February 2010
- Message Board
- Business Index
- Editor’s Letter
- News
- New Arrivals
- Product News
- Designs & Displays
- Talking Shop
- Fit For Success
- Seen & Heard
- Ask the Experts
- The Bottom Line
- Retailer Spotlight
- Ad Index
- Marketplace Classifieds
A New Rx for Recital Season
One of the best pieces of retail advice I’ve heard in the last few months was: “Never mark down your prices to meet a discount distributor.” These wise words come from sales and marketing expert Bob Phibbs, who calls himself the Retail Doctor. “There is a danger for any retailer who matches prices,” he continues. “It’s never apples to apples when you start doing price matching. Your goal is to be profitable, not Santa Claus.” In a time when our nation is recovering from a recession, this doctor’s help is just what retailers need to make their businesses healthy again.
Phibbs has a true passion for helping small business owners. He is adamant about passing along the message that there are better ways to move merchandise than slashing prices. He believes increasing customer retention is one of the best ways to do that. In “Please Come Again” (pg. 41), Phibbs outlines proven methods for rounding up repeat customers. You’ll find several ideas here that can be implemented in your store right away.
Recital season is upon us, and right now is the best time for sales of performance-related items. This selling season may be getting more difficult as dance teachers depend more on catalog orders, but retailers can still get a slice of the action. In “Dressed (Up) For Success” (pg. 22), Jen Jones outlines three strategies for creating a costume program in your store.
Of course, having the right product selection is key. Spring is right around the corner, and with the new season come refreshing dancewear looks. Dancers have been getting by on basics for some time now, so break out the bold, brilliant colors and don’t be afraid to add a little sparkle and shine. Your favorite manufacturers sure weren’t. See what they have in store for spring in “Here Comes The Sun” (pg. 18).
By now we hope you’ve registered for the DRN Expo and are packing your bags for Las Vegas. If you haven’t, register at www.drnexpo.com right now—it’s not too late! This year’s event will feature more ways than ever to operate your store at its peak. The DRN editors have selected this year’s speakers with an eye to your top questions, and the exhibitor list is still growing. There’s more in Vegas than can fit on the pages of Dance Retailer News, so you won’t want to miss it. See you there!
