This Old Business...

Written by Michael S. Winicki


Continued from page 1
Secondly, gluten free and sugar free products are selling big nationally and these two categories should have a prominent place inrepparttar building. One point when it comes to inventorydo it monthly. If allrepparttar 104467 products were entered into a computer as were received inrepparttar 104468 store and then checked off as sold, inventory would not take very long to do. This would help find areas of concern as they apply to both store security and inventory “turns”, which is a measure of profitability. The temperature ofrepparttar 104469 store seemed a bit too low for me. While I respectrepparttar 104470 need to monitor utility costs this is an area where customers notice big-time and I thinkrepparttar 104471 impression it gives is one of being cut-rate rather than first class. I think it probably does not foster a pleasant work environment for everyone either… I mean who really wants to be cold while they work? If you’re concerned about costs don’t be. Everything I’m suggesting is geared towards improving sales and profits ofrepparttar 104472 business. You neglect to do any of them and in my opinion your store’s ultimate sale and profit potential will take a hit. The signage thing I talked about inrepparttar 104473 entrance-way is prevalent throughoutrepparttar 104474 building--too many old, battered signs that makerepparttar 104475 place look unkept. Every month or sorepparttar 104476 signs should be redone onrepparttar 104477 computer because they do degrade quickly. Let’s talk about personnel or more specifically their appearance. I greatly suggest that a standard shirt or smock be adopted by management and worn by all staff at all times. Why I suggest this is that it promotes consistency plus it does giverepparttar 104478 wearer a little pride because they are wearing a “uniform”. Consumers are always more receptive and respectful to people in a uniform. Call it psychological or call it crap but it does work that’s whyrepparttar 104479 chain and franchise businesses require them. It’s not because they want to spendrepparttar 104480 money but because it helps them make money. Obviouslyrepparttar 104481 layout ofrepparttar 104482 store needs to be changed as quickly as possible so customers don’t have to go throughrepparttar 104483 office area in order to reach other parts ofrepparttar 104484 building. I realize that it is going to take time and money and it’s something already inrepparttar 104485 works. I would also have some kind of music playing inrepparttar 104486 store, pick whatever type you want but music is usually beneficial for both employees and customers. I would think a “Policies and Procedures” manual would greatly benefit this business. Not only will it cause tasks to be done uniformly and consistently it will greatly relieverepparttar 104487 burden put on bothrepparttar 104488 staff andrepparttar 104489 owner for training new employees. Not that new employees don’t need training becauserepparttar 104490 do but verbal training is inconsistent training. The same, exact set of instructions are rarely given twice in a row. Verbal instructions are not geared to creating consistent service to customers and consistent operations throughoutrepparttar 104491 store. High points should be touch verbally but every task that is done in that business should be written down in a simple step by step format and then arranged in a notebook. Each new employee that is hired byrepparttar 104492 business is given one of these notebooks. Insiderepparttar 104493 notebook would also berepparttar 104494 employment guidelines ofrepparttar 104495 business. Employees that aren’t trained in a professional manner and don’t work in a professional environment tend not to act professional about their position, towardsrepparttar 104496 customers and towards each other. Does that make sense? It should because while it may be painful to acknowledge it isrepparttar 104497 truth. Even minimum wage employees need to be treated professionally, trained professionally and work in a professional environment. Do you want to see moral go up? Productivity increases? Theft goes down? Then implement these changes immediately. Will you still get some “bad apples”? Of course, it’s unavoidable but it will allow you to turn some of these folks onrepparttar 104498 edge into good employees. The easiest way I know of in creating a “Policies & Procedure’s” manual is to take one task every week and do a procedure’s sheet on that task. List each step ofrepparttar 104499 task… you know “Step 1-Do this first”, “Step 2-Do this next”, “Step 3-Then do this”. Before you know it you’ll have a complete manual that can be photocopied and handed to each new employee. You can’t imagine how much easier a “Policies and Procedure’s” manual will make a business owner’s life. Now let’s talk advertising. I thinkrepparttar 104500 easiest and cheapest way to advertise this business is to use simple and low-cost classified ads. Every week an ad should be run in some newspaper or penny-saver withinrepparttar 104501 trading zone ofrepparttar 104502 store. And these ads shouldn’t be some generic “Shop at Naturally Your’s” type ad. Instead advertise one product at an aggressive price OR advertise a unique part of your store, like “Lo-carb” products or “Gluten free” products or “Videos for rent” or something similar. Remember advertise something specific! Generalities don’t sell--specifics do!

In conclusion I think there is a lot you can do to improverepparttar 104503 profitability of your business right now and without spending a fortune. Now isrepparttar 104504 time to get started.



Submitted by Michael S. Winicki publisher of “Mike Winicki’s Small Business World”, http://www.small-business-world.com and the co-owner of AdsThatSuck.com, http://www.adsthatsuck.com the first internet site that compares how BAD advertising can be and how to make it better.


Multiple Channels, Multiple Times

Written by Robert F. Abbott


Continued from page 1

Then, inrepparttar month or so beforerepparttar 104466 changeover, it began communicating on several fronts. It held information sessions with employees, it sent each employee an information package, it sent out a special edition of its newsletter, it offered in-house computer programs for calculations and enrollment, and it offered appointments with benefits personnel if employees felt they needed individual counselling.

Employees gotrepparttar 104467 information in several formats, and at several different times, greatly increasingrepparttar 104468 odds that most of them would make informed decisions.

The odds that they would understand their choices went up because of different learning styles. And, needless to say, their ability to learn varies from time to time.

Some people learn best by reading (and you may be one of them since you're reading this article). Others may learn more effectively by listening, while yet others do best when they act in some way (like using a computer program).

Similarly, you may not be receptive to new information about a benefits program right now because you're focused on an important meeting later today. Or perhaps you'll be more interested inrepparttar 104469 subject after you talk with a friend and colleague at lunch tomorrow.

By using multiple channels and multiple times, we provide our readers/listeners/participants with several different learning options. That, in turn, means we increaserepparttar 104470 odds there will be a time and method that's optimal for them.

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Each week subscribers receive, at no charge, a new communication tip that helps them lead or manage more effectively. Click here for more information: http://www.CommunicationNewsletter.com


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