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Think About It: OIWC asks, what is the best way to get what you want?
Jun 17, 2009 How can people be more successful at getting what they want? Good communication skills go a long way, but we've laid out six effective tactics to help you negotiate or persuade someone to accept your point of view -- whether it's getting your project approved or finagling a pay raise. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Business 101 articles |
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You are more important than “just a….”
Jun 17, 2009 "Lately, in the course of phone calls to various companies and in emails, I have had folks respond to a question I’ve asked with, “I’m just a…” (fill in the blank e.g. intern, receptionist, sales rep, warehouse employee, stocker, cashier, delivery person, etc.)“I am just a…” What does that mean, really? Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Business 101 articles |
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SNEWS Mini-Survey gives glimpse at how stores view customer buying motivation
Jun 15, 2009 The SNEWS® Mini Survey that ended June 15, 2009 asked, “What do you feel most motivates your customers to buy from your store?” We asked retailers to select from a list of 20 categories the top five motivating factors they believed drove customers to buy from them and not elsewhere. We were happy to see that 85 percent chose “customer service.” Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Business 101 articles |
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Think About It: OIWC asks, what can a mentor do for you?
May 15, 2009 When you take stock of the business relationships in your life, do any of them qualify as mentors? For some businesswomen, influential mentors seem to flow seamlessly in and out of their lives. For some, however, the appearance of mentors has been infrequent at best throughout their careers. Are they missing out? Perhaps. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Business 101 articles |
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Hey Skubedo…what are you?
May 6, 2009 With apologies to the cartoon, Skubedo is no treat-loving mutt. Rather, it is an online solution that while pronounced the same as Scooby-Doo is focused on helping manufacturers, reps and retailers solve the problem of workbooks. Let's face it -- even the SNEWS® team ducks workbooks at trade shows because they are so heavy and, more often than not, they are outdated nearly by the time the show ends. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Business 101 articles |
See all How To Sell Advice articles
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Fitness How To Sell Article Finder
Feb 11, 2009 At SNEWS® want to make life easier for our retail friends, so we've developed this handy article-finder chart for our numerous Fitness How To Sell articles published since 2003. With a quick glance, you can scan the chart to find the subject matter that fits your immediate training need. Also, you can read a summary to make sure that the article provides the info you need for the job at hand. Simply click on the article headline link to access any article. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all How To Sell Advice articles |
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How to sell: kettlebells
Aug 14, 2008 Kettlebells, those cast iron cannonball-like things with handles and a flat bottom, aren't exactly new. In fact, the Romans were swinging them around their bodies in training many centuries ago, and the Russians still have "girya," or kettlebell, competitions that date back to at least the turn of the century. A former Soviet Secret Services trainer and agent, Pavel Tsatsouline, who was also a nationally ranked "girya" competitor there, has been credited with introducing kettlebells and training to the United States on a broad scale. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all How To Sell Advice articles |
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How to sell: medicine balls
Jul 14, 2008 The medicine ball – basically a weighted ball -- is quite simple and one of the oldest fitness training aids in the world. It is a very versatile piece of strength-training equipment, especially useful for core training as well as plyometric training and can be used in everything from football-style exercises to games to sit-ups. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all How To Sell Advice articles |
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How to sell: home gyms
Jun 16, 2008 Home gyms have come a long way since the original multi-station setups of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. When customers come into your store, many may not even realize the possibilities in styles, configurations and options. You’ll need to devote time and attention to learning your customers’ needs and space requirements, while also educating them about what’s available. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all How To Sell Advice articles |
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How to sell: rubber resistance
Jun 11, 2008 Originally used in hospitals and rehabilitation, rubber resistance tubing -- like many physical therapy products -- started spreading to fitness programs and health clubs in the early 1980s. It wasn't long before fitness professionals saw the benefits of a lightweight, inexpensive and compact item that could be adapted to so many different goals, settings and abilities. Today, rubber resistance tubing is used in health clubs worldwide in group exercise classes, as well as in training studios, medical and rehab facilities and in sports and recreation programs. Plus, you'll likely find them in suitcases and living rooms around the globe. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all How To Sell Advice articles |
See all Merchandising Know-How articles
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Psychology of Shopping -- Do you really understand why that customer is coming into your store to buy?
