Secondly, both retail sectors core product is a perishable product. In general retailing, many retailers are scared of perishable products. If they get their retail offer wrong, product dies rather than just gets dirty. A retailer who can successfully manage living plants can also successfully manage produce such as fruit and vegetables, other winning formula.

Many readers will be aware of Pete Luckett. Pete and myself have spoke at numerous horticultural conferences and we are co-presenters of retail training video ‘Winning at Retail’. Pete’s Frootique in Halifax, Canada is best example I can provide to show you opportunities.

The Richer Way The key to playing unsafe is to look at best of best at game. For me, Richer Sounds, in U.K. must be leaders to watch. They have been in Guinness Book of Records for last nine years as world’s top performing stores, based on sales per square foot. They believe key to success is based, not on product, but on team initiative. Consider these unsafe practices and ask yourself if they would work in your business.

1.If a customer writes a complimentary letter to business on your customer service they receive a £5 note from business.

2.If a team member gives up smoking, business would give them £200.

3.If a team member goes on holiday and writes a report on how Richer Sounds can improve it’s customer service, and this is implemented, company will pay half airfare.

4.Team members can use Julian Richer’s holiday home for free. At end of vacation they are asked to send £10 to head office to go to charity.

The list goes on, but aim is to empower team to be unsafe. Remember, this business is most profitable at what it does and customers have to pass ‘box’ stores who sell same product to get to a “Richer Sounds” store.

Playing unsafe is something that any size business can do. Georgina Mason, has a small Farmers Market in Nottinghamshire, U.K. She makes 39% gross profit on sausages - her sausage sampling increased sales by 100%.

Brainstorm The key to success is to brainstorm with your team ways to become unsafe. What can you do that is risk taking? It will ensure you stand out from crowd and you’ll get noticed by consumers.

Lloyd George, British politician, was well known for being a non conformist. One of his many favourite quotes was; “Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.”

In today’s retailing to be a winner, you have to play unsafe; you have to take big steps.