Trying to boost business in your retail store? Just when you thought you had run out of things to try, here are four ideas to you can customize to increase sales and get an edge on your competition.

1. Use the silent sales person

Small storeowners can be divided into those that care about in-store signage and those that do not. Poorly designed signage, too many signs, misleading messages, spelling errors, and signs handwritten in black felt-tip marker all likely to send a negative message about your store and product. With the wide availability of desktop publishing programs and affordable high quality inkjet printers, there is no excuse for anything less than professional-looking in-store signage.

Keep in mind the materials you are using, too. Use good quality paper and acrylic holders. Decide what type of signs you need and select the key components for each. Make templates for creating title signs, price tags, product knowledge sheets, signs displaying suggestions for how to use certain products, etc. Once you have a template and are clear on what materials you are using for each type of sign, you can create new signs with less effort, and in less time.

Finally, choose a simple two-or-three color scheme and stick to it throughout the store, and change the signage as often as you like so regular customers don’t get bored. Remember, your silent sales person is always there when the customer needs information.

2. Animate your window display

How often do you change your window display? Once a month? Once a week? Try changing your window display every day. I saw a very successful display that had five or six mannequins facing left and right with a backdrop of a street scene. Every day the mannequins would move a short distance and the backdrop would pan left or right along the ‘street’. Sometimes the mannequins would stop to ‘talk’ to each other as those around them continued on their journey along the window. Although the store was slightly out of my way, I found myself taking a detour to see where the cast of mannequins were going and what they were doing. The bottom line? Your display does not have to be as complicated as the one I saw or even tell a story but use your creativity and imagination to create an illusion of movement.

3. Music sells

In a recent study, French and German music was played on alternate days for two weeks in a UK supermarket. During the two-week period, French and German wines were displayed in-store. Interestingly, statistics showed that playing French music led to higher sales of French wines, whereas playing German music led to higher sales of German wines. Moreover, a customer questionnaire revealed shoppers were unaware of the effects of music on their purchase choices.

What can be garnered from this study? Music can be used to influence shopper’s buying habits indirectly. Can you think of a way to use music to boost sales in your store?

4. Discounted impulse items

This is an old-school idea often overlooked. Store owners know that “Save $15″ is a more powerful message than “20% off” because customers can identify with a dollar amount faster, and that the best time to sell an extra item is when a customer comes to pay. Combine the two and experiment with displaying discounted impulse items near the checkout counter.

Try these tactics in your store and let us know how it goes. We’d love to hear about the results.

If you are a business owner or manager, an excellent way to keep your employees motivated and gather great ideas on improving your business is to use an employee suggestion box. It’s no surprise many of the answers to the customer service and personnel problems come from employees; however, many find it difficult to get employees to use the suggestion box. In some cases, the suggestion box was not given enough support by management, resulting in an attitude of “Why bother?” In other cases, employees were concerned about anonymity.

Consider a company that reported outstanding success with their suggestion box. This organization used a “Quality Service Committee” approach. The way it worked was a representative took the suggestions to the committee each month. The person who made the suggestion remained anonymous. Each suggestion made was given careful consideration by the committee. If it was a good one, it was implemented.

Ask yourself these questions when considering whether to use an employee suggestion box:

1. Does your company now use an employee suggestion box?

2. Where would be a good place to put it?

3. When would be the best time to review the suggestions?

4. What kind of rewards would you give to the employees who suggest the ideas that are used?

5. How would you acknowledge the employee who made suggestions that were not used?

The important thing to remember is to make sure that all employee suggestions are responded to and the best ones implemented. In some companies, rewards are given to the people who make the suggestions that are used. The reward could be something quite simple, such as mentioning their name at the next meeting and giving them a certificate of appreciation or perhaps a gift certificate to a local restaurant or a popular retail store. It’s important to let them know you appreciate their willingness to offer their suggestions.

It’s a real de-motivator for any employee to have a carefully constructed suggestion ignored by management. Remember, if all suggestions are acknowledged, it will positively reinforce the idea of giving suggestions.

One note of caution: never openly criticize any suggestion offered. That type of action will only discourage others from contributing their ideas.

Imagine if the newly instituted suggestion box was opened at the monthly employees’ meeting. The manager goes through the suggestions, reading them aloud. He openly criticizes the ones he doesn’t like, making the comment, “Hmmmph! That will never work.” After that meeting, do you think the employees would bother with the suggestion box again? However, using a box effectively will yield positive results. Use smart implementation tactics, and your business will benefit.

