12 Retail articles.

Getting up in the morning and going to work does not seem to be an issue for most of you. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. What I hear from so many of you at trade shows is how much you love your work especially because you feel you are making a difference.

Last Thursday, my vet called in two prescriptions to my local drug store for one of my dogs. Fortunately it’s not a serious problem, but something that does need treatment. I followed up later in the day to find out when the prescriptions would be ready.  It should have been a simple call but there were problems. Whoever initially took down the prescriptions got my dog’s name wrong; and then there was an issue about one of the pills, which was a refill.

Three years ago, a friend who lives out of town sent me a digital picture frame for a Christmas gift. I remember being very excited about the gift and looked forward to setting it up so my life could truly flash before me. Photos from the last six or more years are digital so that makes loading them on the little card that comes with the picture frame very easy. But I also have a lot of prints. I could probably set aside a month of my life scanning 24/7 to get all of my prints converted to digital format.

Time Well Spent is the name of my business, my promise to my clients; and it’s my measuring stick. For example, before I introduce a product or protocol into my treatment room it must add value and effectiveness to the time my clients spend with me. It’s a simple and tangible appraisal system.

The Season for Giving is well under way. You may have noticed all those Black Friday and Cyber Monday opportunities in your inbox! Many massage businesses miss out on the holiday shopping craze, when they should be cashing in. It is a shame because there is no better time to encourage clients to refer their friends, family and workmates.

September may seem a little early to be thinking about Thanksgiving, unless you are a retailer or you are going to use it as an opportunity to “dance with the ones that brought you”... In other words, to show appreciation to those who have provided support and patronage. I know that a lot of business use Christmas for this purpose. But I asked myself a long time ago why should I present my tribute to people at a time when it will end up competing with their insurance agents, hairdressers etc. It has always made the most sense to me to use the holiday that we all celebrate, to express what that holiday is all about.

It seems every year around this time I find myself busy with the idea of Holiday promotions. People are out buying for the ones they love, and I have, what I consider to be, a valuable service to offer.

I think no time invites change more than the fall. The sudden coolness in the air and the invigorating scents of the season - pumpkin, cranberry, apple and cinnamon spice - wake up the senses and in doing so seem to trigger our desire for something new.