Operations

Public Relations, Social Media and Blogs: They Go Hand-in-Hand

Bloggers have staked out a strong claim as the latest peddler of news and opinion in a field that had been ruled by print and broadcast journalists, and the most conspicuous in the era of... more »

Fads 101: From Fab to Fizzle

Which products are ripe to take off as a fad? How do you capitalize on the craze? Here's a look at how to profit from a fast-moving fad. Like champion surfers, retailers like you constantly... more »

10 Tips for Building a Revenue-Generating Mailing List for Email Marketing

While the philosophers debate whether a tree falling in a forest makes a sound when no one is around to hear it, small retail business owners are more concerned about the realities of email marketing... more »

A Retail Lease Primer for Gift Shop Owners: Survive to Thrive

The recent economic downturn has created a tough sales environment for many retailers, especially the so-called independent "mom and pop" stores and those operated by franchisees. Declining sales due to high unemployment and depressed home... more »

Find Fans Through Facebook

Social media is big and Facebook is one of the many tools you can use to drive traffic to your store. Here's how.When I first heard about Facebook, my daughter was heading to college and... more »

Writing on the Wall

When you think in-store marketing and branding, do you ever think of using your store's walls? While they might not be considered traditional marketing vehicles, a flat expanse of in-store space might just be crying... more »

The Right Light

Your store lights can make or break your walls. Make sure you're using the right ones for maximum impact.In our marketing article in this issue of GIFT SHOP, we already looked at how walls can... more »

How do you motivate your staff to be as interested in your business as you are?

Try as you might, sometimes you just can't do it all. A motivated, invested staff is key to the success of your gift store. (more…) more »