Quiet months in retail high streets

[Doodle-Noodle]

All this bickering is getting boring now - please stop it. It's Tuesday, it's not raining, we have the whole week ahead of us. Can we all be friends now and just agree that both web-based and B&M retailers have good bits and bad bits ... it's what we do with the information, ideas and products that we are trying to sell that makes our respective businesses the challenges and successes that they are.
That was my last Rolo by the way x

 

[GBoffices]

The art of running a good retail operation is to have different products for different people at different times of the day, or day of the week. By this I mean that if your shop is likely to have a slow footfall from time to time, for whatever reason (bad position, empty shops nearby, etc), you need to find customers who won't necessarily be coming through you traditional shop door.
In a previous life, I've helped people engage with the web better to sell online, or be planning for monthly fairs, sell at 1940s dances, etc, etc.
In essence, every minute of every day you will be doing something to win customers, if not for today, but for other time. As certain times, the shop becomes a 'money-making office' where income through the door from punters is helpful but you're really planning all your other activities.
Easy to say but difficult to do, if you're not doing it, you need to and hopefully it will make life more interesting too. Best of luck

 

That was my last Rolo by the way x

See if you had bought them online you would have been able to by many more for the same price and would have had one left for me.

Earl

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Thank you ShiEarly for that useful post ........ I actually have lots of Rolos, a whole enormous mountain of them - I just don't intend to give any more away

 

[Banned]

Thank you ShiEarly

Damn you, wish I had thought of that

 

[GBoffices]

In a previous life, I've helped retailers look for different markets depending on their product type. This included learning about how to engage with the web to sell products, planning for fairs to attend, etc. In essence, during quiet times, the shops become 'money-making' offices where you're planning or serving customers who are elsewhere. It will take time and there's a lot to learn but they also became much more interesting and sustainable businesses. Hope this helps

 

[MOIC]

How do you recognise a potential customer from the average person passing your website?

If you was following the thread, you would have realised I was responding to a poster.

In answer to your question, you can see who is visiting your website.

There are websites that allow you to do this.

 

[MOIC]

Internet sites have no idea who has looked at their shop or what to do about it. And forget all the guff about web stats', they are so general as to be useless in comparison. All those millions of people surfing whilst at work through one IP address or a proxy server tell you nothing about the demographic coming to your site.

Are you sure?

Get private, real-time world class stats with Feedjit Pro. Know who is visiting, follow along as they surf through your site, get real-time email alerts and much more.

There are many sites like this that do even more, even bring you a cup of your favourite coffee to your desk.

 

[Esk247]

Are you sure?

Get private, real-time world class stats with Feedjit Pro. Know who is visiting, follow along as they surf through your site, get real-time email alerts and much more.

There are many sites like this that do even more, even bring you a cup of your favourite coffee to your desk.

Indeed. With a real retail shop i think it works in pretty much the same with peoples reaction to certain products, prices, time in the shop etc.

I don't think you can necessarily divide it right down the middle between good and bad, retail and online stores have both positives and negatives.

Websites can cost a lot of money and a lot of time to get up and running, get footfall and gain momentum but so can a retail shop, with rent, rates, fixtures and fittings etc.

When monitoring customers, a website can see when the person arrived on the site (judging the busiest times in the day), which pages they've viewed, what they've clicked on and how long they've stayed as well as if they are from London or Newcastle, or even Australia.

As Earl says, you can also interact with customers on a website in the same way as in your shop. People can communicate with you by clicking the little icon and ask about a price or a delivery enquiry in real time and you just scribble a note back.

Maintaining the footfall to a website is no more difficult than maintaining footfall to a shop, there are bad days and good days.

 

[kelvin1950]

See if you had bought them online you would have been able to by many more for the same price and would have had one left for me.

Earl

Yeah, and they would have melted in the post or the postie would have eaten them. Much better to buy them in a shop.

 

[kelvin1950]

Are you sure?

