Recession is slowing? We are on the edge of recovery? I have read several very encouraging articles over the past few days. Unemployment claims did not go up. Housing prices increased for the first time in years, and housing sales have seen their fourth straight month of increases. Car sales went up...duh! But the one I like to look at is the consumer confidence index. When it is all said and done, it is the consumers who determine if they are gonna start spending money again.
Consumer confidence jumped a little higher than expected last month. It is now around 57pts which is a sharp increase from the lowest point of 23 hit just this past January. Unfortunately, it is still well below 90, which is the line of a stable economy, and even further from 110 which indicates strong growth. (Yahoo - Associated Press)
Throughout this blog I have encouraged everyone to take control of their own stores. It has been discouraging to see sales decline, and stores close. People are still terrified that they no longer have the job security they once had. We are not only workers, but we are the consumers too. Economists still expect a slow holiday season for the retail sector. But what if things are looking up? What if people do flock to the malls again? Are we ready? Do we want to entice them to buy today with gimmicks and barely profitable sale prices, or ensure they come back tomorrow by giving them a memorable shopping experience?
The most important part will again be the shopping experience. If consumers are saying their confidence is going up, then they will at the very least be going to the malls. It will be our job to provide them with the best product, the cleanest stores, the fairest prices, and most importantly - GREAT PEOPLE!!
This is the time to literally make the most of every customer that walks through your door. You might find they are not just "window shopping" anymore. They are again telling their friends about their great (and not-so-great) experiences they are having. BE the ones people are talking about! BE the ones that the other retailers want to be like!
Consumer confidence jumped a little higher than expected last month. It is now around 57pts which is a sharp increase from the lowest point of 23 hit just this past January. Unfortunately, it is still well below 90, which is the line of a stable economy, and even further from 110 which indicates strong growth. (Yahoo - Associated Press)
Throughout this blog I have encouraged everyone to take control of their own stores. It has been discouraging to see sales decline, and stores close. People are still terrified that they no longer have the job security they once had. We are not only workers, but we are the consumers too. Economists still expect a slow holiday season for the retail sector. But what if things are looking up? What if people do flock to the malls again? Are we ready? Do we want to entice them to buy today with gimmicks and barely profitable sale prices, or ensure they come back tomorrow by giving them a memorable shopping experience?
The most important part will again be the shopping experience. If consumers are saying their confidence is going up, then they will at the very least be going to the malls. It will be our job to provide them with the best product, the cleanest stores, the fairest prices, and most importantly - GREAT PEOPLE!!
This is the time to literally make the most of every customer that walks through your door. You might find they are not just "window shopping" anymore. They are again telling their friends about their great (and not-so-great) experiences they are having. BE the ones people are talking about! BE the ones that the other retailers want to be like!
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