Today's guest post is from Poornima Apte, Managing Editor for GIFT SHOP Magazine.

One of the most over-hyped terms in today's workplace is "multi-tasking." When someone is praised as being a good multi-tasker, what they really mean is: This person can get many things done.

And the road to getting many things done well is not through handling 10 projects at once, but in planning and systematically implementing the details in every project. How many times have you finished up work for the day and felt like you achieved nothing? It was probably a result of flitting from task to task to task trying to do everything.

There was a very interesting article in the New York Times recently that made me think about how work can get done well. It talks about how we need to refocus our attention away from distractions and in the process, become more productive.

I have found the following tips really help:

• Make a list every day of work that needs to be done. No, it doesn't take too much time and yes, it makes you feel better to check each item off! Buy yourself a really fat, nice notebook to start the habit.
• The devil IS in the details. Plan each project down to each last detail. Make the time to implement it right.
• Don't start every day by doing the easiest stuff first. While it’s tempting to do so, tackle the most difficult jobs when you are at your most productive (in my case, it's first thing in the morning). Save the more routine stuff for when you are less productive (after lunch or end of day).
• Plan ahead. It always helps produce your best work.
• If you plan on leaving the store or your desk at 5, don’t work, work, work till you drop. Instead, stop five minutes before you really want to stop, tidy up your workspace and make a list for tomorrow. Then when you come in, you'll be energized and ready to go instead of clearing clutter first!

What are your secrets for being productive in your store? How do you share strategies with your staff? How do you reconcile the fact that different people might have different strategies for productivity? Share your comments and ideas with us!

Today's guest post is from Gail Markert, Markert Group Consulting 

With the summer show season quickly approaching, it's a good opportunity think about your buying strategy now. Here are five ideas for better buying this summer:

1) Stock products that have visual impact or will make a creative display. Your shoppers are time crunched and cash strapped. Hence, it is more important than ever that your visual displays and products attract customers so you'll sell more inventory. As you're shopping the markets this summer, think about how you'll display the various items you're considering purchasing. Especially, if you're on a smaller budget than last year, make every penny count by investing in inventory that will sell itself through great packaging, interesting designs, and products that will lend themselves to unique and creative display options.

2) One is the loneliest number. An amazing number of specialty stores order only one unit of a particular item. The downside of this buying strategy is that it doesn't tell a story about the products, the display will lack visual interest (displaying one unit is always harder than a group of similar items), and it does not give you valuable information such as the rate of sale between sell dates.

3) Distinguish yourself from the competition. Chain stores have a need for a certain standardization of products and processes so merchandise can pass through their systems as optimally as possible. They are also limited to certain price ranges, packaging types and customization. Herein lies your opportunity: sell what the mass merchants can't sell. For example, custom gift baskets, products that can be personalized, handcrafted products, or unique products not found in chain stores are great ways that independent stores can differentiate themselves. A knowledgeable staff is another chain challenge and a benefit to you.   

4) Plan to succeed. Every store should have a merchandise assortment plan. Compare items, classes and suppliers sales results to the same season the prior year. By creating a detailed plan for each season you will know exactly which suppliers and classifications are up or down to the prior year. This will help you develop a plan to drive your business forward. If you see business softening, shift some dollars to areas of potential growth. Follow your plan closely when buying so you can proactively advance your sales. 

5) "Be open" for business. You probably have a pretty firm idea of which products work best for your store and which ones won't. This is a big plus and a time saver but it can also have a dark side. To keep a fresh perspective, it's good to occasionally challenge yourself on your openness to new products.  Trade shows are a great place to open your mind. Ask each of your reps about any top lines they carry that you don't currently sell. At the very least, by the end of the show you will be up on all the hot sellers and that information may help you "be open" to trying one.               

Today's guest post is from Allisyn Deyo, Webmaster and Editor for Pinnacle Publishing Group.

You're a small business owner. You know you need a website, but honestly, it's an expense you aren't looking to have right now and so you keep putting it off.

