by wendy
Let’s get this out of the way. What you are doing at your store is AWESOME But it is absolutely NOT your customers’ job to find out what events and workshops are happening when. In order to keep your shop’s events full and booked out, you have to be constantly marketing.
But first I have a couple of questions for you:
- Are you offering the right workshop?
- Is this workshop for you or for your customers? Sometimes we pick a workshop subject that our customers aren’t interested in. Make sure you are covering something that they want to learn more about.
- Is it being offered at the right time?
- Are you marketing? Plain and simple, if you aren’t putting your services out there, you can’t expect people to show up. Sending one email and posting one time on social media is not enough.
It doesn’t have to feel icky
Second, let’s change how you think about “selling”.. you are letting your customers know about cool events: open hours, demonstrations, workshops, etc. that your store is hosting. These are all value-added and life-improving events. Don’t feel guilty about selling AT ALL. Marketing 101 is just telling your customers about it. If you don’t look at your customers as dollar signs, it won’t feel yucky. You are doing them a service by informing them!
How to Get “Bums in Seats”
To get people to attend your shop’s events, I always call it “get bums in seats.” For my best practices, hit play below on my 15-minute Facebook live (Especially If you’re a listener or multitasker)
Marketing Strategies for Workshops
- Constantly be Promoting. It is not your customer’s job to find out when your workshops are. It is your job to let the customer know what is going on.
- Post pictures of mock-ups on social media. Don’t be afraid to show mistakes, people love that.
- Regularly post or run an ad on social media about the workshop.
- Print out paper fliers to put in shopping bags at check out.
- Include testimonials and pictures from previous workshops.
- Go live on Facebook and let people know how excited you are.
- Do a good old Press Release in the newspaper.
- Make sure you include information in your regular emails.
- Use free demos in-store during peak hours to promote the upcoming workshop.
- During your workshop, talk about the next workshop coming up.
Remember, If you don’t ask, you won’t get it. Don’t be shy about promoting your workshops because you are providing a service to your customers. Make it exciting and fun for them and it won’t feel like selling.
Want to take your hobby and open a brick-and-mortar shop or studio – I have full training for you if you want it, you can find it right HERE.
Download my free Workshop Tips freebie:
You are running a real business.
You are a retailer and an entrepreneur doing all the hard work. This is not a hobby store and you aren’t just playing arts and crafts. I want to encourage you to continue to follow your passion and succeed.
Running a retail business doesn’t have to be so hard, you’ve got this!
Thanks for popping in!
Xo,
Wendy
More weekly tips can be found on my weekly podcast The Creative Shop Talk podcast – listen HERE.
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by wendy
Have you considered adding a new revenue stream to your shop?
Let’s dive into extra ways to help your independent retail shop bring in extra revenue.
“How do I decide what additional revenue streams can I add to my brick-and-mortar?”
As a retail coach, I get this question a lot from my retailers:
When considering adding new revenue streams, consider the following:
- Does it light you up?
- Does this product or service get you excited?
- Is there a profit margin?
Don’t just look at our industry — learn from what online business owners in other industries and niches are doing successfully to get ideas. How can you make their revenue streams work for you?
Some ways to add revenue streams to your shop
Online Income
- Get your products listed on your website using an e-commerce solution or a platform like Etsy or Amazon Handmade
- Get scalable digital products and downloads that customers can buy over and over again – like custom SVG files or “how to” tutorials and workshops
Services Income
- Workshops
- Custom Design Work for Clients: like furniture & cabinet painting
- Custom Design Services to other business owners, there’s plenty of seasonal decors
- Bring services in-house, like Upholstery, Refinishing Furniture
Affiliate Income
- Earn commissions from products referrals (for what you don’t sell in your store)
- Set up an Amazon Influencer shop
- Create content: web pages or blog posts that links to affiliate products
Ad Network Income
- Set up Google Adsense or other ad networks on your website so that you get paid per webpage view (This works so with blogging!)
