store. Be sure to include boxes they can check off when each item is found. This list will encourage them to walk through your entire store, where they’re sure to see all the cool things they just have to have. Give a prize to the customer who finds the most items.
14. “Frequent Shopper Program”: Customers earn a free class for every $100 they spend in the store. The contributing retailer calls her program the S.M.I.L.E. Card”, which stands for “Scrapping Makes Ideas Look Exciting”.
15. Hold a “Scrappers’ Yard Sale” where participating customers can “sell” all of the product they had to have, but never used, plus gently used supplies. Set up tables throughout your store or in the classroom. Sales are translated into store credit.
16. In-store Craft Fair: Why should your customers go to the craft fair at the mall when they can just as easily come to your store? Feature local crafters and artisans; assign each participant a table to showcase his/her wares. Build a buzz about town with e-mail blasts, in-store signage and Bag Stuffers. Encourage each participant to advertise their participation in church bulletins, neighborhood newsletters, and community publications. And make sure that your store is open for business during the entire event!