Well we're here to tell you: STOP! Stop putting it off. Get yourself a web presence now, and I guarantee you will thank us later.

Here's why:

A website connotes success. Seriously, it does. You've created a brand, so expand it online, send out email newsletters… let people know you're here to stay.

It helps people find you. Where's the first place you look for information? If you answered the Internet, you're like more than half the country (particularly if you're under 30). A simple, five page website with about information, location information, a map, a contact form and upcoming events is easy to do and will let people know you mean business.

It gets you email addresses. Perhaps you get the email addresses of your customers in hard copy, but do you use them? A simple website will allow you to collect more and then to use those email addresses to send out coupons, flyers and announcements… for free.

It's cheap! A small website costs virtually nothing and can exist forever, without changes. Want changes? Find a designer who will modify a Wordpress blog into an easily manageable (read: no coding or web expertise needed) website, attach a plugin or two (for an email newsletter, perhaps?) and you're off to the races. You can make all the content updates, change pictures, send out emails, etc., all from a browser window without knowing a thing about coding or programming.

Longevity. Eventually you're probably going to want to sell online, or maybe even retire and just have a few things you sell, without worrying about shop overhead. A website that's been around for a few years has higher SEO (search engine optimization.. or, how people find you online) than one that popped up yesterday, and you'll have a better idea of how it works… no worries about learning something new right away.

I recently built-out a website for a restaurant. They gave me a design and using Wordpress, I turned that into a twenty-five page website. It contained a small Flash component, an email capture form (with a plugin for a newsletter in the backend) and pages they can modify when prices and food changes. They can even take new photos and have them become part of the Flash component!

How much? $700, and until they decide to completely redesign, they'll never need to pay someone for maintenance, as they can make all the changes themselves.

I get a lot of emails and phone calls from entrepreneurs who are starting a new wholesale business, but most of the advice we give in our magazine and on our website is geared to retailers. I thought it would be helpful to provide some tips to those of you who are starting out on the other side of the fence, so I invited Gail Markert, a consultant in the gift industry, to share some of her tips and advice on what these new vendors can do to get off to a great start.

Today's guest post is from Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting

Are you a new supplier or considering wholesaling to the gift industry? Here are six tips to consider as you’re launching your new business.

Get an idea. Research your product category on Google images by using an assortment of key words that describe your product. You will see a fractional representation of the variety of products already in your category. Study these for price, quality and style and note any points of differentiation you can use to promote your line. Get feedback on your idea from any industry professionals you know in sales, retail or manufacturing. Is there a niche for this product or has it already been done to death?

Get a Plan. If the product looks viable, create a detailed business plan. There are many resources both online and at your library. This step will include a budget, projections and benchmarks on where you expect the business to be at various dates in the future. Having a written strategy will help keep you on track when distractions occur.

Get Sales. Develop a sales and marketing plan for your line. Will you sell it yourself, just at shows, or will you hire an independent sales force? Determining your sales model early on will help focus you resources and energies in a planned way. Allocate some resources to brand and advertising development, as well. You will need to let buyers know who you are and how they can buy from you.

Get the Scoop. Subscribe to the trade press, both print and online. Keeping up with developments in the industry in general and your segment in particular will keep you competitive and up to date. Read books on any area you need to develop to help your business succeed. There are many helpful books on management, trade shows, displays, sales and optimizing the internet. Ask colleagues for recommendations. Be a sponge, soaking up all the tips and tricks that make gift suppliers successful.

Get Serious. With a fairly low barrier to entry, many new suppliers enter the gift industry every year. This brings newness and innovation to an industry that thrives on it. On the down side, this low barrier can also attract unprepared suppliers who don’t have a realistic view of what’s required and they fail. Expect to put a lot of effort, education and probably more money then you think into becoming successful.

Get Excited! Be an excited and engaged spokesperson for your line. Retailers and reps have the expectation that you will be the source of education and a cheerleader for your products. Positive, upbeat, motivated individuals attract more interest and sales for their line.

