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Retail sales

Five Ways To Increase Retail Sales Without Being A Marketing Guru!

Isn’t it amazing, “how” much continuous effort and money, your average, local  retailer will invest in the cosmetic side of their business, but virtually ignore and or  neglect altogether, the actual mechanics of systematically growing their business.

Case in point: tons of extremely dedicated entrepreneurs, will try and  increase retail sales by investing in bright company T shirts for their team. Or they  will create beautiful looking multi color brochures.(Gotta have those!)

Or they’ll go the extra mile  and a half when it comes to color coordinating the  inside of their stores.All of which is great BTW!

But my friend, rest assured, once a potential customer/client takes the time to  physically visit your bright,well lit store.

It’s what happens between the time they  decide to buy something and what happens after they do, that is going to have a  far more lasting impact, on whether or not, in five short years or less, your business  is part of the 88% that (for any number of reasons) simply doesn’t make it!

Or part of the remaining 12% that does!It cost (on average) an outrageous fortune just to capture and or generate that all important, very first customer and or client, using traditional means.

In which case, you may not even break even on your very sale or two!(Believe it or not!) That’s “why” it’s simply imperative, that you not just work in your business, but on growing it as well!

The following five incredibly simple, (yet) battlefield tested marketing strategies, will definitely help you do so!

So How Do You Increase Sales Without Being A Marketing Guru?

First and foremost, don’t ever forget this; right now another profit seeking entrepreneur is already servicing the potential customers and or clients you’re currently pursuing!

Meaning: they’re already (in some form and or fashion) another entrepreneurs customer and or client.

So part of your (our) marketing purpose, is to systematically persuade them to become part of your – our long term customer/client base as well!

And the proven processes and or strategies and tactics that you and I consistently use, in order to accomplish that, is the major difference between merely working in your business, as opposed to systematically working on growing your business!

Following these five proven strategies will definitely help you accomplish the latter.Of course it goes without saying (entrepreneur), none of these market tested strategies, are of the “magic bullet” variety!

Meaning: you don’t stick them in the marketing microwave for 2.5 minutes and “poof” instant business success! 😎 If only! Keep in mine, in order to truly be successful with regards to successfully implementing these (and or), any other potential marketing strategies you may wish to employ.

You’ve got to follow the same basic proven marketing fundamentals, of inexpensively A/B split testing and monitoring etc.It’s just when you do so with regards to implementing these particular marketing strategies and tactics, you’ll find far less of your major competitors consistently doing so!

1.) Business building strategy #one: This first long term (potential) marketing strategy is huge!So please pay close attention!

Entrepreneur, you “who” else (besides) your local banker (and or) well meaning friends and family members, that originally loaned you money, desperately wants see your business and or service do extremely well?

Any ideas?Your local vendors that supply and service your account!That’s who!

So you might actually take the time to “ask” if they happen to have an information library of some kind, (how to) stuff if you will, on “how to” better grow you business!

Seriously! The owner(s) may very well be the types that are all about growing their business, in which case they may have (and or) are currently invested in (either) (A.) attending actual live “how to” improve and or grow your business type of one or two day marketing/ closing more sales workshops etc!

Or (B.) they may actually be paying members of some type of advanced marketing/sales training learning info they can and more than likely, would be glad to turn you onto!Because your ultimate success is there’s as well!

This might include DVD’s, ebooks, how to courses, recorded tele- and or online webinars etc!It doesn’t hurt to continuously ask!

 2.)  Business building strategy # two: Next, according a recent study conducted by BigbasketCo.com, companies including Mom & Pop small local retailers, can help their customers/shoppers, on average spend up to 25% more and remain in your store an additional 15 minutes longer!

Simply by providing shopping carts of some kind!Pretty basic,right? 😎

It’s Not A Matter Of If You’ll Increase Retail Sales When You Follow A Proven Blueprint! (Don’t You Agree?)