May 20, 2009 “It isn’t so much a traffic issue as it is a sales issue. You need to do a better job with the people already in your store.” —Ron Hornbaker, vice president of Retail Minds, citing ShopperTrak data showing that 70 to 80 percent of people walk out of stores without spending money. Specialty retailers trying to wheedle sales from consumers who are afraid of losing their jobs or life savings are coming to terms with a harsh reality: The marketing tactics that worked in previous downturns aren’t as effective in this current storm, which is proving to be wider, deeper and more intractable than many economists anticipated... Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Merchandising Know-How articles |
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Merchandising Know-How: Enhancing your store appearance with appropriate fixture and product placement
Feb 16, 2009 The key to creating a visually compelling store appearance is appropriate fixture and product placement. Even with limited fixture budget, improved results are easily achievable through better product placement. Making product more visible and providing easy accessibility to that product immediately impacts sales and improves the overall customer experience. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Merchandising Know-How articles |
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SNEWS Merchandising Know-How Article Finder
Feb 6, 2009 It's frustrating to scrounge around a disorderly toolbox. You can waste valuable time and energy fumbling for that one critical item. We at SNEWS want to make life easier for you, so we've developed this handy chart for our Merchandising articles. With a quick glance, you can scan the chart to find the subject matter that fits your immediate need. Also, you can read a summary to make sure that the article provides the info you need for the job at hand. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Merchandising Know-How articles |
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Merchandising Know-How: SIA goes green
Feb 28, 2008 The SnowSports Industries America (SIA) trade show in Las Vegas is always full of energy and edgy boarders. This year was no different except that SIA took a giant "green" step forward and included the EcoSource booth designed by Seattle companies, Utility and Dept. of Energy (DOE). The booth showcased green products from SIA exhibitors. It was packed with clothing, skis, boards, gloves, hats, waxes, creams and lotions, and more -- all eco-friendly. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Merchandising Know-How articles |
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Merchandising Know-How: Displays and demographics
Jan 17, 2008 In the current political landscape, the word "change" is used incessantly. It seems everyone is looking for change or, at least, mentioning it. Not to be outdone, here's a change for you. There's a new retail movement afoot to arrange and position displays that appeal to certain demographics at certain times of the day. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Merchandising Know-How articles |
See all Mystery Shopping articles
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SNEWS takes a look at Dick's presentation of Life Fitness, Sport Chalet's of Precor
Apr 13, 2009 With the first quarter of the New Year behind us -- and plenty of time for Life Fitness to settle in at Dick's and Precor at Sport Chalet -- SNEWS® dispatched its shopping team into a number of each chain's stores on both coasts to see how it was going in the fitness department for the high-end equipment suppliers. Not officially going through an entire SNEWS Mystery Shopping experience, we nevertheless had our team members take a peek in the stores, get a feel at the layout, size up the presentation, talk to staff and, generally, find out how the recent experiments at sporting goods was treating the two largest North American specialty fitness equipment manufacturers. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Mystery Shopping articles |
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Mystery Shopper: Salesman exercises good judgment in selling fitness equipment
Apr 3, 2009 At the end of March, which is pretty early spring in New England, the thoughts of our mystery shopper, Jane, turned to shedding a few layers of both clothing and excess flesh. Toward that end, she decided to pay a visit to Precor Home Fitness in Newton, Mass. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Mystery Shopping articles |
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Mystery Shopper: Knowledgeable salesperson reels shopper in with thorough presentation
Mar 18, 2009 Having pioneered kayak fishing off the southeastern coast of Louisiana, the folks at Buffalo Peak Outfitters in Jackson, Miss., know a thing or two about this emerging sport. So, when we learned that a member of our Mystery Shopper team was going to be in the Magnolia State, we dispatched him to Buffalo Peak to go undercover and shop for a boat. Would the salespeople encourage our undercover man to go whole hog, or counsel him to not bite off more than necessary? Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Mystery Shopping articles |
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Mystery Shopper: Savvy salesman stressed home gym benefits to move customer up in price
Feb 2, 2009 With the country moving deeper into a recession, and consumers tightening their belts, the SNEWS® team wondered how fitness shops might deal with people seeking low-cost solutions to getting a good workout at home. We dispatched a member of our Mystery Shopper team -- code name, Jake -- to Jackson, Miss., to seek equipment that he could set up in his apartment without breaking the bank. When it was all said and done, he didn't necessarily find a low-budget set-up, but rather found an excellent salesman who had our man willing to shell out more than he'd planned. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Mystery Shopping articles |
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Mystery Shopper: Female shopper’s quest for jacket warmly satisfied despite minor technical blunders
Jan 5, 2009 On a Saturday afternoon, Cindy and Jack cruised past Cumberland Transit, which occupies an attractive brick building among a small string of shops near Vanderbilt University. Standing out brightly from the pale green exterior was a green and yellow Cumberland Transit sign that made the store easy to spot from the street. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Mystery Shopping articles |
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Know thy media…please?