Today's guest post is from Allisyn Deyo, Webmaster and Editor for Pinnacle Publishing Group.

Let's say you have 1,000 customers on your direct mail marketing list. Once a month, you send out a postcard advertising a product special, a new line or inviting them to come in for a birthday discount. On average, we'll say that 20 percent come in and spend $10.

So if 200 customers came in and spent $10, you've just made $2,000 for the month on that mailing. However, the cost of designing ($200), printing (full color, $300) and sending ($400) all that mail is around $900, so now you've made $1,100. And while that's not bad, if you instead sent an email blast, you could send out one email per week to the 1,000 customers for less than $30 a month.

Direct Mail (1 per month)
Cost: $900
Profit: $1,100

Email (4 per month)
Cost: $30
Profit: $3,970 (for fairness, we'll say 100 per email come in and spend $10)

Now granted, these numbers are not incredibly accurate, but one thing is clear: email costs less and makes more.

So here's a list of some of the email marketing programs out there to get you started.

Constant Contact
Why we like it: It's inexpensive, has great stock templates (over 300) for you to use for your mailings (or they will create custom templates just for you), spell checks in 12 languages, uses SafeUnsubscribe management and has great customer service.

How much it costs: It's a tiered system, so if you have 500 or less email addresses, it's only $15 a month (Up to 2,500 and it's just $30). If you prepay, it's 10% off for six months and 15% off for a year. And it's by list, so you can send as many emails as you want.

Bonus: They offer a 60-day free trial.

MailChimp
Why we like it: It's inexpensive, has neat add-on features (including Inbox Inspector, which tests your campaigns in all the major email programs and spam filters and shows you what they look like), A/B Split testing (identifies the best time to send your email) and your emails are logo-free (no "powered by Mail Chimp").

How much it costs: It's a tiered system, so if you have 500 or less email addresses, it's only $15 a month (Up to 2,500 and it's just $30). And it's by list, so you can send as many emails as you want. The add-on features are extra.

Bonus: They offer a 30-day free trial.

CampaignMonitor
Why we like it: You only pay when you send, complete creative control for those with HTML knowledge, design testing in all major email clients and spam testing to identify what will block your email.

How much it costs: The account is free, you pay $5 per campaign plus 1 cent/recipient. So if your list is 500, it's $10 per email campaign.

Bonus: Free to set up!

MyEmma
Why we like it: Each new account comes with a free, custom-designed template, great customer service and lots of high-profile clients.

How much it costs: Starts with a $250 custom design and set up fee, then monthly plans start at $30 for 1,000 emails ($45 for 2,500). However, that's 1,000 emails all together, not per list. So if your list is 1,000, you could only send once a month for the basic plan.

Bonus: "Best design help," says Inc. Magazine.

GraphicMail
Why we like it: Very affordable pricing plans, ability to send your users text messages (or send the email, then follow-up via text message), one-click sending and a 2MB image library.

How much it costs: Monthly subscriptions start at 2,000 emails for $9.95 (and you can buy extra send credits if needed); or the pay as you go plan, where 2,000 credits start at $49.95. If you need help getting started, they offer four separate service packages starting at $79.95.

Bonus: They offer a 60-day free trial

Today's guest post is from Poornima Apte, Managing Editor of GIFT SHOP magazine.

It was the day before Thanksgiving break when I read this interesting article in the New York Times: "Every Workday Needs a Game Plan." While the article assumes work at an office desk, the lessons could just as easily be applied to your work as a retailer.

Here are some valuable tips you can learn from the article as you work away during what I hope will be a busy and profitable holiday season:

Ever feel you have flitted from one task to the other all day and not accomplished a thing? Multitasking is vastly overrated: Often when people say someone can multitask, they really mean that person is good at time management.

Time management is often common sense. Do the most difficult things when the store is quiet (before it opens) or when you are most productive. If you have 10 minutes to spare, do something that will take 10 minutes of your time. If a vendor won't return your call, move on to the next item on your to-do list. In short, don’t waste time. Move down your list one item at a time.

