subject: Talking shop [print this page] Recent years have not been easy for lots of retailers, although the economy has slowly but surely started back on the road to recovery. This means that retailers need to do everything that they can to boost sales wherever possible, so perhaps it is time that you stepped back from your business and metaphorically took stock. When you are in any kind of enterprise it is easy to get so caught up in the day to day running of things that you never really take time out to look at your business from your customers' perspective. So, next time you have a quiet day, or even better on a day when you are not open to the public, go outside and play the role of your own customer, see your shop with their eyes. It sounds pretty basic but many retailers find it a useful exercise
Firstly look at your shop frontage. See if you can improve the external appearance of the shop, as even something as basic as the window display makes a difference between potential customers walking in or walking past. Then step inside and look around from just inside the doorway. Untidy premises are not a sign of a shop that is busy - it is a sign of potentially lazy shop keeping. Check that your shop fittings are in good order, that your displays look good and that your counter area is neat. Then make sure you have the right carrier bags or plastic bags such as those available from Morplan, and appropriate packaging for anything that you sell. If you have staff working in your shop when you are not there yourself, get a friend to be a mystery shopper so that you can assess their performance when you are not keeping an eye on them.
