Paul Thompson

Yuck at first sight...

Welcome me, even in a small way - When I get that welcoming hello from a store employee, even if they’re busy with another customer or project, I love it.

I like to shop a store that looks like it is going into business, not out of business. I really dislike sidewalk sales, although I know they may be a necessary evil for some stores during certain seasons. And if the store’s “On Sale” section is up front – keep it neat, don’t cram product together, and be helpful!

Clean is better, cleaner is best -The look of your store reflects how you feel about your customers. Believe it or not, I’ve always equated this with NYC cabs. After living here for so many years, I can spot a cab that is driver-owned just by the car’s appearance, and nine times out of ten the service is better than a fleet-owned cab. As a store owner, it should just follow -- clean carpets, tidy counters, clean light covers (not filled with mold or dust), i.e. pride of ownership.

I know that vendors send branded fixtures to display their products and this is a terrific cost savings to stores. But too many of these fixtures is not good for the store. A sea of spinner racks and bad knock-down fixtures give the impression that the store isn’t viable. Your store should have a style and appearance separate from the products. The fixtures should be appropriate to the various product categories in terms of size, weight, quantities, so the look is never cluttered. And always keep displays clean. -- Paul Thompson

Posted by Paul Thompson on August 15, 2007 | Comments (0)