Of all the things we’ve lost as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, here’s one that may surprise you — your memory. And it could be impacting your work life, especially if you work remotely. Fast Company contributor Art Markman, author of “Bring Your Brain to Work,” wrote about the phenomenon in January, explaining that […]
Popping the Question
Follow these best practices for inquiring about a potential employee’s Covid-19 vaccination status and avoid paying a fine The tricky question more and more employers are facing as they require vaccinated employees is this: How do I properly ask about a job candidate’s Covid-19 vaccination status without violating human resources laws? Inc.com contributor and HR […]
Something (Not) to Chew On
To avoid turning off customers, here are 5 habits to adopt. First up: Leave the gum at home Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. Chewing gum can keep your breath minty fresh, diminish cravings for food and cigarettes, and burn off some nervous energy. It also can annoy the heck out colleagues and shoppers. You may think your […]
“A New Path Forward”
Jeff Giagnocavo of Gardner’s Mattress & More co-authors book to help independent retailers succeed when facing tough competition “Independent mattress store owners deserve to get the best customers with the best profits with the least headaches,” says Jeff Giagnocavo, co-owner of Gardner’s Mattress & More in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who has co-authored the new book, “7 […]
Surface Story: How Long Does Coronavirus Stick Around?
Understanding how long the coronavirus lives on surfaces can help you keep your store and products clean and safe for consumers Note: This article was accurate, to the best of our knowledge, at the time it was published. However, information about the novel coronavirus and the nation’s response to the pandemic change rapidly. Check CDC.gov […]
Slowing Down the Revolving Door
Does your store suffer from high turnover? Results from a 2019 survey reveal the top 3 factors that lead employees to call it quits. Holy Moses! Why is your store experiencing such an exodus? Excuse the pun — high employee turnover is no laughing matter. If you’re seeing high turnover rates, it may be time […]
The Buzz That Was
Looking for a refreshing way to start the new year? Clean up your vocabulary by sweeping away tired jargon and shirking the slang In today’s busy-bee society, even the best buzzwords eventually lose their sting. And so it is that we bid farewell to the 15 buzzwords that Inc.com’s Max Totsky said must go in […]
And They’re Off: Consumers Rush Into Holiday Shopping
A record number of consumers shopped in-store and online over long Thanksgiving weekend This year’s holiday shopping season got off to a strong start with a record 189.6 million U.S. consumers shopping from Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday through Cyber Monday, according to a Dec. 3 news release from the Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation […]
Adult Entertainment
Want to add a little levity to your workweek? Classic childhood games can put some pep in your step and a smile on your face via GIPHY What happens when otherwise sane, well-adjusted retail sales associates decide to revisit their childhood and play games such as kickball, dodgeball and hopscotch? Well, in addition to the […]
Need a Good Laugh?
Entries into Sleep Savvy’s cartoon caption contest are in, and, wow, do we have some hilarious quips and puns in store for you In the July/August issue of Sleep Savvy, we published this cartoon (see below) and invited readers to write a caption, submit it to the magazine and show off their wit. The staff […]
Summer Reading List for Retailers
Pack these books for your next trip, business or pleasure Summer is a perfect time to catch up on your reading. We’ve created a list of not-too-taxing books that will help you improve your skills and your business — and maybe spark a new idea or project. Download the audiobooks to your phone, add them […]
Speak the Language
Smart RSAs know their body language is as important as the words they speak to customers. Remember these 5 tips to make sure your verbal and nonverbal communication are complementary Maybe you speak perfect English, but there’s a second language you need to be fluent in for your career as a retail sales associate and […]
Oh, My Aching Back
Retail sales associates should try these tips to ease the aches and pains that come with working on your feet While we know sitting all day isn’t healthy, standing all day isn’t much better — as retail sales associates are well aware. Not only does it hurt your back, cause fatigue and stiffen muscle, constant […]
Diving Into the Hot Hues for 2019
Living Coral Named Pantone’s Color of the Year Do you have a corner of your store that could use perking up? Need a color palette for a new marketing campaign? Every year, color specialists, including the color connoisseurs at Pantone, release their picks for the hottest hues. Here’s a look at a few of their […]
Smile! Great Photos Help Sell Beds
8 Ways to Improve Your Images and Create Content for Websites and Social Media Instagram. Your e-commerce site. Pinterest. Facebook. Today’s most popular marketing methods are image hungry, demanding an endless stream of photos to catch consumers’ attention. You can rely on manufacturers to provide much of the imagery you need for website product pages […]
Fill Those Online Shopping Carts to the Rim
Add-on sales make e-commerce more profitable Getting customers to click “Buy now” on your e-commerce site is great — and it’s even better if their online shopping cart is chock full of sleep products when they are ready to check out. Increasing the average order value online is much like growing the average sales ticket […]