 3.)  Business building strategy # three: This next really gets um constantly talking!Both on and offline.Inexpensively test providing a “first five (or X) number of customers that enter your store daily award of some kind!

In other words, create (and or get) some type of  really cool, but not necessarily expensive,“thank you for stopping by today gift” incentive coupons of some kind, and have your best cashiers/associates hand them out (on a daily basis) to the first five (and or X) number of customers that enter your store every day!

And again, it doesn’t have to be something over the top or even outrageously expensive! Quite the contrary!In fact, you may even get them from other local (non competing local vendors!)

For ex: let’s say your store is located in a mini mall, along with seven other stores. And let’s say one of those stores is (either) a pizza shop and or Mom & Pop  bakery.

In the summertime, why not arrange to give the first five (or X number) of customers that enter your shop, a one day only coupon that entitles them to one large soda, large lemonade (and or coffee or cocoa during the winter) at  50% off or “free” with any purchase of a large pizza, courtesy of (the name of the participating pizza shop and or bakery and or mini mart etc.)

And it’s got today’s date, so they either use it that day or it expires! And you might do the same with the bakery. Find out “what” the bakery wants to offer as an “irresistible” discounted offer and or coupon, in order to attract potential first time customers, and let your customers choose which coupon they want!

 4.)  Business building strategy # four: Now as a proven “piggybacking” strategy off of that last, powerful word of mouth and mouse generating marketing strategy.Since word will quickly start to spread about your first X daily customers to visit your store (rewards) marketing strategy.

Make an arrangement with any of the vendors you’re successfully implementing this strategy with, and get them to also include one VIP coupon  each that entitles the holder to 80% off their purchase of anything over say $10 dollars!Huh?

(And if they spend less than the stated “market tested” amount, they only save 20%!)

It creates a “giant” ongoing on and offline positive word of mouth buzz for both of your businesses!The customer remembers “where” they originally got the coupon and they also “brag”, tweet, text, post on Instagram and FB their friends and family members about the actual savings as well!

And it systematically builds long term “goodwill”  for literally pennies on the dollar people! And it’s so cost effective at doing so!And it certainly beats the outrageously expensive alternatives!

Don’t Let The Size Of Your Business Determine The Size Of Your Determination!

 5.)  Business building strategy # five: And “finally”,if you happen to have any type of wall directly behind your counter. You can and should inexpensively “test” at least a couple of potential marketing strategies!To make effective use of that prime marketing space

(A.) Have a  really “big” sign announcing your blank “contest” of the week and or month!(B.) Periodically “announce” any new products and or services you will introducing shortly! And advice them to go to a special lead capture page on your mobile responsive WordPress blog for all the exciting details!

And BTW, your contest could (and definitely) should be things like, “the number one suggestion of the week and or month to improve our business contest!”

Reward every body that participates in some meaningful way, but your top three or five suggestions, that you and your staff decide on! Do something really cool for them entrepreneur and they’ll keep over delivering for you as well!And spreading the word like crazy! 😎

That’s just a really small sample, of “how” you can (and definitely should) systematically go about increasing retail sales! Don’t you agree?

Now as is customary during this part of our show.

Please share your extremely valuable comments (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!

As always, if you got any value out of this post, please Google Plus or tweet this.Thanks!

And be sure you grab your explosive free 22 step small business marketing idea kit series, because it will help you increase your profits by as much as 25% in the next 90 days or less.

And help you master your effective communication in marketing skills.(No matter what your particular niche market is.)It’s a $97 dollar value and it’s free!

10 Responses to Five Ways To Increase Retail Sales Without Being A Marketing Guru!
  1. Hi Mark,

    Great blog post on retail selling and very informative.

    Growing your business is an all and all good situation for all of us.

    I never thought about having shopping carts in a store would increase sales, but you’re right. I spend more money with a shopping cart to hold onto. I’m 63 years old and have a bad back so I use shopping carts for that reason.