Get private, real-time world class stats with Feedjit Pro. Know who is visiting, follow along as they surf through your site, get real-time email alerts and much more.

There are many sites like this that do even more, even bring you a cup of your favourite coffee to your desk.

You can tell male from female? Young from old? Fat from thin? Ethnic origins? Religion?

Hmmmmmm.

I guess that if you ran a website selling spares for classic cars you might assume that your audience was primarily male? How wrong you would be.

 

[MOIC]

You can tell male from female? Young from old? Fat from thin? Ethnic origins? Religion?

Hmmmmmm.

I guess that if you ran a website selling spares for classic cars you might assume that your audience was primarily male? How wrong you would be.

No, you cannot tell the details in your first paragraph.

What you can do is see what pages in your website they have looked at and what their interests are, as well as other information that can help you track the potential customer and interact with them.

In answer to your second question, I agree with you, that's precisely my point why you have to attract ALL POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS to your retail shop, and not pick and choose who you think will be a customer.

If you followed the thread, you will understand my meaning.

Why do some posters assume I am anti-retail (B&M)?

I have retail businesses, and I have done so for over 30 years.

Is it a case that if you sing the praises and the benefits of having an internet presence, this makes you anti-retail (B&M)?

I don't think so.

 

[mhall]

Sounds like a wonderful business.........

A questionnaire to your customers cannot be scientific as does represent the whole community who are potential customers to your shop.

I do not doubt your professionalism or experience in running a retail shop.

I am merely curious as to how you recognise a potential customer from the average person passing your shop.

To suggest you don't want to increase your customer flow, just in case they do not 'fit in' to your customer profile, and prefer to rely on recommendations is not the norm for a retail shop.

When things are good,it's fine. When there is a downturn, it's difficult.

I wish you success.

Sorry about the tone of the last post, you hit a raw nerve We have actually found that we have done pretty well in the downturn (hope that's not just jinxed it)

If I am being totally honest, I would rather be one of those shops that can afford to keep the door closed and locked and take customers one at a time. There is a ladies clothes shop in Birmingham that has been doing this for thirty years - always used to annoy me rotten (when I couldn't afford to be their customer, ironically)

Unfortunately we can't afford to be one of those so we are open to all but don't rely on passing traffic. I suppose we are destination shops. If people are going to make the effort to come, we are pretty sure they will buy. I have to say it wasn't always like this and we try very hard not to be snobby or have any sort of clique, but I have to admit to being dumfounded at times - it seems the more "family" we are, the more customers we get. I use "family" as I don't see us being exclusive or even overly expensive - just honest, ethical and, I hope, really nice people.

I can't put my finger on it, which I suppose is good because our competitors can't either, they copy almost every line we sell, but still don't seem to be able to do what we can do. It's a bit girlie, but the way I describe it to my hubby is that we are Retailers, not shopkeepers that we honestly love what we do and the difference we make. We are trying to build a nice business first and make a profit second and for us, everything is personal.

..and I will happily admit that when we started I wanted to make money first and stuff the customers but I learnt my lessons quickly

 

[mhall]

Is it a case that if you sing the praises and the benefits of having an internet presence, this makes you anti-retail (B&M)?

Not at all, as many of us have said, an internet prescence is fine, even required. But that does not mean an internet shop

The annoyance comes from people who, usually just to give themselves some perverse pleasure, go down the route of "High Street is dead, internet is the only way forward" etc etc.

Those of us on the High Street get annoyed when these people, usually speaking from ignorance, paint us all with the same brush. Just as the internet people complain when we talk about spotty nosed teenagers sitting naked in their bedroom scamming people on Ebay or Amazon. Look at the thousands of "business websites" that don't have contact details !

