Creating ...

Remember why you bought or opened a scrapbook store in the first place? For most of you it was probably sparked by a creative spirit and a desire to help others preserve the stories of their lives. But when was the last time YOU took time to create something?

I sat down this week and made 3 small crockpot cookbooks for Christmas gifts. Now, before you get all impressed, I spent a total of 2 hours-- they were nothing to write home about. But I had a terrific sense of accomplishment, a gift made with love for my friends, and I remembered why I love this industry!

So take a little time this week and create something-- doesn't have to be fancy, but it will help you reconnect and remember why you used to love this. After all, if you're not getting rich, you should at least be creatively fulfilled. And if you ARE getting rich, please contact us-- you're in charge of the next blog entry!

Another Way to Reward Customers...

This customer reward idea comes to us from Janet Wells, owner of Pictures in Time in Orange Park, Florida.

"Last year I purchased Christmas mugs at the dollar store, filled them with candy, a $5.00 store gift certificate and tied it all up with cellophane. I identified my top 50 customers for the year and had our staff personally call each one to tell them we appreciated their business this year and had a gift waiting for them at the store. You should have seen the smiles when they came in! Most shopped on that trip (spent more than the gift certificate, of course), and I had lots of thank you's well into the year."

Thanks so much for sharing, Janet. We welcome any and all ideas from our stores. We're happy to give you credit, or you may remain anonymous. But working together helps everyone.

Wise Words ...

"Here's a new twist on a loyalty program: send your 25 (or 15, 10, whatever) top customers a thank you note and a gift certificate for $20.00 to be spent before the end of the year. You will absolutely delight your very best customers by sending them gifts, with no strings attached, that they can spend in the store. While it may seem expensive, it is actually not a bad deal at all. Your cost of goods for a $20 gift is about $11.00 (based on a keystone markup and adding 10% freight), which is not much to thrill a good customer. You've chosen your top shoppers, so you know that when she comes in she'll spend far more than face value of the coupon."

Like this idea? It's taken from a fabulous new book entitled "A ShopKeeper's Manual," Subtitle: "Be a Better Merchant, Raise your Margins, Lower your Costs, Make More Money, Have More Fun." The book is by our good friend, Mary Liz Curtin, retail guru and sales therapist of long standing. We can't say enough about this fabulous book-- it's filled with literally HUNDREDS of ideas that will make you $$$, and put the fun back in your business. Book retails for $39.95, and is easily worth 5 times the price. For information on how to purchase, contact Mary Liz, ml@marylizcurtin.com

And if you're attending CHA-Winter, be sure to sign up for one of Mary Liz's seminars:
1) "Buyer Seminar & Reception-Inside Tips for a Successful Show" - Sat, 1/27/07, 5:30-7pm, Event E501; OR
2) "Should Your Store be Virtual? Making the Web Work for You." - Sun, 1/28/07, 3-4:15pm.

You'll come away informed, entertained and enlightened-- we guarantee it!