BUSINESS Advice
Are Your Customers Always Right?
—Expert Reveals Which Ones Are Right for Your Business—
In business, the squeaky wheel almost always winds up getting the grease. Customers tend to be rewarded for complaining, but that strategy leaves money on the table, according to marketing consultant Betsy Kruger. “No one likes hearing a complaint, so when a customer complains, a business quickly and resoundingly rectifies the complaint,” said Kruger, author of Top Market Strategy: Applying the 80/20 Rule. “The problem with this strategy is that... <+>
Is The Human Spirit Essential in Business Strategic Planning?
—Corporate Coach Reveals How Spirit Drives Creativity, Innovation and Success—
Terry Murray thinks the difference between a company that's surviving to one that's thriving isn't buried in their bottom line, but rather, it's hidden in their hearts. Murray, an executive coach for Fortune 1000 companies, entrepreneurs and startups believes that companies that are driven by inspiration and positive emotions become inherently more successful than companies that focus exclusively on the profit-loss statements. "Business and the human spirit are not mutually... <+>
Plants Register Green at Retail Registers
—by Jon LaDow—
When you walk into an urban or pedestrian mall or retailer, do you notice the plants? What impression do you take away from the establishment if the exterior plants appear poorly maintained or if they are housed in containers overrun with trash? The exterior landscaping in retail environments has become increasingly popular over the last few decades with many architects including plants in their design specifications for new shopping centers and retail establishments... <+>
Not Making Your Sales? Maybe What's Lacking Is Trust
—by Marsha Friedman, CEO of EMSI Public Relations—
In the world of sales, trust is king. You can advertise, promote, tweet, post, blog and sell like Dale Carnegie on steroids, but if you haven't built trust with your potential customer, it's truly a waste of good resources. Regardless of what "behavioral research" professionals tell us is the reason why a consumer takes the leap of faith to make a purchase, I know from my 20-plus years in PR, that trust is one of the most essential ingredients. And, in today's... <+>
Store's Lighting Influences Perceptions of Quality
—Researchers report that different lighting schemes at stores influences consumer perceptions of the outlet's quality and pricing.—
by Sally Augustin
Light is important to us both biologically and psychologically. Indoors, it is also relatively easy to change. At the recent 7th International Design and Emotion Conference in Chicago, Katelijn Quartier — a lecturer and doctoral student in the department of architecture at PHL University in Belgium and a consultant with Retailology—discussed ways stores can use light to influence and brand shopper experience. Quartier and her colleagues... <+>