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Retail for ALL!
When it comes down to it, there is no excuse not to have at least a small retail spot in your Fido related business. Whether you have a grooming, training, daycare, veterinarian, bakery or any other business catering to our favorite four-legged friends, finding a spot for retail should be at the top of your to do list. It’s a great way to add to your bottom line and provide your valued customers with another great service.
My sister-in-law, who owns Aspen Ridge Animal Hospital in Show Low, AZ, recently added a toy box full of dog toys by the register at the dog’s level (see image below). This way, when it’s time for payment, patrons’ dogs can go shopping, and may be lucky enough to go home with a new toy!
Keep it simple, you don’t have to invest thousands or even hundreds of dollars to add retail to your business. You can start with 10 items, two each of your favorite products. Stick with items you use at home, as there is no greater selling tool than your own recommendation. Think about it, your customers come to your business because they believe that you’re the best, so your recommendations hold great worth! Many companies sell their products at wholesale prices to business just like yours, including Kyjen. Get started at www.kyjen.com/wholesale. If you already have retail, great! But you can still capitalize on increased sales with a toy box by the register!
Catering to the info hungry consumer –increase sales using the power of information
Whether in the cereal aisle at your local supermarket, or in the TV section at a big box electronic store, consumers, now more than ever, are information hungry. Even though discretionary budgets are back on the rise, consumers have kept to the recessionary adapted habits: garner as much information as possible about a group of products, and then make an informed decision based on criteria that is important to them (quality, value, price, etc.)
It’s important to point out why a certain product (which may have a higher ticket price) should be purchased over a less expensive alternative. Why not put this information within the consumers reach… or more accurately “eyesight?”
Small cards (even 3 X 5 index style) work great to fit a few key features and benefits about a product and still fit within your well crafted display. In a perfect world, you or an employee would be able to talk with every customer and convey this info in person, but as we all know, the day to day tasks and other customers inhibit us from doing so. Thus the displayed info must suffice.
Think liquor stores, below each bottle of wine is a small note card displaying the points the bottle of wine is rated. The same holds true with pet products, simply place a tag by the product and have the tag do the selling.
Get creative, have fun and increase sales!
Picture from http://www.wine-flair.com/uploaded_images/Frank_Family-754398.JPG
