Tip Sheet: November 2004

Published

19 years ago

November 1, 2004

Instore presents four ideas for better business

[componentheading]PERSONA GIFT CERTIFICATES[/componentheading]

Looking for gift certificates for your staff? Try Giftcertificates.com, which offers gift certificates directly from several hundred of the biggest names in travel, electronics and other desirable categories. Or order the website’s “Super Certificate”, which will let the person you’ve “gifted” (man, we hate that word) redeem their gift from any of the suppliers listed on the site.

Source: Instore

[componentheading]WATCH YOUR DIAMOND-SHOWING ROUTINE[/componentheading]

In this issue, we talk about one of the worst habits of lazy salespeople — lopping 10% off an item’s price the instant your customer raises an objection (See Page 40). Here’s another: instantly pulling out the cert whenever you show a diamond. Rid yourself of this romance-killing habit. Promise yourself that for the next one month you won’t bring out a cert when showing a diamond. Wait until the deal is done.

Source: Instore

[componentheading]USE YOUR PARKING LOT[/componentheading]

Here’s a different idea for those of you who have your own parking lot. Why not mark the different rows in your lot with signs featuring names and pictures of the different brand names you carry? Imagine a six-year-old saying, “No, Mommy, we didn’t park in Jose Hess, we parked in David Yurman.” Great branding. (Alternatively, you can put advertisements of your specials in each space.)

Source: Faith Popcorn, Eve-o-lution

[componentheading]SAY MORE WITH NOTES[/componentheading]

If you’re sending holiday cards this year, do not send a greeting with nothing but your signature. Frankly, sending nothing works better. Instead, write a short note — how about “Thinking about one of my favorite customers as the holidays approach …” or even “Happy, happy holidays to you”?

Source: Harry Beckwith, What Clients Love

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

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”