Secret Retail Weapon? Set the Mood!

Your brand is your baby and the tone you set in your store – from the layout to the lighting to the color scheme – embodies what means the most to you. But do you have this same control over how your store feels to customers? What are the subtle nuances—the ambience—that can make customers want to linger—or lunge for the door?

A lot of it has to do with music! You probably already know that music has a marked effect on a customer’s shopping and purchasing decisions. If you’ve ever noticed how the ambiance can suddenly shift in your store when that perfect, magical song comes to an end, then you’ve already seen how music has tremendous control over the human mood. But you might not be aware of studies that have been conducted in this area, which can help you pinpoint exactly which elements of music have the best retail-friendly effects on your customers.

The European Journal of Scientific Research found the following in their study titled “Effect of Background Music on Consumer’s Behavior:”

1.      Mood. Through tempo and volume, music can affect a customer’s mood – which can be positive or negative – leading customers to stay in the store longer and potentially buy more, or leave sooner.  

2.      Perception of Time. Music can also affect a customer’s perception of time, causing them to stay in the store longer – although this may not necessarily increase the probability of a sale.

3.      Perception of Merchandise Worth. Certain types of music can, through an association with an elite segment of society, create a perception of enhanced product worth, which could result in a sale.

Specifically:

·         Studies regarding the loudness of music have shown that customers left more quickly from supermarkets where loud music was being played, but that this did not necessarily affect sales

·         Studies in tempo have indicated a relationship between slower-tempo music and a lower traffic flow—yet a paradoxical increase in sales

·         Studies also indicate that while they’re listening to music, customers have a more realistic perception of passing time—meaning they could end up lingering in your store because they don’t have that nagging feeling that they’ve been in there longer than they really have.

So the big question is, with something as subjective as music, how to best create a playlist that will keep customers shopping long enough to appreciate everything your store has to offer! The answer might be a bit more scientific than simply plugging in your sales clerk’s favorite band. Music might well be just as important an aspect of merchandising as fixtures, lighting, and attractive window displays!

Build Your Brand This Holiday Season!

Tis’ the season! Retailers love the end of the calendar year as it brings several different holidays that increase sales and can spell the difference between a successful year and a mediocre one. Instead of simply focusing on how you can increase sales, however, the winter holidays are also an ideal time to build your brand through retail packaging.

1. Put Your Logo On It! Packaging, gift wrap and bags in which shoppers take home their treasures can go a long way toward keeping your brand in front of customers all year long. Consistency is one of the keys toward brand identification. Company logo and slogan are important elements in packaging, and should appear on all items in your lineup.
2. Choose Multi-Use Items! Take a look at what large successful retailers like Victoria's Secret or Bath & Body Works do during the holiday season – both provide special collections often placed inside sturdy, attractive packaging that not only displays the brand's products in the store, but may also be reused by the consumer during the year to store toiletries, knickknacks and the like. Packaging your product line in similarly suitable containers will keep your brand in front of customers throughout the year.
3. Glamorize Your Everyday Packaging! Already have a large stock of everyday bags or boxes? Add holiday flare in the form of a belly band, hang-tag, or festive ribbons and bows. This will allow customers to reuse the bags and boxes throughout the year, and will allow you to continue to give out your everyday, branded bag, but with an additional holiday touch.

Action Bag can customize your store's packaging and help you increase your brand this holiday season! Call us to discuss your options today!

Retail Color Trends for Fall

Fall has arrived and while that might mean colder weather in parts of the country, it also means new retail color trends. The Fall 2015 Fashion Color Report from Pantone has come out with a set of new colors you need to keep an eye on this season.  According to the report:

"This season displays an umbrella of accord that weaves earthy neutrals with a range of bold color statements and patterns to reflect a landscape of hope, fun, fantasy and all things natural."

And the most exciting thing?  Both men and women can get in on the color action.  Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute® Leatrice Eiseman states in the report that:

"The Fall 2015 palette is rooted in multi-faceted, androgynous colors that can be worn to portray effortless sophistication across men’s and women’s fashion; it is the first time we are seeing a truly unisex color palette."

