CRAFT: It's Friday, January 16
News from the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF):
Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF Director, has extended to CRAFT members an invitation – with two special benefits – to attend the upcoming event slated for January 25-29, 2009 in New York City.
Dorothy states: "The Winter 2009 NYIGF will feature 2,900+ exhibitors in nine specialized divisions, including Handmade, a juried craft division featuring 575 artisans and makers of unique handcrafted ceramics, textiles, home décor, jewelry and apparel. In addition to a special Handmade in the USA showcase area, the Winter 2009 edition will expand its identification of some 250 'designer-makers,' allowing you to more easily find the American-made products that you are seeking."
For CRAFT's retail members only, NYIGF is offering complimentary Club GLM Lounge admission for each member and one other store representative during the show. The VIP Lounge offers complimentary beverages, phone, internet accessibility and seating, during all regular Fair hours. Club GLM is located in on Level One at the South end of Javits in Room 1E02-04. Simply present this letter for admission.
All CRAFT members are offered one free seminar admission ($20 value) to any one of the Fair’s seven educational seminars. Please visit nyigf.com/programs for complete details. To redeem your free seminar registration, contact Nicole Farrell by email at Nicole_farrell@glmshows.com
Click here for Dorothy's letter to CRAFT.
Are you an artist member who will be exhibiting at an upcoming NYIGF, BMAC, ACC or ACRE show? Send CRAFT the details and your booth number: we will post the information in an It's Friday email message and include it on handouts available at the CRAFT booth during these events. Contact Susan Clayton at susan@thegrandhand.com
Top Twelve Things Every Successful Retailer Must Do In 2009
Tips from Bob Negen at WhizBang! Training - whizbangtraining.com
1. Treat every single person who comes into your store with the love, respect, and honor they deserve as your customer! A customer in your store is like gold... even platinum. Come up with new and better ways to show them how much you care.
2. Start a short, personal, regularly scheduled e-mail newsletter. Make sure your emails are not merely product pitches or sale notifications. They should deliver interesting or valuable content to your customers tips, checklists, patterns, ideas, how-dos, articles, recipes, jokes, stories, where-to-go suggestions, and so many more possibilities.
3. Start a loyalty / frequent buyer program. The program alone will increase loyalty and make you more money. In addition, a good program makes it super-simple to get your customers contact information, especially their e-mail address.
4. Fill up your promotional calendar! Contests (lots), sales (only a couple), customer appreciation parties, classes, lectures, trunk shows the list goes on and on. Give your customers a good reason to come in and shop with you.
5. Train your staff to sell. This relatively easy-to-do task delivers a double whammy benefit. Employees who know how to sell CORRECTLY give much better customer service and at the same time will increase your sales dramatically. Happier customers, more money in the register... yeah, that'll work.
6. Keep customer-friendly store hours. This means the same hours as your local mall and big box stores. One of the biggest reasons your customers don't shop with you? You're closed when they want to buy. These days you really can't afford to put any barriers between your customers and your cash register - and a locked door is a big barrier.
7. Clean your store from top to bottom. A spanky clean store is the easiest (and cheapest way) to set yourself apart from the competition. A clean, fresh, well-cared for store looks and feels prosperous. It'll be good for your mood, as well as your customers.
8. Make a commitment to coaching your staff. The people on your staff are face to face with your customers bringing, or failing to bring, money into your register. Like a pro-sports coach, one of your most important jobs is to motivate your team and keep them performing at peak levels. Catch them doing things right and praise them. If you see problems, nip them in the bud.
9. Get a great recruiting and interviewing process in place now - before you need it. Hire only the best people. You can't afford to have mediocre or (heaven forbid) poor performers on your floor working with your customers.
10. If you don't have a POS system, get one. If you do have one, make sure you're using it to its fullest effect. This tool can make you more darn money but not if you're merely using it as an electronic cigar box.
11. Put an open to buy plan in place and run it. Managing expenses in the upcoming year is going to be a make-it-or-break-it activity for most retailers, and your inventory is probably your biggest expense. That makes running an open to buy plan a critical success activity.
12. Make a commitment to your professional education. Read, listen to tapes, talk to your colleagues Engage your brain! Retailers that learn new skills and take action will make it through 2009 stronger, better, and ready for explosive success.
Plan to dial in NEXT WEEK:
T3 - Third Tuesday Teleconference
January 20 at 10-11 am EST
One of the best parts of being a member of CRAFT is the ability to network with peers . . . plan to call in to talk about issues affecting your business. T3 conference calls are FREE a benefit of being a member of CRAFT.
Click here updated information.
Butter Bells at Clay Coyote, Hutchinson, MN - claycoyotegallery.com
We are experiencing extreme cold, icy roads and school closings here in Minnesota this week, which, ironically, can be good for business - defiant locals often find sport in the challenge of getting out and about anyway!
Wishing you a great weekend, whatever the weather,
Susan Clayton, susan@thegrandhand.com
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17-Sep-09