The sad truth is that it is simpler to trade on the internet. I am NOT saying it is easier to keep going, but it is certainly simpler

 

[MOIC]

Sorry about the tone of the last post, you hit a raw nerve We have actually found that we have done pretty well in the downturn (hope that's not just jinxed it)

If I am being totally honest, I would rather be one of those shops that can afford to keep the door closed and locked and take customers one at a time. There is a ladies clothes shop in Birmingham that has been doing this for thirty years - always used to annoy me rotten (when I couldn't afford to be their customer, ironically)

Unfortunately we can't afford to be one of those so we are open to all but don't rely on passing traffic. I suppose we are destination shops. If people are going to make the effort to come, we are pretty sure they will buy. I have to say it wasn't always like this and we try very hard not to be snobby or have any sort of clique, but I have to admit to being dumfounded at times - it seems the more "family" we are, the more customers we get. I use "family" as I don't see us being exclusive or even overly expensive - just honest, ethical and, I hope, really nice people.

I can't put my finger on it, which I suppose is good because our competitors can't either, they copy almost every line we sell, but still don't seem to be able to do what we can do. It's a bit girlie, but the way I describe it to my hubby is that we are Retailers, not shopkeepers that we honestly love what we do and the difference we make. We are trying to build a nice business first and make a profit second and for us, everything is personal.

..and I will happily admit that when we started I wanted to make money first and stuff the customers but I learnt my lessons quickly

You have a very unique business.

I would say, one in a million.

Keep it up. It obviously works for you.

 

[mhall]

You have a very unique business.

I would say, one in a million.

Keep it up. It obviously works for you.

I don't think we are unique in any way, but I am embarrassed to admit that a customer just bought in some flowers for one of the girls:redface:

Unique? - not in the slightest
Special? - I think, as Retailers, we all need to be to survive. For some that is aggresive marketing, cost cutting, loss leaders and price matching. For us the softie girlie approach seems to work best .

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

I don't think we are unique in any way, but I am embarrassed to admit that a customer just bought in some flowers for one of the girls:redface:

Unique? - not in the slightest
Special? - I think, as Retailers, we all need to be to survive. For some that is aggresive marketing, cost cutting, loss leaders and price matching. For us the softie girlie approach seems to work best .

I think you must be special .... the reaction of your customer is prrof of that.
It's lovely when customers do things like that, unexpected when you are just "doing your job" but always nice to be acknowledged.
I'm with you 100% on creating a friendly, family feel to your business - it's what small independents can do that the large chain stores simply can't, it is essentially our USP.
I have lots of customers that just call in for a chat, often armed with a packet of biccies and offering to go and put the kettle on! It's really lovely, we have become quite a community destination, and while it costs a little bit in teabags & milk, in my view it pays dividends, plus has provided me with new friends.
These customers wouldn't dream of shopping anywhere else for the stock they know we sell, they have "sold" us to family, friends & work colleagues, support our charity events and keep me smiling when it's cold outside and quiet inside.
I know my shop will never make me rich in terms of money, but I do love being here!

 

I think you must be special .... the reaction of your customer is prrof of that.
It's lovely when customers do things like that, unexpected when you are just "doing your job" but always nice to be acknowledged.
I'm with you 100% on creating a friendly, family feel to your business - it's what small independents can do that the large chain stores simply can't, it is essentially our USP.
I have lots of customers that just call in for a chat, often armed with a packet of biccies and offering to go and put the kettle on! It's really lovely, we have become quite a community destination, and while it costs a little bit in teabags & milk, in my view it pays dividends, plus has provided me with new friends.
These customers wouldn't dream of shopping anywhere else for the stock they know we sell, they have "sold" us to family, friends & work colleagues, support our charity events and keep me smiling when it's cold outside and quiet inside.
I know my shop will never make me rich in terms of money, but I do love being here!

Nothing wrong with having a hobby you enjoy,you will probably live longer than the wizz kids.

Earl.

 

[mhall]

I'll rise above the hobby comment Earl.

