We're here to give you the most help, and a chance to be helpful, too.

refining product choices to meet consumer wants

gaining new customers from your neighborhood

an interview with the owner of cloud mover spa

learning how to create value instead of lowering prices

bundling products or services to benefit customers

frustrated by coupon-cutters who always purchase with coupons? this 5 page action guide will teach you how to increase your profit margin by getting your customers to "kick the coupon habit." learn the secrets of a reliable three-stage program to help "rehabilitate" your customers to curb their coupon addiction.

it is easier to keep your customers than trying to get new ones. so, stop losing customers! this 7-page guide will help you learn ...and most importantly how to win them back.

shouldn't you invest the time to ensure your staff understands their role in converting your advertising into revenue? this 4-page action guide is packed with nuggets of simple ways to educate your staff ...

"half the money i spend on advertising is wasted. i just don't know which half." do you know which of your advertising tactics are working to drive sales? this 6-page action guide will help you: *understand how different campaigns work * track and monitor which campaigns are working..and which are not. * decide how to improve your advertising results * know what response you are getting compared to industry averages

6 page action guide with step-by-step step suggestions to beat your newest competitor

so, how do you, the small retailer, make sure your customers continue shopping at your store during tough economic times? here are 12 ideas to consider:

mri study identifies five buying style segments: * buyers of the best * swayable shopaholics * habitualized havers * conscientious consumers * penny-pinchers

“we’re scheduling more ‘try me nights’ where people can come in and work out for free. we schedule these on the slow nights of the week and let our ‘regulars’ know that they’ll be a few more people here on those nights. we give our regulars who are in on the ‘try me’ nights a free juice drink to make up for any inconvenience.”todd h, cedar city, ut fitness center

we've started to give away bookmarks with the name, address, web and phone number for the store, and we drop several in a bag so people can share with their friends. we're trying to think of other low-cost freebies too, including book club reading lists, for customers.tom t., bookseller, spokane wa.

“last summer we decided to focus on children in art. we took all items that even remotely seemed like something a child would like to work with and put them on sale. we have had weekly contests for children to participate in...a different theme each week....awarding them a small gift certificate.all of this naturally brings in parents...and we endeavor to engage them in buying their own supplies!.” hannah y, elsmwood, ct teacher supply store

i’m really focusing on referrals…i make a point to mail a postcard to former clients and ask for referrals, and send a gift certificate to a nice restaurant to every client who gives me a referral.patrick o. rapid city, sd- real estate

“some in our center used post it notes as flyers that they put on cars. we asked them about it and they said that they got better response than before with normal flyers. plus they had no complaints from the landlord about flyers all over the parking lot. they used the local printer and had 500 of the post it notes printed. one thing that they said was important is that they put the note on the driver’s side door not on the windshield.”alexis v, newport beach, ca, dress boutique