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  Intention: Keeping sales associates abreast of your merchandising plans.
When a new season comes upon a retailer it's important to remember to include your staff in your enthusiasm. You've just been to market and found the most beautiful line of clothing, the new state-of-the-art automobile tires, first pick on a new wine, an easier way to char peppers, or the most exciting hair product since the invention of shampoo. It doesn't matter whether you own a clothing store, an auto parts store, liquor store, restaurant or beauty salon; retailing is retailing. If your staff doesn't know what you've bought or how it works how are they going to help you sell it? Be certain that you hold a staff meeting to inform them of what is new for the season. Get your vendors involved in explaining the benefits of the new product or style. Remember: If you don't create and communicate your mission don't fault your staff if sales are flat.  "C" is for Commitment
Don't offer to follow through with a customer if you're not going to. And certainly don't make the customer follow up with you! Just recently I tried to purchase an item through a catalog. They actually called to tell me the item was on back order which was pleasantly surprising. They also told me that because of it being the week of their physical inventory there would be no way to ship the item that week. I told them it was a birthday gift and was concerned whether it would arrive on time for the celebration. However, I told them I would still like to receive it. Apparently the salesperson I spoke with made a notation about the birthday and expedited the delivery. Lo and behold the item was on my doorstep the day before I needed to wrap it! Remember: Do what you say you're going to do or don't say it.  Never buy anything unless you have two things to go with it.
Yes, this is my mantra. If you are trying to build a professional wardrobe you need to budget your hard-earned money. While leopard-print halter tops, fur-trimmed jeans, and spandex skirts are fun to own they are not appropriate for the workplace. Select three colors for your professional wardrobe and stick to them: one dark, one neutral, and one accent, such as black, white and tan; camel, ivory and red; navy, white and yellow. Build from these colors season upon season. Even though the store mannequin is dressed in the most exciting ensemble you've ever seen resist the temptation to buy it if you have nothing in your wardrobe to go with it. Impulse shopping will only give you a closet full of outfits, not options. Remember: Accessories are a good way to add trends into your wardrobe. Don't buy the whole suit!   Santa Fe, New Mexico I travel often to Santa Fe, New Mexico so I want to offer some tips on traveling to this beautiful town. Known for exquisite boutiques, superb restaurants, and some of the best sunsets in the world you should experience this spot. One of my favorite ways to experience the heart of the city is to stay at a place just off the Plaza so one can walk anywhere. Here are my picks: Hotel Plaza Real 125 Washington Ave. 505-988-4900 A boutique hotel with fireplaces, verandas and spacious suites. Hotel Saint Francis 210 Don Gaspar Ave. 505-983-5700 A very quaint hotel with high tea in the afternoon and an exceptional concierge. A Petite or Double room is only large enough for one person. Book a King or Deluxe for two people. Casitas de las Palomas 505-984-2270 www.twocasitas.com Vacation rentals; studio, one, two and three bedroom adobe casitas scattered about town. A wonderful way to spend a few days and have a kitchen at your disposal. DINING:
Hotel La Fonda 100 E. San Francisco St. 505-982-5511 Go to the bell tower for a drink and a view of an exceptional sunset. The Shed 113 E. Palace Ave. 505-982-9030 The best New Mexican food in town. Plaza Restaurant 54 Lincoln Ave. 505-982-1664 For the best granola or blue corn pinon pancakes; how about a New Mexican chopped salad or a bowl of green chili? And the desserts are world famous. Il Piatto 95 W. Marcy St. 505-984-1091 The best Tuscan Italian fare. Reasonable prices and always good food. Santacafe 231 Washington Ave. 505-984-1788 The best créme brulee I've ever eaten. An eclectic menu of wild game specials, fresh seafood, perfect beef, and unusual New Mexican dishes such as quinoa-stuffed rellenos. A very interesting bar. Pasqual's 121 Don Gaspar Avenue 505-983-9340 Mayan, Oaxacan, New Mexican fare. Plantains on the side, jicama-orange salad, mole sauces, tamales wrapped in banana leaves. And then there's breakfast - stand in line for this one. Eat at the Community Table to get a seat quick. There's no telling who you'll meet! SIDE TRIPS: Chimayo Legend has it that in 1810 a friar saw light bursting from a hillside where after digging in the spot a crucifix was found. The crucifix was moved three times and each time was found back at this same spot. So here it remained and a small chapel was built on the site. Then the miraculous healings began. These grew so numerous that the chapel had to be replaced by the larger, current Santuario de Chimayo in 1816. People pilgrimage from around the globe to visit this sacred spot and take a small bit of "healing dirt" from the place where the crucifix was found. Allan Houser Sculpture Garden 505-471-9667 Allan Houser, a Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, is the American master of soaring monumental sculpture. He created a renaissance in stone carving using such mediums as marble, alabaster, and limestone. Walk among these beautiful sculptures displayed in their natural New Mexican habitat where Mr. Houser lived and worked. 
See previous tips, including travel destinations, here. < Back to Top P.O. Box 4164 • Evergreen, CO 80437 • 303-512-7638 • fax: 303-674-5356 |
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