I remember reading Sam Waltons autobiography once and he said that he was constantly jealous of independents because he knew that Wal Mart would never be able to beat them on personal service, no matter what he did or how many greeters they employed. Interestingly I see Asda are starting to remove greeters

 

I'll rise above the hobby comment Earl.

I remember reading Sam Waltons autobiography once and he said that he was constantly jealous of independents because he knew that Wal Mart would never be able to beat them on personal service, no matter what he did or how many greeters they employed. Interestingly I see Asda are starting to remove greeters

Blimey you are paranoid I was just echoing Doodles philosophy which is one that I would always suggest is probably a better life style led by the go getters in life,most of whom seem to spend a great deal of what after all is the most precious thing we get wasting it.

Earl

 

[MOIC]

I'll rise above the hobby comment Earl.

I remember reading Sam Waltons autobiography once and he said that he was constantly jealous of independents because he knew that Wal Mart would never be able to beat them on personal service, no matter what he did or how many greeters they employed. Interestingly I see Asda are starting to remove greeters

I think the point Earl was making (And I know he certainly doesn't need anybody to speak up on his behalf) was that some people in business spend most of their time expanding their business and working all hours whilst sacrificing the precious things in life, time for yourself, time for your family in pursuit for the 'pound note'.

Doodle - Noodle appreciates the 'family' atmosphere that her shop attracts and is content in enjoying that aspect of her business, and acknowledging that there are more important things to just growing your business to several outlets and losing that 'special' feel that an owner manager can get from operating one shop.

Some people are content with one shop and a 'happy life' and keeping their problems at a small level, rather than expanding to a number of shops and having the problems expansion can attract.

By the way, was there romance in the air between customer and staff ( re the flowers) or was it just to say, thank you........?

Keep well.

 

I believe this was first posted by CJD.

a lesson for most.

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor's orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head.
A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.


"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked.
"Only a little while," the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American then asked.
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends," the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.


"But… What do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican looked up and smiled. "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos.



I have a full and busy life, senor."
The American laughed and stood tall. "Sir, I'm a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats."


He continued, "Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you could run your expanded enterprise with proper management.
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, senor, how long will all this take?"


To which the American replied, "15-20 years, 25 tops."
"But what then, senor?"
The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."


"Millions senor? Then what?"


"Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll in to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
Earl

 

[MOIC]

I believe this was first posted by CJD.

a lesson for most.

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head.
A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.


“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.
“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.
“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American then asked.
“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.


“But… What do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos.



I have a full and busy life, senor.”
The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”


He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you could run your expanded enterprise with proper management.
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, senor, how long will all this take?”


To which the American replied, “15-20 years, 25 tops.”
“But what then, senor?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”


“Millions senor? Then what?”


“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll in to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Earl

How true !

 

[internetspaceships]

That's all well and good. PROVIDED you don't whine about lack of sales and slow business.

What really brasses me off is people that want both sides of the coin. Those that want "the lifestyle" and aren't prepared to put in the required work to go beyond that BUT still complain and moan and worry about lack of sales and money.

Fine, take the "lifestyle choice" that's great. I respect it completely.

But don't sit here and then moan about lack of revenue because it's your choice (which I respect) to take that path.

Retailers who spend their time bemoaning the state of retail in the UK? I say get a life and DO SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO RETAIL FFS. There's only so much polishing you can do whilst sitting in your shop waiting for people to walk in the door right? (Yes I have had retail premises before anyone starts)

To have a good lifestyle you cannot rely on base level sales because life throws curve balls in. It's fact.

You have to do more than you need and that sometimes involves stepping outside your comfort zone. Because you need a buffer to maintain that lifestyle.


Rant over..... but seriously....comeon

 

To have a good lifestyle you cannot rely on base level sales because life throws curve balls in. It's fact.

That may depend on what each individual considers a good lifestyle.?

And experience would tell me that beyond a certain level.

It sure ain't about money.

Earl

 

[internetspaceships]

Dude. Seriously.