In-store advertising, such as point-of-purchase displays (also known as “POP” displays), directly influences 53-60% of consumer purchases, according to the Point-of-Purchase Advertising Institute. That’s more than half of all your sales. With numbers like these, it’s a good idea for retailers and restaurateurs to ad POP displays to the advertising mix. Types and styles of point-of-purchase displays vary, so it’s important to tailor your display to whatever it is you’re advertising. A lighted menu board may work for one scenario whereas ceiling danglers may work in another.

Benefits of POP Displays

No matter what type you choose, however, when executed well, POP displays can help:
1. Customers make informed buying decisions
2. Encourage impulse buys
3. Increase sales
4. Brand your company across multiple locations

Making POP Displays Work for You

Once you have familiarized yourself with the different types of POP displays and their respective benefits, you can begin to think about how to make your display work in your place of business. For example, if your business is a restaurant, menu boards, table tents, counter-displays, and floor stands can encourage customers to try new items, order add-ons, or ask for specials. You can also use POP displays to promote special products for sale inside your restaurant or advertise upcoming community events. Anything you can think of to boost traffic in and brand your restaurant can be promoted with a point of purchase display.
On the other hand, if your business is a retail store, shelf signage is invaluable to pointing customers in the right direction. When looking at a shelf filled with different products, customers are likely to pick up one that’s highlighted with a sign or tag. Whether you want to promote a product on sale, a new or improved version, or advertise a special benefit, shelf signage draws attention where you want it most.

Knowing What You Want

Some POP suppliers offer a wide range of displays; others specialize in one type. Finding the right supplier depends largely on the type of POP display you want to create. You can find anything from small sign holders to large signs but it helps considerably if you have an idea of what you want before you make a purchase! Search display suppliers online and look at their stock for possible ideas.

Getting Creative

Consider hanging signs from the ceiling or applying them directly to the floor of your business. Anywhere you can catch the customer’s attention is a perfect place for a point-of-purchase display, and a point-of-purchase display is the perfect way to grab the customer’s attention – and make sure they grab your product. Finally, if you execute your POP promotions well, you should see an increase in sales and traffic, and a positive difference in your bottom line.

Getting Started

Think you’re ready to start using POP displays in your business? Consider these tips when executing:

• Ask neighboring restaurants to add a table tent to each table offering customers a cross-promotion at your business.
• Use a local quick-print shop to print point-of-purchase signage and you can add new promotions to your store frequently without breaking the bank.
• Before you start designing promotions, walk through stores you feel comfortable in and check out their signage and point-of-purchase displays.
• If you have more than one store, or more than one POP display in a store, make sure they have the same look and feel in order to create a unified brand.

Good luck.

As common and numerous as business cards are, it is amazing how many of them are not as effective as they could be. Most people only put their name and basic contact information on them, but there is so much more you can do. By using a sign display with a business card holder, you can advertise your business, and offer business cards for potential clients and customers to take away. Let me point out a few more things that you can do to make your promotional materials stand out above the rest.

1. Maximize your space

You do not completely ignore half of your place of business do you? You use every inch of space available. Why not do the same on your business cards? The back of your business card is like a prime piece of real estate, waiting to be used. You can use the back of your card to include extra contact information or a fun tag line.

Once you’ve maximized the real estate on your business card, you can place your business cards in a card holder attached to a sign holder and give your business even more exposure. Use the sign space to give more info about your business or services. Maybe there is a special offer or discount you’d like to promote, a special event or anniversary you’d like to advertise. Perhaps you have a compelling story about one of your staff that can help brand your company in the minds of consumers. Use the space however you like to entice your customers to learn more about your company, and get in touch.

2. Don’t forget your info

It is amazing how many people neglect to put basic information on their business cards and signs. Don’t make this common mistake when you get yours printed. You want to give your customers as many ways to get in touch with you as possible.

Obviously you are going to include your name and phone number. You also want to include your business name, if you have one. If you have a fax number, put that on there. Include your mailing address, too, because some people still use snail mail, and if you have an email address and a website address, include those, too. Often times, the first thing people do when they get a business card is go online to learn more about your business. This is why having a website is so important. If you have more than one website related to your business, you can include all of them on your sign, but it’s a good idea to list only your main website on your business card or else you might overwhelm your customers.

3. Use your cards and sign to brand your company

No matter how much you spend on advertising, sometimes your business card is the only way that some people will remember you. Capitalize on your opportunity to shine. Put your logo on your cards to brand your company image in the minds of your consumers, and, whatever your tag line is, include it. When someone finds your card a month down the road, you want to remind them who you are and why they should do business with you, not just how to get in contact with you. When it comes to your sign, you should also make use of your logo and tag line(s). Use all the resources at your disposal to brand your company. Make customers remember you.

