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We are either planning it, cleaning up after it, buying for it, merchandising its goods or just worrying about it. Then for a few exhausting, brief weeks we sell the [...]

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE ... ACTUALLY IF YOU LOOK IN MOST OF OUR STOCKROOMS, IT IS ALREADY HERE, PILED HIGH AND DEEP. WE ARE ALL GETTING THE GOODS MARKED, MERCHANDISED [...]

THE GIFT BUSINESS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MAKING A BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE MARKUP ON A GREAT SELLER OR HAVING THE HOTTEST FAD ITEM IN STOCK. Shoppers come to us to help [...]

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE STARTS WITH SAYING YES. YES, WE WILL WRAP YOUR GIFTS, YES YOU MAY RETURN THAT, YES WE WILL PLACE A SPECIAL ORDER, OF COURSE YOU MAY USE [...]

TWO QUESTIONS THAT WILL POP AT MARKET: Every salesperson in every booth at every trade show hears the same two questions all day long. They are, of course, 'What's new?' [...]

Halloween has finally come into its own. Ranking second to Christmas in retail spending, Halloween celebrations have evolved from a day's trick-or-treating, into a full season of costume parties and [...]

CUSTOMERS WHO LEAVE SHOPS BEARING BAGS OF BARGAINS PURCHASED AT ROCK-BOTTOM, BELOW COST PRICES CERTAINLY LOVE SALES. EVERYBODY LOVES A DEAL, RIGHT? What about the merchant who had to reduce [...]

I AM A TRADE SHOW JUNKIE, WHICH IS LUCKY, BECAUSE WE ATTEND MORE THAN 20 MARKETS A YEAR, COVERING GIFTS, FURNITURE, HOME ACCESSORIES AND APPAREL. I am mad for the [...]

I HAVE BEEN OUT SHOPPING LATELY AND AM AS IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY stores welcome their customers as I am with their merchandising, product assortment and decor. Walking into a [...]

RETAILERS SPEND MOST OF THE YEAR TALKING ABOUT, PLANNING FOR AND RECOVERING FROM THE FOURTH QUARTER. It is like the Super Bowl, except it lasts for weeks instead of hours, [...]

MANY YEARS AGO, IN A FAR DISTANT RETAIL WORLD THAT NO LONGER EXISTS, WHERE LADIES WORE HATS AND gloves and department stores were king, wise merchants struggled to achieve a [...]

Happenings at the new retail store, Leon & Lulu at Detroit, during its first 11 days are discussed.

The significance of e-mail marketing in providing efficiency, increased productivity and cost effectiveness is presented. The secrets for successful e-mail marketing are presented.

Specific instructions regarding the use of the Internet by business enterprises are enlisted. Factors to be considered while maintaining websites are discussed.

Strategies to manage the display of a retail store are discussed.

The details of, and services offered by auction firm eBay, are discussed.

The importance of visual merchandising in retail marketing is discussed. The viability of auditory and tactile merchandising is also examined

Tips and methods for business networking in trade shows are presented.

Tips and methods for market research are presented.

Answers to queries pertaining to display management in retail stores are presented.

The details of Ireland's premier craft, gift, fashion and interiors fair Showcase 2006 are discussed.

The importance of fund management in small business and methods to manage budgets are emphasized. Some tips to promote sales are suggested.

The importance of business plan for the growth of small enterprises and retailers is emphasized. The issues considered while preparing business plan such as type of business, product mix, customer base and location are described in detail.

The five suggestions, save money, increase your margins, get more publicity, improve your staff training and open your virtual store are given for using money to run the retail business effectively.

Customers are advised to be careful while paying their telephone bills, so that they do not land up paying unnecessarily. Some suggestions for call planning in using mobile phone, fax, and hotel phone on vacation trip are presented.

The lack of etiquette of staff in stores and restaurants, where they fail to apologize for their mistakes, is analyzed. The tips for staff to enhance their relations with customers are suggested.

Several ideas have been given for promotional activities for the gift stores with the holiday shopping season about to begin.