So what are the hot new colors for this season?  Here are the main ones Pantone lists in their report:

• Desert Sage: This is a gray-green shade that embodies the earthy tone look reported to be hot this season.  It's "timeless and unobtrusive, yet powerful enough to make a statement on its own."
•  Stormy Weather: A dark gray color perfect for those stormy fall days and nights.  Described as "strong, protective and enduring." 
• Marsala: The burgundy color that is only worn best in the fall. “A wine-inspired red-brown that adds finesse and savoir faire to the palette."
• Biscay Bay: “A lush and elegant teal... combining the serene qualities of blue with the invigorating aspects of green.”  A bright yet deep bluish green that adds beautiful color to the reds, browns, and oranges of Fall.
• Cadmium Orange: Remember the shade of orange that was so popular in the hippie days of the '60s and '70s?  It's made a comeback.  “Cadmium Orange is a warm, welcoming and subtly dramatic hue that is striking enough to stand on its own or act as a bold contrast.”
• Reflecting Pond: “A cooling blue that adds dimension and intrigue… a serious shade that speaks to the need for stability and security.” This dark blue has a grayish tint that is all the rage this season.
• Amethyst Orchid: Described as “the jewel in the crown of the Fall 2015 palette.”  Purple appears every season in some shade or another, and this fall, it's a darker shade of lavender.

     Let us know if we can help you incorporate these fabulous fall colors into your coordinated packaging.

Get the Most Out of the Holidays!

The holiday season is retail's busiest time of year -- exceed your sales goals and get the most out of the holidays by tapping into your customers' psyche. Whether they know it or not, product placement, staffing, and decorations all play a role in creating the perfect environment for holiday spending. This year, implement the following practices in your store, and prepare to generate revenue AND holiday cheer.

Incorporate Holiday Packaging. 
So what makes shopping during the holidays different from any other time of year? The excitement of gift giving. Help your customers anticipate the joy on their loved one's faces by adding holiday specific gift tags, wrap, or bags to your everyday packaging options. Brightly colored holiday wrapping paper and shiny bows in trendy colors just help to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Staff Your Store with Merriment.
Holiday shopping can be stressful and your customers are likely to head home if they feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, your staff members can ease the strain by providing expert-level advice on your product line. Make sure your staff is trained and prepared to help holiday customers with exceptional service and a jolly attitude.

Deck the Halls.
Get into the holiday spirit by making sure that your holiday decorations drive sales. Try using pre-wrapped packages of common holiday gifts to create a dramatic presentation near your cash registers or end-aisles. Even a pretty ribbon or bow can entice a customer to make that purchase.

If you are looking to spruce up your holiday marketing strategies this year, contact us to discover the perfect seasonal looks to fill your store with cheer.

Fashion Trends for Fall - Winter 2015

Straight off the runways and into the big box stores, these seasonal trends will be popping up everywhere.  Take advantage of consumer interest and incorporate them into your store’s packaging, decor, and products. 

Fall Color Guide
The gender-bending androgyny inspired color pallet reigns supreme this fall.  Hot colors include navy, black and gray with some touches of khaki and browns.

Adventure Style
Gear up for a mountain hike or trek across the globe.  Dramatic layers, faux fur, scarves, and subtle animal prints are hitting the market.  Tackle this trend in your packaging using textured alligator totes, animal print frosted bags, and layer bags with different color and textured tissue paper. 

Masculine Energy
Menswear for woman and gender-neutral fashion is heating up. Think uniforms, button down shirts, and blazers. To run with this trend in your packaging choose bags with clean lines and in more masculine colors such as black and white. 

Far Out Fashion
Brightening up the season is throwback seventy’s style. Dresses with a bit of fringe, turtlenecks, and muted retro paisley or floral prints are top styles. Use paisley or floral printed tissue with your neutral color retail bags. Tie tulle or organza ribbon into fluffy bows around boxes to create the softer flowing look.

Trends are used to enhance your current brand image.  You don’t need to overhaul your whole look or product line.  Subtle touches such as using an on-trend color imprint on your bags or retail accessories such as ribbon or tissue can make you business look fashion forward while still holding the integrity of your brand.

