1. You could offer volume discounts. For example, if you sell an item for $6, if the customer bought 12 could sell them for $60-65 for the dozen. I would probably offer a discount between 10-20%  depending on the volume.

2. Having grab bags of various hard to sell items. You would want a great value for the customer. For instance, it could be a $20-25 value for $5. It would be best to list what category the products are.

3. If you have a reader board, it should be changed weekly. If you have two sides, they can be switched during the week.

4. If items need to be assembled, put them together and charge a special price.

5. Cashiers should ask about add on products such as socks with shoes and film with cameras.

6. You should have restrooms available for customers especially children. In surveys with customers in many small retailers, not being allowed to use the restroom is one of the biggest problems.

7. The first 10-15 feet inside the store are often missed by the customer. Keep this in mind when looking at sales in these areas.

8. If a customer pays a special order up completely up-front, you may want to consider a small discount such as 10%. This will help increase your cash flow.

9. You should have selected products the customers can take at no risk to them. They are much more likely to keep them.

10. Make a CD to play in the store occasionally each day with announcements about the store. Playing your commercials is a great way to keep your customers informed.

11. Make gift baskets of related items to create your unique gift. Selling your unique gift basket is one way to get rid of excess inventory and increase sales. Try gift baskets in a range of prices to see what works best for you.

12. You can sell equipment that is no longer used and create cash to use for other purposes.

 13. During slow sale periods, that is the time to run aggressive sales promotions.

14. Have bright backgrounds on billboards.  The best choices would be fluorescent, red, yellow or orange.

15. You should have a tub and put file folders in it. On the file folders list the major seasons and big events that happen in your store. You need to write notes during each season that will help you the next season. These notes could be about employee scheduling, too much or too little product from various vendors, merchandising tips, hot or slow- moving items and anything else that would be helpful to your business. You may be thinking why you need to do this. It will help refresh your memory or if something happens to you and cannot be in the store for an extended time.

16. When items are marked down, they sell much better with a regular price and sale price and a sign. Many stores just put a sign in front of the merchandise.

17. Look for more promotional pricing from brand- name products. This way you can advertise these at a discount to increase your pricing perception.

18. Find new companies and off- brand merchandise. There will be little competition and another way to fight the retail giants.

19. Innovate ideas from other retailers especially from ones not in your industry. What is effective in one industry will work for a retailer in a different industry.

20. If you have service contracts be sure to contact the customer before they expire. Letting the customers know is basic, but often ignored. It is also a great time to let the customer know what is going on in your store.

21. You can use your competitor’s coupons. Let them pay the cost and you reap the benefits. Have a window sign made to let shoppers know.

22. If a competitor goes out of business, have their phone calls redirected to you. You can often pay the local Yellow Pages a fraction of your competitors advertising costs.

23. Having a rewards or loyalty program can help sales with little effort. If you have a Point of Sale system, it can be tracked easily. If not, you can punch a card for each $50 of sales that day or track it on the computer. The advantage of making it $50 per punch is to encourage people close to that amount to make an additional purchase.

 Some stores give special discounts when the customer reaches a specific amount. It would be more effective giving something free such as a specific item or free store merchandise. Depending on the average ticket price, many stores might like to look at $500 purchases with $30-40 in free merchandise or $50 free with $750 or free $75 with $1,000 in purchases. Just pick one of those and not all three to use for your program.

          24. Could have a one- time or yearly refer a friend program that pays your existing customer and the new customer. For example, if a current customer gets a new customer to spend a certain amount in your store, give them a one time cash bonus. This will make them more effective in getting new customers. Here is an example of how to use this.

Let’s say, you have a $10 cash bonus on a $50 purchase. The new customer gets a 20% discount on his purchase on $50 or more. Let’s say you are at keystone and do the calculation.

Sale $50

Cost of Goods $25

Bonus $10

Discount $10

You made at least $5 for a new customer with no advertising cost. If they spend more, you will make much more. The key is you will rake up the profits with the additional purchases. Too many owners are trying to maximize the first purchase instead of the lifetime value.