James Blog

Is Social Media right for your Business?

    I just had a phone call to interview me about the use of Social Media for our business, and this got me thinking about the benefits and reasons that it makes sense to embrace Media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other forms of media.

    After answering a couple of questions, I realised that Social Media, like this blog or the Jenlist Facebook page, actually target an audience that are interested in what you have to say or offer. That's one of the great things about inviting people to "like" your Facebook page, or follow your blog or Twitter feeds. People have a choice. If they choose to follow you then they are interested in the things you have to say or the products and services you may be offering.

It's about giving people choice. Then the challenge is to keep your followers and readers interested in the things you want to say.

How does this work in retail? I believe Facebook is a great place to start and  thousands of retailers have a unique opportunity to get their customers to follow them on Facebook. My idea is that you should have a "live" computer in store, and ask people to like you on Facebook while they are shopping in your store. You can offer an incentive, to sweeten the deal, like a free gift or a 10% discount on toady's purchase. Something simple makes sense.

Then what? Posting to Facebook is easy, and with practice you soon learn that the time to do so is relatively little. I think it is wise to keep your posts as relevant and focussed as possible.

What to Post?  Posting something like "we are open 7 Days" or Come in and browse our range" has little effect and creates no interest. Better you try and focus on a red hot special, or remind your customers that it is a $30 Million dollar Lotto night. Maybe you have just got a new product or range in and would like to share that with your customers. Being a local retailer means you can also use local events to make your posts interesting and relevant. Maybe a staff members birthday, or information about an upcoming event in the community. What about sporting results of the local Football team you sponsor?

One thing is for sure, if you think it is time to start using Social Media in your business, you're right !

 

 

An Open Mind Breeds Success

    We all wonder why some people seem to be lucky and have success, while others are plagued by bad luck.

    Why do some people seem to have all the luck? Why are the successful?

    I think it is because these people have an open mind. They are willing to explore new ideas... they are willing to at  least listen and not put up a barrier every time a new idea comes their way.

I find it interesting when talking to retailers and I hear them say "I can't do that", or "we can't sell those here". These are the retailers that seem to be down on the "luck". Their shops look tired... they look tired. It's not necessarily their fault as we all too often hear about the doom and gloom around us. Retail is flat. A new large shopping centre has just opened down the road. Online shopping is growing. Interest rates are going up. All of these negatives have an impact on our state of mind.

Is there a solution? I think there is. Surround yourself with positive vibes. hang out with upbeat and happy people. Keep an open mind and look for the pros, not the cons.

A positive attitude can work wonders, for you and the people around you.

Keep an open mind... it works for the successful people I know.

 

E Retailing can't always fill the basket

You know, there has been a lot of talk lately about online shopping, the impact it is having on bricks and mortar retailers and the number of consumers shopping all over the world from the comfort of their lounge rooms.

This may well be the truth, and in fact I know quite a few people that shop online for a variety of items ranging from shoes and clothing to gifts and food. Amongst the people I know, they mostly shop online for clothing where there appears to be significant savings for the consumer. But I must say, I find it amusing when a pair of shoes have been ordered and the purchaser discovers they don't fit. Most of the time they don't bother returning them. They simply pass them onto a friend.

Electronics is another item that we often see advertised on line and even Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman has joined the ranks of Online Merchants. He seems to have given up the fight against them and decided better to join them. Good retailers need an online presence more than ever now. Even if it is a FaceBook page to start with so you can communicate with your customers about specials and local events. Making an effort now to start an online presence may seem like a hassle, but it will pay off down the road as you learn to combine good physical and online retailing to meet the growing and changing demands of tomorrows consumer.

From my observations there are certainly some bargains to be had by shopping or comparing items online, but when it comes to technology products the perceived savings are just that... precieved !

Yes, you can find a product for about 10% to 20% cheaper on an online shop, but once you factor in freight and handling costs, credit card charges, and worst still, the wait for your brand new purchase to arrive on your door step (or at the post office for collection) then suddenly that online bargain isn't all it was cracked up to be.

All too often the product may arrive and prove to be not quite what was expected. Or items end up being out of stock and take weeks to arrive.

