My Favorite Things in “Retail” Right Now

Favorite Products

PopATot Avtivity Center – This amazing product was created by a mom of five who searched high and low for something that would allow her to include her little ones in all the things they loved, which includes camping, outside activities, and travel… As well as having her own pair of hands to simply get things done at home while still keeping her little ones happy. The result? The creation of PopATot, an activity center built on a sturdy frame with a canvas body that can fold up and go with her anywhere! As a mom of a 6 month old, I can honestly say this is genuis. I only wish I had knew about it before I bought a big, bulky activity center that sits in the middle of my living room and can’t even get through our standard framed doors. PopATot is our new best friend, though, coming with us to friends houses, neighborhood get togethers, the doggy beach, and so much more. With it’s light weight and easy pack and go carrier, PopATot is a must have in any baby store and definitely in any baby’s home! At only $59.99 retail, this is something you don’t want to dismiss. To see for yourself, visit www.PopATot.com.

Flirt Buttons & More – Need a fun party favor? What about a different gift idea? Or maybe just because?

Fabric Covered Mirrors

Flirt Buttons offer a great assortment of “little” things to make every day fun. They offer monogrammed mirrors, adorable pendants, hair accessories, magnets, and more that are primarialy made with fabric covered details. With super affordable prices, these adorable trinkets are the perfect add on sale at retail, as well as offer an adorable customized approach for wedding showers, baby showers, and anything else custom. The designer, Sharon Britt from Georgia, sells her product on Etsy but also sells to retailers, attends craft fairs, and is open to customized requests. Check out her Etsy shop to learn more, www.flirtbuttons.etsy.com.

Rubber Stamps & More – If you are a small business owner like me, then Rubber Stamps.net is a great go to place for both buiness and personal products! Offering a wide assortment of stamps, address labels, and more, RubberStamps.net helps business owners by making their ”to do” list easier. They offer stamps that notify customers of invoices, late fees, deposit details, addresses, customer logos, and so much more. I have the Retail Minded logo in a rubber stamp that I simply press onto paper for a million different reasons and boom, I’m done. In addition, I use a rubber stamp for my return address that also serves as a notice to where to send payments to. It’s on my ”to do” list to order many more stamps to save me time while also making my work papers look more polished! To see how RubberStamps.net products can help make your busy day easier while also helping your professional outreach look great, too, check out www.RubberStamps.net 

Favorite Services

Owning an independent retail or wholesale business can be tough, not to mention pricey. There is always something to do and very rarely can you take a vacation from your business. Luckily, there are some great team players out there who can help your business by offering valuable services! While I also provide services designed to support independent retailers and wholesalers at Retail Minded, I love that others are offering great service for small business owners, as well. Below are a few of my favorites.

D’Luxe Press and Design – What do you get when you take two young moms in North Carolina with five kids between them, two hubbies, two houses, two pets, and a lot of love for all things baby? D’Luxe Press and Design! This fabulous PR support agency offers their services to those looking to launch their baby based products to the world. They have tons of online blogging experience, media connections, and dedication – making their unique support the perfect partner for those trying to get their baby products some press! You can learn more about their services by visiting www.dluxepressanddesign.com.

Pitch Press – I love what Pitch Press offers to their fashion clients – affordable press that even inlcudes a la carte options! Here I was thinking I was the only one doing a la carte, but it turns out they are, too, and doing it well at that!

Pitch Press

Pitch Press manages media and press placement for fashion clients, offering the opportunity to be placed in trade publications, online outlets, national magazines, and so much more. If you are in fashion and need unique and affordable support to help get your product or brand recognized, check out Pitch Press today! www.pitchpress.com

Favorite Resources

There are so many great options for independent retailers and wholesalers to lean on these days. Among my favorite right now are Twitter and Retailing Together.

Twitter - I would be genuinely surprised if you have not heard of Twitter yet. Even celeberties are tweeting these days in between their already jammed pack papparzazzi schedule. But for the rest of the world, tweeting offers an amazing conncetion between businesses by allowing people, their products, and their services a way to get to know each other. While I can see how it can take up time,  Twitter doesn’t need to be a waste of time. That said, if you just play on it all day, it could easily distract you from getting your  real work done. But using it to connect to new customers, learn new things, and promote your business IS work, afterall. Take the time to learn what all the buzz is about to see if Twitter may work for you! Personally, I prefer it over Facebook and itch to get my Twitter time in each day! www.twitter.com

Retailing Together – Like Retail Minded, Retailing Together supports the independent retailer through a blog as well as a soon to launch retail technology. The website provides support to retailers by educating them on the current marketplace while also offering them links to a variety of resoures. The founder, Eric Busboom, takes a dedicated approach to understanding what is happening within retail and shares his insight with his readers and introduces guest contributors, as well, on a frequent basis. Check out www.retailingtogether.com to see how it may be a great resource for your business needs!

