My previous blog was about why moving your retail store could be a positive thing. As I troll the Web for interesting topics, I continue to see more and more articles about how cities and developers are trying to lure small retailers. Apparently, so is the supposed enemy of small retailers: Wal-Mart.

This story from the Galesburg Register-Mail in Illinois really grabbed my attention. It seems that the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in town has left the big-box retailer with a 105,627-square-foot problem: Its original Wal-Mart store is empty with quite a lot of time left on its lease. So Wal-Mart wants to sublease the building in chunks of at least 20,000 square feet.

The location sounds great, with tens of thousands of motorists driving by each day. And “Wal-Mart has a design team that helps new tenants using only a portion of the building figure out how best to reconfigure it for their uses.”

This sounds like an ideal opportunity to me. Tenants who sublease from Wal-Mart in other previously vacant stores are doing very well, according to the article. And Wal-Mart says it’s committed to helping them succeed.

Of course, this begs the question of how small retailers can cope when Wal-Mart brings just one store to the area. As real estate pros and I have said before, try to get close to it. If you have to move, it’s probably worth it. Differentiate your store through great customer service and by stocking merchandise Wal-Mart won’t touch. Moving into an old Wal-Mart or near an existing one could be the antidote to your big-box fears.

by Jeff Grant
August brings hordes of teen and pre-teens with parents in tow to retail stores in search of the newest, coolest school gear. This year the prediction is that back-to-school sales will ring up $18 billion in sales. With the right preparation you can take better advantage of this windfall than you ever have before. Here are some things to consider when prepping for the season.

Staffing
Think about increasing staffing for the rush. If you can hire high schoolers, so much the better; they speak the language. Hire in enough time to allow adequate training.

Marketing
Drop by the local schools and talk to the administrators about offering discounts to students and teachers in sports, clubs, and classes. Teachers typically pay about $500 a year out of their own pocket on classroom supplies. Ease their pain and you’ll have an important advocate for your business. Back-to-School Nights are an excellent place to hand out flyers touting your store. Remember that you are marketing to two very different mind-sets—the parent and the child. When all is said and done, the kid makes the decision on what is purchased, but you have to get the parent into the store, and the way to do that is by putting items on sale or offering a special discount to students.

Stocking
Keep an eye on trends. Kids, especially the high schoolers, are mind-bendingly trend conscious. Keep up with the magazines. What are the hot accessories for backpacks this year? Hot accessories for the iPod? Are designer water bottles the hot new thing? What are they wearing? Stay current. Stock up on “consumable” store supplies such as bags, clothing hangers, and cash register tape.

Fixturing
Pen displays, paper racks, dump bins, book merchandisers, and sunglass displays are just a few fixtures you might want to add for the season. Merchandising around the cash register is always important, but when selling to teens, the impulse buy is even bigger. Small, flashy items with good margins are the ticket. If you stock electronic items, batteries are a cash register mainstay, and for good reason.

Plan and Profit
Advance planning is the key to seasonal merchandising. Order product and fixtures well before back-to-school shopping season. Product, especially, is a bit of a moving target, but if you do the homework you’ll be halfway home. You learned that in school, right?

Contact: Jeff Grant
800-454-4844
858-539-7550

SAN DIEGO, July 30, 2007 – When it comes to communicating with customers, the simple, basic message or sign board has withstood the test of time. But many store and restaurant owners can’t find a large selection of these boards at their local office-supply outlet.

TRIO Display has a message for them: Trio now offers a complete line of affordable corkboards, dry-erase boards, easy tack boards and letterboards in a variety of finishes that complement any store’s interior.

“Visual presentations are more effective with these inexpensive yet potent merchandising tools,” said Jeff Grant, president of the online retail design and store-fixture firm. “We now carry an extensive assortment of boards and accessories at volume prices and with immediate shipping.”

At www.triodisplay.com/boards, retailers can find the following categories of message and sign boards:

• Corkboards: Enclosed corkboards with tamper-resistant doors for security and durability, open-face corkboards with no doors for convenience and quick access. Available with vinyl, painted, fabric and traditional backings, and wood, plastic, gold, bronze and aluminum finishes (powdercoat and anodized). Illuminated models available.
• Dry-Erase Boards: Help organize calendars and meetings, and announce important operational items. Available in wood, aluminum and plastic backings. Available in enclosed and open-face styles.
• Easy Tack Boards: A quick, convenient way to alert customers to important messages like sales, special events and promotions. Non-permanent, self-adhesive fabric holds pictures, menus, notes, reminders, brochures, art and more by simply placing items on fabric and pressing firmly. Items pull off for easy removal. Available in enclosed and open-face styles.
• Letterboards: Provide a reliable, durable, classy way to make announcements. Made of aluminum, bronze, gold, wood and plastic finishes for many years of service. Illuminated models also offered. Available in enclosed and open-face styles.

