NRHA Tips: Spruce Up Your Summer Merchandising

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NRHA Monthly Program Communication – August 2013

Let your employees take ownership in merchandising by putting them in charge of certain displays. Here are a few ideas to get your team thinking when they're planning summer displays:

• Outdoor power equipment doesn’t sell in a box. Trimmers and lawn mowers should be set up to their working condition so shoppers can actually try them out if they want to before they purchase them.

• If you’re selling plants, sell mature plants in full bloom. Customers like to see color, and that’s what sells plants. If you have a wide variety of plants, group them by type and where they grow. For example, group shady growing plants with other shady growing plants.

Seven Ways to Make Your Special Event a Success

Summer offers many opportunities to throw events that will get people to your business. Here are some tips to help you plan your special event:

Define your goals for the event. Ask yourself questions like: Who is my target audience? What items do I want to promote?

Start planning early. Depending on the complexity of the event, it may take anywhere from three to nine months to plan. First make a list of everything you’ll need for the day, including special guests, rented equipment, special merchandise for sale, food and advertising. Then schedule them as far in advance as you can so you’re assured everything is in place on event day.

Enlist employees to help. Assign staff members to particular duties according to their interests or abilities. Keep all employees informed about event details so everyone feels included and can help generate excitement about the event among the customers.
Advertise.

Utilize social media sites to build excitement in the days and weeks leading up to your event. Always give personal invitations to customers who are in your store.

Prep your store. Use banners, special signage, balloons and other decorations throughout the store to send the message something special is happening.

Get outside (while it’s nice out!). Hold the event outside—in your parking lot, on the sidewalk or in a grassy area—whenever possible. This will bring in more traffic, as people walking or driving by will stop in to see what’s going on.

Pay attention to every detail. Take the time to think through every part of the event and catch problems before they happen. For example, ask yourself questions such as: How do I avoid long lines at the cashier? Where will people park? Who will greet customers at the door?

WRLA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NRHA
The goal of the North American Retail Hardware Association is to help independent hardware and home improvement retailers become better and more profitable merchants through a wide array of educational and training programs, financial management resources, and human resource tools that are all available online. WRLA members get unlimited access to a full range of training and management services when they join NRHA through the WRLA. 

Visit www.wrla.org or CLICK HERE for more information about NRHA.