In the prior article, I covered what I refer to as the basic steps to take in order to own and operate a small retail business. These are the steps that take you to the point in the process where it’s nearly time to open your doors to the public. Now it’s time for the next stage of the process, or what I call Advanced Basic Training. This is the stage that requires even more due diligence than the basics as a lot of key financial issues are discussed here.

Remember in the first article that we named our business, stocked and priced our shelves and sales floor, and established our hours of operation. So now it’s time to move into final three stages, which are:

o Guidelines for staffing

o Wages and benefits issues

o Developing an effective marketing plan

In the basic steps I discussed in the first article, I tried to focus on some of the pitfalls you are apt to encounter during each stage. I made recommendations on the positives and negatives in this process based on my own personal experiences with various endeavors. And I’ll be doing the same with the above three steps as well. The big difference this time is that the financial aspects of your business really come into play in these three steps.

Guidelines for staffing

How many people will it take to staff your business? This is difficult to calculate when you’re initially starting. My biggest headache was always hiring the right people that would benefit the business. Let’s face it folks, the “employment pool” as I call it is pretty damned shallow — not a lot of talent to choose from like there used to be. The hiring process is still a pain for most business owners, and it’s going to be even tougher for you as a rookie business owner, especially if you are lacking the experience in this area. But don’t fret, here are some recommendations that will help you get through this process.

Don’t be overly judgmental of a person based on their appearance. Boy, this is really the tough one and I feel it is the single most important recommendation of the bunch. Good looks, proper hair length, and the person’s physique are not always quality factors; in fact you might even say that perfection in these areas constitutes a minority of individuals in society today. Not every person out there is photogenic enough for the cover of People magazine, longer hair has become an acceptable standard today, and most people today need to lose a few pounds anyway. If a person appears neat and clean in the hygienic aspects of grooming, this is an indication that they care about themselves and how other people view them. So flush that mentality before you find yourself running your business from open to close seven days a week all by your lonesome.

Can the job applicant carry on a reasonably intelligent conversation? Don’t laugh; this is a very critical factor in the hiring process as well. If they can’t talk to you, do you think they’ll be able to talk to your customers? I look for a few key “hot spots” such as how well they maintain eye contact during the interview, are they too fidgety when trying to respond to your questions, do they lack self-confidence in their answers, are they overly confident to the point of bragging — just to name a few. You can safely construe these as warning signs and reasons to shy away from these types.

Trying to find someone with experience is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Are you ready to be discouraged? Then this one will definitely do just that. I have discovered over the years that this can be very frustrating. It’s not necessarily that hard to find someone with retail experience; but it’s difficult as Hell to keep them. Let’s face it, the only jobs lower on the wage scale than retail is flipping burgers for Ronald McDonald or working in Guy Patterson’s father’s appliance store. Remember the movie “That Thing You Do”?

Look for an individual that you and your business will benefit from. During your interviewing process, get into the habit of always asking the job seeker this question – “Why should I hire you instead of another applicant?” Again, listen for some of those key hot spots (see the paragraph above about intelligent conversation) when they respond to this question. Here’s another helpful tip. Listen for the key words customer service in the conversation; it means that they are a “people person” and will relate well with your customers. This is a must in any retail business.

Employing the use of a good labor matrix (or labor formula) enables you to staff the operation properly, and helps you reach a level of profitability within that 12 month parameter. What does it take to develop the right formula? Here are the variables you need to consider:

o Fixed and variable expenses (wages, rent, utilities, advertising, cost of goods)

o Coverage (i.e., the number of bodies needed for sales, customer service, shipping and receiving, store sanitation, merchandising, point of sale issues)

o Average monthly cost of inventory (this of course varies with sales volume)

When you’re just getting started, you need to calculate the total of the first item above so that you can calculate what it costs you daily to keep your doors open. Once you’ve established a rough idea on this then you’ll have a better idea on how to start controlling this part of your overhead. The key here when it comes to adding additional employees is the customer service factor. When you can no longer handle certain aspects of store operations (e.g. customer traffic, customer service, shipping and receiving, stocking and merchandising), then it is time to think about hiring another employee.

Wages and benefits issues

What does it take to find and keep good employees? The immediate consideration is a decent wage package at each level of employ. If you study the retail industry nationwide, most successful companies are multiple location types of operations or chain stores. Managers are usually salaried and receive an override based on a percentage of the total sales volume. Additionally, monthly or quarterly bonuses are sometimes paid based on net dead profits of the store.

Assistant Managers are salaried or hourly depending on the company. Sometimes they are afforded a smaller percentage of the profits as a monthly or quarterly bonus, but this is rare. Most salespeople are paid an hourly wage and on rare occasions afforded a small commission on their sales as well. Warehouse personnel are paid an hourly wage.