We would love to hear what your favorite  things are! Please comment directly to this blog and let us know!

In The Spotlight – Featured Retailer and Wholesaler

Retail Minded is dedicated to linking retailers and wholesalers together! Check out this week’s featured online retailer, Milos Creations, and wholesaler, Swami Baby and Swami Wear.

 MILOS CREATIONS, www.miloscreations.com, is a unique online retailer that believes everyday is a day for dress up -  it doesn’t need to be Halloween to play make believe in Milos world! With their fun assortment of dress up clothes for boys, girls and adults, Milos Creations offers kids and adults the opportunity to engage in imaginative games by experiencing first hand the look of someone other than themselves. You can be a princess, astronaut, chef, cowgirl, or just about anything else you or your little one’s heart desires. In addition to a vast assortment of dress up clothes, there are fun accessories and toys that are a bit unexpected – such as lunchboxes, puzzles, baby slings, t-shirts and more. My favorite part of this site is that it truly promotes creative play for children that engages their imagination… And considering we live in a world surrounded by videogames and television, Milos Creations offers a wonderful alternative for good old fashioned children’s play! Learn more about Milos Creations by viewing their entire IN THE SPOTLIGHT, which includes an interview with their founder Cherly Vicory. http://retailminded.com/blog/?page_id=394

Our featured wholesaler is Swami Baby and Swami Wear. Founded in June 2007, Swami Baby Boutique provides a breathe of fresh air to those shopping for babies. Founder Katie Holley created Swami Baby with a very calming and peaceful message attached to it – which is that children provide kindness and wisdom and therefore the messages attached to Swami Baby should do the same. One of Holley’s first designs said “Just Breathe, Mom”. Currently this remains one of her best sellers, understandably so. After success in Swami Baby, Swami Wear was born, which offers adults, children and babies comfortable yoga inspired peices that include t-shirts, pants, and onsies. In addition, there is a “think green” line that supports the ever growing and always important green market in retail. To learn more, please view their complete profile at http://retailminded.com/blog/?page_id=168.

Introducing Our Featured Boutique Section & SHE Boutique

Retail Minded is dedicated to linking independent  retailers and wholesale professionals together as well as providing educational support to both sides of the retail industry. One of the ways we are doing this is through a new section in our IN THE SPOTLIGHT section where we feature online stores. The feature includes a brief review by Retail Minded as well as has questions and answers provided by the store. It is our hope that other stores as well as wholesalers can learn from this feature in addition to being introduced to each other for potential business.

Keep an eye out for a more detailed section of wholesalers and designers IN THE SPOTLIGHT!

I am excited to introduce to you our first featured online store, SHE Boutique at www.shopsheboutique.com.

Offering fashion savvy women styles from around the world, SHE Boutique is a must stop shop for those who consider themselves in the know with fashion. Fashions are up to date and even ahead of what is in style, providing customers a great assortment of casual and dress wear. Their online boutique offers customers the opportunity to shop by designer or by category, making it easy to navigate and find what you need or what you simply must have. With apparel, accessories, handbags, swimwear and more available, those in the know of fashion need to know about this site!

SHE boutique has a storefront location in Highland Park, IL, as well as has an online store at www.shopsheboutique.com.

SHE Boutique's Store Front Location in Highland Park, IL

All answers provided have been answered directly by SHE boutique.

When did you first begin your business?

The first SHE Boutique was opened in Lincoln Park in June of 2007.

What inspired you to begin your business?

Proprietor Nicolette Prpa and original Buyer Lindsey Madigan are the faces behind this fashion mecca. Having met in Arizona in 2006, the pair combined their savvy business skills and their passion for fashion to bring their West coast flair and cosmopolitan taste to the city of Chicago in May of 2007.  The goal was to create a high-end “dream closet” for her customers, dressing them for a night on the town, or a casual movie night.  In fact, SHE is actually an acronym for She Has Everything. SHE strives to bring the ultimate shopping experience to each customer, so don’t be surprised if we remember your name!