- Partner with local businesses to sell or “rent” ad space on your website
- Rent ad space IN your shop with aligned products or services.
Subscriptions Groups
- Create a VIP Club where members get perks and bonuses and discounts
- Put together kits for purchase so customers can recreate things at home.
Wholesale Income
- Use your current shops’ creations to sell to other retailers
Private Label Income
- Work/partner with another business to sell your own signature products
Event Income
- Host Vendor Markets
- Workshops
- Private Events
- Rent your space for photoshoots etc
There are many ways you can add revenue streams to your retail shop! Brainstorm your options!
Don’t leave money on the table.
You are running a real business. You’ve got this!
You are a retailer and an entrepreneur doing all the hard work. This is not a hobby store and you aren’t just playing at retail. I want to encourage you to continue to follow your passion and be successful.
Running a retail business doesn’t have to be so hard, you’ve got this!
Thanks for popping in!
Xo,
Wendy
For more ways and tips to help your brick-and-mortar thrive, make sure you get on my email list to get next week’s blog.
And listen to the Creative Shop Talk podcasts! Learn more (click here)
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by wendy
Don’t let the fact that you have a “creative” brain slow you down or give you excuses. It is not a handicap, especially when it comes to business.
So many of my creative retail shop owners come to me with this limiting belief that they “can’t do the business side” because they are creatives.
NOT TRUE.
In fact, there are so many positive attributes to having a right brain vs a left brain and it can totally make you a great business owner to be blessed with the right brain giftings!
I’ll explain in this quckie video…
5 Reasons Creatives Have the Advantage in Business
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We have the vision, the ideas and the dream. We think in possibility.
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We have all the creative ideas … especially when it comes to marketing. We can think outside the box.
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We are heart-centered and passionate to share our product.
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We are not in it just for money. While corporations are usually driven by shareholders and profits, our business drive is profits and purpose to share.
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We understand everything is a learned process and can easily, quickly learn new things, techniques, etc. And just as easily learn the basic business principles to run our retail business. That is why I created the 7 Retail Secrets for Creative Shop Owners: Foundational Pillars for Retail Success. This a free guide Creatives running brick and mortar businesses, DIY studios help fill in strong business foundations.
The Takeaway
Your creative brain is magical. Own your strengths and seek out additional resources, trainings, assistance, staff and knowledge that complete your brain.
Discover your Creative Business Community.
There are quite a few business owners like you over in my free Rockstar Creative Retailers& Shop Owners Facebook Group. We are a group of “paintpreneurs” and shop and studio owners who curate creative lives for our customers and link in our business learning and networking. We are always sharing ideas and getting better together at business. We’d love to have you join us!
Thanks for popping in!
Xo,
Wendy
For more tips to creative shop owners, make sure you get on my email list to get next week’s blog.
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by wendy
Hi Retailers,
You know I work with creative retailers wanting to promote their retail businesses. They KNOW marketing is important but a major pushback is that many of them are afraid to go live on Facebook. I hear it every day. So I want to help you get past that, because if you can talk to a customer in your store… you can talk to a customer online.
First off, why even bother going live? Why do I coach my store owners to go live? It’s so important because the Facebook algorithm LOVES Facebook Live Video. This means, FB will show your posts to more people. We WANT more eyeballs on our page right? It means more people can see how awesome we are and will come in and buy. 🙂
I have a few Facebook Live tips for creative retailers that are hesitant to make videos and put themselves out there. Facebook Live marketing is free advertising for you. We LOVE free, right?
You will increase your social media engagement with customers and build your Know-Like-Trust factor at the same time.
You’ve got this! Let me help.
Tip #1
Get over yourself. 🙈This is not rocket science. You CAN duo it. All you need to do is have a plan or outline and push the LIVE button. It doesn’t need to be a long video. If you are just starting out maybe only do a couple of minutes. It doesn’t have to be perfect. We all mess up and the first time you do anything it is awkward. I would recommend using a tripod to keep the camera steady, but done is always better than perfect.