May 18, 2009 Just as a writer needs to know how to tailor an article to suit a particular magazine’s audience, subject matter or interests, the same holds true for PR: PR agents must know the media, its audiences and needs where they are pitching story ideas. It is not one-size-fits-all. Forgetting this leads to very bad experiences for the PR agent, the publication, and quite likely, the writer very often caught in the middle. And could also lead to less good press for a company. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all PR / Marketing Know-How articles |
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Six ways to successfully promote your store's eco-conscious product mix
Feb 25, 2009 Does your outdoor specialty store boast an array of eco-friendly products? If your merchandise mix does have green leanings, you could boost sales by making the consumers in your area aware of your specialty. Savvy green-oriented retailers are using everything from promotional mailers and catalogs to print advertising and street-side merchandising to get the word out about their eco-friendly product mix. Could any of these strategies work to strengthen your bottom line? Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all PR / Marketing Know-How articles |
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Spibelt founder offers tips for small companies to get on TV – and gain promotion in today’s times
Jan 19, 2009 After nearly two years in the marketplace, Spibelt inventor and founder Kim Overton has been making the rounds on various TV shows, sharing her business story and products with consumers across the country. To date, she's told the story of the Spibelt – a waist pouch that doesn’t bounce or move -- and gained oodles of free promotion and marketing that has become vital in today’s economic times -- on a long list of top news national news and talk shows. It leaves one wondering, how does she do it? Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all PR / Marketing Know-How articles |
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Listen and Learn: Creating an advisory board
Jul 25, 2005 As a small business owner, you might think you can't afford to hire a research firm to keep track of how you're doing, but the good news is you don't have to. Instead, you can establish a customer advisory board to find out what your customers think about your business. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all PR / Marketing Know-How articles |
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Kennedy vs. Nixon -- the classic proof that style matters
May 24, 2004 Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all PR / Marketing Know-How articles |
See all Sales Know-How articles
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TMA launches first dealer camp in the Northeast
May 22, 2009 As retailing clinic time and budgets are getting stretched even thinner, an increasing number of rep agencies are turning to putting on dealer camps as a means to ensure quality time with front line retail staff. Such was the motivation for the inaugural Mad River Glen Dealer Camp put on by Three Mountain Associates (TMA), a northeastern rep agency representing Big Agnes, G3, Jetboil, Leki, McNett and Osprey. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Sales Know-How articles |
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Psychology of Shopping -- Do you really understand why that customer is coming into your store to buy?
May 20, 2009 “It isn’t so much a traffic issue as it is a sales issue. You need to do a better job with the people already in your store.” —Ron Hornbaker, vice president of Retail Minds, citing ShopperTrak data showing that 70 to 80 percent of people walk out of stores without spending money. Specialty retailers trying to wheedle sales from consumers who are afraid of losing their jobs or life savings are coming to terms with a harsh reality: The marketing tactics that worked in previous downturns aren’t as effective in this current storm, which is proving to be wider, deeper and more intractable than many economists anticipated... Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Sales Know-How articles |
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Platinum level customer service creates customer for life
May 13, 2009 "How often do you deal with a store or retailer and end up wanting to holler from the rooftops how wonderful the place is? Yeah, that’s what I thought…likely far less than you’d like. I had a rooftop-hollering wonderful experience recently with a non-sports retailer -- The Container Store, to be exact. I have been in and out of the store in San Francisco numerous times over about three years..." Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Sales Know-How articles |
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The customer is NOT always right... Wait, can that be true?
