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By The Numbers: December Not Quite as Bad

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By The Numbers: December Not Quite as Bad

THE BAD NEWS: December’s numbers were dismal. The good news? The percentage drop was less than in November. Interestingly, the average store sold 48 more items in December compared with the same month in 2007. However they reduced their average retail value by such a degree ($99, or 28 percent) that gross profit was slammed. Such a strategy is not sustainable. You have to get back to selling at full price. That could mean eliminating some vendors and focusing on serving your best customers by doing things such as throwing invitation-only private events. Cutting costs will also boost your margin.

By The Numbers: December Not Quite as Bad

This story is from the March 2009 edition of INSTORE.

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