Ideas to Incorporate Social into Your Retail Store

* Post reminders to like and follow for special offers, events and more... post at POP, changing room and even just post the social media buttons near the entrance way so that visitors know you are social from the get go.

* Instagram contest - Put up a sign in store and on Instagram regarding a contest. Collage contests, how to use a noted piece in an outfit and even a random drawing of followers.

* Throw an event and include a photo booth. Tell attendees to like you on Facebook so that they can tag themselves in the fun pictures you have posted.

* Arrange a Yelp offer for checking in. This will show up on the Yelp feed and Yelpers will be more likely to write reviews. Promote the offer at the entrance or POP.

* QR codes are gaining popularity and can be synced up to a "like us" page, place these at displays or popular items.

* Consider adding a "pride wall" in your dressing room/s with blog features and reminders to check  out on your social sites.

* Host a Pinterest contest where girls create an out-fit from items in your on-line items. Pick a winner and incorporate it into your main display in store, of course crediting the creative pinner behind the outfit.

* Include social media buttons on each item on-line. Including a Pinterest button.

*Include a review feature on each item so that viewers can feel more certain about their purchase as opposed to going to another site to compare or research option.


Note: Never post hand written signs. Find an appropriate font and print it out. Roll tape and place it on the back of the paper. Ideally get it printed on a low gloss paper to avoid unsightly wear and tear, laminating or placing in a clear sleeve work as well.

One Step Retail Solutions is ranked as one of the top resellers and service providers for some of the most comprehensive and state of the art retail POS software solutions in the industry. For a free retail technology consultation, click HERE.

Our Pinterest is Ever Expanding as a Resource for Retailers

Over the past couple of years we have worked hard to create a wide variety of retailer resources and have been collaborating with industry leaders to bring the most useful content possible. One of our most popular retailer resources to connect and find additional resources has been on Pinterest.

We recently updated our profile to include boards representing each of our products. Bringing an increased pictorial layout of each product and hopefully answering retailers initial questions about our several POS solutions. We have also collaborated on additional boards varying from retail marketing, retail design and even current color trends.

We hope that retailers have found our resources to be useful and are exploring Pinterest (especially with the increasing rumors around Pinterest adding a direct e-commerce feature). In the near future it is possible that this social media giant may increase their repertoire and given it's existing success in inspiring buyers, it may just be a hit.

See you on Pinterest!
The One Step Retail Solutions Team

Fantastic Boutique Blog - A Pinners Paradise

I have been looking for samples and just happened across a blog that
nailed the "Pinterest-worthy" concept. Pictures, pictures and MORE
pictures. Note the Instagram feed running along the right hand side.

Pinterest Friendly Retail Blog that is is even attached to their online
store - hurrah!

Retailers - if you are on a budget and don't have an online store,
consider a blog like this.

Written for you, by Amy Hanson, Social Media and Business Alliance
Specialist at One Step Retail Solutions. Normally covering topics related
to retail technology but occasionally dabbling in more general retail
related topics.

Retail Marketing Tips

Hi guys! I just attended a very well received social media
webinar hosted by Mari Smith and Guy Kawasaki. Both
are not only experts in social media but have a serious
knack for creating and building relationships. I found
some of their tips to be particularly useful to retailers so
am pleased to be able to share them with you. The full
webinar can be watched here:
http://marismith.com/7smtrends/video.html

Point #1: Listening to your customers.
Going out of your way once can result in a repeat
customer for years to come. Imagine a customer of
yours posts on Twitter “I am in serious need of a (insert
a product of yours here)” and you catch that post. You
then message them or, even better, reach out to them
by phone – VOILA very happy customer and you can
bet they will mention that to at least a few friends.

Morton’s Steakhouse took this concept to a new level
and became one of the top 5 Tweets of the year. For
the Morton’s Steakhouse story -
http://ramonwow.visibli.com/share/lYoR45

Point #2: Not allowing pictures in your store.
Many retailers do not allow photos in store or of the
merchandise. While this makes sense if that person was
going to go off to replicate the item or purchase a similar
style at another store, in the age of social media, the odds
of one posting this image up onto their own sites
(Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter) is quite high.
Girls are forever trying on hats, sunglasses and bling and
posting these pictures for their friends to see, many will
even ask opinions on if to buy or not from their friends.

Allowing photography can open you up to free promotion.

Point #3: Spam vs promotion
Many are concerned about “spamming” their followers. One
point is that that individual did elect to hear about you, your
offers and what you are up to. If you keep your content
relevant, helpful and fun, you are actively promoting, NOT
spamming.

Point #4: Pinterest
Further confirmation that this is a force to be reckoned with.
Please see One Step’s earlier blog for tips on its use.
http://retail-services.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-get-sales-through-pinterest_1530.html

Point #5: What to do if you get a complaint or goof up.
There is a new coined word going around, “flawsome” which
is flawed and awesome smooshed into one word Lewis
Carroll style.
The concept behind this is to not aim for perfection but
staying “real”. How you handle goofs and negative reviews
means more to a customer than being flawless. Per a study
noted in the webinar, many actually prefer to know that there
are some flaws or they feel that the company or service is not
real. Aim for your best but don’t automatically delete all
negativity on your sites. The webinar goes into some tips for
handling negative reviews or comments on social media sites.

Point #6: Pictures are like eye candy.
Keep the pictures coming. You can even have fun with the
different apps (Instagram is increasingly popular for retailers)
or just grab an image from istockphoto to go with your posts.
Pictures will increase interaction and familiarity.

I hope that this helps you!
Amy Hanson
www.onestepretail.com

Me trying on wraps at a vintage store for my best friend

(just a few weeks ago) to wear over her wedding dress.

I needed to get pictures to send up to her in Portland but

due to a no photo rule I was cut short. I explained the

situation to the sales clerk but she was adamant,

LOST sale.