May 8, 2009 The customer is always right” is a term that some trace back to Harry Gordon Selfridge, founder of London department store Selfridge’s in the early 1900s. That phrase has been bantered about to prove to customers that they will always receive stellar service and to encourage employees to, well, treat the customer like family. But, let’s face it – when are family members always right?... Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Sales Know-How articles |
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Gene Treacy discovers the joy of retail after years as SNEWS sales director
May 4, 2009 When SNEWS LLC was acquired by Active Interest Media on Dec. 21, 2007, our friend and business partner, Gene Treacy, had made a decision it was time for him to chart a different course. Treacy, always a wine connoisseur, got wind of a 14,000-square-foot commercial property for sale that included a liquor store. By August 2008, Gene and his wife, Pam, had signed a sales agreement to purchase Campbell Station Wine and Spirits... Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all Sales Know-How articles |
See all The Ooops Files articles
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Oops! file: Schwinn blows customer service call
Jan 20, 2006 The "Oops File" relays ridiculous stories, some that stem from customer service experiences, from the business world -- embarrassing incidents that could have been avoided if people had just used their brains. These tales may entertain, but they also serve as a reminder that any business should always strive for excellence. This one takes a look at a frustrating call one of our reporters had with "customer service" at Schwinn. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all The Ooops Files articles |
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Oops! file: A periodic look at slips, bumbles and stumbles
Dec 10, 2005 The "Oops File" relays ridiculous stories, some that stem from customer service experiences, from the business world — embarrassing incidents that could have been avoided if people had just used their brains. These tales may entertain, but they also serve as a reminder that any business should always strive for excellence. Read Story | Comment on this story | Go to all The Ooops Files articles |
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Makoto Xergame Jun 29, 2009 When the current owners of Makoto USA saw the game that would become Makoto at an arcade in 2002, they immediately realized its potential to provide both physical and mental fitness for anyone, from athletes to the elderly to folks in rehab. The SNEWS® team first saw a Makoto at the Health & Fitness Business show in Denver several years ago and, after playing it (over and over, we must admit), we had to get one for the office. |
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Coleman LED Quad Lantern Jun 22, 2009 Pardon the pun, but Coleman's LED Quad Lantern presents one of the brightest ideas we've seen when it comes to lighting. It's unique because the body of the lantern has four detachable panels, each of which has six 5 mm, white LED lights. We tested the lantern during several car-camping trips and found that it was really handy when we had several people sharing a campsite. |
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Teva Sunkosi 2 water shoe Jun 15, 2009 As a concept, water shoes are a fine idea. But we've suffered painful scrapes and blisters from poorly designed amphibious footwear, and frowned over many models that didn't dry as quickly as advertised. But Teva's Sunkosi 2 performed well, and proved to be exceptionally comfortable during numerous paddling trips, including an 18-day rafting journey down the Grand Canyon. Our testers said these shoes were not only easy on the feet, but they were also some of the most durable water shoes they've worn. |
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Minx GTX Apr 25, 2009 TheNorth Face Minx GTX is a perfect lightweight trail shoe for hikers who want to move quickly. |
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Fast-Drying Tilley 'Travel' Socks Dec 16, 2008 Fast-Drying Tilley 'Travel' Socks. Not just for travel! Your feet will thank you for providing arch support, no-feel toe seams and moisture escape panels for a dry and comfortable fit |
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Camaro Bamboo Shirts Jun 27, 2009 Camaro bamboo shirts by Komperdell are breathable, odor-neutralizing, and funcitonal. |
Purchasing and Inventory Manager - Osprey Packs
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Kodiak Boots / Terra Footwear / Unity - Kodiak-Terra USA, Inc.
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