How do you currently market your store? Please include all marketing initiatives you take to promote your business.

The grand opening of the original SHE location also marked the launch of a Marc Baptiste photo collection, and our Highland Park opening just nine months later was hosted by radio station 101.9 THE MIX.  SHE has orchestrated numerous fashion shows at various Chicago locales such as The Underground and Madame Tartine, and has also articipated in Fashion Tea at the Peninsula Hotel a number of times. The past two years, SHE has teamed up with GenArt and hosted two fashion shows highlighting new trends and merchandise. In June 2008, the Daily Candy hosted an event in honor of our one year anniversary, and July 2008 marked the official launch of the online webstore www.shopSHEboutique.com.  In January 2009, SHE Boutique’s Lincoln Park location hosted an event called The Influencer List, celebrating Chicago style and 4 of Chicago’s fashion influentials. We have been featured in several magazine publications. We currently have a page dedicated to some of SHE’s Spring arrivals in the February edition of People StyleWatch.

Who is your target market of consumers?

We strive to be the ultimate destination for savoir-fare fashion fans, catering mostly to the fashion forward consumer looking for a combination of sophistication and glamour through this-season trends mixed with classic pieces.  Our market consists of a wide age range, from young club-goers to established professionals to everyday fashion conscious women.

What kind of products do you primarily sell? This is not brands but just categories of products.

Dresses, Pants (ranging from denim to trousers), Tops, Handbags, Outerwear, Jewelry, Eyeware, Lingerie and Intimates, Swimwear, and Shoes (ranging from ballet flats and heels to knee high boots).

What are your top 5 brands that you sell? What are your top 5 products sold?

There are a number of designers which we always carry, but we cycle through many designers and each season has a quite variation – it’s difficult to say what our top brands have been overall.

The top 5 brands we’ve carried/sold most are: What Comes Around Goes Around, Obakki, Smythe, Black Halo, and Ya-Ya.

Our top 5 products sold are/have been: SWORD leather jackets, Ksubi jeans, Bloch London ballet flats, KAIN by Amanda Kain tops, and Rory Beca silk tunics.

Who do you consider your direct competition to be?

In terms of web competition, the web stores with similar level designers catering to a similar market are those such as shopbop.com and bluefly.com.  For storefront competition, we considered retailers such as Intermix and CUSP to be our competitors, yet with the closure of our city location, we face less competition in our suburban location.

How do you find new products to bring into your store?

Owner Nicolette Prpa visits tradeshows, designer showrooms, and fashion weeks in places such as Paris, New York, LA, Las Vegas, and Canada.  We keep an eye out for less-known, new and rising designers and brands. We also will feature local designers, often for a limited time only.

What trade shows do you attend, if any?

We visit ENK Coiterie, Designers and Agents, Rendesvous (in Paris), Intermezzo, Tranoi,

What is your biggest challenge as a retail store owner / manager right now?

Currently our biggest challenge is getting customers in the door to shop, with the economic crisis we’re going through, people are tightening their budgets and leaving their wallets at home all too

Ways To Market Your Independent Retail Business

Unlike sales, marketing can’t be measured quantitatively. Because of this, independent retail and wholesale business owners often ignore the impact marketing can have on their businesses. The reality is, however, that customers won’t buy from you, not to mention even know you exist, unless you successfully market yourself. In today’s world, this takes more than just attending local of Chamber of Commerce meetings and telling friends to tell their friends about your store or product. It takes time. It takes strategy. It takes effort.

Below is a list of some ways to consider marketing your business. Make sure to evaluate how each of these marketing steps will benefit your individual business, but be careful not to overlook any simply because you are unfamiliar with it or find it easier to do something else. To be successful at marketing you will sometimes need to step out of your comfort zone. In addition, make sure to find a balance of marketing strategies in an effort to find the right marketing mix for your business.

Advertising – If you have the finances to pay for exposure of your store or product, then advertising should be considered as part of your marketing mix. Consider where you advertise, though, and who the audience is that will most likely see your ad. Make sure it’s the same audience that may want to shop your store or buy your product.

Website – If you don’t have one, get one. Plain and simple, having an online presence is essential in marketing your services. Customers today use the internet to research their purchases as well as plan their shopping destinations. Even if you don’t plan to sell online, you should still have a website that outlines what your business offers. Consider including photos, testimonials, directions, how to purchase details, press details, and any other information that may be relevant.