There are a lot of people on here who praise the lifestyle and are struggling to pay their bills. How much of a lifestyle is that?

 

Dude. Seriously.

There are a lot of people on here who praise the lifestyle and are struggling to pay their bills. How much of a lifestyle is that?

Well in my book thats not a life I would wish.

Cutting ones clothe if possible makes for the best results.I would think.

But unfortunately in this bright new world many people are led up the garden path by the balls.

Funny thing I had an invatation from a friend who will be 80 to her birthday party

Her daughter had sent it to me,with the words.

suggestion for gift "Thomas Cook holiday gift voucher"

The old dear gets a box of chocs and a bunch of flowers as usual.

Earl

 

[internetspaceships]

I can't argue with your logic mate. Or your analogy there.

I also think you see my point too right?

 

I can't argue with your logic mate. Or your analogy there.

I also think you see my point too right?

Blimey I wouldn't agree with anyone who would agree with me.

Earl

 

[internetspaceships]

I'll take that an a "Earl Yes" then haha.

 

[MOIC]

That's all well and good. PROVIDED you don't whine about lack of sales and slow business.

What really brasses me off is people that want both sides of the coin. Those that want "the lifestyle" and aren't prepared to put in the required work to go beyond that BUT still complain and moan and worry about lack of sales and money.

Fine, take the "lifestyle choice" that's great. I respect it completely.

But don't sit here and then moan about lack of revenue because it's your choice (which I respect) to take that path.

Retailers who spend their time bemoaning the state of retail in the UK? I say get a life and DO SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO RETAIL FFS. There's only so much polishing you can do whilst sitting in your shop waiting for people to walk in the door right? (Yes I have had retail premises before anyone starts)

To have a good lifestyle you cannot rely on base level sales because life throws curve balls in. It's fact.

You have to do more than you need and that sometimes involves stepping outside your comfort zone. Because you need a buffer to maintain that lifestyle.


Rant over..... but seriously....comeon

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Banned]

Oh gawd the threads gone all mushy, it's just not right I feel ill.

What's worse the internet wasn't mentioned once in three pages

 

[mhall]

I don't think many of us do moan about declining sales. I do whinge about unethical suppliers, crappy councils and copy-tition.

I love what we do, it feels like a hobby but the shops have paid off our mortgage, made us debt free and provide us with a reasonable lifestyle, so are they really a hobby? If we had any more money we would only waste it. We were at the Foxwoods casino a couple of weeks ago and saw one man lose $90,000 on one card, not just once, but three times in a row. To be fair to him he didn't even blink so can obviously afford it but that is not good surely

 

[MOIC]

What's worse the internet wasn't mentioned once in three pages

You just did. (Thanks)

 

[Banned]

You just did. (Thanks)

I aim to please

 

[mhall]

<<<<<<<takes out lighter and holds it aloft

"Can you feel, the love tonight...."

 

[Banned]

<<<<<<<takes out lighter and holds it aloft

"Can you feel, the love tonight...."

Grandma - they use their mobile phones these days

 

[mhall]

Grandma - they use their mobile phones these days

Not a Granny yet, but it's only a matter of time !

 

[QuickHomeBuyers]

Tell me about feburary, seems worse than January for sure.

Way way lower than last year adjusted for inflation? People say they can only either pay for thier heating + ciggies + basic food and no money left after to pay for luxury?

 

[Spearmint]

I don't think many of us do moan about declining sales. I do whinge about unethical suppliers, crappy councils and copy-tition.

I love what we do, it feels like a hobby but the shops have paid off our mortgage, made us debt free and provide us with a reasonable lifestyle, so are they really a hobby? If we had any more money we would only waste it. We were at the Foxwoods casino a couple of weeks ago and saw one man lose $90,000 on one card, not just once, but three times in a row. To be fair to him he didn't even blink so can obviously afford it but that is not good surely

I almost choked on my tea reading that about the gambling loss! If you won that much of him, I expect you're going back there soon!