4. Get your cards out

So many people print out thousands of business cards, use a hundred or so and box the rest up, never to been seen again. Don’t be one of those people who let your cards go to waste. Hand them out to everyone you meet. When you can’t hand them out in person, using a sign display with a business card holder to deliver your cards in a clever, unexpected way. Your sign will attract attention, and the attached card holder will help put your cards in the hands of potential clients and customers, even if you are not there to meet and greet them.

When you stop thinking of business cards as small pieces of cardstock, and start thinking of them as miniature, portable advertisements, you may see a difference in your bottom line. Use a sign holder with attached business card holder and that difference may be even greater.

Attracting high quality attention to your business can be stressful. Sure, you have all kinds of marketing materials: signs, posters, brochures, postcards, etc., but making good use of them is as important as the materials themselves. An ill-placed sign is useless. A messy pile of flyers is unattractive. If you take a moment to look around you may notice some methods of display are better than others. Well-placed, well-lit posters get a lot of attention. Flyers placed in plastic holders are organized and accessible. You can do a lot for your business by simply organizing your promotional materials. Products like plastic brochure holders are perfect tools for maximizing the effectiveness of your marketing materials by providing a display method that is durable, versatile, and attractive.

Durable

When you place your brochures on display in another business, the last thing you want to worry about is a brochure holder that needs upkeep. The great advantage plastic brochure holders is the high quality, durable acrylic of which they are made. Once you have placed your brochure holder on a counter top, you don’t have to worry about warping (as with a cardboard holder) or discoloration (as with wood or other synthetics). A quick wipe down with a wet cloth when you refill brochures is all your brochure holder needs to stay in business.

Versatile

A plastic brochure holder is ideal because it is simple - it will look great no matter where you put it. Moreover, the clean, classic look of clear plastic won’t detract from your brochures, but it will display your brochures prominently, giving your materials maximum exposure with minimum distraction. At a restaurant, coffee shop, office or trade show, a plastic brochure holder will look professional and inviting.

Attractive

You couldn’t possibly expect to find a different brochure holder to match the decor of every place you want to display your brochures. While you may have specific holders to match the design of your office, it would be impossible to try to accommodate the design of every place that you want your brochures shown. Plastic brochure holders are attractive and understated. Whether they are in a modern building or an old-fashioned, cozy restaurant, plastic brochure holders will look great. The clean, classic elegance of high-quality acrylic enhances any decorative scheme. Simultaneously, the clear design of plastic brochure holders means that all the consumer notices is your brochure, and not some unnecessarily fancy or intricate holder.

Imagine a gigantic tiered cake. It is made from the highest quality ingredients. It was designed by a world-class pastry chef and took days to complete. The final product is a sugary, flowery masterpiece. The cake is carefully sliced by its baker, you hold your plate out for your slice of deliciousness, and the chef grabs a hunk of the cake and plops it on your plate. Do you want to eat it? I wouldn’t! Yes, it’s a world-class pastry, but the presentation ruined the entire experience! Your brochures are the cake. Instead of plunking them down on your consumers’ plates, deliver them with grace that befits the quality of the brochure. Use a plastic brochure holder to deliver your message with sophistication. Your customers will appreciate the presentation, and you will benefit from their appreciation.

Looking for sign holders for your business? Go acrylic! Why? Clear acrylic sign holders are easy to keep up to date, easy to install and maintain, and perfect for a business that is looking stand out from the crowd. They come in a variety of sizes to meet all of your business sign needs. If the acrylic holders get dusty, dirty, or scratched, they’re easy to wipe down. There are even reparative products that will fix minor dings and scratches to your sign holders! Acrylic is durable and versatile - definitely worth it.

Acrylic sign holders are an affordable and easy way to transform your office into a sleek, attractive workplace by getting rid of clutter. There are many kinds of acrylic sign holders: window sign holders that stick to glass, business card holders for your desk, and acrylic sign holders for counter tops. Any or all of these products will go a long way in making your office look great.

• Window sign holders can be any size from large poster-sized to small letter-sized. They usually have suction cups on them, which makes it easy to apply and remove them from your work place windows. No matter how little time you have to squeeze in updating your office, you’ll always have time due to the ease of removal of window sign holders. Poster-sized sign holders are good to put in large windows to advertise slogans or special features. Smaller-sign holders can be used to post your office hours. If you are looking to post your marketing materials at other businesses, a sign on the outer window is a subtle way to attract attention without taking away from the business at which you’ve chosen to display your sign.

