Blog

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Retail

Opening a retail store is a lifelong dream for many. Filling it with products that you are passionate about, whether it be high-end clothing, rare and unique jewelry, vitamins, sporting goods, etc., being surrounding by things that make you happy and that you want to share with others can be a very rewarding career. But opening a retail store doesn’t come without risks. Keep the following risks in mind in order to run a successful store. The Economy Most likely, your products are typically purchased w... read more.

• June 26, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Beauty Stores

The beauty industry is very competitive. As a small business owner, competing with the prices that the bigger stores offer can be a challenge, but you can bring in customers in other ways than prices alone. Finding your niche, such as all organic and vegan products, gets you known in the industry as being a specialist in a certain area, and can drive a particular crowd away from the larger, more generalized stores and straight into yours. Building your reputation in this area as well as being known for an e... read more.

• June 19, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Retail, Store Management

Many retail establishments have a hard time recruiting great talent for their store. With so many young adults flocking to retail careers for a “job just to earn some extra money” or “for the great discounts” it is hard to find individuals that actually take their role seriously and are willing to work hard to make your store a real success. Because of the often limited funds that many retail stores have to pay employees, it is hard to attract top talent. One way to attract great tal... read more.

• June 12, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Business Management, Retail, Store Management

If you own a retail store that is not part of a major chain, you are likely on a much different budget than the big box stores. While your budget for marketing is probably much lower, getting your name out there is extremely important. So how do you maintain your customers, get new business and remain profitable with a more limited marketing budget? Here are a few ways to keep your store top of mind without breaking the bank on advertising. Get online. Even if you only plan to sell your merchandise from ret... read more.

• June 05, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Pet Stores

Pet store ownership can be a very lucrative business endeavor. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent more than $50 billion on their cats, dogs, and other companion animals in 2012. They also report that the number of owned dogs in this year was 83.3 million and cats were at 95.6 million. People love their pets, and they love to pamper them. Whether it’s spending a fortune on a plush new dog bed, grooming services, or the highest quality pet food, people are willing to cou... read more.

• May 29, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Fixtures

It makes sense: the more space you have to display products the more merchandise you can sell. Hopefully, this will result in more income for your business. Gondola accessories are a great way to build on the store fixtures you already have, without having to rearrange your space or purchase new and expensive larger units. You can simply add steel front lips, open end baskets, or other accessories to your existing retail shelving to get more space for your items. The Double Candy Riser gives you more displa... read more.

• May 22, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Business Management

What Does it Mean to be a Green Business? If you are a new business owner or considering starting one you have probably heard a lot about businesses that are going green. Not only is this becoming more popular for companies, but people are making a big push to make their homes green, and green schools are even popping up. So what does it mean exactly? Green businesses are also known as sustainable businesses. They have a very limited negative impact on the environment and society and strive to improve t... read more.

• May 08, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Product Storage, Store Management

If you have warehouse space there is a good chance you could be using it better. To take advantage of this space you need to utilize it in the best possible way to get the most value and optimal efficiency. If after organizing you find yourself with much more space, you can fill your warehouse shelving with more product to move and sell even more merchandise. Here are a few ways to make the most of your warehouse space. Assess your stock. Is every duplicate product packaged with one another? Do you have sma... read more.

• May 01, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Store Management

While there is a big focus on ecommerce and online shopping, brick and mortar stores are still very popular and frequently visited. Smallbiztrends.com reports that 93% of overall retail purchases made in the U.S. are still in actual stores. There is a lot of convenience when it comes to perusing the store shelves in person and being able to see, touch and try on the merchandise. Ordering online runs the risk of something not being the right size, the color appearing completely different online than in perso... read more.

• April 24, 2015

By Steve Di Orio, Posted in Pharmacy

As an independent pharmacy owner it can be difficult to make your pharmacy stand out from the bigger retailers. But the extra effort you put in is what will keep customers coming to your business, even if it is not as convenient as a pharmacy that is located on every corner. Here are a few tips for keeping customers coming back to your pharmacy, and becoming a beloved neighborhood establishment. Internal Tips Be Innovative: Set yourself apart from the rest by always coming up with new and better ideas for y... read more.

• April 17, 2015