Fri, 10 May 2024 14:55:34 -0700WeeblyFri, 08 Nov 2019 23:42:21 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/how-to-maximize-your-gift-card-salesLast time we took a closer look at some less than obvious benefits that selling gift cards can have. Next, I want to mention more than a few ways to help increase the sales of your gift cards, especially during this upcoming holiday season. This article from 2016 outlines 10 different strategies, tips, and to-dos to help boost the number of gift cards you're ringing up. Remember, be sure to order those gift cards now so you have them for the holiday season. 

-- Lucas Denzer (Guest Author)
]]>Wed, 16 Oct 2019 19:29:17 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/gift-cards-are-you-tapping-their-full-potentialWith the holiday season fast approaching, I've been thinking about all the changes that go into a retail store to maximize sales during that busy season. The statistics are undeniable, gift card sales sky rocket during this time of year. But that's no accident. Before I talk about ways to improve sales numbers of gift cards, I wanted to take a closer look at the benefits that offering gift cards can bring to your business. One such article that I came across laid out, rather succinctly, multiple advantages that gift cards can bring that no other item in your store can. Admittedly, many of those advantages, I had not considered before. Despite the article being a few years old, it's a good reminder of the unchanging facts about how impactful selling gift cards can be. Next, we'll take a closer look at how to make sure you're not missing out on more gift card sales in your store. But, don't wait to order your gift cards. You want to be fully stocked up for the holiday season.

​-- Lucas Denzer (Guest Author)
]]>Thu, 23 May 2019 20:17:08 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/do-you-actively-recruit-employeesIf you have never struggled hiring and retaining excellent employees and have found the process of doing so rather easy, than you probably don't need to bother looking at this short blog post. When it comes to employee recruiting, you are fortunate to have nothing in common with your retail contemporaries. However, if you're like most retailers, this brief post contains some ideas and tips you may not have considered when trying to fulfill your employee needs.

--Lucas Denzer (Guest Author)]]>Wed, 24 Oct 2018 21:05:27 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/how-important-is-visual-merchandising1086118A common and consistent struggle for retailers is how to best utilize their space and their displays to make sure they are increasing traffic and sales. Any retailer will tell you that store layout and displays can never have a "set it and forget" approach. Constantly tweaking and improving your displays while paying attention to how your customers navigate your store is a must.

In doing some of my own research into the science and art of visual merchandising, I came across two different articles with some great insights and explanations as to why particular decisions about displays were made. However, before jumping right into how to "spruce up" displays to improve sales and impulse purchases, let's consider how the actual layout of the entire store may be helping or hurting the customer's experience. 

The first article provides some great insight into how and why particular types of retailers choose to set up the floor plans of their stores. If you don't really have a thoughtful and intentional plan about your display configuration, or perhaps it's not functioning quite the way you envisioned it, I would suggest taking a few minutes to review this article. It might help generate some new ideas.

The second article contains a handful of diverse display tactics to employ to help improve sales. Though some of them you've likely heard of before, the article combines explanations of relevant research and studies with helpful examples. Take a moment to see if you are doing everything you can with visual merchandising in your store to provide the best customer experience and drive up your sales. I hope these articles prove helpful.

--Lucas Denzer (Guest Author)]]>Wed, 27 Sep 2017 07:00:00 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/is-there-hope-for-brick-and-mortar-storesAbsolutely! There is hope for the concept in general and for many stores that exist today.

However, there is also no question that competition from online retailers is presenting challenges and that store owners are going to have to adapt in order to survive.

Is adding an online store of your own the answer? Not necessarily, but you do need a website. That not only adds legitimacy, but also gives you an opportunity to tell your story and to show up in web searches for the types of goods that you sell.

Do you need an actual online store? It depends.

• Do you offer unique products that aren't generally available elsewhere? If so, selling those items online will expand your geographic market area.
  
• Do you have a loyal customer base that prefers to shop online? If so, then it makes sense to make it easy for them to buy from you. Be sure to offer your customers the option of in-store pick-up, too. There is a good chance they'll buy more from you when they do.
  
• Selling gift cards online is also a great way to bring customers into your store.
  

In my opinion, any business that sells direct to consumers needs a facebook page to allow customers to engage with them. Be sure to post at least weekly on your facebook page and respond to every comment within a day. Otherwise, your page will detract from your image rather than enhance it.

Back at the store, think about carrying at least some products that can't be easily purchased online or that people want to touch and feel before they buy. Great examples of this are plants, clothing, bath soaps, and unique types of gifts. In other words, give customers a compelling reason to come to your store to shop instead of purchasing online or going to a different brick and mortar store. That doesn't mean that you can't also sell items readily available online; it is just that those items won't bring people into your store.

So, yes, it does take more than location, location, location to succeed as a brick and mortar store today, but success is definitely possible if you are willing to adapt.

Lynda

]]>Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:49:25 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/more-hope-for-brick-and-mortar-storesA friend of mine sent me a link to this post the other day.  It not only offers hope for brick and mortar stores, but some good advice as well!

www.linkedin.com/pulse/please-stop-blaming-internet-demise-brick-mortar-blake-nieman-davis

Lynda

]]>Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:20:51 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/easy-customer-accessLast week I wrote about the importance of the customer experience within your store. It is also important to make it easy to get to your store.

That means, first of all, that you have to be located near your customers or near an area where your customers are likely to shop.

In addition, you need to have plenty of parking and your parking lot needs to be easily accessible from all directions. There is a grocery store in my neighborhood that is only accessible via the northbound lanes of a busy street. The only exit is via the northbound lanes, too. So, it is really only convenient to go to this store if you are traveling north. Think of how much business they are losing because of this!

Easy customer access is even more important if you are competing with online stores for sales. Your customers already have to go to the extra trouble of getting dressed and leaving their comfortable homes to come and visit you.  Don't make it any harder on them by putting up barriers to access. :)

Lynda

]]>Tue, 13 Sep 2016 01:40:15 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/friendly-cashiersWith all of the competition from the internet, it is more important than ever for brick and mortar stores to make sure the customer experience is exceptional. The cashier/register clerk/counter person is typically the last person your customers see when they leave your store, so it is important that he/she leaves a good lasting impression.

I saw the perfect counter person in my bakery a few weeks ago. (I haven't seen her in a while so I suspect she has gone back to school.)  Here is why I thought she was so great: She was friendly, helpful, polite, cheerful, and efficient. She also seemed genuinely glad to see the customers that came in the store.

I encourage you to make sure your staff is leaving your customers with a good impression. It is a relatively inexpensive way to keep those customers coming back.

Lynda

]]>Thu, 01 Sep 2016 21:30:25 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/happy-birthday-acslOur company is 35 years old today!

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers and employees - both past and present - who have made this possible. We couldn't have done it without you!

Lynda

]]>Tue, 07 Jun 2016 19:02:15 GMThttp://acslretailsystems.com/blog/great-bookI recently read a great book on leadership, called The Magic Cup, by Howard Behar. There are several things I like about it. First, it is a story; not an instruction manual. Better yet, it is a very entertaining story and easy to read. What I liked best, though, was that I could really relate to the thoughts and emotions of this leader throughout the story. I think any well-meaning leader will feel both validated and inspired after reading this book. I highly recommend it!

--Lynda

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