Initially, you will not only be the owner, but the store manager as well since you probably won’t be able to shell out management wages to begin with. However, it would be a good idea to hire and train someone that you could trust running the store in your absence. And you’ll need to pay them a bit more than your regular employees. So keep that in mind, unless you feel like being in that store seven days a week testing your sanity levels.

You will probably start out as a 3 or 4 person operation, depending on size of the store, breadth of your product assortment, and your customer flow. If you start off as a 3 person operation, there are you, that assistant I urged you to hire, and a combination person. By combination, I mean someone who can work shipping and receiving, merchandising, and customer service. If you can afford to be a 4 person operation, there are you, the assistant, a floor person who can help customers and assist your warehouse person when needed, and a warehouse person.

With all this being said, I would urge you to formulate job descriptions for each level of employee in your store, yourself included. This way, you’re not babysitting people all the time, and can attend to your own duties as well. Heck, you may even be able to take a break once in a while, take the wife out to lunch, or even take a day off. And trust me; at some point in time, that day off idea will look pretty tasty when you start examining those sanity levels I spoke of.

In addition to the job description sheets, here are a few more strong recommendations. First and most importantly, drug test everybody that you decide to hire. This one aspect will save you countless hours of grief down the road. I hate to be stereotypical, but 9 out of 10 “druggies” are not in control of their lives — the drugs are. Theft has the tendency to become an issue as well.

Secondly, without fail, investigate their prior employment history. Believe it or not, people are not always honest on their applications, and they can really massage a resume so it sounds exactly like what you want to hear (oh, say it ain’t so). Pick up the phone, call that former employer, and remember that legally there are only 3 questions you can ask, and these are:

1. How long was this person in your employ?

2. What was their wage or salary?

3. Would you consider hiring this person again? (This is the biggy. If the person you’re talking to says “no”, you cannot ask them why. However, it is safe to assume that there is a valid reason for that employer not rehiring that person. On the other hand, if they answer “yes” you can ask the next question.)

4. How would you describe this person’s performance?

Does this help? I sure hope so. I am telling you all this from past experience, and believe me, you want to take all these things into consideration. The livelihood of that new business is dependant upon these issues. So please save yourself a lot of headaches and nightmares and reread through this part again.

The next topic here is benefits, and there’s a good possibility that the only one who will have medical, dental, and vision coverage is you. At some point in time, once the business is deemed profitable and successful, a benefits package needs to be considered for full time employees, with part time employees being included with medical benefits. In most instances, benefits are considered more critical than wages if you want to entice and keep good employees for any length of time. A well-rounded benefits package usually includes the following:

— Health insurance including dental and vision plans (after 90 days)

— 401k or some form of retirement plan (after 90 days)

— Vacation pay (after one year of employment)

— Sick pay (after 90 days)

Bear in mind that your employees are insured through your Workman’s Compensation Insurance, but that only covers them if they are injured on the job. And you are required by federal and state law to have this.

Developing an effective marketing plan

“The man, who on his trade relies, must either bust or advertise” was a quote that came from the 1700′s at the onset of advertising in this country. And there is no greater truism where marketing your business is concerned. I want to say that the quote comes from Thomas Payne, but I wouldn’t swear to it. But, it had such an impact on me when I first became interested in the advertising and marketing industry that I have never forgotten it.

This is the area of the six step process that I always enjoy the most and have a lot of fun with, not from a comical standpoint, but because this is my primary focus of financial endeavor. I’ve been around the advertising and marketing sector for over 17 years now and have really gotten my feet wet in the three major media, (i.e. print, radio, and television), and now I’m becoming well versed in the online sector as well — and not because I’ve wanted to, but because I have had to.

Once it is public that you have opened (or are opening) a new business, be ready for another one of those shark attacks. You are about to be bombarded by reps from every media imaginable, telling you that their’s is the best avenue of advertising in the world. (There’s this word that starts with “bull” that oftentimes comes to mind here.)

Here are a few suggestions when considering where to advertise. At the outset, only look at print advertising, such as your local newspaper and telephone book. Realize that for the time being, radio and television advertising may not be affordable, so you may want to put those media on the back burner. As far as the phone book is concerned, stick with a liner ad in the white and yellow pages (categorized).

When you’re considering placement for your ad in the newspaper, think about the different sections in the publication and where your business fits the best. You can start with a sixth or eighth of a page ad for three months and do just fine. But don’t think that you can advertise a month or less and start doing a land office business. In most instances, it ain’t gonna happen. Here are some things to consider when it comes to spending your money on advertising.

Advertise for a minimum of 60 to 90 days. It will take that long for the buying public to get used to your business being there. And once they know you’re there, you need to keep your name visible. It’s called “market awareness”.

