Feature Articles: Business Sense

Keeping the Faith – 5 Tips to Stay On Track for Success

By Insights Discovered

First one discovers an unmet need. Next follows the ambition to start a business. Driving this initial momentum is the passion to contribute to the market place, the dream of business success and of course, hope for financial independence. However, once the honeymoon is over and the realities of owning a business become apparent, it can be challenging to maintain that initial momentum and enthusiasm that launched the company. Well, don’t lose F.A.I.T.H. –– Focused tasks , Attainable goals, Individual responsibility, Traceable efforts and Heart-felt support. Keep these in mind to help reignite the enthusiasm that once propelled your business.

Business Sense

Making Your Business Future-Proof with a Little Detective Work

By Caletha Crawford

I love nothing better than a procedural television show. Whether it’s a real-life murder mystery on Dateline or a fictional CSI case, I like trying to solve a whodunit. In everyday life, I also enjoy making connections between things I hear and see through conversations and observations — putting together the pieces of the puzzle to get a full picture. So it’s no wonder that one bit of wisdom I heard recently jumped out at me. During a speech, an apparel executive said, “Whether you’re a retailer or a wholesaler, your job is to find the balance between listening to and leading your customer.”

Business Sense

MAPP: Minimum Advertised Price Policies

By Jeremy Richardson

A new mom goes into her local baby products store to shop for a stroller. The store has all the best brands and latest models, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and sufficient on-hand inventory. The new mom kicks the tires, trades stories with the salesperson, and focuses in on the brand, model, and color that she wants. After noting the price, when she has a minute away from the salesperson, she scans the barcode using a price finder app on her smartphone and purchases the stroller from an online discounter at a lower price. Does this scenario sound familiar?

Business Sense

Good Luck Marketing. Play to Win!

By Insights Discovered

I happen to live in Las Vegas, where slogans such as “You can’t win if you don’t play,” define our local gaming community. I have to admit it’s hard to argue with that logic, Who can win at slots, poker or blackjack without opting in to play? Bystanders don’t reap any rewards. Only those who are willing to put up the cash and potentially lose it, have the chance to win and win big dependent upon the size of their bet. Most don’t win big but some do; some break even, while others lose. The same is true when it comes to marketing. Without it, you are like those bystanders, watching your competitors play.

Business Sense

Three Steps to Make 2012 a Better Year

By Insights Discovered

There’s something motivating about a fresh start. That must be why each year we think about what resolutions we will make for the New Year. We list our aspirations and resolve with confidence to realize these goals. For many, just weeks into the new year we fall back into our old ways and the resolutions seem to fade away until the next new year when we once again make resolutions. Even after a few weeks into January, it’s not too late to start anew and resolve to make positive changes. Those who achieve success are the ones who apply a structure to their efforts, assign accountability to the goals, and define measurable milestones to ensure progress is being made.

Business Sense

Tips for Helping Your Sell-Throughs Take Off

By Caletha Crawford

Getting a retailer to buy your line is great — and especially exciting if the collection is new to the market — but convincing them to reorder should be your ultimate goal. And reorders are always based on how well your goods sold the previous season. If items flew off the racks, buyers will naturally seek you out the next time around. If too much of your line landed in the sale bin, however, your name will likely plummet from their must-shop list. Despite the importance of sell-throughs, it seems vendors sometimes forget the role they have in ensuring their lines take off at retail. Without you, your products are left to fly solo in the face of whatever headwinds come their way…

Business Sense

Licensing in the Children's Fashion and Products Industry

By Jeremy Richardson

Whether you have a great children’s brand that you want to expand, or a great children’s product that could use the powerful boost of a well-known name, a licensing agreement can take your business to the next level of success. But to get the most out of a licensing opportunity, you need to find the right partner who knows the industry and understands your vision and goals for your brand or product. The benefits can be significant, but licensing partnerships are not without risks.

Business Sense

Cause Marketing –– How Giving Can Give Back

By Insights Discovered

It’s that time of the year when we all feel the philanthropist in us calling to help others in need. During these tough economic times it is not difficult to find worthy targets for our generous hearts. Most people donate cash, food or even their time to help those in need. We want to do these charitable labors and that’s awesome! Some feel it’s not sincere if our efforts are reciprocal, meaning both sides receive something, but that’s not necessarily true. There are many instances where giving can give back and everybody benefits.

Business Sense

Goosing Sales Through Consumer Engagement

By Caletha Crawford

Marketing is filled with commonly used adages, though some of them are clearly half-baked. One that I hear often is, “Consumers are no longer brand loyal.” And while there’s a kernel of truth to that maxim, you could get burned if you simply accepted it on face value. True, most of us will not carry a flame for one store, product or experience from cradle to grave, but that doesn’t mean we can’t form affinities for certain items or shops. So even as marketers bemoan consumers’ fickle tastes, they spend millions of dollars a year trying to cook up ways to stoke our devotion…