7 Stores That Foretell the Future of Retail
From stores that constantly reinvent themselves to retailers that use facial recognition software, these are bold companies The future of retail includes ice cream sprinkles and next-day home delivery. The insights come from Jeremy Bowman, who recently compiled a list of seven innovative retailers for the Motley Fool’s website. Story: Shoppers never know exactly what […]
No Word-of-Mouth With Empty Wallets
Study finds shoppers don’t want to talk about recent purchases when they feel financially constrained Whether it is two friends talking or a consumer writing an online review, you want people to speak highly of your products. So, we noted with interest research that suggests consumers are reluctant to talk about recent purchases when they […]
No signature required
Because of more secure financial technologies, credit card companies no longer require consumers to sign on the dotted line Good news, retailers: Credit card signatures on sales transaction receipts are going the way of rotary phones, floppy disks and eight-track tapes. Four major credit card companies—American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa—no longer require customers to […]
Atlanta mattress shop has supporting role in TV series
An Atlanta-based mattress store has a cameo in the first episode of the Netflix reality series, Queer Eye, a reboot of the hit “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” The new series features the same format as its predecessor: A team of five gay guys sweeps into the life of a man in need of […]
Desperately seeking customer reviews
Experts in soliciting consumer testimonials say a key to earning praise is to ask early These days, mattress retailers crave rave online customer reviews and five-star ratings as much as swinging store doors because they know glowing testimonials help drive customers into their stores. How can you grow your business by accumulating all-important online customer […]
Help wanted: Retailers seek more workers for tech roles
With the continued rise in online and omnichannel shopping, retailers in the future will have less use for traditional staff like cashiers and even sales associates but more need for tech-savvy workers who can do everything from crunch data to manage websites. Experts in creating outstanding customer experiences also will be in high demand, says […]
Keep these 5 insights in mind when creating your plan for healthy retail sales in 2018
You’ve heard it before—e-commerce is disrupting traditional brick-and-mortar retailing in a big way, ushering in tremendous change. From Bloomberg Businessweek to The Wall Street Journal, 2017 was filled with doom-and-gloom on the coming “retail apocalypse.” The number of stores that closed last year was the highest ever, with estimates ranging from 7,000 to 8,700 shops […]
7 tips to survive the holiday selling season
Follow these 7 tips from the retail floor to get through the hustle and bustle of the end-of-the-year selling season with a smile As the holiday shopping season heats up, so does the craziness of fussy customers, new hires, high sales targets and long hours. Monster Worldwide, a global employment services company based in Weston, […]
Hitting the mark with email marketing
Follow these email marketing suggestions to create e-newsletters consumers will look forward to reading With social media algorithms leaving businesses scratching their heads, email newsletters are coming to the forefront as a dependable way to reach consumers. “The question isn’t whether or not you should start an email newsletter; it’s how can you create a […]
5 Suggestions for Increasing Teamwork Efficiency
Go, team, go! In today’s retail climate, one way to do more with less is through the efficiency of teamwork. Follow these 5 suggestions for making the most of your staff: Two heads are better than one, the saying goes. But that doesn’t take into account how to make three, four or five heads work […]
Web Campaigns for Mattresses Defy Tradition
Numbers show bedding advertisers approach TV and digital quite differently in their web campaigns While TV advertising for mattresses spikes every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, that ad spend does not appear to correlate with the industry’s ad spending on the web, according to “Mattress Advertising: Seasonality in TV and Paid Search,” a […]
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Art Van Furniture and Indiana radio station host ladies night out—complete with music, treats and, of course, home furnishings offerings Every woman needs a night out once in a while. Warren, Michigan-based Art Van Furniture recently teamed up with radio station Hot 107.9 FM to give gals a fun evening of “entertainment, excitement, pampering and […]
Pantone Color of the Year choices evoke tranquility, wellness
Color trend forecast blends two shades—Rose Quartz and Serenity For the first time, Pantone Inc., the leading color trend forecaster, has selected two shades for its Color of the Year—Rose Quartz and Serenity. The pale pink and light blue colors reflect consumers’ desires to seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern stress, according to […]
Three lessons from the Apple Store
Some furniture stores are segregating or creating entirely different sleep shops solely focused on sleep. Many specialty-sleep stores use multimedia to educate consumers while they are in store. Other retailers help prequalify a shopper’s desired comfort/firmness by having her try preselected mattresses in different firmness levels to further reduce confusion and streamline her shopping experience. […]