About TRIO Display
TRIO Display is a retail design and store-fixture company based in San Diego, California. TRIO specializes in planning and outfitting retail spaces that “look good and sell goods.” TRIO delivers effective, intelligent design that builds a relationship between brand and customer. TRIO clients include many professional sports-team stores, the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Bookstore, and the RMS Titanic exhibit store. To order from the TRIO catalog, visit www.triodisplay.com/catalog or call 800-454-4844.

About Jeff Grant
With more than 20 years’ experience designing and outfitting successful retail spaces, TRIO Display president and chief designer Jeff Grant works with 1,000-plus merchants annually designing stores, supplying retail fixtures and displays, and dispensing advice, ideas and suggestions. He can be contacted at jeff@triodisplay.com.

You have enough to worry about inside your retail location: store layout, inventory, point-of-sale efficiency, shoplifters, and on and on. If you’re satisfied with your rent and location, good for you.

Yet, if you’re like many retailers I work with, you’re concerned about competition from big-box retailers and chain stores affecting your earning potential. In this blog, I constantly stress the importance of setting your store apart through great merchandising, niche product selection, customer service and other key criteria. If you’ve done all that and still aren’t happy with the results, it might be time to consider a move.

While moving can be an expensive pain, I’m encouraged by stories about retailers from Victoria, British Columbia to Frederick County, Maryland, working with their communities to create new shopping areas and reinvigorate older ones. I see the same thread running through most of them, as the Victoria story points out: “The idea is to attract…tenants who will enhance the social fabric of the community.” And in Maryland, the renovation of a 57-year-old shopping center is exciting retailers, architects and the community alike.

With municipal governments and developers offering financial incentives to would-be tenants, this could be a great time to set your store apart even further. The move itself can be a time of excitement and reinvigoration for your business. If you have a solid customer base, include them in the moving “festivities.” Keep them apprised of the move-in/move-out dates, then offer promotions, discounts, contests and other reasons to stay loyal to you.

It isn’t hard to gather information about relocation opportunities in your region. Hop on the Web and mine information from Google, municipal sites, online newspapers, etc. Once you make the decision to go forward, it should be a move in the right direction for you and your customers.

Interesting that the Smithsonian Institution does a great job of displaying the 138,843,570 items it possesses, but its underperforming museum stores are in “substantial turmoil.” In some shops, the high-priced items are on the bottom floor, while the better-selling low-priced items require a walk up stairs. That’s according to a consultant’s report obtained by The Washington Post and summarized on its website.

The institution’s spokespeople challenge the report, but confirm that “America’s attic” has requested proposals from outside vendors to run its 30 stores. My take after reading the article is that the stores’ poor merchandising stems from the Smithsonian trying to run its stores like a government agency. And we all know how efficient that can be ;).

It’s a shame that the cash-strapped institution has trouble turning some of its most-visited spaces into cash machines. Maybe its retail managers should take a cue from Reebok. Their upcoming New York flagship store will be 3,750 square feet devoted to ice hockey-related merchandise. This article from BostonHerald.com tells how the shoe company is partnering with the National Hockey League to carry NHL-licensed clothing, headwear, accessories and equipment, plus Reebok footwear and clothing. There’ll even be a hockey-themed Starbucks at the rear of the store.

But wait, there’s more: A floating hockey-stick sculpture comprised of more than 400 real sticks and interlaced with flat-panel monitors will hang over the cashier’s desk. The killer for me is an entire wall made of real ice. It will be a backdrop for the merchandise.

I think the Smithsonian should tell its retail staff to do what I’ve been preaching for years: Take a look at the great retail stores that abound in every major city. They can serve as inspiration for any retailer, whether the nation’s attic or the corner antique store.

I wish the Smithsonian’s staff all the best if they take the consultant’s report to heart. In the meantime, they should ask Reebok for a sneak peek at their flagship store. I doubt they’ll get a chilly reception.

