50 Marketing
Ideas for Retailers
Small business owners can easily get too involved in the
day-to-day operations of their retail stores to spend any time brainstorming
marketing ideas or promotional events. Some retailers worry that marketing is
too expensive, others may find it too time consuming. Without announcing who
you are and what you sell, how will anyone know? Here are 50 marketing ideas
for retailers.
1. Create a calendar for customers with your shop's name and
address on it.
2. Print the products you sell or services offered on the
back of your business cards.
3. Always carry business cards with you. Give them freely
and ask permission to leave them in places your target market may visit.
4. Join a trade association or organization related to your
industry.
5. Have a drawing for a product or a gift certificate. Use
the entry forms to collect customers' mailing addresses.
6. Develop a brochure of services your shop offers.
7. Conduct monthly clinics about a product or service you
offer or schedule semi-annual seminars on related "how-to"
information for your industry.
8. Print a tagline for your business on letterhead, fax
cover sheets, e-mails and invoices.
9. Develop a website to showcase your products, services and
location. Use a memorable URL and include it on all marketing materials.
10. Include customer testimonials in your printed
literature.
11. Promote yourself as an expert by writing articles or
tips on topics related to your industry.
12. Submit to the local newspaper, trade journal or other
publications.
13. Host an after-hours gathering for your employees and
their friends/relatives.
14. Provide free t-shirts with your logo to your staff to
wear.
15. Send newsworthy press releases as often as needed.
16. Create an annual award and publicize it.
17. Develop your own TV show on your specialty and present
it to your local cable station or public broadcasting station.
18. Create a press kit and keep its contents current.
19. Use an answering machine or voice mail system to catch
after-hours phone calls. Include basic information in your outgoing messages
such as business hours, location, website, etc.
20. Join a Chamber of Commerce where you can network with
area business owners.
21. Hold an open house. Invite prominent city officials and
the press.
22. Get a memorable local or toll-free phone number.
23. Place ads in publications your market reads. Be sure to
reach the non-English speaking market as well.
24. Distribute specialty products such as pens, mouse pads,
or mugs with your store's logo.
25. Advertise in
creative locations such as park benches, buses, and popular Web sites.
26. Improve your
building signage.
27. Get a booth at a trade show or expo attended by your
target market.
28. Give a speech or volunteer for a career day at a high
school.
29. Sponsor an Adopt-a-Highway area in your community to
keep roads litter-free.
30. Donate your product or service to a charity event or
auction.
31. Have a Yellow Pages ad listed under your main industry
and in related categories.
32. Volunteer your time to a charity or non-profit
organization.
33. Create a loyalty program to reward existing customers.
34. Create an opt-in email or print newsletter for your
customers. Fill each edition with specials, tips and other timely information.
35. Send hand-written thank you notes to important customers
every chance you get.
36. Use brightly colored envelopes and unique stationary
when sending direct mail pieces.
37. Show product demos or related videos on a television on
the sales floors during store hours.
38. Book a celebrity guest for an event at your store. Use
people in your industry or television news anchors or local authors.
39. Create window displays in locations away from your shop.
Airports, hospitals, and large office buildings occasionally have display areas
they rent to local businesses.
40. Team up with a non-competing business in your area to
offer a package promotion.
41. Pick the slowest day of the week to hold a one-day sale.
42. Create a warm, welcoming waiting area for your
customers.
43. Provide extra customer service training for your staff.
44. Sign up for a newsletter or join online discussion
groups in your industry.
45. If possible, loan your facilities to other groups for a
meeting place.
46. Create a unique lapel pin based on the products you sell
to wear at meetings.
47. Choose a regular customer to spotlight as a Customer of
the Month. Create a brief write up to submit to the local newspaper about the
customer and be sure to give he or she a copy of the article as well as have
one framed to hang in the store.
48. Pair up slow moving items with related products and
repackage as a special buy.
49. Start a blog. Write about your industry or detail
in-store happenings.
50. Offer your customers discounts for each referral they
provide.
Marketing is most
effective if done in coordination with other exposure. Enhance the above
efforts with additional signage, newspaper ads, displays and radio ads.
Remember to tailor each event for your target audience. If your message isn't
being delivered to the right person, it may be a wasted effort.
Article by: Maria
Working happily with
National Merchant Services
Happy Processing!!!