Make a list of things to do. Nothing makes you feel more in control than a list. Check it often and check off things that get done.

Slow and steady does win the race. Don't try to do five things at once. Do one or two projects, do them systematically and do them well.

Plan for interruptions. Your phone is going to keep ringing. Customers might want something you didn't plan for. Be realistic in your daily work expectations and plan for interruptions.

Set five minutes aside at the end of the day to plan your next day's schedule. I find this works like magic for me. Instead of working till you drop dead one day, only to confront the same mess the next, spend the last five minutes of your day taking stock of what you did today and make a note of what must get done tomorrow.

Plan for the future. Do you have a special sale coming up soon? Start work on a project that's due two weeks from now so you don’t get blindsided when crunch time actually hits.

Hope you have a stress-free and productive holiday season!

Today's guest post is from Nancy Tanker, Managing Editor of Specialty Retail Report.

I was in a store over the weekend when a customer walked in and wanted to return a sweater, purchased with a check, for cash. Not knowing what to do, the new salesperson called in the manager, who recognized the loyal customer and processed a cash return on the spot.

In this case, it's likely that things worked out well. The manager recognized the customer and reacted accordingly, but this situation could have been one of the two most-prevalent types of return fraud: paying by bogus check and getting cash back, or "wardrobing" (wearing or using a purchased item then returning it—sometimes called "renting").

Think return fraud can't happen to you? Here are some sobering stats:

• The National Retail Federation estimates retailers will lose an estimated $3.7 billion this holiday due to return fraud (almost $11 billion for the year).

• The biggest targets of return fraud aren't mass retailers but smaller, independent shops. (In fact, return fraud thieves make it a point to hit smaller retailers who don't have the security systems that larger retailers do.)

• Return fraud normally occurs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when shops are busiest and staff is most likely to be rushed and distracted.

• Almost 1 out of 10 returns are fraudulent.

With a problem that big, it's time to take concrete steps. Security experts recommend:

• Every retailer should have, post and stick to a very clear return and refund policy.

• Don't accept returns without a receipt; if you must, issue store credit, not cash.

• Inspect returned merchandise carefully for signs of wardrobing, and to make sure the item in the package is what it should be (another big scam: replacing a higher-cost item with a lower-cost one in the same package).

• Keep a log of returned receipt numbers to prevent multiple returns from copied receipts (another common return fraud tactic; if you have a good POS system, it will automatically alert you to more than one attempted return on a single receipt.)

• Keep a log of customers with returns; if a customer racks up a large amount of returns, look into it. (Again, if you have a POS system to track returns, you'll be ahead of the game.)

• Require a store owner or manager password to process returns so as to cut down on the chances of your employees participating in a return fraud scheme.

Of course, none of these steps guarantee you won't be the victim of return fraud, but with a focused fraud-prevention system in place, you'll be in a much better position to maximize your holiday profits.

Our recent issue of Specialty Retail Report ran an article about preventing shoplifting and employee theft, two more profit-killers you should pay attention to.

If you have any other tips for fraud prevention, or personal experiences in your store that you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you!

Today's guest post is from Poornima Apte, editor of GIFT SHOP magazine.

The National Retail Federation recently reported that the average person will spend $98.34 on Father's Day this year, up from $88.80 last year.

That $98.34? That's us! They must have been following my girls and I as we scooped up stuff for Dad this past weekend.

According to the NRF, "as in previous years, the most popular gift for dad will be a greeting card (69.9%), but he can also expect to be treated to a special outing such as dinner (42.7%). Other popular gift items include apparel (37.1%), a gift certificate or gift card (29.9%), consumer electronics or computer related accessories (17.8%) sporting goods or leisure items (13.9%), tools or appliances (13.6%), and home improvement or gardening tools (12.4%)." Even if it's my 9-year-old's favorite Daddy gift, there's not much demand this year for soap-on-a-rope!