Change your ads often. Run a different special each week, otherwise your ad gets stale and people won’t pay attention to it any more. Remember variety is the spice of life.

Advertise heavier when business is slow. What??? Am I ought of my mind??? Absolutely not. The typical mindset amongst business owners is that advertising is an expense, not a necessity. So when times get tough, that’s one of the first things they pull the plug on. Here’s a tip, if most of the retailers out there do that, and you keep advertising, it looks like you’re still in business when the other ones have flown the coop. Gee, what a concept — market awareness. You have to keep your name out there.

Vehicle Racking can refer to any type of racking system which is applied to automotive vehicles. Vehicle racking is used for stacking and storage purposes on all types of vehicles from motorcycles and cars, to vans and even some trucks and lorries. The type of racking used can be as simple as a motorcycle pannier rack to a more sophisticated walk on rack for use on a large van.

Vehicle racking is required for either optimization of space, or when large and bulky items of equipment or items, cannot fit inside the vehicle.

There is a wide range of racking equipment and these can include:

• Roof bars
• Racking & Shelving systems
• Side racking systems
• Ladder systems
• Walk on systems
• Interior Module Systems

Vehicle racking systems need to be durable, robust, and safe to use.

They are manufactured from steel alloy or aluminium which is lightweight and corrosion resistant, and is employed in many different industries such as, plumbing, glazing, building and the leisure industry.

Aluminium racking has an obvious advantage over steel racking systems as it is around 50% lighter. This is important not only in small vehicles such as vans and estate cars, but also in much larger vehicles where payload can be a major consideration.

Another type of racking or storage system is the use of self contained units or modules. These modules consist of drawers and shelves. The frame of the unit is generally manufactured from steel alloy, whilst the drawer units may be manufactured from a tough durable plastic or steel alloy. These type of units also known as modules are very easily installed, and can save time and money, because tools and equipment are safely stored and organised, which means tools and equipment can be easily found when needed.

These types of systems are available in a huge range of designs and sizes, and can be fitted into almost any type of vehicle where a racking system is required.

Where weight considerations are not to much of a concern, stainless steel modules can be used. Stainless steel racking systems or modules are extremely robust, durable and highly corrosion resistant. The steel is generally 1mm in thickness, and it has a high recycling value when their serviceable life is over.

The appropriate racking and shelving systems can pay for themselves in just a few months through increased productivity, and less wasted and less stock, and is the safest way of protecting a vehicle. The value of the vehicle is also enhanced, as the use of interior racking/modules means there will be less damage to the inside of the vehicle.

Fashionable handbags are no longer hard to find with all the wholesale handbags available on the market.  So many wholesalers and companies have ventured out to the internet as a place to offer amazing deals at jaw dropping prices. The amount of companies offering these products is increasing at a startling rate, which is phenomenal for you – the consumer.

Lowering your prices cost for designer handbags and handbag suppliers is becoming simpler than any time in the past. So many wholesalers are offering these items online, which has forced competitive prices to drop. Since the supply is growing faster than deman, prices are dropping – it’s simple economics that works out completely in your favor! 

Many individuals or small start up businesses will sell handbags online via ebay, or at local bargain centers or markets. These are often times purchased through wholesale handbags vendors. The great news is that high prices do not need to be paid any longer to obtain high quality designer handbags.

When we searched the web we were able to find both knock off and original handbags as low as $5 per item. Many of these items are either imitation products or originals that were liquidated from large department stores.  Yes, actual original brands are available on the internet at below retail pricing. Many handbags wholesalers will sell department store items at extremely low prices because the department stores were clearing out for new styles to hit their shelves. 

When trying to find wholesale handbags you must search the internet with certain search terms to narrow down your results. We would say that a good place to start is to look using terms such as handbag Wholesalers and Wholesale handbags to find what you are looking for. You can limit your results by looking for specific brands such as gucci and prada – or you can use terms such as designer, fasion, purses, wallets etc.  This will help you to fine tune exactly what you are looking for and clear out a lot of bad results.

Some of the brands that we have located on the internet are Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Tods and Louis Vuitton.  So you can locate quality goods at unmatched and sale pricing.

When you are browsing the internet for wholesale handbags we recommend you shop around and shop smart. This will help you to protect your self from any scams and bad products. Make sure the company you purchase from offers telephone sales and support, focus ont the terms of the sale. If you call a companies customer service line, you can often times get a feel for whether or not the company is legitimate or not.  Some companies will also offer discounted or free shipping on large orders, so don’t be shy – just ask.