Tip #2
Show the customers something. If you are nervous about being in front of the camera the whole time, give a store tour to showcase the new layout or merchandise. If you have a studio or workspace explain where you are and what you are showing your customers. Use these videos to build excitement with unboxings or little bits of your process. You still want to show yourself at some point so people know who you are and you can continue to build those relationships with your customers.
Tip #3
Remember a “call-to-action”. At the beginning of your videos make sure you let people know who you are and WHERE you are located. Let them know what city you are in and where specifically you are. At the end, remind them again and then invite them to drop in and see you at your location. If you are having an event or workshop be sure to encourage them to come see you with the details.
BONUS TIP
It’s called simulcasting. It’s not as scary as it sounds lol. Don’t just go live on Facebook, x10 your efforts and also stream live on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media channels at the same time. It’s like like double dipping and getting more bang for your time.
Now Let’s Get Over Your Fear of Going Live Together!
If you’re not already part of my free Facebook group: Rockstar Creatives, join us here.
Running a retail business doesn’t have to be so hard, you’ve got this!
Thanks for popping in! So grateful for you!
Xo,
Wendy
For more tips for shop owners, make sure you stay in the know and get on my email list to get next week’s blog.
by wendy
Hi Retailers,
Today I have three free and easy ways to change up your marketing strategy and attract more customers to your business. Remember, all the marketing you do now, will result in sales for months. This is why it is crucial to always be investing the time into marketing your business. Marketing is the fuel that runs your business.
#1 Be of Value on Facebook and Social Media
Don’t be boring. Don’t only post things for sale. You are not Walmart, you have more to offer than sales posts. Think of your most favorite customer and put yourself in their shoes. What do they want to learn about? If you are providing posts that are interesting and helpful you will build your community. Take pictures of your process and share your technique. You will still be showcasing items for sale, building excitement demonstrating knowledge.
You need to get creative … here’s a couple examples to get you started (click on the links to check them out):
#2 Be Easily Found
A couple of quick ways to be found:
Make it easy for your customers to find you. Sounds crazy – BUT – be sure to list your business on your personal social media pages as the, “Owner of…” Friends and family won’t always remember the name of your business so it is important to list it for them to reference. You’d be surprised how many people will look YOU up on Facebook in order to find YOUR store. So you better link them!
ON YOUR FB BUSINESS PAGE: Make sure you hours of operation, location, CITY, and map is there. It’s a non negotiable.
ON YOUR WEBSITE: Quick – go look, is your location EASY for me to find you? When I do website audits I find lots of websites with locations that take 4 clicks to locate. Highlight your retail location on the front page!
Another must do – watch your SEO (what the heck? Yup – you need to know what people are looking for when looking for you online – that is SEO). It’s easier than you think.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) words are key. Using them on everything from Google Business, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. will help you show up when people Google you. You can always ask new customers how they found you, and if they just did a search, ask them what the typed in!
#3 Get Out of Your Shop!
You need to be seen in your community. Be strategic about this kind of marketing because your time is valuable. If the restaurant next door doesn’t know what your business is you are probably not doing a good job marketing to your community. You have to get your name and business out there and share your business. Go where your people are. Visit other local shops and build those relationships through conversation. Attend chamber events, local events and markets, and find business meetups near you. Network! Network! Be “known” in your community. (Cuz you’re awesome).
Watch my latest IGTV on Attracting New Customers
If you’d like to watch & listen, here’s the 6-minute version for you!
Now Let’s Implement This Together!
If you’re not already part of my free Facebook group: Rockstar Creatives, join us here because we have a branding challenge going on with easy-to-implement action items … aka homework assignments.
Thanks for popping in!
Xo,
Wendy
For more tips to creative shop owners, make sure you get on my email list to get next week’s blog.
