Headlines

Are You Doing This to Secure Repeat Customers?

Published

9 years ago

April 1, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Retail guru offers sage advice for keeping clients.

Writing for Forbes, retail expert Laura Heller shared 10 personal observations that she calls the “new truths of retail.” She emphasizes the importance of managing customer relationships, suggesting that retailers implement CRM (customer relationship management) programs if they haven’t already. Citing this study which found that returning online shoppers spend twice that of first-time customers, she says that “managing relationships both in person and through digital means directly impacts the bottom line.” That sounds sensible enough – the more you know about your customers, the more you can modify your offerings to keep them coming back.

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.