Do You Have Your New Year's Resolutions Ready For Your Retail Business?

When you start listing your New Year's resolutions for 2018, you are taking steps to help your business grow!  Your resolutions should go beyond the monetary growth you received on your year-end report.  Your resolutions should address your goals and increase the profitability of your retail business.  Here are a few ideas for resolutions that you might want to think about for 2018.

1. Get Up-To-Date With The Newest Technology:

Introducing the newest technology into your brick and mortar store is imperative for future growth.  Consumers are using every single possible platform from mobile devices to computers to be knowledgeable about their purchases.  Business owners know this and take full advantage of technology to ensure customers can access them through many different platforms and keep them in their store for longer. 

2018 Trend: Universal Charging Stations 

2. Automate Your Business With Online Tools & Apps:

Your business must run very smoothly so customers will have a pleasant experience.  One avenue to improve your business experience is providing paperless inventory which can be done quite easily using inventory management software and using your point of sale system to include a debit or credit card reader, a barcode scanner, computers, and monitors, etc.

2018 Trend: Swivel Counter Ipad Displays 

3. Join & Get Involved With Social Media:

Millennials are the highest percentage of shoppers on the internet today.  Social Media gives businesses the golden opportunity to promote their products and/or services quite successfully.  You can get immediate feedback on your products and services and be engaged with potential consumers.  On top of that, in most cases, it's absolutely free!

4. Provide Relevant & Updated Information On Your Site:

Above and beyond anything, you want to entice customers to view your products and services and then make a purchase.  Having informative, updated information is the best way to make that happen.  It is definitely worth your time and energy to update your site no matter what kind of retail business you are offering.

5. Improve Your Rapport With Your Employees:

Businesses that treat their employees well are more likely to increase their growth vs businesses that do not show respect to their employees.  Your employees are the heartbeat of your business and if your employees are happy, your customers will sense this and they too will be happy!  Paying attention to your employees might also help you discover various talents that will actually help you move forward and increase your overall growth.

6. Welcome Business Reviews:

In this day and age, everyone goes online to read feedback and reviews of businesses.  Consumers will make their decision to purchase from someone or stay away.  It is up to you to make sure your business is receiving positive reviews in order to compete.  Should someone leave a negative review, don't panic!  Just make sure you are publicly letting everyone know that you are following up on the issue and helping that customer out.  A really easy way to get customers to leave positive reviews is by offering them an incentive.

2018 Trend: Ipad Stand for In-store Reviews 

7. Provide Community Support:

Whether you are a brick and mortar or an online retail business, you still live in a community somewhere.  When you support your local community you are adding a positive image for your business.  Once your business has taken off and shown excellent growth, it's time to give back to your community.  There are various ways you can show support including collecting donations for a worthy cause, sponsor a local event, and donate to various charities.  Consumers favor businesses that support others.
2018 Trend: Standing Charity Boxes