Trade Shows – Either as an attendee or an exhibitor, trade shows are a great way to market your business. They provide insight regarding both customers and competition, as well as offer a great excuse to make friends in your industry since they are very interactive. The cost of trade shows will vary so make sure to research all your options and determine which shows are best for you business.  The largest retail based trade show is MAGIC, which takes place in Las Vegas twice a year and offers apparel, footwear, and accessories for men and women. You can also attend regional trade shows, as well it is a good idea to attend both national and regional shows if possible.

Internet Media – Gaining customers through an online presence is more influential than ever before. Sites such as Twitter, Facebook, My Space, and Linked In are great online spots to gain awareness for your business. You need to understand each of these sites in order for them to work for you, though, so take the time to research how each of them can impact your specific business. Some involve more time than others, such as Twitter which is very interactive, while others, such as Linked In, can be effective by simply having a profile created. That said, updating each of these sites with news about your business, such as sales or newly arrived product, is the only way to continually create a buzz about your business. I often suggest to my clients that interns or part time associates can help dedicate time to these sites if they don’t want to – this is better than being dismissed entirely. If you use the these sites effectively will increase your website presence and ultimately your sales.

To help get you started, below is a link to PC Mag’s website that outlines how Twitter works for beginners. I personally use Twitter and find that this gives me the most professional return of any of the internet media sites, however each business and each site will work differently for everyone.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341095,00.asp

Blogs - Whether you have a blog or comment on blogs, make sure to be a part of blogs! Blogging is quickly becoming one of the top ways for businesses to showcase their value. It takes time to dedicate yourself to building a blog that readers will want to read again and again, so before you dive into this make sure it’s right for you. If blogging isn’t your thing, consider commenting on other people’s blogs.  When commenting on blogs, make sure to reference your business, which will ultimately link people back to your site.

Networking – Whether you live in an urban city or a suburban neighborhood or a small town, networking is key to putting your business on your local map. Make sure you are a part of your local Chamber of Commerce as well as other networking groups. There are groups for small business owners, women business owners, specific to your trade, and more. Research what is available in your area and get involved. Once you are a part of the group, let your voice be heard and participate. Don’t just show up for the meetings but actually be a part of the meetings and events. This is how people will respond to you and ultimately your business.

There are many ways to market small businesses, however these are some basic and easy to obtain strategies that can help launch your business to make a name for itself. If you have other ideas that have been successful for you, we’ love to hear from you! Please consider leaving a comment on our blog. Thank you!

Is Your Copywriting Hurting You or Helping You?

Copywriting can be a tricky thing. Some of you may not think twice about it while others of you probably dread having to do it. And yet some of you may have hired a pro to take the stress off your plate and let someone else handle the copy details. Whether you run a store, an online boutique, or are a designer communicating to retailers and the press, it’s important that your copywriting communicates who you are, what you do, and why people need your products or need to shop at your boutique.

Often overlooked, copywriting needs to be put at the top of your to-do list! The words you choose to use to sell your product, service, or business can literally make or break a sale. Take the time to make the words you choose count by getting your customers or potential customers excited and engaged rather than bored and checked out. Great copywriting can sell something that no one really needs, while lousy copywriting can steer a customer away from something they may want. A few things you should consider include:

1. Be concise and clear in your copywriting. Avoid unnecessary details but make sure not to leave important details out. For example, don’t forget to include the materials that a garment is made out of on your website or necessary care instructions for jewelry. Be precise about this, though. No need to write these details out in a paragraph.

2. Be creative with your choice of words but don’t confuse your reader. Example, if you are trying to explain a plain cotton t-shirt, rather than say “as soft as a cushion” you could say “as cozy as your bedsheets”. Bedsheets and t-shirts make a better comparison since both are flat and are traditionally thought of as cozy and comfortable. A cushion, on the other hand,  doesn’t give a great visual image for your reader to image the t-shirt as.

3. Don’t be scared to hire a pro. If you aren’t a talented writer, consider investing in someone who is. Rather than just putting the words down to get the copy done, do it right by having someone who can entice your reader and keep them engaged through their copywriting. This doesn’t need to break your bank. You can find talented copywriters at reasonable prices.

