Business Tips March 2012

Dealing with the Competition

For years I've been recommending that independent Scrapbook Retailers honor sale coupons
from the major Craft and Scrapbook stores.

This advice has also been offered by other Scrapbook professionals.

The reasons for doing this is primarily to keep your customers from having to go to the
"Big Box" craft retailers rather than shopping at your store.

You should make it as easy as possible for your customers to get all their scrapbooking supplies from you and only you.

And every time your customer comes to your store for a "sale item" you have the opportunity to
sell them other products you carry.

There are other reasons for doing this but the above reasons are really enough.

Something I've noticed the last few months is that certain " Big Box craft retailers" are limiting their sale merchandise, in large part, to what I consider "Private Label" lines that only they carry. You don't have to honor those sale prices, because the "Big Box" limits the sale price to those lines only. If you choose to, you can offer a brand you carry as a sale item, but that would be your choice.

I also see the "Big Box " stores will exclude many items from their sale. For instance, one "big box " store ran a sale on a popular die cut line's accessories but excluded the high ticket cutting machines.

Of course , the choice to honor competitors sale coupons is solely yours. But why would you send your customers to another store when you don't have to.

I'd like to hear your opinion on this issue.
Especially why you feel strongly one way or the other.

Please respond on my blog or email me at sandman@mindspring.com

And let me know if it's Ok for me to post your comments on my blog.

Sandy