Seven fresh ideas to better your business

Break up the blahs with a dance session; more.

[componentheading]PET SMART[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Animal Lovers[/contentheading]

This is the time of year when it’s most important to have “splurchandise” – easy, impulse purchases – available near your cash-register, gift-wrap area. And there’s no better splurchandise than pet jewelry, such as the line from Silver Bones of Dallas, TX.

[componentheading]CHOC THERAPY[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Think Sweet Thoughts[/contentheading]So you don’t think your store is really suited for gourmet chocolates? Feel like you want something a little more relaxed and fun? Our suggestion: the new giant M&M’s, which will stimulate both the taste buds and the nostalgia buds of Boomer customers.

[componentheading]HOW ARE YOU DOING?[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Assess Yourself[/contentheading]

If you think you’re being productive and making progress, author and management guru Tom Peters suggests you ask yourself a question: “What have you done this year?” Answering that question succinctly puts the focus on your big achievements — or lack thereof — over the past year.

[componentheading]FAST TALKER[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Take This Test[/contentheading]

Get out a watch and read the following text from Valerie Gee, author of Super Service. Ready? Go: “There is no set rule for the rate of speaking of individuals. Some persons can speak at a rate of 190 words per minute and be clearly understood, while others must speak as slowly as 90 words per minute to achieve the same understanding. Most experts feel, however, that there is more to be gained by speaking slowly. They have decided that a rate of about 140 words per minute is a safe rate. The main disadvantage of speaking too fast is that you cannot be understood easily. Speaking too fast has other disadvantages. Your client may get the impression of being high-pressured into something. In addition, your client may get the impression that you are very rushed and concerned with time. To be really understood, we recommend that you speak slowly. One hundred forty! One forty!” Time’s up! How’d you do? Now, try to pace yourself so you finish it in a minute.

[componentheading]PUT IT ON ICE[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Know Who to Call[/contentheading]

Here’s something small you can do today that may save lives in the future. Ask your employees (and even your regular customers, if appropriate) to program ICE numbers into their mobile phones. ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”. Putting the “ICE” designation in front of a person’s name in a cell phone makes it easier to contact them immediately in the event of an emergency or disaster.

[componentheading]SPREAD THE WORD[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Get More Buzz[/contentheading]

If you’re sending holiday cards, here’s an approach from author and entrepreneurial expert Joe John Duran that will help inspire customers to spread the word about your business. On the card, write: “As you know, we grow this business primarily by word of mouth, so I want to give special thanks to our dear friends and customers who thought of us and sent us their friends and associates to help fill their jewelry needs. We could not grow without your help. Happy holidays!”

[componentheading]BREAK DANCING[/componentheading]

[contentheading]Start A New Ritual[/contentheading]

How can you provide a stress-busting break for your staff and entertainment for your customers at the same time? Have a daily dance ritual like the team at New Age Transportation, an Illinois-based shipping and logistics company. Every day at 3 p.m., a boom box is hauled out and the staff has a ten-minute dance break. While ten minutes is too long for a jewelry store, a three-minute song, especially one that’s catchy, upbeat and romantic, could help staff feel better and customers buy more. Not to mention becoming a crowd-drawing ritual.

[span class=note]This story is from the November 2005 edition of INSTORE[/span]