how is everyones business coping with the recession? moral support thread

simpywimpy

a6 can you tell me how to get a website at the top of a google search?

lynzpower

diamondgirl78 wrote: »

I run a jewellery shop and of course one of the first things to go when things get tough are 'luxury' items. I have tried to concentrate more on the services we provide (as nothing much is selling as far as stock goes)...

During the course of last year, along with their receipt I gave out a little voucher to my customers entitling them to £1 off their next watch battery or strap - that equates to about 25% off our most profitable service. Doesn't seem like much, but LOTS of people redeemed them and it was a good way to get people back into the shop. I also told people they could pass their voucher on to a friend if they wanted. Again, a good way of getting NEW customers.

If anyone can think of anything else I could try, I'd be very grateful

only you can work out whether this is worth doing, but have you considered doing a leaflet drop offering the same discount. You might have to speculate a bit, but im sure in these tight times, more people a) are using vouchers without embarrassment b) will repair things.

If this is a good idea thats working then expand it! If people arnt coming in to buy jewelry, then they wont be able to pick up the voucher, so it seems like a good thing to try to expand

thebaldwindowfitter

simpywimpy wrote: »

a6 can you tell me how to get a website at the top of a google search?

its a black art so they say but i can help pm your web address

thebaldwindowfitter

http://www.bttradespace.com/freetojoin/?s_cid=TS_ppc_b2b_acq_bmm_google_2008_brand_brand

http://www.yelldirect.com/freelisting/home.html

some free advertising ideas

diamondgirl78

Thanks for your input Cooltrikerchick, much appreciated. I did do partyplan with some of our stuff a few years back, and I did reconsider doing it again... But I'm not really the right sort of person (SHY ).

Believe it or not, we never do very well with Valentine's day. Our shop is tucked away off the main street, so our competitors get the better deal.

Lynzpower - Yes, I most probably would benefit from doing a leaflet drop. Back in the summer of last year, I gave strips of our vouchers to local shops/businesses and some did redeem them. We have a colour laser printer on contract hire anyhow, so we may as well make it earn it's keep, huh! Will get stuck in to that tomorrow, thanks.

diamondgirl78

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

incentive gifts to motorvate your staff to hit higher targets...

My 'staff' is me, lol... :rotfl:
I could give myself a pat on the back if I do well at work tomorrow, but as for pinching that diamond ring I've had my eye on... Better not!

Edited to say: God, that sounded awful, just thought I'd better make it clear to everyone that this is my own business, and I would never be a 'tea-leaf' if I were employed by someone else!!! :eek:

save-a-lot

a6windows wrote: »

http://www.bttradespace.com/freetojoin/?s_cid=TS_ppc_b2b_acq_bmm_google_2008_brand_brand

http://www.yelldirect.com/freelisting/home.html

some free advertising ideas

if you have websites, anyone in the thread, I run a free UK based directory.. PM me if you want the URL

COOLTRIKERCHICK

diamondgirl78 wrote: »

My 'staff' is me, lol... :rotfl:
I could give myself a pat on the back if I do well at work tomorrow, but as for pinching that diamond ring I've had my eye on... Better not!

Edited to say: God, that sounded awful, just thought I'd better make it clear to everyone that this is my own business, and I would never be a 'tea-leaf' if I were employed by someone else!!! :eek:

lol....what i meant to say was send letter flyers out to big companies, and ones that their staff work on comission etc.. tell these big companies ( in a nice sort of way) what about buy jewelry( from you) to give as motorvation gifts or prizes to THEIR staff for hitting certain sales targets etc...

for example if you have a certain line of watch or clock etc which hasnt sold, and gathering dust so to speak.. and you need to shift them, even if you cut your profit margin on them ( So in effect you are trying to cut your loss and get money in etc) package them up in a nice presentation etc and take some lovely photos and show these to the companies..

These big companies need to boast their sales too, so this might use this idea ( and buy from you the same time) to increase their sales ( by motorvating their staff to sell more)

Companies you could contact....

Local representatives for.....

Kleeneeze .....Avon..... ( you get the drift) as these recruit people, and htey get a % of their sales total..

Any company that have sales Reps, that are on commission....

I know one of the Dragon Den guys...( i think it was theo) worked in a up market Jewelers... and they used to get an incentive gift .. which ever sales assistant hit the highest amount of sales would have a gift at the end of the month...

As for the Partyplan... Did you sell some items? Your confidence will grow when you believe in yourself... or have you got someone who could come with you who has the confidence to sell ?

diamondgirl78

Thanks very much for your input Cooltrikerchick.

I'm not knocking party plan at all, but it's just something I'm personally not comfortable doing. Yes, we did sell some items before (we went into an old folks home just before Christmas one year, so they could get bits for daughters, granddaughters, etc). I am happy in my shop, but other than that I'm not really a sociable people-person!

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

As for the Partyplan... Did you sell some items? Your confidence will grow when you believe in yourself... or have you got someone who could come with you who has the confidence to sell ?

No, I don't have anyone with the spare time to help me out with this. My sister-in-law is that type of person, but works long unsociable hours.

I will certainly be trying to get my head around some kind of leaflet drop today though, work on my strengths rather than dwelling on my weaknesses!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

diamondgirl78 wrote: »

Thanks very much for your input Cooltrikerchick.

I'm not knocking party plan at all, but it's just something I'm personally not comfortable doing. Yes, we did sell some items before (we went into an old folks home just before Christmas one year, so they could get bits for daughters, granddaughters, etc). I am happy in my shop, but other than that I'm not really a sociable people-person!



No, I don't have anyone with the spare time to help me out with this. My sister-in-law is that type of person, but works long unsociable hours.

I will certainly be trying to get my head around some kind of leaflet drop today though, work on my strengths rather than dwelling on my weaknesses!

great.... hope you didnt mind me suggesting some things... as martin would say just ( well i think he would..lol...) just look at things at a different angle or just outside the box.. this will make you look at things differently, and will help you come up with some ideas and solutions....also look at it from a customers point of view etc..

the leaflets are a great idea.....keep us updated with any feedback etc... as it will also motorvate alot of us too.....:T