• Clear acrylic business card holders are simple and stylish. They keep your business cards neat, organized, and available when you need them. An acrylic business card holder is simple enough to look good, but it wont distract from the business card itself. Use them on your desk or a public counter to make sure that your cards are available for whoever needs one.

• Wall poster holders are perfect for transforming empty indoor wall space. Consider uses that go beyond displaying business materials. Use them for hanging art around the office! The quality of acrylic is perfect for showing off any art piece, and the durability of the acrylic material means that you wont have to worry about glass upkeep (as you might with a glass frame).

• Acrylic sign holders usually come in a standard 8.5 by 11 size and can stand alone on any flat surface. They are perfect to keep around your office to highlight policies or reminders. Slanted sign holders add a little twist to the standard display. Use them at trade shows or conventions to give your display a kick! Multi-sided holders are perfect for restaurants - use each side to show off your special menu items or lunch deals.

Acrylic is the way to go if you are looking to streamline your office. It’s affordable, modern, and easily maintained. Acrylic sign holders can quickly transform your office into an office that is inviting, organized, attractive, and, most importantly, highly functional. All of this is possible with acrylic.

Consider the money and time your business spends making signs. Promotional and marketing materials, even interoffice wall postings, all of these are an expense. If you’re spending manpower and money, why not go all the way?

Put up signs and flyers without a proper display and you’ll have to do it again, probably sooner than you’d like. Signs and flyers posted without a sign base can fall down, detach themselves from the surface you’ve posted them on, and become defaced or destroyed. With sign bases, however, you protect your investment and make sure people who need to can read your message without distraction.

Not convinced? Here are four practical reasons you should be using sign bases.

Save money

Posting a sign or flyer on a wall in a high-traffic area is an effective means of getting your message seen. However, every time you post on a wall, irreversible damage is done to the materials. Whether it is by staple or nail, tape or tack, you are damaging your sign or flyer simply by using it. Use sign bases to protect your materials and you can avoid this “one use only” debacle – it’s expensive to replace materials and it takes time to redistribute them. Save yourself the headache and protect your investment.

Enhance visibility

What is more likely to catch your eye - a sheet of paper laying flat on a table, or a sign standing upright at the center of a table? The latter, of course. The simple act of positioning boosts the visibility of your materials so more people read and see them, which is exactly what you want.

Say more with less effort

A sign base enhances your possibilities. Being able to place your display on literally any flat surface helps expand your audience by allowing you to market in a variety of places. Bases can support large or small signs at community functions, trade shows, even in reception areas. They can be used to attract and sustain attention during sales pitches, business presentations, training events, and meetings. Likewise, freestanding sign bases make it easy to utilize both sides of double-sided posters, flyers, or signs.

Take your materials with you

A sleek, clean, and sturdy presentation tool like a sign base lets you transport your marketing materials while they are protected. No more worrying about spills, tears, etc., while moving your materials from one office or meeting to the next. Sign bases make it easy to take them with you.

Can you think of one reason not to use sign bases? I can’t.

Desktop or counter top business card holders are ideal for office or retail environments. They allow you to display business cards for customers or clients to take freely. Similarly, they contribute to the appearance of your place of business by organizing work surfaces and clearing up desktops. Overall, personal business card holders serve as an important business tool, giving your clients access to a tidy stash of business cards while you are away from the office.

Your business card sends a message to prospective customers and clients – but the first impression is made long before your business card reaches their hands, as soon as they see how the cases or holders you use to hold your cards. A classy way to store and deliver your business cards helps the client form a positive impression. How you carry your cards, the quality of your cards, and the way you present them should be as important to you as your initial introduction to anyone you meet.

Carry your cards in an organized, attractive way

If you work in sales, you probably hand out your card right after your first handshake with a prospective customer. When you have a stylish and professional-looking business card case with you, you’ll have easy access to your card in reach while keeping it protected from scuffs, wrinkles, or tears. Likewise, be sure to keep your cardholder stocked and clean. You don’t want to pull out your card carrier only to realize you just gave your last card away. Always double-check your stock before leaving for a meeting or business trip.

High quality cards

A high quality, interesting business card will leave a good impression. Subtle texture, captivating graphics, and enticing design all enhance the effectiveness of your card. Be sure the card design is tasteful yet memorable, and brand your card with the company logo and color scheme. Still, don’t get too fancy – intricate fonts and glaring colors can take away from your message, or worse, render your card illegible. Be sure your card is easy-to-read, easy on the eyes, and most of all, that your name and contact information are prominently featured.

