What are you featuring in your windows and front zone displays right now? Have you restyled them to reflect the season, new merchandise, and new inspiration? It's simple to refresh existing merchandise to look new and appealing to customers...

It's important to get a fresh start after the holidays - your customers will be coming in with gift cards, gift certs, and money they received, and they deserve to see fresh new ideas. Inspiring them to buy what you offer can be as simple as taking what you already have and combining it in a new way to reflect the season...

Barbara Crowhurst
Retail Makeover Industry Expert

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Did you know that your next customer could be the United States Government?  As Sharon McLoone reports in her NY Times article, "Getting Government Contracts,"  "there are many federal contracting opportunities for small business." (1)  Sounds exciting!

Sharon goes on to say in her article that there are lots of rules and regulations to note before you score that big government contract - like having a track record and a positive cash flow.  In her article, Sharon lists 13 steps in the process of hooking the government, the most daunting possibly being deciding which government agency to contact. Sharon writes that there are thousands of government agencies and offices.  While that means there are thousands of opportunities for small businesses, there's a lot of research that needs to be done before finding the one to suit your business.

Northern Ireland Retailers are welcoming the UK's Competition Commission's newly announced plans to create a "Competition Test," which will put up roadblocks to stop chain supermarkets from dominating the local area.  Under the test, regulations would be implemented to prevent large firms from building new stores or making large renovations.   The Northern Ireland Independent Retailer Trade Association is strongly in favor of the Commission's plan because chain grocery stores like Tesco and ASDA are currently threatening to monopolise their grocery market. (1)

Apps are sweeping M-Commerce like Starbucks swept the Coffee Industry in the 90's.  That iPhone App catch slogan, "There's an App for that," is even practically true.  OK, I know, there isn't an app for everything - but if there's not an app for that today, there will surely be one tomorrow - or more realistically - next month. 

This NY Times article profiles a young startup retailer who's literally going to the customer instead of waiting for the customer to come to him. With his Cupcake truck, Lev Ekster is on a mission to sell these little treats to hungry New Yorkers with a sweet tooth. Upon further research, you'll find this mobile cake trend isn't unique to New York...

It's not often I recommend someone who has the skills and business savy to take you from rags to riches or at least on the road to recovery.

Janet Switzer is a well know author who wrote a great book called, "Instant Income" which is chock full of ideas that work in any retail situation but better yet she has come up with a must have planner to get you to where you want to be in terms of cash flow.

"You can download your copy of the 10-Day Turnaround here:
http://www.instantincome.com/planner/10DayTurnaround.pdf

Paper Ribbons are not only a good choice for the environment but they are pretty and fun to work with too. Look what you can do with our 100% recyclable biodegradable paper ribbons! They are my new favorite ribbons.

Hello, and Welcome to our new forum.

This is where we answer any Questions you may have about our blog posts.

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We look forward very much to making new friends here, and getting to know you better.

Warm Regards,

Joyce, John and Shirley

Retail Display Secrets Ltd.

www.retaildisplaysecrets.com