Blog

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Business Management

If you are a small business owner, wading through all of the financial options available to you can be challenging. Finding the right loan for your business is extremely important, and not something that should be overlooked because you don’t understand all that is involved. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) breaks down what exactly an SBA loan is, the types that are available and how to determine which one is right for you, and whether or not you are eligible and if so, how to apply. Defining... read more.

• October 23, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Electronics Stores, Store Management

If you run a smaller electronics store it can be difficult to compete with the big box retailers that are purchasing large quantities of merchandise and selling them at lower prices. Because of this, it’s important to get noticed in other ways, such as having the most knowledgeable staff or really focusing on store displays in your stand-out showroom. Knowledge When it comes to electronics, many people depend on the employees at the store to guide them in the direction of the product they need. There... read more.

• October 16, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Holidays, Retail

As a retailer, you know that Halloween is a big holiday for your business. It’s a holiday that covers a wide expanse of industries – food, beverage, clothing, decorations, and more. Even stores that don’t provide actual Halloween items usually still embrace the holiday and decorate their store shelves with pumpkins, streamers, scarecrows and ghosts. If you do provide Halloween food or merchandise, you are probably ramping up for the busy time ahead. According to a survey conducted by the N... read more.

• October 09, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in News

Stop by the Handy Store Fixtures booth at the NCPA 2015 Annual Convention! This convention is focused on the independent community pharmacy industry. Along with Handy Store Fixtures, you’ll be joining more than 3,000 community pharmacists from all over the country. You’ll gain exclusive access to 30+ hours of continuing education, hundreds of vendors showcasing their latest products, services, and technology, and countless opportunities to network with your peers. You'll discover how to develop profitable n... read more.

• October 02, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Business Management

Getting a business grant is basically the best way to get money for your small business. Funds are provided at no cost to you to put entirely toward your business. According to Forbes, you can find and apply to grants based on the theme of your business in addition to your own demographics. There are grants for minority business owners, women, single mothers, and more. Try visiting FederalGrants.com to find grants offered by the United States government. Here you’ll find information on how to find and... read more.

• September 25, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Design

For many store owners, finding enough shelf space to display all of their products can be a challenge. You never want your shelves to look like they are overflowing or sloppy, and it’s important that every product is easily viewable in order for customers to be able to conveniently shop the aisles. In addition to space being a problem, sometimes your merchandise just doesn’t look right on standard retail shelving. Luckily, there are plenty of gondola shelving accessories that can make fitting th... read more.

• September 11, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Pet Stores

If you currently own or are thinking about opening a pet store, now is a great time to be involved with the industry. According to the American Pet Products Association, the total U.S. pet industry expenditures expected for the year 2015 are $60.59 billion. A report by Clarice Brough lets us know that over the next 5 years, pet operations are projected to maintain strong growth, with the number of households owing pets expected to continue increasing. Specialty pet stores have been growing the fastest of al... read more.

• August 28, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Sporting Goods Stores

As a sporting goods store owner you will need to fill your space with all kinds of shelving units and retail store displays. Due to the varied size of many of the products you offer, there is no one-size-fits-all shelving solution. Ranging from golf clubs to soccer balls, to bicycles and clothing, sporting goods stores offer a wide variety of merchandise ranging in size and weight. Having a diverse shelving strategy is important in order to properly display the products you sell in your sporting goods store... read more.

• August 14, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Retail

Creating a brand is so important because it tells the world who you are as a business. When someone hears your company name you want it to be synonymous with the words you’d like to have attributed to your brand. If you own a trendy clothing store for example, you want people to think “stylish”, “cutting edge”, and “high fashion”. Working to really build and develop your brand will get you to that level. It is important to be consistent not only in the message that... read more.

• August 07, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Retail

If you have ever dreamed of opening your own retail store you have probably fantasized about the positive aspects: surrounding yourself with products you are passionate about, being your own boss, setting your own standards, etc. But the hard truth of the matter is that opening up a retail store is expensive. You’ll need to be prepared for all of the costs that opening up and running a retail store will require. Inc.com shares a new business owner’s experience with opening her own store, and div... read more.

• July 31, 2015