WINTER 2005  Inspiration: Relating Trends to your Store's Image. Trends come and go. The secret of a good retailer is to decide which ones fit the image of your store and which ones do not. Sometimes as retailers we feel we need to have everything a customer might want so that we don't miss a sale. For instance, with all the Harry Potter hoopla over the past few years it made sense to see that merchandise prominently displayed for sale. I saw it in bookstores, gift stores, children stores, drug stores. The day I saw a huge display of Harry Potter merchandise in a Denver sporting goods store is the day I thought this particular retailer had "folded" with the media-hype pressure! Why didn't they take that hard-earned money and put it into their best-selling tennis racquet, or Nike shoes, or Bronco paraphernalia? Remember: You cannot be everything to everyone. Stick to your store's image and your target customer--and leave the hype alone!  "M" is for Make a Friend. If your intention is to make a sale and you concentrate on "selling" someone then you will probably do just that. You may never see them again but, yes, you made some money. If instead your focus is on making a friend and building a relationship then it doesn't matter if you "sell" that person immediately. In the future when the customer does need what you have they will think of you first and want to give you their business. If you treat others as you would like to be treated then you will start to build relationships. Those relationships will then turn into customer loyalty. Remember: Make a friend first. Without customer loyalty you don't have a business!   First Impressions. Let's talk about first impressions. Humans need very little stimulus to size up an individual. We base our assessment around hygiene and neatness, with the help of our five senses, and form an impression within ten seconds of meeting a new person. Let me tell you a little secret--here is what I know about you based on your appearance: If you wear a suit, you are a professional. If you carry a small handbag, you are organized. If your shoes are shined, you pay attention to details--you are a responsible person. If your hair, face, hands and feet are neat and clean then you regard yourself with high esteem--you are a trustworthy and reliable person. If you wear color, perhaps interesting prints, you are a friendly person. Remember: You have about ten seconds to make a first impression. Make it a good one! Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado Looking for a grand ski vacation? Up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado lies Vail and Beaver Creek. Beautiful at any time of year it is an exceptional place to ski. The terrain is diverse enough for all levels of expertise and the children's area is one of the best in the world. Add the friendly, helpful residents, the many lodging facilities and varied restaurants, all of the world-class shopping, along with the entertainment and cultural scene, and you have one great experience. For more information contact the Vail Valley Chamber and Tourism Bureau at www.visitvailvalley.com. Also, located in the heart of Colorado's Beaver Creek Resort, is The Vilar Center. This 530-seat theatre presents a variety of year-round performances, such as jazz, comedy, dance, film, musicals, theatre, family shows and more. Check out their website before you go at www.vilarcenter.org.       Carmel, California If you have never been to Carmel-by-the-sea you must put it on your list of places to go. What a gorgeous place on earth! I recently traveled there on business and was struck once again with its beauty. The sunsets are not to be matched. If you find yourself near the beach around dusk grab a camera and head down the hill from town. That's where the picture above was taken. About a mile from downtown off of Highway One is a unique shopping village called The Barnyard. With over 50 unique shops, galleries and restaurants, surrounded by lush gardens, it's no wonder the L.A. Times reported that it's, "...what a shopping center ought to be." Visit their website for more information: www.thebarnyard.com. Casanova Restaurant 5th Street between Mission and San Carlos Carmel, CA 93921 (831) 625-0501 www.casanovarestaurant.com Carmel's most romantic restaurant. A culinary experience that echoes the South of France & Northern Italy. The menu varies but may offer anything from warm duck salad, charbroiled lamb, and homemade pasta, to a pan roasted fillet of wild Pacific salmon or sautéed medallions of veal. Finish the meal with their crème brulee for dessert. Give yourself the time to enjoy this extraordinary restaurant. The ambience is worth the price.       See previous tips, including travel destinations, here. < Back to Top ©2011 Duncan & Duncan Enterprises LLC P.O. Box 4164 •  Evergreen, CO 80437 •  303-512-7638 •  fax: 303-674-5356