Last week, we delved into the process of creating a social media calendar. This week, we’re taking it a step further by providing you with exciting content ideas to fuel your social media presence. Let’s dive into the world of engaging content that will captivate your audience. For more insights on how to create an effective social media calendar, be sure to check out our previous blog post, “Manage Social Media With a Calendar.” The 5 E’s of Content To bring order to the chaos, let’s begin by organizing our approach. The 5 E’s of Content offer a fantastic framework for small business owners ..read more

As a business owner, staying on top of social media can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of effectively managing your social media presence with the help of a social media calendar. Benefits of a social media calendar Strategic Planning: A social media calendar serves as a strategic and detailed plan for your upcoming posts. It ensures that you have a clear overview of what content will be shared, including important information such as the social channel and optimal posting times. Time-Saving and Consistency: By organizing your social med ..read more

Running a business can be overwhelming, and getting bogged down in day-to-day details can hinder strategic thinking. Sometimes, taking a step back and creating space is essential to moving your business forward. That’s where an executive retreat comes in. In this post, we cover five ways to structure an executive retreat for your business. Define your goal: Before scheduling an executive retreat, identify what you want to accomplish. This could be anything from generating more revenue to planning a marketing event or scheduling classes for the upcoming quarter. Choose the right space: When c ..read more

Color has a powerful impact on consumers. By understanding how to use color to your advantage, you can create a welcoming and engaging shopping experience for your customers. Selecting a palette When selecting a palette for your store, start by considering your brand. Your palette should consist of at least three colors: A dominant color (the main color used in your logo) An accent color One or two neutral colors Using color in your store To effectively use color in your store, consider the following tips: Use your dominant color on walls and displays that you want to draw attention to, su ..read more

Many retailers closed their doors during the last recession and lately, the economic outlook has been uncertain. Although we have steered clear of another recession to date, we want to give you the tools to succeed in the event there is one. In the final part of our series Retailing in a Recession, we cover how to tailor customer research and merchandise planning to your customer’s needs. Customer Research Strategies for Retailers in a Recession Customer research is as easy as asking your clients questions at check out. Below are four questions you should train your employees to ask. Did you ..read more

Although we are not currently experiencing a recession, it’s important for retailers to have the tools to succeed in the event of one. In part three of our series, we will discuss what to do if you are faced with the choice of cutting costs or embracing declining margins. Most retailers will naturally look to cut costs, but it’s crucial to determine which ones to go after. Good vs. Bad Costs To begin, it’s important to differentiate between good and bad costs. Good costs are those that provide value to your customers, while bad costs add nothing to their experience. However, it’s important to ..read more

Although we aren’t in a recession, we want to give all retailers the tools to succeed if there is one. In part two of our series, we cover how customers can spend more in your store. Recession Tip: Find the Needs-Offer Gap A great way to retail in a recession is to get customers to spend more. Easy right? All you have to do is give them what they want. The challenge lies in figuring out what they want (and no, unfortunately it isn’t more of what you’re already selling). Enter the needs-offer gap. To identify your needs-offer gap, you’ll need more than data. Unfortunately, data will only tell ..read more

Fortunately for now we are not in a recession. But as we heed the warning signs of an economic slowdown, we thought it worthwhile to visit how to retail in one. Identify Headroom The first rule of retailing in a recession is to protect your most loyal customers. However, if your loyal customers cut their spending, that means they’ll also spend less in your store. Enter, headroom. Headroom is defined as “market share you don’t have minus market share you won’t get,” or in other words, switchers. Switchers are customers who aren’t loyal to your store, but aren’t loyal to your competitors either ..read more

In the final part of our three-part series, Proactive HR, we cover what employee records to keep on file, as well as employee performance reviews. Proactive reviews You likely provide regular feedback to your employees. You’re mistaken if you think that feedback is enough. It’s important to schedule a quarterly or annual performance review with your employee, and hear them out. Listen to what they’re happy about and what changes will make them happier. This is also a great time to ensure your employee’s compensation remains competitive. Employee records Last but not least, it’s important to k ..read more

Welcome back to part two of our three part series, Proactive HR, where we walk through six common human resource mistakes and how to avoid them. Read on for more information on employee training and the company handbook. Employee Training Fact: 40 percent of new employees leave a job within a year if they’ve received poor training. You may think you don’t have time to train new employees, but to stay ahead of the curve in a competitive marketplace, you’ll need all employees performing at their peak. The training process should consist of two parts: in-depth onboarding and ongoing development ..read more