Be on Point - 2010 Spring Trends

You’re in the business of selling image. You need to stay on top of the latest trends and constantly present what is new. It can be hard to stay plugged in while juggling your personal and professional life. Don’t worry – the Bag Lady Blogger has you covered. This month I’m sharing the highlights on color and pattern trends for spring 2010 to keep you in the know!

Colors
The color of the year – turquoise. It is a very similar shade to the Tiffany’s signature robin egg blue. Other heavy hitters this season are versions of the pink/orange coral colors. When these colors are paired with turquoise, they provide a natural vibe that encompasses the eco-minded atmosphere seen in many color palettes lately, but more lively with bright warmer tones. Other trendy colors are neutrals in the beige family along with olive green. Add in a warm navy blue, a romantic lavender, a tangy red, and a gleaming yellow to round out this year’s spring colors. Overall the message is soft, warm, earthly but not dull. Click here to see Pantone’s Official Spring Colors for 2010.

Patterns
Trendy patterns swing from muted to loud. Animal prints are still the rage with zebra, leopard, and snake skins leading the pack. They can range from a natural look to mixing in a bold color. Blooms and flower prints are very big. Patterns range from subtle to loud designs of falling petals or bright blooms. Other stand outs include the sophisticated, classic black and white pairings. Additionally, abstract patterns with bohemian, hippy-inspired prints crossing the run ways. Click here to see these looks in action.

Need help incorporating these trends into your professional image? Check out our packaging options that will give you instant style!

Products on Color Trend for Spring: Flowers of Ceres Collection, In-Side Out Totes, Poly Prop Totes

Products on Pattern Trend for Spring: Skins and Safari Collection, Summer Breeze and Pink Perennial Collections and Mosaic Tile Bags.

Have fun playing with these new trends livening up your business décor and retail packaging. The key to incorporating trends is to selectively pick what works for you. Combining everything at once will be overload. Mix them in as appropriate –colors and patterns right for you, your business, or your clients. Fresh, new colors and patterns featured in your displays, packaging and promotions will create interest and drive up your sales!

Cause Related Marketing – Show You Care

Are you stumped on what to do for your next promotion? Are you tired of the same old 10% discount offer receiving minimal results? I have the answer to liven up your promotions and build your business image – Cause Related Marketing!

Cause related marketing is where you tie your promotion efforts to a charity or cause. Causes could range from a special charity like Locks of Love, Breast Cancer Research, or activities such as a fundraiser or community event. Cause-related marketing can be a powerful tool for you connect with customers and your community. Your participation will generate goodwill, improve your visibility, increase customer loyalty, enhance your brand image, provide positive media attention, and increase your business! Customers would rather do business with a company that stands for something beyond profits.

Tips for Successful Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns:

Align with your business
Choose a cause that makes sense for your business. Many in the beauty industry are choosing to support breast cancer research, heart health awareness, locks of love, or cut-it-out domestic abuse programs. Your cause should be something meaningful your business type in order to resonate with your clients and community.

Passion = Success
Pick an event, cause, or charity you are passionate about. You need to be revved up about your cause. Your energy will inspire your internal team and customers. It also enhances the credibility of your efforts because you and your efforts are coming from the heart - sincerity counts!

The How To
Create your own campaign. Offer promotional items (such as awareness bands) as a gift with purchase or present as a token of appreciate for a client’s donation to your cause. Partner with local charities or unite with various national organizations. Many groups offer free marketing materials and kits to get you started. Hold special events and give away awareness related goodie bags full of educational info and how your business is championing the cause.

Still don’t know where to begin? Let us help. Check out our wide variety of our pink ribbon (breast cancer awareness) and red dress (heart health awareness) items. Click here to see our a pdf of our latest awareness catalog or click here to visit our website . If you have a question, call us toll free at 800-824-2247 or tweet with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/actionbag. Happy Promoting!

Promote your Business

Want to increase your sales? Promotions can help draw attention, build your brand, foster customer loyalty and of course increase your sales!

You might be nodding in agreement. Your business runs typical promotions around the holidays and offers 10% off retail products with the purchase of a service. But are you reaching your customers the way they want to be reach? Are you running inventive promos to get people interested? Here are a few ways to help you create buzz about your business, capture attention, and ultimately get more sales.

Tech Savvy
Use the power of the internet. Everyone is spending more time online from surfing the web to networking on social sites. Place special online only offers on your website and in your tweets, facebook, myspace and beyond. These are free ways to drive traffic to your online activities. They could go viral and everyone will start sharing your offers. Rope in special discounts, free gifts, complimentary service coupons, or promotion codes.

Email Relations
All your clients have email. Are you collecting addresses? Emails are an excellent tool to alert clients of special offers, send out your quarterly newsletter, or roll out a customer survey. You can also link into your website and other social sites. Make the digital connection and start engaging. Make sure it is meaningful, relevant info your clients want or you will be deleted.

Friends and Family Plan
Each one of your clients has a best friend they can’t live without and family members that they always share their latest salon experience with. Use that network to your advantage. Offer friends and family discount packages for clients that refer new customers. Give the original client free products or services as a thank you for sending new business your way. Word of mouth advertising is a glowing testimonial and your original client will be thrill to get some extra perks.

You’ve Got Snail Mail
Fewer items are being mailed these days with the onset of the technology wave. Now is your chance to be noticed in the mail box. You don’t have to spend a lot to have a big impact. Go for inexpensive postcards. There are a ton of providers (including us) that can offer you stock designs and add your unique message. What a wonderful surprise for new customers to receive a thank you note from you. Or what about sending a birthday wish or a just because note to a brighten a current client's day. Postcards can also be powerful promotion tools. Make it look like a coupon and say bring in this card to your next appointment for a discount or free gift.