4. Tell your customers a bit about who you are. A personal connection is always nice, but make sure you stay focused on the business side of who you are – not who you are on Friday nights out with your friends! Are you a designer? If so, tell them about yourself, but leave out where you went to high school, your favorite band, and why you love Grey’s Anatomy. Instead, tell them what inspired you to design, how you stay inspired, why you love what you do, and anything else that pertains to the designs you offer. Are you a boutique? Tell your customers about the pleasure you take in shopping for your store! Let them know you are always on your mind and that you welcome feedback.

5. Check your grammar and spelling! Yes, I know, no one is perfect. But a lower cased “i” when it should be capitalized? I see simple mistakes like this all the time and it is discouraging as a customer to want to shop somewhere that doesn’t even take the time to review their own copy. Proofread! Better yet, have someone else proofread your work so that they catch the mistakes you may not realize are mistakes. Plus, this provides you with feedback on how your copy is delivered.

Whether you are developing a postcard, working on your website copy, or need to communicate to your customers in a letter, make your copywriting work for you rather than hurt you. Take the time to make it count and if writing isn’t your thing, find someone to do it that is. It will make a difference!

These are just a few points to get you started in your copy considerations. I’d love to hear from you regarding what you think, as well! Share with us a comment and let’s see what other great ideas are out there to help retailers and wholesalers in their copywriting plans.

More Than Just Etsy – Introducing Artfire.com

It’s no secret that retail is competitive. Whether you are walking through a mall or walking down a street full of stores,  you have many choices as to where to shop, what to buy, and why you may want one thing versus another. So in keeping up with retail competition, Artfire.com is giving Etsy.com something to think about.  Fans of handmade crafts of all kinds can now shop Artfire.com for the same types of handmade goodies they can find on Etsy.com. The catch is they support the artists selling their products online in different ways than Etsy, as well as offer both artists and shoppers the opportunity to social network through blogging and online chatting communities catered to specific artists and shoppers requests.

Sellers

As a seller on Artfire.com, you are supported with the tools you need to sell online, however unlike Etsy, there are no commissions paid out when you sell something. The catch – You must be a member to sell on Artfire, and the subscription to maintain this membership is $20 a month. However, with no commissions and the opportunity for a ton of sales, this is an incredible deal. To sweeten this deal, Artfire is now offering a select number of membership subscriptions for $7 a month for life! If you are even considering joining Artfire.com, I’d sign up while that deal is still available. In addition, their marketing plans are pretty aggressive, though they have not dove deep into all of them yet. A recent interview by Rose Works Jewelry designer Ruthie found out that Artfire.com has a few things up their sleeves to help promote Artfire in the near future. You can learn more by reading the interview of founder John Jacobs for yourself at http://roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com/2009/01/artfire-interview-with-john-jacobs.html

To help you also understand the perks of selling your handmade goods on Artfire.com, check out their easy to understand checklist of the benefits they offer. They even compare their services to Etsy, allowing you to fully understand the competition. How great is that? See for yourself and make your own decision by visiting http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Sell

Buyers

As a buyer of Artfire.com crafts and more, you can be assured that your  money is going straight to the artist themselve, therefore supporitng handmade goods entirely. No corporations, not even Artfire, benefit from the purchases you make. If you are anything like me, you can certainly appreciate the value in this since the artists selling their goods are the ones who deserve the full return on their product. In addition, you have a variety of choices in your shopping direction to help you navigate how you want to shop. There are many categories divided into three sectors. These sectors are Handmade & Fine Art, Design & Media, and Supplies & Vintage. After shopping myself for quite some time, I found more than I could have imagined! There really is a ton of great things for sale, and this is only the beginnig. As Artfire.com grows, so will their choice of options for online shoppers. They plan to have a “sale” section, “local community” section, “featured shops” and more. Make sure to check back onto Artfire.com reguarly to see how it evolves into a great online store for handmade goodies. Take a peak today by visiting http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Buy

Still Deciding My Favorite

While I can’t say I love Artifre.com yet as much as Etsy.com, I can tell you that I am checking out both reguarly and will continue to shop both sites. My gut tells me that Artfire is going to definitely shake things up a bit at Etsy, offering artists a great alternative to be competitive with how they sell and where they sell. While I am sure this may have Etsy shaking in their boots a bit, I personally think competition is healthy and it will hopefully make both sites the best they can be. I’d love to hear what you think, though!