Desktop business card holders

If making a good impression outside the office is important, why stop there? Display your business cards prominently in your office using desktop or countertop business card holders so visiting clients can take them. You can also use countertop business card holders at trade shows and conventions. Holders that display multiple business cards are also available to suit your needs, but the goal is always the same: contact information that is easily accessible to clients, customers, and colleagues.

You polish your shoes to make them look good and you polish antique silver to preserve its luster. The special attention you pay during polishing not only makes your belongings look great, but can also increase their life as well. The same thing goes for polishing your plastic products. Any plastic surfaces in and around your office can benefit from a treatment with a plastic polisher or cleaner. Polishing tools coat plastic products with a protective layer to resist wear and tear, repel dust, and eliminate static.

Once you decide what plastic products in your office could use a good polish, take these steps to get started:
1. Find a few plastic polishing and cleaning products
2. Review proper techniques for plastic product care
3. Decide upon a regular care schedule then follow it

Locate Quality Products

Finding the right product is important! There are many products designed to clean, but did you know there are also solutions for repairing scratches and adding sheen to your plastics? Using plastic covers and sleeves on a daily basis can cause a lot of wear and tear, but by caring for them with the following products, you can restore your plastics to a like-new shine:
• A plastic-specific cleaning product. This is the first step to clear up dirt or superficial marks.
• A repair/buffing solution. This will help fill in superficial scratches and dings on your plastics.
• A polishing solution. Polish as the last step to keep your plastics protected and static-free.
Taking the steps above will help preserve the life of your plastics. With routine care, one bottle of polishing solution could mean the difference between replacing your product and keeping it for another year.

Review proper polishing techniques

Techniques for cleaning and polishing are varied. Verify product-specific techniques by looking at product labels and instructions. Generally, however, using a 100% cotton cloth and applying the solution in small circles will achieve good results.

Follow regular maintenance care schedule

So you’ve cleaned your plastics and they are looking great. Fantastic. Now you have to keep up with the polishing and cleaning. Consider adding cleansing or polishing to your weekly cleaning routine to help you get into the habit. In the end, the time you spend on care and maintenance will mean less money spent on replacements. And isn’t that a good thing?

My sign pet peeves:

• Menus with food splatters on them

• Signs with important information that is illegible due to weather damage

• Posters with graffiti or other vandalism.
• Signs that are torn, blemished, bleached or otherwise compromised
That’s right, I have sign pet peeves - but stick with me here. Once you see how easily my pet peeves are resolved, you won’t be able to resist agreeing! A sign in ill repair makes me frustrated because you can’t get the necessary information from it. A poorly maintained sign is terribly unattractive. It can make your business appear unprofessional, and even worse, uncaring. If a business doesn’t even care enough to take care of its marketing materials, how must it treat its customers? There is an easy way to avoid your customers forming negative associations based on poorly kept signs: plastic sign holders. Yep, it’s as simple as that! Plastic sign holders are inexpensive, easily maintained, and perfect for any sort of business. From large corporations with numerous and varied needs to small neighborhood restaurants, a plastic sign holder can be effective and attractive.

Out to Eat

Have you ever had a restaurant hand you a plain paper printout as a menu? It’s interesting how uneasy an unprotected menu can make you feel! It sounds silly, but a plain paper menu can be, well…kind of gross. Who knows what sick child wiped its hands on your menu? What drinks have been spilled on it? I could get carried away (and nauseated) considering the adventures of the plain paper menu. A simple plastic holder, however, can do wonders for the customer’s peace of mind, as well as your bottom line. As far as the customer’s health is concerned, a simple daily wipe-down of the plastic sleeve is all it takes to keep them healthy and safe. As a restaurateur, you will save money. Plastic sign holders will protect menus and signs from any damage or spillage. In addition, they are easy to update when you change your specials and a breeze to wipe clean.

In the Office

Plastic sign holders are great for the office as well. Counter top space can be maximized by simply organizing your materials with sign holders. In addition, a plastic sign holder can keep your policies and general information in full view. Employees will benefit from well-placed posters and signs that are in plastic holders, too. Rotating information between sign locations can keep things fresh around the office and add some variety to your space. The ease of replacement of materials in your holders can allow you to keep your information up-to-date and relevant.
You take the time to market your business - both in your office and outside it. Don’t let your attention to detail stop at the actual materials. Take that extra step to protect what you have created. Your customers will appreciate not having ketchup on their menu, rain marks on your hours of operation, or tears through your phone number. Whatever your business, plastic sign covers will save you money –not to mention add an air of credibility and class to your business.