Meaghan Brophy

Custom packaging makes an impressionable mark on customers and protects the contents to ensure products arrive as expected. The best suppliers for custom mailer boxes and packaging will have an array of design and customization options, a low price point, many types of containers, great UX design, and no, or at least limited, minimum order…

The cost of shipping is a top concern for 41% of retailers, and it seems like these fees continue to rise. And while you can choose to offer only in-person sales, you’re going to miss out on a lot of business. So, it’s important to figure out your logistics for shipping, the cheapest way to…

Although email marketing for retailers has been practiced for decades, it is still one of the most effective retail marketing methods for building and nurturing customer relationships. In fact, 87% of marketers say email is critical to success and 41% consider it the most effective channel. This guide discusses how to use email marketing to…

Retailers are using multiple channels where shoppers can interact and purchase as the purchasing journey becomes less and less linear. Omnichannel retailing is when sales channels work together to form a cohesive customer experience (customer-first approach to building a brand). Meanwhile, multichannel retailing is when a retailer has multiple sales channels that are siloed (product-first…

Consumers embrace shopping behaviors that combine the convenience of online research with the tangibility of in-person product experiences. Showrooming and webrooming are examples of two such behaviors—the former involving visiting physical stores for research and online stores for purchasing and vice versa for the latter. There are many benefits of these trends for retailers—from enabling…

A retail commission structure is when a business compensates an individual each time they close or contribute to a sale. Retail commission structures take many forms, from fixed to variable rates, and can be based on individuals or teams. You can also offer commissions to employees or contractors. Commission-based compensation is a store management approach…

Punch cards are a popular loyalty and marketing tactic that encourages your customers to continue buying your products or using your service. Design your punch cards with your brand elements so that it helps your customers quickly remember your product, service, or business—keeping it front of mind and better encouraging its use. Lucky for you,…

As any retailer knows, getting your product safely to the customer is vital for fostering trust and loyalty. At the same time, going overboard on shipping supplies will lead to increased materials and shipping costs, which deter shoppers and cut into your bottom line. The challenge of packaging is to find the most secure, cost-effective…

A store window display is the scene you create in your exterior facing windows and one of the most powerful elements in your merchandising arsenal. Your retail window display is an instrument for bringing in new and existing customers, displaying new products, highlighting promotions, and enhancing your brand image. Creating window displays will be a…

Ecommerce marketing is the practice of driving brand awareness, traffic, sales, and conversions to your online store. For example, ecommerce businesses can create email marketing campaigns, build loyalty programs, collect customer reviews, and offer personalized recommendations as part of their marketing strategy. Creating an effective ecommerce marketing strategy is crucial to growing your online store….

Retail data analytics describes the measurement, tracking, and interpretation of data—typically sales, inventory, employee, and consumer demand information—that allows retailers to discover trends and predict outcomes. Business owners can use dozens of retail metrics to evaluate performance, monitor progress, and—most importantly—drive sales. Certain metrics are quantitative and are considered KPIs (key performance indicators) for their…

When you start a retail business, you must have something to sell. But that doesn’t mean you have to make and manufacture products yourself. You can source them from external wholesale suppliers. The right wholesale suppliers will meet your minimum quantity, cost, and shipping requirements—but it takes research to find the best options. Find out…