Contact: Jeff Grant
800-454-4844
858-539-7550

SAN DIEGO, July 25, 2007 – From battery-powered portables to cash-wrap workhorses with departmentalized sales reporting, the new selection of cash registers from TRIO Display can handle the cash-management needs of any retailer.

“Furthering our goal of being a one-stop source for all retail merchandising needs, we’ve added a lineup of state-of-the-art cash registers plus a selection of register paper rolls, ink rolls and ribbons at economical prices,” said Jeff Grant, president of the online retail design and store-fixture firm.

At www.triodisplay.com/cashregisters, 14 Casio and Royal cash registers are grouped into advanced, economy and portable categories, with prices ranging from $110 to $320. At the low end, the portable, battery-operated Royal 115CX is ideal for flea markets, farm stands, vendor carts, arts and crafts shows, kiosks or anywhere electrical hookup is unavailable or costly.

At the high end, the Casio PCR-T2000A Premier features a high-speed, two-station silent alphanumeric thermal printer that delivers 13 lines per second. Designed for high-volume businesses, it gives retailers the ability to issue receipts and keep a running journal of the days’ transactions.

“The cash register is the foundation of any cash-management system,” Grant said. “No store can operate properly without one. Our volume pricing on registers and supplies makes it easy for any retailer to afford these business essentials.”

About TRIO Display
TRIO Display is a retail design and store-fixture company based in San Diego, California. TRIO specializes in planning and outfitting retail spaces that “look good and sell goods.” TRIO delivers effective, intelligent design that builds a relationship between brand and customer. TRIO clients include many professional sports-team stores, the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Bookstore, and the RMS Titanic exhibit store. To order from the TRIO catalog, visit www.triodisplay.com/catalog or call 800-454-4844.

About Jeff Grant
With more than 20 years’ experience designing and outfitting successful retail spaces, TRIO Display president and chief designer Jeff Grant works with 1,000-plus merchants annually designing stores, supplying retail fixtures and displays, and dispensing advice, ideas and suggestions. He can be contacted at jeff@triodisplay.com.

What’s the right mix of merchandising using the Web, catalogs and brick-and-mortar stores? The furniture retailer in this story on TampaBay.com seems to have found it, even though it took 25 years.

Ballard Designs built its success on direct-mail catalog sales of furniture, lighting, accessories and other European country-style products. They debuted the Web site a few years ago, and it now accounts for about 40 percent of sales. After three years of planning, their first retail store opened very recently. It’s already a hit with shoppers, according to the article, and will take the place of testing new products online.

Ballard’s president says, “Big furniture and decor retailers must be multichannel operators who straddle a presence on the Web, catalog and in stores.” I think that can apply to just about any retailer who’s looking for the optimal mix of online, catalog and physical store.

Ballard has been around since 1982. Management finally realized if they ever hoped to catch up to competitors like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel, they needed a place where customers can “touch, feel and experience the goods.”

That’s the purpose of their first store. A second is set to open in the fall. The stores are the newest side of Ballard’s merchandising triangle. I like their methodical approach. If you’ve been thinking about how to build out your triangle, read the article. It’s a case study for retailers of any size.

Nobody likes a micromanager. But as a retail storeowner, you know you sometimes have to be one. According to this Wall Street Journal article, technology has given us the ability to micromanage invisibly. The article is about franchisers and franchisees, but it has relevance for any retail storeowner.

A tanning salon’s franchisee says he now monitors the business remotely via the Internet, leaving the day-to-day affairs to a store manager. He can review sales and inventory almost in real time online, while fingerprint scanner monitors workers’ arrivals and departures. He only visits the salon quarterly. The CEO of a hair-salon franchise says 10 hours a week is a “generous allowance” for tech-savvy owners to physically be in their stores.

While running your business by remote control sounds like a cool idea, my take is that you can’t control everything by computer. You’ve got to be there to see how well your staff treats customers. You need to make sure merchandising elements like signage and shelf space are kept up to your standards. Even if you’ve got in-store webcams to check on such things, they’re not enough.

I use technology as much as any virtual merchandiser. But I make it a point to meet with staff regularly, and to talk to clients to see how we’re doing. An online survey might be faster, but I’d still rather talk one-on-one.

An assistant dean at the University of Pittsburgh business school says small matters can add up: “Any business, whether it’s a franchise or not, takes a lot of work.” I agree. You can have all the latest, greatest tech gear plugged in to your store, but remember that your physical presence gives your store its true personality.

