Angry Birds, Angry Customers

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

What do Angry Birds and irate customers have in common? In the game, hungry pigs have taken the birds’ eggs. In real life, careless companies have taken customers’ time, money, and/or energy. If you’re dealing with less-than-happy shoppers, trying to see the situation from their viewpoint is helpful. Listening carefully to them is a must. And [...]

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Promote Your Business, Increase Your Sales

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

If you want more people to know about your business, you have to get the word. You do it through ads–online, in print, and on air. You also need to get publicity. Traditionally, you hired a PR pro to tell your story to the media, and hoped as well that satisfied customers or clients were [...]

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Business Cash in a Flash

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

Let’s say money’s tight. How can you bring more in? In your personal life, you’d probably think about the lottery. And as the saying goes, “If you want to win, you have to buy a ticket.” The odds aren’t high, but at least you stand a chance. But how do you bring more money into [...]

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Competition is Good for Business

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

Competition is usually seen as a benefit to customers. It means that prices are contained and service is upheld. But how about for retailers? Is competition good for your business? Put it this way. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning said about love, let me count the ways. 1. It keeps you alert If you don’t think [...]

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How to Make Networking Work for You

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

Whether you’re on the lookout for more customers for your business, more clients for your practice, or you need a job, networking is the fastest way to get what you want. The more skillful you are at it, the sooner you’ll be able to move from feeling depressed to achieving success. While there are formal and [...]

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How Macy’s, Sears, and Walmart Envision Retail’s Future

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

You may not want to run with the big dogs, but you should know what the big dogs are doing. That way, you can use the information in your small business. So here’s an update on how Macy’s, Sears, and Walmart are approaching increasing their sales, to help you with your profitability. Macy’s is implementing [...]

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Technology Beats Out Customer Service in Stores

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

Want to sell more? Retailers need to ramp up technology, rather than staff. That’s the way to success, according to recent reports. Consider Sprinkles, the upscale chain of cupcake bakeries that just opened its first ACM–automated cupcake machine–next door to its Beverly Hills store. Shoppers stood in line at the Automat-like machine to watch a [...]

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James Q. Wilson, Broken Windows, and Your Business

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

James Q. Wilson died this week, but he left behind a legacy of getting it right from the beginning. A social scientist, he was a proponent of the “broken windows” theory of crime, which focuses on maintaining order, and calls for stopping minor infractions before they lead to major crimes. Acting on the theory, and [...]

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Your Business Benefits When the Customer is Right

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

Laurel Tielis Want to be a success in the luxury market? Offer superior flawless customer service. That’s the advice Alf Nucifora, Chairman of The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco, offered council members at a cocktail reception at furniture showroom Gaul Searson Ltd. Nucifora talked about what’s wrong with customer service and offered suggestions on solving the [...]

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Retail Groupies Enjoy Benefits

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Laurel Tielis

While you don’t get to say “I’m with band,” there are a myriad of other rewards you get by becoming a retail groupie. When you join groups–whether buying groups or community groups–you grow your influence and increase your business. Both kind of groups give you backup. As an independent, you’re always going it alone. As [...]

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