Comments on: #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/ News, Education & Support For Boutique Businesses Wed, 16 May 2012 03:29:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nicole Reyhle http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-13624 Nicole Reyhle Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:34:36 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-13624 It sounds like you have done a great job already - congrats! I would suggest focusing on local advertising with a concentration in niche markets with your target market in mind. From what you have written, it seems you know who he/she is. From here, find out where else they shop and see if you have advertising opportunities there. Marketing vs. advertising may be your best bet, as well. Local organizations, chambers and cross promotions between businesses can all help support you in gaining new customers. It sounds like you have done a great job already – congrats! I would suggest focusing on local advertising with a concentration in niche markets with your target market in mind. From what you have written, it seems you know who he/she is. From here, find out where else they shop and see if you have advertising opportunities there. Marketing vs. advertising may be your best bet, as well. Local organizations, chambers and cross promotions between businesses can all help support you in gaining new customers.

]]> By: Toy Store Owner http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-13622 Toy Store Owner Sun, 26 Dec 2010 16:19:35 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-13622 We have a small specialty toy store on the main drag through town. We have had very little cash flow to advertise, so we have relied on cross-promotions with other businesses and some Facebook ads to increase our customer base--but mostly it's word-of-mouth that is working for us. We had a good Christmas shopping season, nearly doubling our opening month of December 2009, despite none of the press fanfare or last year, increased competition from the new Sears "toy store" department, a specialty toy store that put out a catalog and a pop-up toy store all in the same mall less than five miles away. So we feel we are on the right track. We have always looked at it this way: What consumers are we trying to attract? While people standing outside Walmart at 3:00 AM make TV news, they are not a majority of consumers, and they are not the customers we are trying to attract to our store. We focus on unique toys, games and puzzles that are NOT even carried by Big Box retailers. The market penetration we need is very small to be successful. We are not looking for everyone, so fishing with a wide net is not the answer. We need to double again over the next couple of years to reach our profitability goals. Advertising is a puzzle to us. It is very expensive (even on Facebook) and every advertising dollar must pay for itself and then some for it to be worthwhile. What kind of advertising is most effective for the consumers we want to reach? We have a small specialty toy store on the main drag through town. We have had very little cash flow to advertise, so we have relied on cross-promotions with other businesses and some Facebook ads to increase our customer base–but mostly it’s word-of-mouth that is working for us.

We had a good Christmas shopping season, nearly doubling our opening month of December 2009, despite none of the press fanfare or last year, increased competition from the new Sears “toy store” department, a specialty toy store that put out a catalog and a pop-up toy store all in the same mall less than five miles away. So we feel we are on the right track.

We have always looked at it this way: What consumers are we trying to attract?

While people standing outside Walmart at 3:00 AM make TV news, they are not a majority of consumers, and they are not the customers we are trying to attract to our store. We focus on unique toys, games and puzzles that are NOT even carried by Big Box retailers. The market penetration we need is very small to be successful. We are not looking for everyone, so fishing with a wide net is not the answer.

We need to double again over the next couple of years to reach our profitability goals. Advertising is a puzzle to us. It is very expensive (even on Facebook) and every advertising dollar must pay for itself and then some for it to be worthwhile.

What kind of advertising is most effective for the consumers we want to reach?

]]> By: Mommas Review: Retail Minded Blog / funkEpunkEmonkE http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-108 Mommas Review: Retail Minded Blog / funkEpunkEmonkE Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:26:36 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-108 [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...] [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...]

]]> By: Retail Minded Blog « Momma’s Review - Products, Places, and Things http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-30 Retail Minded Blog « Momma’s Review - Products, Places, and Things Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:04:00 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-30 [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...] [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...]

]]> By: Retail Minded Blog « Momma’s Review - Products, Places, and Things http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-31 Retail Minded Blog « Momma’s Review - Products, Places, and Things Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:04:00 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-31 [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...] [...] favorite post is #1 Thing To Do To Compete Against Big Box Retailers. It is obvious that her ideas and methods work when her advice is to be personable and make [...]

