Retail shops are one of the most common small businesses in America today. To compete with the other boutiques, mom & pop shops, and, yes, even retail chain stores, it is important to appeal visually to your customers. An appealing and motivating storefront window will grab people's attention and attract them to your store. Let's take a closer look.RecognitionTo make a name for your business, you need to be recognized by customers, potential customers, or people who were referred to your business. Without being recognized, who will notice you? You need a few simple things to be recognized.
Business Name- Stating the obvious, your business name must be prominently displayed for all to see.
Logo- Your logo is what will help people "brand" your image in their brain. More on logo's in a bit.
Business Information- Don't go too overboard with using your business information as a part o...
By Cheryl Sowa · February 08 2010
retail, recognition, logo, business name
Government, Politics, and the Economy
Retail Sales Rebound Into Xmas as Shares Show Consumer Not Dead From the recent spike in sales, it's beginning to look a lot like the retail holiday season will be happier than predicted. Bloomberg.comManagement and OperationsWhy Unemployed College Grads Should Channel Their Inner Entrepreneur Recent college graduates who are unemployed should think about taking to their entrepreneurial skills and start their own business. BusinessKnowHow.comManagement and Operations
By Cheryl Sowa · October 20 2009
small business brief, online, retail, customer service
Government, Politics, and the EconomyRetail Sales in U.S. Jump 2.7%, Most in Three Years Thanks to the government's Cash for Clunkers program, retailers in the U.S. surged in August - the most in three years. Bloomberg.comManagement and OperationsBe Ready and Prepared for Disasters: September is National Preparedness MonthFire, flood, hurricane, or tornado, you need to be prepared to protect yourself, your family, and your business from mother nature. BusinessKnowHow.com Management and Operations
By Cheryl Sowa · September 15 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, retail
Government and Economy
Obama Ready for Bold Stimulus Action
President-elect Barack Obama will have an opportunity that few presidents have had: Financial support from Congress to push forward with his campaign promises, especially to use some of the bailout funds to combat home foreclosures and to spur lending to individuals and businesses.
Retailers Overhaul Their Business as Consumers Draw Back For years, retailers could afford to be sloppy about running their businesses because customers kept buying. No more. Stung by the worry that shoppers - who cut spending by the most dramatic amount in at least 39 years this the holiday season - may not start spending again for a long time, stores a...
By Charles M Cooper · January 19 2009
small business brief, small business, retail, customer service
Government and Economy
Obama Considers $310 Billion Tax Cut Faced with a recession that could slide into deflation and stagnation, President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to ask Congress for as much as $310 billion in tax cuts as part of his massive economic stimulus package.
Retail Bankruptcies Expected to SoarThe disastrous fall in 2008 retail sales is certain to cause mass bankruptcy filings and store closures in 2009, said Michael Burden, an executive with retail adviser Excess Space Retail Services, with California, Florida and Nevada among the hardest hit.
Management and Financial Issues...
By Charles M Cooper · January 05 2009
small business brief, small business, economy, retail
In a letter sent to President-elect Barack Obama, the National Retail Federation (NRF) asked for three periods of sales tax-free shopping—to exclude alcohol and tobacco sales—lasting 10 days each in March, July and October 2009 to be added to Obama’s coming economic stimulus package. The trade group estimates that it would save consumers about $20 billion, or $175 per family. The goal, of course, would be to revive consumer confidence and spur spending.
Under NRF proposal, the federal government would use bailout money to reimburse the states for the lost tax revenue. State sales tax rates range from 2.9% to 7.25%, the group said. The five states without a sales tax—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon—would also receive money.
The Case for and Against a Retail Stimulus Package
"Without swift, additional Congressional measures, the current economic weakness could worsen, creating a more rapid downward spiral—bey...
By Charles M Cooper · December 29 2008
retail, stimulus, bailout, national retail federation
Government and Economy
SBA Expands Emerging 200 Initiative to 15 Cities as First Group of Executives Complete Innovative New Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s innovative Emerging 200 initiative will be expanded in the spring of 2009 to include five new cities – Detroit, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, and Portland, Ore. – SBA Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah announced today.
New Action by Treasury and Federal Reserve Will Support Small Business Lending
Late last week, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve announced important details on how the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) wi...
By Charles M Cooper · December 24 2008
small business brief, marketing, small business, retail
Politics and Government
Bush Promotes Action Plan For Global Crisis
President George W. Bush, fighting to get ahead of the growing global financial crisis, hopes to win more converts for an action plan designed to demonstrate that governments have the will and the means to halt the turmoil.
Unions Sure Card Check Bill Will Pass
The government-affairs director of the AFL-CIO said he is certain that organized labor's top priority—a law that would make it much easier for unions to organize businesses both large and small—will pass Congress and be signed by President Barack Obama.
By Charles M Cooper · November 21 2008
small business brief, small business, retail, bush