Don't get me wrong. Online Merchants will continue to grow, and some will service and prosper and others will disappear as quickly as they arrived. Just like good and bad retailers today in shopping centres or on strip shops. The good retailers prosper while the bad ones complain.

I still believe that the bricks and mortar retailer has a strong place in our society, offering consumers instant cratification, competitive pricing, expert advice and a personal touch that cannot be enjoyed while shopping online.

The trick is retailers need to continue to improve their level of service and range of products. It's the personal touch and service that will win shoppers. Everyone likes to feel good about themselves and the decisions they make;  and a good retailer ensures that feeling takes place inside their bricks and mortar business.

If you have some thoughts about online versus bricks and mortar, I would love to hear from you.

 

Latest Retailer Guide on the Way

    Our latest Retailer Guide is on the way to you for Christmas. Ask us for a copy today!

    With a fabulous new range of handsets, some price postioning of popular sellers and the introduction of the latest Prepaid Android Tablet from Optus, this is one retailer guide you must have.

    Filled with fantastic products, the latest carrier information and a special note from Michael Smith, Managing Director Optus Consumer, you will get great value and retail ideas.

Have a browse through and discuss your stock needs with our friendly staff to make sure you have the latest products in store to meet the high demand of consumers this Christmas

If you would like a copy of Connect plus+ with the news Dell Streak on the front cover, call us on 1300 781 758 and we will gladly send one to you.

You can even download a PDF version here.

Happy retailing

 

 

What Happend to the Service Station ?

Last week I was in Canberra visiting retailers prior to Christmas. I love getting out and seeing the shops, talking with newsagents, convenience store owners and other small business owners.

While I was out and about in Tuggeranong I needed to fill the car with fuel, so I pulled into the local Service Station to fill up, and while there, respond to nature's call.

Well, I went ino the shop to pay, after serving myself to fill the car, paid for my fuel and enquired as to the where-a-bouts of the toilet. At this particular Shell Petrol Station, the attendant in the shop told me they did not have a toilet for public use. He apologised, naturally, and said to me... " pretty poor at a service station, eh?".

Well, I had to respond, and replied "the service station died years ago!"

Its not his fault, but it got me thinking. What has happened to the "Service Station"? What has happened to service in general? My first paid job was pumping petrol at the BP in Crows Nest, Sydney. I had to greet the customer on the drive way before they could get out of their car, fill the tank, wash the windscreen, check the oil level and pump the tyres up.

I know things have changed, and convenience seems to out way service now days, but I miss the service we used to enoy.

The little things can make a difference. Let's get back to the little things!

 

CONNECT PLUS+

A Complete Retailer Guide

    

I am really pleased with the look and feel of our new editon of CONNECT PLUS+ and I hope you, our valued retailers are as well.

    It is a work in progress with the intention of assisting our retailers to better understand the Mobile Phone and Technology market so you can make the most from retailing these products and more.

    We are working to include as much relevant information as possible so that CONNECT PLUS+ can be your one stop reference for products and information in the fast moving technology world.

    If you have suggestions, or ideas about what you would like to see in the next issue of CONNECT PLUS+, due early December, then please let me know. After all, it is for you!

    The latest issue (pictured) is being sent to you with orders and if you have not yet received a copy, please drop us a line on 1300 781 758 or sales@jenlist.com.au to have one posted to you today.

    Happy Retailing

 

Tablets Make a Sweet Pill

    Many a word will continue to be written about the impact that Tablets will have on the human race.

    The humble tablet as we refer to them today can maybe be compared to that famous tablet of the late 90's that "kept people up all night".

    Statistics show that tablet usage is on the up, (no pun intended),  and of course we have the iPad from Apple to thank for that, just like we can thank Pfizer for bring the must have tablet for all night performance to market back in 1998. Coincidentally, 1998 is the same year Donna and I started Jenlist Distributors.

    It is estimated that usage of the Smart Phone and Tablet will see more people spending time surfing the Web next year on their personal Tablet or Smart Phone than they do on a traditional PC. It's hard to believe I am today referring to a "tradtional PC"  that in reality has only really been in common use in homes since about 1998, about the same time Pfizer and Jenlist had uplifting moments.

    But enough word play. I think you get my drift by now.