]]> By: Nicole Reyhle http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-16 Nicole Reyhle Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:44:17 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-16 While I do believe there are shoppers who are only shopping to save money and will continue to shop at the places that will give them the best deal, my site is dedicated to small business owners such as boutique stores and independent shops. They cannot compete with Walmart when it comes to the numbers, so what they offer customers is different than what big box retailers are offering customers, such as Walmart. For independent retail business owners, I definitely believe customer service will help keep them alive or even advance them in their sales if they deliver it the best they can as well as better than their direct competition. It's tough, though. But they aren't looking to out sell Walmart but rather they are looking to out sell the boutique in the next town over who sells the same products they do. Finally, I am not telling anyone what to do but rather offering my opinion based on my professional experience. Each retailer should ultimately do what they believe is best for their business. While I do believe there are shoppers who are only shopping to save money and will continue to shop at the places that will give them the best deal, my site is dedicated to small business owners such as boutique stores and independent shops. They cannot compete with Walmart when it comes to the numbers, so what they offer customers is different than what big box retailers are offering customers, such as Walmart. For independent retail business owners, I definitely believe customer service will help keep them alive or even advance them in their sales if they deliver it the best they can as well as better than their direct competition. It’s tough, though. But they aren’t looking to out sell Walmart but rather they are looking to out sell the boutique in the next town over who sells the same products they do.

Finally, I am not telling anyone what to do but rather offering my opinion based on my professional experience. Each retailer should ultimately do what they believe is best for their business.

]]> By: Marketing Expert http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-15 Marketing Expert Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:37:57 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-15 I disagree with your tips. Especially in this recession. No one cares about what service they get. Is all about how much they will save in times like this, period. Example: Wall-Mart. Every year on black Friday shopper get up at 3am to wait 2-3 hours in a line waiting patiently until Wall-Mart open's it's doors to save 30% on selected items only. Now, there's no Beverages, Special Treatments, smiley faces, clowns, or any type of catering service on behalf of Wall-Mart. As a matter of fact, there's plenty of fights, arguments and people being rude to each other. What does Wall-Mart do as a service? They have 6-11 police officers on premises ready to arrest customers. I'm sorry but I strongly disagree with you. I showed you my prof of my argument now where's yours? Do you have any prof of any business charging more for the same product and getting more clientele due to customer service only? I would love to hear this one. Teach me all mighty one :) Look, the truth is you do not have the experience or are fit to write anything on this topic. You are an entrepreneur. You have no clue on what you're saying. Although my post might sound painfully harsh, it was in no way to bash, to be rude or embarrass you in anyway. This is just a constructive criticism. Good luck my friend :) I disagree with your tips. Especially in this recession. No one cares about what service they get. Is all about how much they will save in times like this, period.

Example: Wall-Mart. Every year on black Friday shopper get up at 3am to wait 2-3 hours in a line waiting patiently until Wall-Mart open’s it’s doors to save 30% on selected items only. Now, there’s no Beverages, Special Treatments, smiley faces, clowns, or any type of catering service on behalf of Wall-Mart. As a matter of fact, there’s plenty of fights, arguments and people being rude to each other.

What does Wall-Mart do as a service? They have 6-11 police officers on premises ready to arrest customers.

I’m sorry but I strongly disagree with you. I showed you my prof of my argument now where’s yours? Do you have any prof of any business charging more for the same product and getting more clientele due to customer service only? I would love to hear this one. Teach me all mighty one :)

Look, the truth is you do not have the experience or are fit to write anything on this topic. You are an entrepreneur. You have no clue on what you’re saying.

Although my post might sound painfully harsh, it was in no way to bash, to be rude or embarrass you in anyway. This is just a constructive criticism.

Good luck my friend :)

]]> By: Nicole Reyhle http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-8 Nicole Reyhle Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:56:27 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-8 Making sure your employees are well trained in how you want your customer service to be delivered in your store is essential. I suggest new hire trainings as well as all store employee trainings / updates either every quarter or as needed. This is also a great opportunity to encourage employee morale and offer some fun time as a team. Stay tuned for a future blog on employee trainings! Making sure your employees are well trained in how you want your customer service to be delivered in your store is essential. I suggest new hire trainings as well as all store employee trainings / updates either every quarter or as needed. This is also a great opportunity to encourage employee morale and offer some fun time as a team. Stay tuned for a future blog on employee trainings!

]]> By: Katie Kuertich http://retailminded.com/blog/1-thing-to-do-to-compete-against-big-box-retailers/#comment-7 Katie Kuertich Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:20:52 +0000 http://retailminded.com/?p=2901#comment-7 I think employees are a big part of customer service, too. Can you give some suggestions on how to motivate store associates? I love my business and feel like my customer service is great, but when I am not in the store, how can I be sure my employees are working their best, too? Thank Retail Minded. I think employees are a big part of customer service, too. Can you give some suggestions on how to motivate store associates? I love my business and feel like my customer service is great, but when I am not in the store, how can I be sure my employees are working their best, too? Thank Retail Minded.

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