Retail Business Kit For Dummies

by Segel, Rick

• ISBN13: 9780470293300
• ISBN10: 0470293306
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-09-02
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Whether you're a novice or a seasoned retail entrepreneur, Retail Business Kit For Dummies shows you how to start and run your business in today's retail marketplace-from your original dream and the day-to-day operation to establishing a connection with customers and increasing your sales, both on the Web and at a brick-and-mortar shop.In this practical, how-to guide, retail expert Rick Segel shares his expertise and reveals what it takes to be successful. You'll get a handle of the basics of launching and growing your business, from writing a business plan and finding a great location to hiring and keeping great staff. Find out how to meet and exceed customer expectations, create a positive shopping experience, provide top-notch customer service, and earn customer loyalty. And, the Bonus CD includes forms, templates, and samples that help simplify every business task, from managing inventory to creating sales and more! Discover how to: Launch a successful independent retail business Create a Web site that shines Connect with customers and increase sales Simplify operations with forms and templates on the CD Handle legal and accounting issues Design stores that really work Practice the 10 keys to retail selling Use management practices proven in the trenches Make visual merchandising work for youMake your new venture succeed beyond your wildest dreams with a little help from Retail Business Kit For Dummies!

Author Biography

Rick Segel, CSP is an international retail expert and author of 8 books on retailing. Segel is the Online Retail Marketing Expert for Staples.com and is the creator of the highly acclaimed Retail Awards Program in Massachusetts. His weekly column is read by more than 10,000 retailers worldwide.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Testing the Retail Waters

Retailing: How It Really Works and How It Can Work for You

Defining Your Vision: It Starts with a Dream

Branding: Making Your Business Memorable

Get ting to Know Your Customers Before You Even Have Any

Settin' Up Shop

Location, Location, Location: Finding the Right Place to Do Business

Designing Stores That Work

Choosing Your Merchandise: What to Buy and Where to Find It

Get ting the Goods: Controlling Your Buying

Detailing the Retailing

Creating the Business Plan and Structure

The F ine Print: Crossing the T's and Dotting the I's

Creating Your In ternal Systems: The Day-to-Day Stuff

Finding, Hiring, and Keeping a Great Staff

Money Matters: Accounting for Money Coming In and Going Out

Spreading the Word Without Going Broke!

Generating Word-of-Mouth Advertising

Advertising Vehicles: What to Include in Your Arsenal

Signage: The Underutilized Killer Resource

Setting Up Successful Sales and Promotions

Selling Made Simple

Selling the Soft, Suggestive Way

Visual Merchandising for the Artistically Deprived and Financially Handicapped

Selling Online: It's an E-World

The Part of Tens

Ten Keys to Retailing Success

Ten Secrets of Extraordinary Customer Service

Ten Proven Management Practices

Appendix: About the CD

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.