    Ethical bribes, incentive coupons and discounted offers really do work especially on the cruise ships.

    Word of mouth works great too! If I hadn’t known Adrienne, I never would have met you.

    You have an awesome night and weekend ahead.

    Linda
    Linda Schrier recently posted…Four Reasons Why Friendships CountMy Profile

  2. Hi Mark

    Great article – my family was in retail for many years, and they had me helping behind the counter as soon as I could see over it (and counting the money in the back room before I could see over the counter – LOL. All true!

    So I can vouch for what you’re saying, although I must admit we didn’t have shopping carts. Unusual for my Mum and Dad to miss a trick like that. Although it WAS before supermarkets were common in the UK.

    As it’s easier to keep an existing (happy) customer than to find a new one, we were always taught that making a mistake wasn’t the end of the world – so long as you apologized, and fixed it ASAP. I’ve seen my Dad leave his meal half eaten to fix staff mistakes. Not many business people like that these days!

    Joy
    Joy Healey recently posted…Solving the Problems of Network MarketingMy Profile

    • That is so true Joy!

      It sounds like you had some all around great parents and wonderful, first hand entreprenurial
      experiences too!

      And you’re dad’s entrepreneurial habits are definitely the forgot and or lost art these days!LOL!
      And it’s a shame!i truly wish you or I were on the same content, as I would love to chop it
      up with you!LOL!

      Because you are such an incredible source of (both) knowledge and inspiration!LOL!

      Plus, I really think we could do some great JV ‘s and or interviews together!

      I really loved your take and explanation of the MLM business model, I’d never quite heard it explained
      the way you did.

      As always, thanks for taking time Joy, much appreciated!
      Mark Newsome recently posted…Five Ways To Increase Retail Sales Without Being A Marketing Guru!Part TwoMy Profile

  3. Mark, I did make it a point to not just read this article. Yet, visualizing doing it.

    I must say, you have a gift of perception. My only things would be to share with each potential customer how much you appreciation them allowing your presentation on enhancements. Maybe, after the first contact, issue a postcard showing gratitude for their time. Simple ways to follow-up, stay in touch.

    I have accomplished a major change in interaction with new and current businesses, companies and people. It cost me little to nothing. Yet, continues to reach out to them. No effort on me once I manage their information. All natural gratitude being shared on a timely period. Three times per month of reaching out. The consistent contact via yes, snail mail. Has been the best and most inexpensive way to get new business. Retain old business. Lower my AP and increase my AR. Priceless!

    Thanks mark for bringing us back to basic understanding. You have to get involved with people to share what you have is an enhancement or solution. Yes, they are with someone else. Yet, share your perception of what you use and have to give them. The key is you using it yourself.
    William Earl Amis Jr III recently posted…Getting Back!My Profile

    • That is so true William!

      And your points are well take an very much appreciated my friend!

      Welcome back and thank so much for taking the time to share your extremely valuable,
      real world thoughts!

      You are not the first to share they’ve had success with simple (consistent) follow up
      with inexpensive, periodic snail mail postcards!

      It’s far more personal email and or a text message!Thank for pointing that out and continued success!
      Mark Newsome recently posted…Five Ways To Increase Retail Sales Without Being A Marketing Guru!My Profile

  4. I don’t think you can say it enough … TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST!! This is a great post!
    Heather recently posted…Birthday Parties & Sensory ChildrenMy Profile

  5. Hi Mark,

    You first statement got me, it is! It’s truly amazing how sometimes you can focus so hard on the cosmetic appeal thinking that if it looks good people will gravitate to it.

    Yeah looking good has it’s benefits but that’s not all. It’s not soley going to make your business work.

    I’m really surprised that shopping carts can make people stick around that much longer. I guess every store should have some then lol.

    Enjoy the evening!

    ~Lea
    Lea Bullen recently posted…Why Hope Is All You Need to Be the GreatestMy Profile


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