Do you stock special products in your store for Father's Day? Remember, it doesn't have to be anything very extravagant. As the numbers show, greeting cards are very popular. Try a line with a touch of humor. Also of particular appeal are mugs and plates kids can customize for Dad.

As for our Father's Day purchases, after we returned from our shopping expedition, we ran into my neighbor who asked: "How come we have to hang out with the kids and do brunch on Mother's Day while for Father's Day, the men get to hang out with the guys and golf all day?" Good question! It's one, I'm sure, not many surveys will (or can) address!

Today's guest post is from Allisyn Deyo, Webmaster and editor for the Pinnacle Publishing Group.

One of my first jobs (and second, and third, and fifth) was working in the specialty coffee industry. I worked for a large corporation out of Seattle (not that one.. a smaller, but direct competitor) that was intent on having their employees be the most well-educated employees in the coffee industry, and as such, I had several days of training at our corporate headquarters.

While I learned how to pull shots, steam milk and sell espresso machines, they never taught me what to do if money was missing from the till, or if I caught a shoplifter. Granted, our shops didn't sell a ton of products, but we definitely sold high-end merchandise ($699 espresso machine anyone?) and of the four locations I worked in over three years, two of them weren't in the choicest areas of town.

By the time I left that job, I'd held management positions for two years, hired and fired numerous employees and dealt with three shoplifting incidents… one that involved firing an employee.

At the time it happened, I still hadn't received any formal training (or literature, for that matter) on how we dealt with shoplifters, but the one previous experience was with a couple of teenagers, and I had used an age-old method I learned from my mom—I put the fear of god into them. In other words, I called a beat cop (who worked our area and regularly got coffee from us) and he came in and verbally thrashed them, all the while threatening to call their parents. In the end, the tears were enough for me to not "tell on them." They came into the shop a time or two after that, and while we were all on high alert, I never had a problem again.

The employee theft shook me the most. It was someone older than I who had worked with the company for a long time, and I had just been placed in charge of her store. (I had a great manager when I first started, and because of her, I became a "fixer" manager, who went into stores that were problems and helped get them up to speed.) We fired her (one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life), hired some new blood and the store turned around quite nicely.

There's an article today in the Bradenton Herald about how much retail crime costs stores per year ($30 billion), and reading through it, I realized they didn't mention employee training to prevent the thefts. Oh they discussed security cameras, and locking high-ticket items behind the counter, but this article never mentioned how employers could teach their employees how to spot a shoplifter.

My question is this: do employers nowadays (my coffee job was almost a decade ago) teach their employees how to spot a thief? Do they tell them who to call if they do see one? Or is most of the teaching about how to be friendly and sell?

Don't get me wrong, it's important to sell well and lord knows I hate when someone follows me around a store, but I wasn't trained and part of me wonders are employers really doing all they can to train their employees to stop theft?

Today's guest post is from Nancy Tanker, Managing Editor of Specialty Retail Report.

I just started reading Pam Danziger’s book, Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience. For those of you who don’t know Pam, she’s president of Unity Marketing, one of the leading consumer research firms in the US specializing in shopper surveys and focus groups. Her book gives some fantastic examples of specific techniques retailers can use to create an exciting shopping experience for their customers.

She includes in-depth profiles of a variety of retailers—from the big chains like Nordstrom and Godiva to boutiques such as Nell Hill’s and Prairie Edge, laying out exactly what they’re doing to attract more customers—from personal shopping services and event marketing to store layout and product selection. The book is a great resource for ideas you can adapt to fit your store.

She sums up the major point by saying: “For years retailers' success has largely been a function of offering the right products at the right price in the right location, but those factors are less important today as shopping becomes one of our favorite forms of recreation. Today success in retail is less about what you sell, and more about how you sell it.”

What techniques are you using to create a unique experience for your customers? What do you do to make your gift shop fun, engaging and delightful to shop in? Do your customers get emotional payoffs from visiting your store?

—Nancy Tanker
Specialty Retail Report