New here : need some advise

[andranic]

hey guys I was looking to get some advise from whoever can help me out.

My family opened up a dollar and up store a 3 years ago. I advised them not to but they did anyway. It has always done ok but nothing great. Due to circumstances I have taken over the business and am the owner now. ( I had to so the business can survive. The last 6 months have been rough and sales have been down I am converting half the store into a party store ( the store is actually two store fronts). majority of my sales now are in party goods so I think if I were to expand that it would bring some of the numbers up.

I find it that the biggest problem that this store has is inconsistency and that not enough people come in. It is a very clean store and is a brand new building, what suggestions can you guys give me to brings sales up. I have made flyer's and it did work at first but I believe they were mostly 1 time customers or people who already are customers.

[BusinessAdviser]

Analyze your market. Determine the most cost-effective ways to reach your market. Advertise.

[Gaulkin]

Whats your buildings location?

[EasyAutoSales]

Play up the holidays, birthdays, theme days. Definitely learn more about your market and how to reach them.

[1frGa]

hey guys I was looking to get some advise from whoever can help me out.

Sell it!


My family opened up a dollar and up store a 3 years ago. I advised them not to but they did anyway. It has always done ok but nothing great. Due to circumstances I have taken over the business and am the owner now. ( I had to so the business can survive. The last 6 months have been rough and sales have been down I am converting half the store into a party store ( the store is actually two store fronts). majority of my sales now are in party goods so I think if I were to expand that it would bring some of the numbers up.

I find it that the biggest problem that this store has is inconsistency and that not enough people come in. It is a very clean store and is a brand new building, what suggestions can you guys give me to brings sales up. I have made flyer's and it did work at first but I believe they were mostly 1 time customers or people who already are customers.[/QUOTE]

[MoneyMagnet]

I think saying "sell it" is stupid advice. It doesn't sound like the business has popped an artery.

What I've learned from business owners is that if you start with one advertising medium (Like flyers you just said), you have to be committed to do it for at least 6-12 months, or its a waste of money. For example, if you have a sign on the street for one day, people will see it, but if it is up for only one day and the same people drive pass the same street, they will forget your business exists. Whatever advertising you do, you must keep it going for extended periods of time to get your business & what it offers IMPLANTED in their mind. If your sign is up everyday they drive down their same street after work, your business is engraved in their head, and when they finally NEED your service they will go "Oh, I remember that one Party Store".

I agree 100% with what Advertise Here said.

Maybe instead of selling it and moving to 100% internet, you can open an online segment of the business and that way you can expand the business without creating too much more overhead exp.

What are your advertising expenses as a percentage of total sales?

[matt_15]

I now aggree with money magnet.

[bizdev]

Get yourself some free publicity! Don't cringe, but the good old fashioned (but super effective) press release works like magic. And it doesn't matter that the store is 3 yrs old.

Play up the party store angle as if it's a new addition to the dollar store (play down that part). Hire someone to wear a Dora costume (or whoever is the latest kids craze) and place an ad in your local newspapers "Bring your camera and take a picture with Dora!" Have balloons (with your store name imprinted on them) and popcorn and punch and have a party promoting your party store. You will have a huge crowd!

As for the press release, I strongly suggest using this little book I promote on my site (Small Business Startup - Recommended Products scroll way down) Six Steps to Free Publicity. I used it to write my first press release for my children's shop (nothing newsworthy at all). The tips and direction helped take my press release over the top. I had the two local newspapers write big articles with lots of color pics. From that more and more newspapers picked it up and did their own stories. This went on for a full year! And all for FREE!!!!