i  know i hardly write anymore – it’s just that other things have taken over my plate of free time lately.  i’m hoping to report some exciting developments soon – but for now – i wanted to share a fun idea i came across today.

have you heard the buzz on C. Wonder?

apparently, it’s a very colorful new store opening in NYC.  and they did  fun promo at Fashion Week.  they passed out invites to their grand opening party that complimented the invitee with “we love your look!”.  Then they posted on facebook if that if you bring in the card, you’ll get a free gift!!

first you love em – then you love em some more!   i wish i could go to the party in NYC….

anyway – this is a great little grass roots inspiration.  how will you compliment your customers??

xox

if you have a shop – or create something to sell – don’t you wish you could just collect credit card payments anywhere? like at a holiday fair, or a sidewalk sale, or a pop up shop or a shop within a shop, or at a trunk show?  the list goes on  for places to make potential sales.  i remember declining to be involved in off-site group sale because how would i collect payment?  take an imprint of a credit card?  how totally old school.  checks?  they’re usually bad in my experience.  cash?  most women i know don’t carry a lot of cash.

but that was before iphones.  i was thinking how cool it would be if there was an app that could allow people to collect credit card info on the go.  and voila!

check out Square Up (cute name too).  there’s a teensy card reader that you plug into your smart phone (in the ear phone jack).  that part is free.  all you pay are swipe fees (which you do anyway when you accept credit cards).  no contracts – just pay if you use it.

seems like this has the opportunity to open a lot of new doors!  what do you think?  has anyone tried this?

and yet another fun idea from a local favorite boutique, Shop Adorn!

got an email the other day from Shop Adorn informing me of their Singles Bar.   did they set up a place in the shop for people to meet their soul mate?  uh – no.

unless that soul mate is a sweater in just your size…

the Singles Bar in this case is a special rack which includes the last items left – only one size – and you better hope that it’s yours!  i’ve seen this type of sale before – and i love having the very last item on sale.  it helps with merchandising (sometimes those random hangers on look weird next to all the full merchandise), it provides a sense of urgency to BUY, and it gives people an incentive to visit the shop over and over….

but what i thought was especially clever of Nicole, the charming owner of Shop Adorn, is the name she gave it:  Singles Bar.  pretty catchy!

what are your ideas for special sales racks?

Did you buy something for your store that might be a tad too expensive for your clients (perhaps it was irresistible)?  is there an item in the shop that no one is trying on for whatever reason?  Or maybe it’s been on the rack for a tad too long.

A quick way to move an item is to create a Deal of the Day.  post it on your blog, your facebook page and twitter – and have it be a significant enough discount to drive people into the shop (at least 20% off).  there are tons of deal of the day websites (flash sales like Gilt, Totsy, and a gazillion others that arrive to tempt me each day) – that create a sense of urgency to purchase (especially when a countdown clock is ticking the seconds away!).  people love the excitement of a great deal - especially one that only lasts for a day.  it’s the competition of shopping – better get it before someone else does!!

try it out and see how it works for you.  i imagine the results will be quite nice.  Mink posts deals on their fb page – so you’d be wise to be a fan!!

yet another local Portland boutique is hitting the mark on easy marketing ideas for their most loyal customers – Shop Adorn is playing favorites.

Owner Nicole Whitesell recently sent personalized emails to her favorite clients letting them know just that.  she invited them to a soiree at her store and to come get a special gift just for them.  i love this – it’s very old school – but effective.  of course those clients are going to shop when they come in!

the gift doesn’t have to be elaborate – could be a gift certificate or an inexpensive item from the shop – or even a little treat (candy!).  the point is that it’s a nice, personal way to say Thank You to your best customers.