Contact: Jeff Grant
800-454-4844
858-539-7550

SAN DIEGO, July 16, 2007 – From classic reliable paper bags to totes to customized apparel boxes, retailers can order from a complete online selection at volume prices from TRIO Display.

“We can custom-print bags and boxes with any retailer’s logo to create inexpensive marketing that lasts as long as the packaging.” said Jeff Grant, president of the online retail design and store-fixture firm.

“Personalization elevates a store image and increases the perceived value of products in the customer’s mind. It’s an inexpensive marketing tool—as little as eight cents per item to add a logo—that pays big dividends A bag or box with a logo also becomes a take-home advertisement.”

Retail boxes protect merchandise, impress customers and extend a retailer’s brand when imprinted with a custom logo. TRIO Display offers high-quality bags, boxes and tissue paper in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors. All bags and boxes fold flat for easy storage. They can be ordered at www.triodisplay.com/packaging.

Custom shopping bags and boxes can be imprinted with logos and other graphics. TRIO volume pricing delivers a cost of just pennies per bag or box, Grant said. TRIO offers the following styles with turnaround of about two to three weeks upon approval of customer’s artwork:

Ink Printing
• Ink printed directly on paper
• Inexpensive
• Faster turnaround
• Ten colors offered (custom colors available)
• One color per bag or box only
• Available only on paper bags or boxes

Foil Stamping
• Metallic, Matte and Gloss Foils Embossed directly on the bag
• High-end, upscale look
• Consistent color reproduction
• 34 colors offered (custom colors available)
• Available on paper and plastic bags and boxes

About TRIO Display
TRIO Display is a retail design and store-fixture company based in San Diego, California. TRIO specializes in planning and outfitting retail spaces that “look good and sell goods.” TRIO delivers effective, intelligent design that builds a relationship between brand and customer. TRIO clients include many professional sports-team stores, the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Bookstore, and the RMS Titanic exhibit store. To order from the TRIO catalog, visit www.triodisplay.com/catalog or call 800-454-4844.

About Jeff Grant
With more than 20 years’ experience designing and outfitting successful retail spaces, TRIO Display president and chief designer Jeff Grant works with 1,000-plus merchants annually designing stores, supplying retail fixtures and displays, and dispensing advice, ideas and suggestions. He can be contacted at jeff@triodisplay.com.

By Jeff Grant
The simple, basic message or sign board is a sturdy foot-soldier in the battle to communicate effectively. Whether it be with customers, staff, or sales reps, a visual presentation is made more powerful with an inexpensive corkboard, dry erase, easy tack or letter board. There are a couple aspects to consider when purchasing a sign board.

The first element to think about is whether your message board will be used outside or indoors. If the answer is “outdoors,” you’ll want an enclosed model with a locking door and drain holes in the back to allow condensation to escape. Another consideration is whether you need an illuminated model; the advantages are obvious.

Okay, let’s dig in to an overview of message boards…

Corkboards
For most, the corkboard is the quintessential message board, and for good reason. Long-lasting and marvelously uncomplicated, the corkboard offers years of service. The cork backing “self-heals” push-pin holes and enables quick and easy placement of notes and photos. Corkboards come in many different finishes and the backing can be painted, fabric, or left unfinished. Pick one the works best with your color palette. An unfinished board dampens sound nicely also.

Dry Erase Boards
A staff meeting stalwart, the dry erase board is a monument to efficiency. Good ideas are conjured up with a pass of the pen while not-so-good ideas disappear under a sweep of the eraser. Excellent for blue-sky brainstorming and organizing meetings. If you own a restaurant, a dry erase board is a great way to announce the evening’s specials.

Easy Tack Boards
A relatively new addition to the category, easy tack boards come with a replaceable non-permanent, self-adhesive fabric that holds pictures, menus, notes, reminders, brochures, art, and more simply by placing the items on the fabric and pressing firmly. Removal is as easy as pulling the item off. These message boards are great for displaying paper graphics and photos. Some even come with a self-standing pedestal.

Letter Boards
Want a reliable, durable, classy way to make announcements? The letter board sign might be your answer. Enclosed letter boards offer security while open face letter boards provide convenience and accessibility. Crafted in aluminum, bronze, gold, wood, and plastic finishes, letter board signs are easy to use and provide years of service.

TRIO offers a comprehensive line of message and sign boards.