How are you incorporating the fall trends into your business? Please share your ideas below!

5 Ways to Retain Customers

Building a loyal customer base is a key component to a successful retail business.  Loyal customers will spend more money and will refer your business. Here are 5 ways to increase your custom retention and enjoy customers who keep coming back for more!

Loyalty Program

Never under estimate the value of your existing customers.  Many businesses spend a lot of time attempting to gain new customers, they forget the current ones keeping their doors open.  Reward them with a loyalty program. Offer a VIP program providing special promotions, or run a simple points program for every dollar spent they earn a point.  Points can be redeemed for discounts or special gifts.  Provide a loyalty card to all customers. This makes the customer feel like a VIP and allows you to track program participation via your POS or software system.

Mine your Data

Collect your customer data. Determine how many of your customers are repeat buyers, what products or services are moving, and how many of your promotions are being redeemed.  Another way to obtain good information is to ask your customers directly. Create a quick online survey. Offer a discount or free gift for completing the survey.  You will gain inspiration on ways to improve your customer experience and increase loyalty.

Be in Service

Excellent service isn’t just the right product at the right price.  Make the customer's life easier by anticipating needs or challenges. Wowing customers goes a long way to securing their business. Hire mystery shoppers to uncover any snags in the buying experience and fix them.  Be quick to admit mistakes, apologize and offer amends.  Thanking a customer for uncovering an issue builds customer trust.

Be the Expert

Become “the” source for the latest products or services in your industry.  Invest in continuing education, webinars, new technology and new products to make your business cutting edge.  Customers want to go where all their questions are answered by knowledgeable and friendly staff.  Stand out from the crowd by being the trusted expert.

Get Connected

Engage with your customers beyond the storefront.  Collect emails and mailing addresses. Create an email campaign calendar.  Have dedicated staff updating all your website and social media sites.  Frequent postings on Facebook or Twitter keep customers interested. You send customers polls or showcase new offerings. Hold contests for free products or services to get followers involved. Pinterest is also a great way to showcase visual products. Direct mail can grab attention in the over saturated digital space.  Target low cost postcards for holiday or special offers.

Retaining your customers creates a consistent profit base and builds credibility.  What has your business done to help improve customer loyalty? Please share below!

Money Saving Tips for your Business

Running a business can be expensive.  Supplies, people, technology, all add up.  Here are some tips to help you save money while still driving your business to success!

Staffing

Employees are vital to making a business run, but come with salary and benefit costs.  You can conserve by using part-time employees with no benefits.  Explore internships or mentoring programs that cost little to nothing. You can have the human resources but for less.

Penny Pinching Promotions

Advertising can be pricey, especially when you don’t always know what will create a return on marketing investment. Partner with your neighbors for shared radio and print ads. Drawing attention to your area can be a win-win for both of your piggy banks. 

Negotiate

Never take list price as your price. Work to negotiate savings. Things to consider are increasing the volume of your purchase to secure a price break. Explore free or discounted shipping. Review payment terms. The longer you have to use the money before it is in your vendor’s hands the better.  Get competitive quotes and don’t be afraid to pit vendor against vendor. It will keep your vendors honest and help you secure additional savings.

Bulk Buying

Evaluate buying supplies in bulk. Items like janitorial supplies, printer toner, or paper are great options to stock up on. Compare prices and look at the per unit price to be sure you are getting a value.  Factor in your availability of storage space for these bigger purchases.

Barter

Explore bartering services or products.  This allows cash to stay in the business while you provide inventory or services in exchange for something you need.  Do the math to verify you are doing an even exchange. This is a great option to keep money within the business.

Get Involved

Research trade associations and local community business groups.  Networking is the key to many successful businesses.  You will meet other like-minded professionals who can share tips on vendors, split advertising costs, or might be willing to barter.  You never know until you ask, but you first need to build your business connections.

Saving money takes a little effort, but well worth it when the benefits hit your bottom line!  Do you have additional savings tip? Please share below.