Talk to Me

Whether a buyer or seller, I want to know what you think of Artfire.com. Email me at nicole@retailminded.com with your thoughts. In addition, I’d love to hear about any other online sites that you either sell your product or shop for product from handmade designers. I have also been checking our www.Crobbies.com and www.Bonanzle.com lately and will update you soon with what I find out about these sites, as well.

Thanks in advance! I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Loving Etsy

If  you haven’t heard of Etsy yet, it’s possible you are living in a different world.

Etsy is an online market place that sells handmade items as well as crafting supplies and some vintage goodies.  Their mission is to provide an outlet for designers, crafters, and anyone else to make a living by selling the things they make. How genius is that? If you are lucky enough to live in Brooklyn, New York, then you can visit Etsy on Monday evenings for their crafting class.  Yet for most of us, Etsy online will have to do. Luckily, their online site is loaded with great things for both buyers and sellers.

If you are a wholesaler, whether you are a designer, crafter, or supplier, Etsy is a great place to showcase your product. They make it easy for you to open an online “shop”, and the press they get is amazing so you can feel confident about the traffic you will get for your site. While there are minimal costs involved once you start selling your goods, getting started is free. And the comfort factor is huge since the steps to build your online shop are super simple that even those who are online shy can figure Etsy out.

If you are a retailer, particuarly a boutique style store, Etsy is a great place to purchase product for your boutique. There are a variety of categories in which you can choose from, including jewelry, stationary, hats, apparel, children’s toys, art, wedding goods, and so much more. In addition, you can even shop local, which will provide you will sellers from your own area. The connections made through Etsy are endless, with new sellers opening up online shops everyday.

If you are looking to just get your toes wet without diving in full force to the world of retail, Etsy is a great place to start. Even if you are already in the pool of retail, Etsy can be a valuable resource both as a retailer and wholesaler. To learn more, check out Etsy for yourself at www.etsy.com.

Overdosing on Email Campaigns

Are you obsessed with sending out mass emails to your customer list or subscriber list? If you are, you aren’t alone. If you aren’t, thank you.

Using email as a tool for marketing is a great way to communicate with your customer base. Commonly referred to as email blasts, which are emails sent to a large group of people, customers and subscribers of websites and businesses today are often bombarded with an overload of emails. Email blasts are being sent from every direction to consumers today – for advertising, customer feedback, events, special announcements, and more. Small business owners tend to love email blasts because it is a cheap yet often effective way to communicate what is going on with their business. However, too many retailers and wholesalers are abusing this luxury by overdosing their use of email blasts.

Here are a few things to consider next time you plan to send an email marketing campaign out to your email list.

1. Why are you sending out an email?
2. what is the purpose of the message in the email?
3. When was the last time you sent out an email blast?
4. When do you plan to send out an email blast again?
5. Is the email you plan to create going to excite your audience? How?

These five simple questions can help keep you in check with why your email blast is worth sending out or not. By answering these questions, you are able to really evaluate how you are using emails to communicate with your audience. Remember to always consider when the last time and the next time you think you will send an email out because if you are doing it too often, your audience may not take your emails very seriously. Just ask yourself the last time you deleted an email without opening it because you knew there was nothing of value in it for you. Or was there? Unfortunately, if you overdose on your email privleges, your audience may not take your emails seriously and begin deleting them without ever reading them.

It’s impossible for me to tell you exactly how often is too much or too little for you to use emails as part of your marketing strategy, however I would definitely recommend no more than once a week and ideally no more than twice a month. These details should ultimately be a reflection of what is going on with your business at any particular time, though. It’s always a good idea to get customer feedback on any marketing approach, so in your next email blast you may want to ask your audience how often they’d like to get emails from you. This is a great opportunity to gain other insightful information, as well, such as what products they love or hated in 2009, what is motivating them to shop, and more.

Please note that email blasts can often be used for blogs, which allow the subsribers to know there is an updated post. When you receive an email that lets you know there is an updated post, there is a quick and simple purpose to this email that seperates this from the email blasts I was referring to above. Email campaigns are used to highlight details that are not part of your normal outreach. For bloggers, normal outreach would be emails notifying your subscribers of new posts. So if this is something you do, your subscribers should be comfortable with the amount of emails they get as a direct connection to the blogs you are posting.

Remember that each business is unique in itself, therefore your email marketing strategies must be unique, as well. Use the ideas mentioned above as support in your own marketing initiatives to help make your individual retail or wholesale business as successful as it can be.

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