Another point to focus on when looking for a designer handbag is to browse through comparison shopping web sites. These sites will walk you through all the pros and cons of specific retailers. They will offer total order price including Shipping costs.  Often times you can also read reviews about the companies you are purchasing from as well which will help you to make your decision.

You’re a do-it-yourself kind of person and you’ve been looking to do a few home improvement upgrades, maybe putting up shelves in the garage or in a closet or even building a shed out in the backyard. You have some basic skills; you can measure right and cut straight and know how to read a set of shed plans or woodworking blueprints. You feel like you have enough skill to get the job done.

You have the set of plans or have drawn out the measurements for your shelves and are ready to go get the lumber and start. If you’ve sat under a carpenter or master builder you probably know exactly what to get. However, most of us would do one of two things; buy the cheapest or one of the most expensive. So what are the very basics we should we know before we go?

#1 – It’s Not What It Used To Be

It wasn’t that long ago when you went down to purchase lumber for a project you would be met by an experienced lumberman who would start the conversation with this question; what are you using the lumber to build? He would them instruct the novice to the right type and size of wood for the project at hand.

It’s no longer like that in most places.

Today, most of us go to a do-it-yourself lumber/hardware store where the people who are there to help have no more knowledge than you do about lumber. They don’t ask probing questions about your project. They point you to the bins where the lumber sits so you can go through them and dig out the sizes you think you need or the bins where the type of lumber you think you want to use are.

This means you have to do your homework and a bit of research and find out sizes, shapes, types, etc before you ever leave your house.

#2 – You Don’t Have To Be Overly Choosy For Most Projects

If you’re putting up shelves in a closet, it doesn’t make that big of a difference to use yellow pine, white pine, ash, cedar, redwood, oak, particleboard, plywood or mahogany.

It also doesn’t really matter what grade of lumber you choose, especially if the shelf is hung high up and out of the way. It will be hidden behind the closet door and too high for most people to even notice.

What you will notice though is the difference all these types and grades of wood cost! There really is no reason to pay the higher prices for lumber for projects that are out of site. This means you really need to know what and where your projects are and how they are viewed.

At the same time, you need to know when purchasing the higher grade lumber or a different type of wood is important. You should be able to determine this by looking at your set of plans. Of course if you have any detailed questions or your plans are vague, call around to the various lumber stores in your area until you get one of the guys who knows his stuff and ask.

It is always better to ask the questions and get the answers before purchasing your lumber. This way you are better prepared and ready for your project the first time around.

Rubbermaid storage sheds come in a lot of dimensions. There’s an unusually specially designed Rubbermaid storage shed as well, that would seem to be particularly built for storing bikes and push lawn tools. This one particular nearly looks like a tall box laying on its side as well. It’s five feet vast, shut to 7 feet deep, and about 4 and a 50 percent feet tall.

All of the Rubbermaid containers have distinctive interlocking pieces which make them pretty swift and uncomplicated to assemble. Lots of of the Rubbermaid storage containers also have molded grooves in them, which are for installing an individual or far more shelves inside of the unit. So obtaining a person that meets your distinct requirements must not prove a issue.

Under we supply some recommendations that you may possibly uncover useful in pinpointing which of the quite a few storage sheds for sale is heading to be the suitable an individual for you.

Tip one – Prior to you go out and buy a shed you need to figure out what you will be employing yours for, then you can make your mind up how little or large it should be. It is a superior notion to create a list of goods that you intend to maintain in your shed and how big or tiny they are. This way you can then appear for a storage shed that will not only make it easy for you the space to store everything in it that you want, but also allow you a great deal of area to get to almost everything simply when essential.

Suggestion two – Another thing that demands to be looked at so you can choose which dimensions of shed you get is how a lot room is out there in the garden in which you would like it to go. If you only have a compact garden or garden and space is limited then it may perhaps be worth taking into consideration storage sheds for sale that can be developed against the side of your property or garage rather than a free of charge standing one. Suggestion 3 – Along with making certain that the shed is a person that will allow you to keep almost everything you want in it you need to make sure that the doors are of a great dimension as effectively. Many people forget that they will have things that are bulky to retail store in their shed and so the door ought to be of a dimensions that lets them to get these big or irregular shaped products in and out of the shed conveniently.

Suggestion four – A different matter you need to have to consider into consideration when acquiring a storage shed is will there be enough area within for you to move all-around freely. This is incredibly vital if you are intending to use yours not only for storing things but also as a workshop or office.

Suggestion 5 – An individual other matter that you will need to take into consideration when shopping for a storage shed to erect on your home is what it will be designed from. If you want you could create a single from scratch which will help save you a great deal of funds, specially if you are thinking of a wood shed. The other choice you have is to go for a prefabricated shed kit wherever all the recommendations and supplies are furnished. These kits can be erected employing only a couple of common tools.