     As per the graph right, the average Android user (and this is the same for users of Apple's iPad and iPhone) spends almost an hour a day interacting with the Web or apps. This just shows that consumers that may have spent this time interacting with friends, watching TV, playing sport, etc has re-assigned their time to spend more of it surfing the web or using applications such as email, game play or social media interaction. So, they still interact with friends then, but on a broader scale with more people in further away places as well as locally.

    So, what is it I am trying to get at here? Simple, I think.

    If you are a retailer and want to be a part of this growth, then I strongly suggest you get involved in retailing products that these consumers are purchasing, get involved with Social Media to "talk" to your consumers, and embrace the future within your business.  An hour a day now will soon turn into 2 hours.

    Your customers will continue to upgrade their devices, and more often than not they will do this in a convenient and comfortable environment. Make sure your retail outlet is a comfortable environment to be in and make sure you offer the latest "smart" devices for them to purchase.

Happy "Up" selling (pun intended)

 

Winners are Converters, Not Innovators !

Throughout history in business, it seems that the real winners are not the ones that invent the wheel, but those that convert, improve and fine tune.

First to market does not mean best. Apple did not invent the mobile phone, they simply took an exisiting, innovative product and impoved on it.

Microsoft did not invent an opertaing system for computers, they just took exisiting software to the next level.

Google did not invent the internet search engine. They perfected it.

So, what does all of this mean in business today? What does it mean in retail? I don't think we should be trying to re-invent our businesses, but rather working on improving and fine tuning. In our business we don't do anything that is new or innovative. We work at improving existing business practices, improving cusotmer service, improving marketing and display options and fine tuning all aspects of our business to challenge our own thinking and stay in front.

Retail is much the same. I have seen differnt attempts to change retail at store level, to change the consumer experience or completely remodel retail when it really seems the best changes to retailing are the ones that take a proven model and convert and improve on it.

If you have ideas about improving retail, converting existing methods of selling, changing displays from traditional in store ways, improving customer service or engaging staff in your business, then now is the time to start putting it into practice and sharing ideas with some of your fellow retailers. I don't mean you should talk to a competitor about improving their service, but rather use your network you are already in, be it a marketing or buying group, or shops in your centre or strip that can benefit from working together to "convert" to better retailing.

An example comes to mind where we took an existing, simple retail display tool, the humble dump bin, and simply changed our way of thinking about what should be displayed in a dump bin. Now, mobile phones are being sold in our retailers using this simple and cost effective method.

Have you "converted" the way you retail?

 

 

Time to leave your baggage at the door

    Open minded people are the best performers in business, whether running their own business or working for a large corporation, these people that do not "carry baggage" and remain open minded will do better.
    Good business performers do not bring baggage to an issue by having preconceived views that will not allow them to be swayed.
    Business people with a willingness to listen, learn and explore new ideas are the ones that build stronger relationships and better businesses. 
    Today's business is about "Change Management" for a brighter furture.
    It is often not good enough to simply do things the way we used to anymore, as times and ideas change along with advances in technology.
    We need to move forward and discover new ways, by listening to others, gathering ideas, trying something new and exploring opportunities. Putting this into practice in your business is actually easier than you think. By listening to our staff I too have discovered new ways to do business and found new products and services to grow.
    You can too.
 

Have you got a "Hot Spot" ?

 Want to be popular with you friends?

 If you haven't already got one, isn't it time you thought about getting your very own "Hot Spot" ?

What am I talking about?

The Optus Prepaid Mini WiFi Modem.

This great little device offers Mobile Broadband Internet access in a convenient personal WiFi device. Complete with a Prepaid SIM and upto 8Gb of data allowance to use over a 6 month period.

It is capable of connecting up to 5 seperate devices at once, so you can connect your PC, Laptop, Tablet, Smart Phone, etc and have the convenience of Mobile Broadband while you travel or at home.

Broadband Internet on the go !    A great way to get connected. Perfect for Laptop use, or even for connecting your TiVo to the internet if you haven't got broadband at home.

Want your own "Hot Spot" ?    Click here to take a look at the Optus Prepaid Mini WiFi Modem.

Great gift idea for Father's Day, or just to keep the kids happily connected at home or on holidays.