Philip H. Mitchell, ArticleSlash Author

Design a Better Retail Store Layout

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:00:00 -0400

When you start contemplating making changes to your retail store layout there are some store layout basics that you should consider If a store is to be remodeled I like to start by doing enough research to know what s working well with the current layout and what isn t How are people moving through the store What are elements about the ..

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Retail Strategies That Work

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

When I consult with retailers across the country I often find that they do not have solid retail strategies in place Perhaps they don t understand the importance of the process or maybe they have simply not taken the time to formulate their plan Whatever the reason ..

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Superior Customer Service 5 Great Ideas

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

Ask any store manager and I ll bet he or she will tell you that they work hard to insure that their store provides good customer service That s as it should be But here s the problem In today s competitive arena good customer service is simply not enough It is not a point of differentiation because everybody ..

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Customer Service Defined

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

When I work with retailers helping them to improve their customer service I first ask them how they define it By far the most prevalent answer I get is something like 8220 well it s waiting on customers and helping them find what they want and that kind of stuff ..

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Retail Consultant Who Needs One

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

Let me start this article by saying that I am and I am proud to be a retail consultant Retail consultants kind of get a bad wrap in a lot of conversations and understandably so Many of those in the business hang their shingles with minimal amounts of experience and therefore its easy to see ..

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GMROI and ROA Wheres Your Focus

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

I had lunch with a gentleman the other day who told me that his company used an outside trainer who s message was always the same He said that the 8220 consultant pounded the same message meeting after meeting and over and over 8220 GMROI Gross margin returned on ..

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Customer Service Surveys Your Performance Grade Card

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

If you really want to know how your customers perceive your retail store s customer service there s only one way to find out And it s really very simple Ask them There is a problem however these questions when asked by the store owner manager or personnel usually produce skewed answers .

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Retail Customer Service and a Hot Dog Stand

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -0400

There s opportunity in the air Can you feel it Here s what I mean I m beginning to notice many stores have already cut down on staffing this I m sure in reaction to the economy s woes Several store managers I work with have told me that their business is good but even those managers are beginning to ..

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Customer Service Lessons From the Road Part 1

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:00:00 -0400

At the motel where we were staying the clerk recommended a downtown Mexican restaurant rather than the one across the street 8220 Just turn right when you leave the parking lot go to the third stop light and when you get there turn left You ll drive right in front the place it ll be on your left They ..

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Customer Service Lessons From the Road Part 2 Killing Snakes

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:00:00 -0400

I spent the 4th of July weekend visiting my daughter in San Antonio My 7 year old granddaughter thought it would be great if grandpa would take her to a movie and I gladly acquiesced The challenge I knew would be to find an acceptable movie for her but one that was ..

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Retail Genetics

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:00:00 -0400

I have read articles explaining behaviour and appearance as products of genetics The study of genes and how they control the aforementioned attributes and others like the predisposition to certain diseases for example is fascinating In fact genes hold characteristics which are hardwired into the ooze and ..

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Retail Management Through Difficult Times

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:00:00 -0400

Our economy is on the ropes this despite the official technical proclamations to the contrary During tough times retail store managers must operate at the highest level to insure that their stores remain profitable Here are 6 suggestions to help your business weather the current economic storm ..

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