Sales Truths: Encourage Idea Sharing … and Then Act

Published

10 years ago

March 17, 2015

Dave Richardson

WHY IT IS TRUE: No one who works in a store does so without developing personal thoughts and ideas about how the business might be improved. These ideas may be significant, simple, or even impossible. The bottom line is … the ideas are there, and many times go completely unnoticed.

PLAN OF ACTION: Encourage your staff to share their ideas regardless of how outlandish they may seem. It’s one thing to say it, it is another to act upon it. Tell your people, for example, that on next Thursday night after close we are all going to dinner to talk about ideas for maximizing impact in our community with our customers. Challenge them to come to this event with ideas, any ideas regardless of how outlandish they may appear. Get the juices flowing and your staff members will begin sharing new thoughts and ideas with you on a regular basis. Remember this is not just “your store,” it is also “their store.” — David Richardson

This article originally appeared in the April 2015 edition of INSTORE.

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."