Tip Sheet: June 2004

Published

21 years ago

June 1, 2004

Instore presents ideas for better business

[componentheading]MAKE AN EYE APPOINTMENT[/componentheading]

Here’s a great place to do a talent search for a new salesperson: your local optician’s office. Opticians deal with many of the same issues that jewelers do: 1.) finding merchandise that flatters the wearer; 2.) keeping up with fashion trends; and 3.) helping customers try on a large variety of items. They’re also comfortable with highly-specialized work that requires ongoing training.

Source: Janice Mack Talcott

[componentheading]USE THE WEB FOR MORE[/componentheading]

Doing television ads? Rip a page out of the American Express playbook and send people to your website to see expanded versions of your commercials. No, they won’t probably won’t be as funny (or as expensive) as the Seinfeld-Superman web movies, but that’s OK. For instance, if you use a happy couple in your TV ads, tell viewers that they should visit your website to see other “happy couple” video testimonials.

Source: Instore

[componentheading]DON’T STRESS THE COMPETITORS[/componentheading]

Great quote for you small, but bold, “Purple Cows” out there from philosopher-poet Mark Twain: “The best swordsman in the world doesn’t need to fear the second-best swordsman in the world. No, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before; he doesn’t do the thing he ought to do. He does the thing he ought not to do, and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot.”

Source: Tom Peters, Re-Imagine!

[componentheading]GET IN THE KNOW[/componentheading]

Something got you stumped? Visit our website at Instoremag.com, and go to the editorial section. From the editorial home page, search for any term you want (e.g. “commissions”) and you’ll see a complete list of stories containing the term. We’ve got the past three years of our magazine archived online. It’s a great place to benefit from the accumulated wisdom of Instore’s wide-ranging crew of expert advisors.

Source: Instore

[span class=note]This story is from the June 2004 edition of INSTORE[/span]

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."