Spring has sprung and spring-cleaning duties are in full force. As a small business owner, this can be an excellent opportunity to do some spring cleaning of your own by reflecting on your business, identifying potentially stagnant areas that need improvement, and exploring new possibilities to rejuvenate your business plans. By no means does this need to be a complete brand overhaul; making small changes and “tidying up” different aspects of your business can allow you to feel renewed as the season intended. Below are tips to consider when spring-cleaning your business. Refresh Print Materia ..read more

Earth Day, which falls on April 22 this year, is the perfect time to think about what you can do to help protect the planet. If you’re a small business owner, there are many ways to reduce energy consumption and encourage environmentally-friendly behaviour among your employees. This year, why not adopt one of these cost-saving, energy-conscious ideas at your small business? Reduce paper use Cutting down on paper use has implications that reach far beyond the walls of your small business. Reduce the number of pages consumed at your office and you’ll save money on paper, ink and toner, as well ..read more

As a small business owner, you need to wear many hats to operate your business effectively, which is why hiring employees can help balance the workload. However, the decision to hire full-time or part-time employees is one many small business owners face. There are several aspects to consider when deciding, and there isn’t a right or wrong answer. However, there are some questions you should ask yourself first before considering hiring full- or part-time employees, which we have outlined below. Does your business model warrant someone full-time? If you run a small business that doesn’t requir ..read more

You have likely heard the common phrase “presentation is everything.” When it comes to the world of marketing materials, this is especially true. Of course, various design elements play a significant role in how your print material appears, but how you display it through certain folds can also impact the experience. Think of the print material that requires folding, such as a brochure or menu, like a presentation deck. You wouldn’t want to cram all your content onto one slide; instead, you would split it up to make it easier to digest. With print materials, each fold is like a new slide, allo ..read more

As a small business owner, capturing the attention of current and prospective customers while communicating your products, services, or offers in a short amount of time is not an easy feat, but in-store signage can help. In-store signage refers to the signs that exist in your store that display information, whether it be a new product offering, a sale, contest details, directions to certain parts of your store, etc. It is important to ensure that these signs have a purpose and benefit your business rather than distract or take up space. Keep reading for tips on how you can optimize your in-st ..read more

We already know the advantages of shredding our documents when it comes to getting organized and protecting our privacy. Unlike throwing documents in the trash, shredding is a secure way to destroy sensitive and identifying materials. However, standard home office shredders do not have the capacity to shred substantial amounts of paper efficiently, and only average about 10 documents at a time (not to mention all paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, etc. that must be removed before shredding). That’s why our customers opt to take their unwanted documents to The UPS Store, where we’ll weig ..read more

With the latest gift-giving season behind us, many retailers may be using this time to revisit their holiday sales cycle, including their returns and/or exchange programs. Returned holiday gifts are an unfortunate fact of retail life. While the percentage may vary by sector and by season, e-tailers may experience return rates between 20-30%. Though retailers would of course like to reduce the number of products coming back to them, it’s important to balance this aim with a returns policy and program that doesn’t deter shoppers from making a purchase in the first place or a second time. With a ..read more

Finding new, efficient methods to promote your small business can be a great way to create buzz, awareness, and excitement over the products or services you sell. A social media giveaway is a popular strategy that can help you achieve your goals. Whether you want to strengthen current customer relationships, acquire new customers, or a bit of both, a successful social media giveaway can act as a tool to get your small business on your target audience’s mobile and desktop screens. But how can you bring your social media giveaway to the level of success that will stop scrolling thumbs? Keep rea ..read more

First impressions can go a long way in business, especially in brick-and-mortar stores. When customers enter your small business, they are likely already forming assumptions based on what they see in front of them. It’s important to think about what message you want to convey. How do you want them to feel while they are shopping? What is your desired outcome with each customer interaction? Consider that 84% of consumers say they would return to a store that had a pleasant atmosphere. Answering these questions and assessing whether your store is helping or hurting customers’ impressions are im ..read more

Planning a vacation can be an exciting process, but the time leading up to your big trip be overwhelming unless you prepare ahead and have a “vacation to-do list”. Whether you’re getting ready to relax in the sun or spend time with family over the holidays, creating a plan can get you one step closer to all the fun. Below are some tips to kick-start your vacation prep, including ways The UPS Store can assist. Head over to a location near you for additional details on all our services. Create a Travel Itinerary If you’re planning a trip with a large group of people, creating a travel itinerary ..read more