What’s in your Wallet
Loyalty programs keep customers coming back for more. Offer punch cards or key tags that are punched with each purchase. Give a free gift or extra special discount once the cards are filled. You can also offer VIP cards. Create a winners circle of bronze, gold, platinum clients. Base these categories divisions on number of visits or purchase volume. The benefits increase at each higher level. Make a big deal of your member clients. Use signage talking up the program, tout clients who have moved up the ranks, and share what benefits they recieved. People will want to be an elite member and will do what it takes to get there. Don't forget people open their wallets and purses daily. Talk about repeat brand exposure for your business with your card right there!

Stumped on ideas to promote? Click here to check out our Promotion Planning Calendar to get the creative juices flowing. Creating promotions can be a lot of fun not to mention increase your business!

Sell More Retail Products!

They say the devil is in the details... retail details! We all want to sell more retail product but many of us stumble on how to get there. Here are some quick hitting tips to help you sell more retail products.

1. Have a retail sales team! All your stylists, estheticians, massage therapists, receptionists are all sales personnel. Everyone is selling your services and products from the moment the customer walks in the door. Define your staff as a sales team and show them the way.
   
   
2. Put yourself in their shoes. Educate your staff on the benefits of all your retail products so they can fit the product to the customer. No matter what the question, your staff will know the correct product to recommend.
   
   
3. Supply support material. Brochures on the product are usually free from the product manufacturer or custom print your own. (Use our free art services!) These are helpful tools to quickly communicate the benefits of certain products. Offer skin care or treatment prescriptions to your customers -- write down the products you used during their service, when to use, how to use, how much to use etc... This makes it easy for your sales team to close the sale and for the customer to keep the results at home.
   
   
4. On-site, on-going training. One of your monthly team meetings should be revisiting the products and/or introducing new products. Keep educating them on the benefits of each product and what situation it will work best with. You can make it a game and offer prizes for the staff member that matches the product with the correct customer situation. Energy + Excitement = Sales!
   
   
5. Ask for feedback. Poll the sales team for their thoughts on products and promotions. They are on the front lines and hold a wealth of information. You will gain buy-in with your team if you let them participate in product selection and sales efforts.
   
   
6. Put the carrot where you want the behavior! Offer bonuses or commission based programs on selling retail products. You can add incentives such as gift cards, prizes, trips, continuing education classes etc.. Get creative and ask the sales team what would motivate them. Have a monthly chart and have a friendly competition. Anyway you can create excitement and make retail sales top of mind you will keep the momentum going.
   

If you don't put the focus on sales, they won't just happen. Build your team, build their product knowledge, build their motivation and watch out...be prepared for those retail products to start moving!

Brides, Dads and Grads

Late spring and early summer presents a host of promotion opportunities! From graduates going off to college or joining the work force, celebrating fathers, and the wedding festivities .... there are so many reasons to create excitement (and sales) for your business.

Here are some ideas to get your promotional juices flowing.

• Partnership - Work with local schools or clothing stores to offer Professional Make-Over packages to get that grad interview ready. Network with florist, bridal boutiques etc... to offer special pricing/packages. Ask to leave promotional materials such as business cards in their reception areas. Include a promotion code to track response. For Dads, partner with local golf courses, steak restaurants, or grill retailers. Offer a luxury shave or King-for-the-Day spa packages. You can group a round of golf or a great dinner with your services. Definitely a hole-in-one!
  
  
• Advertise - This doesn't have to break the bank. There are tons of free ways to get PR in local papers. Find out who your local "happenings" editor is and send them a press release on your partnership opportunities. Focus on how you are helping grads acheive success, or growing local business with your partner efforts. Other ideas - Contact schools, restaurants, shops for permission to leave your cards or menus. Many have free reception areas where you can leave a few materials. Make them snazzy (Action Bag offers free art services if you need assistance) and code them for tracking.
  
  
• Parties - Host events! This could be a Bridal Shower, Power Day for Dad, Professional Grad Days. Package your services, offer snacks, little goodie bags...make it an event to remember. Run a small ad in your local paper, post flyers, send postcards to current customers, or even run a quick 30 second radio ad. Talk it up!
  
  
• Be the expert! - Create a Bridal-Look-Book and have it in your reception area. This can feature the latest styles of hair, nails, make-up etc... Showcase the brides you assisted previously. Graduates want to look the part so create a how-to flyer complete with interview tips, how to dress and look professional (of course tie in your hair and nail services). You will help them look and feed good to secure their new job. Dads can be leery of the salon/spa world. Make them comfortable by creating a men focused area with masculine images and products. Showcase you're an expert in men skincare lines. Men are more likely to be open to the spa experience if you show them that other guys are taking part.
  
  
• Package Deals - People buy more when you group things together. You create a perceived value they are getting more for their buck. You can group complete systems in coordinating retail bags. Add in some free trial size products. Offer a Queen-for-the-Day Kit for brides with your most luxurious items. Dads can get the Power Tool Kit with shaving and skin products. For grads create the Look your Professional Best Kit. Offer various price point kits and viola - sales!
  
  
• Frequent Buyer Programs - Don't let your sales stop at these promotions. Create a reason for the customers to come back. Offer a reason for grads going away to college to come home to visit by giving discounts off services and special offers on retail products. If you are in a college town, create freshmen orientation kits with monthly coupons that keep them coming back. For Dads and Brides, include in your gift bags repeat buyer coupons or punch cards - for each use they get a different discount or free products etc.
  

The possibilities are endless. Take these ideas and make them your own. If you have run a great promotion, share your idea! You can add a post below or go to our MySpace page and enter our Promotion Contest. Click here to enter.