We’ve been hearing the term “Staycation” – a vacation spent close to home – a lot lately. It might be a drag for the tourist industry, but it’s good for you! If families are traveling less, and staying closer to home, that means more customers will be looking for things to do this summer to keep themselves and their kids occupied. Here’s where you come in.
Julie and Robin Cates are two amazing sisters who own “On the Pot” Paint & Pottery Studio in Salina, Kansas. If we could bottle their creativity and enthusiasm we’d be gazillionaires. They host summer camps, kids parties, grown-up parties, studio tours, Ya-Ya Nights, glass fusing and a whole lot more. Visit them here: http://www.paintourpot.com/
And by the way, Julie’s fun, funky, and functional custom pieces are selling like hotcakes. Or hot Cates ... She made a 6’ tall clock for the CCSA Convention charity auction last year -- it sold for over $8,000. To another retailer! You can see Julie's masterpieces here: http://www.thatsfab.net/
Kids Summer Camp
Every July and August Michaels Stores host an in-store Kids Summer Crafts Camp. Kids are divided by age group (5 to 8-year olds are held daily from 9:30am–11:30am; and sessions for 9 to 12-year olds are held daily from 1:30pm–3:30pm.) Craft projects correspond with a daily theme: Tropical Day, Game Day, A Day at the Circus, and Bags & Butterflies are just a few of the fun things in store for this year’s campers. Learn more here:
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=store_camp07
You can do this, too. Fill the days (or afternoons) with a variety of projects, including things that kids love, but are not necessarily sold in your store. If you’re a scrapbook retailer, branch out, and let the kids embellish flip-flops or tie-dye T-shirts in addition to creating a “What I Did on My Summer Staycation” album.
Hit the Streets
We’ve talked about Bag-a-Craft for a long, long time. Bag-a-Craft involves making your own craft kits, bagging ’em up, and taking them to your local day care centers. Offer to teach a free craft project on the spot, or schedule it for a later date. In addition to a craft project to take home to Mommy, add a coupon good for a free class or a free day at your in-store summer camp. Bag-a-Craft is also a great idea for senior assisted living centers.
It’s All About the Sizzle!
For each event you run this summer, appoint one associate the official “Sultan of Sizzle.” The Sultan’s job is to put the icing on the cake; the sizzle on the steak – to take your event from fun to fabulous. Give the Sultan a little cash and turn him/her lose; we don’t care if its 50 bucks or 500 big ones – give him enough to light up the joint!
Here’s the thing: Many retailers won’t weather the current economic dilemma very well; some won’t survive at all. But you will. Because you won’t put off what needs to be done today until tomorrow. You won’t wait to see what the guy down the street does before you make a move. You won’t blame your mall or shopping center or downtown association for not doing enough to help you; and you won’t sit on your hands hoping that things will take care of themselves. You’ll survive, and maybe even thrive, because you decided to take action.
Julie and Robin Cates are two amazing sisters who own “On the Pot” Paint & Pottery Studio in Salina, Kansas. If we could bottle their creativity and enthusiasm we’d be gazillionaires. They host summer camps, kids parties, grown-up parties, studio tours, Ya-Ya Nights, glass fusing and a whole lot more. Visit them here: http://www.paintourpot.com/
And by the way, Julie’s fun, funky, and functional custom pieces are selling like hotcakes. Or hot Cates ... She made a 6’ tall clock for the CCSA Convention charity auction last year -- it sold for over $8,000. To another retailer! You can see Julie's masterpieces here: http://www.thatsfab.net/
Kids Summer Camp
Every July and August Michaels Stores host an in-store Kids Summer Crafts Camp. Kids are divided by age group (5 to 8-year olds are held daily from 9:30am–11:30am; and sessions for 9 to 12-year olds are held daily from 1:30pm–3:30pm.) Craft projects correspond with a daily theme: Tropical Day, Game Day, A Day at the Circus, and Bags & Butterflies are just a few of the fun things in store for this year’s campers. Learn more here:
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=store_camp07
You can do this, too. Fill the days (or afternoons) with a variety of projects, including things that kids love, but are not necessarily sold in your store. If you’re a scrapbook retailer, branch out, and let the kids embellish flip-flops or tie-dye T-shirts in addition to creating a “What I Did on My Summer Staycation” album.
Hit the Streets
We’ve talked about Bag-a-Craft for a long, long time. Bag-a-Craft involves making your own craft kits, bagging ’em up, and taking them to your local day care centers. Offer to teach a free craft project on the spot, or schedule it for a later date. In addition to a craft project to take home to Mommy, add a coupon good for a free class or a free day at your in-store summer camp. Bag-a-Craft is also a great idea for senior assisted living centers.
It’s All About the Sizzle!
For each event you run this summer, appoint one associate the official “Sultan of Sizzle.” The Sultan’s job is to put the icing on the cake; the sizzle on the steak – to take your event from fun to fabulous. Give the Sultan a little cash and turn him/her lose; we don’t care if its 50 bucks or 500 big ones – give him enough to light up the joint!
Here’s the thing: Many retailers won’t weather the current economic dilemma very well; some won’t survive at all. But you will. Because you won’t put off what needs to be done today until tomorrow. You won’t wait to see what the guy down the street does before you make a move. You won’t blame your mall or shopping center or downtown association for not doing enough to help you; and you won’t sit on your hands hoping that things will take care of themselves. You’ll survive, and maybe even thrive, because you decided to take action.
