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Those who are about to start a dollar store are entering a very demanding yet exciting business venture. On the one hand there is a great deal of pressure on costs, and on the other there is a large pool of bargain hunters just looking for a business that can provide the dollar store merchandise they must purchase at great prices. On the one hand there is competition from other dollar stores as well as discounters and other retailers while on the other the opportunity for those who enjoy interacting with others is huge. There are some critical core actions that must be taken to help set-up your business for success. In this article I present 6 of the most powerful. #1) Do not expect success to come easily in a third-rate location Finding the right location with the right terms is absolutely critical to putting you on the road to success when you start a dollar store. It must be surrounded by hoards of the right demographic, there must be great traffic numbers, the anchor businesses must be complementary, signage must be right, and there must be more than adequate parking right in front. The list goes on from there. Do not allow yourself to fall for a location when it doesn’t meet your desired criteria. #2) Offer the products your customers must have The days of filling your store with cheap dollar store merchandise are gone. Shoppers are well informed about the merchandise they can expect to find in a dollar store. The dollar store merchandise at the very top of their list are those meeting basic, core needs. They want consumables and other daily needs that must be purchased on a routine basis. Carry a good assortment of basic health and beauty items, household cleaners, and paper products to start. Never allow these core dollar store merchandise products to run out. #3) Maintain superior housekeeping If you are about to start a dollar store know that your shoppers want a clean, organized and welcoming store. While most will accept a little less, you sacrifice the extra minutes those who are enjoying the experience spend in your store. Those few extra minutes add up over the course of a day to become extra hours. And of course the longer shoppers stay the more likely they are to add to their purchases. #4) Never cut corners on customer service Customer service must become the very cornerstone for your business. Hire those who enjoy interacting with people. Train them on the basics of customer service. Reward those who take the right steps to make every visit special for every shopper they interact with. As the owner you must role model great customer service as well. Spend time on the sales floor every day. Chat with shoppers. Look for their suggestions regarding new dollar store merchandise to add or ways to make the shopping experience even more positive. #5) Build the W-O-W factor into your store It actually takes very little effort to turn a bland, unimpressive store into a store shoppers want to visit time and again. First make sure the walls are freshly painted. Add signage that complements your paint color choices. Make sure the store is well-lit. Display brightly colored merchandise against the walls of your store to really add color. Make sure your store is clean, fully stocked and always in-order throughout the day. Add a little music in the background and you are on your way to a store that impresses. #6) Utilize store windows properly Don’t leave the front and side showroom windows empty and unattended when you start a dollar store. Make sure they are routinely cleaned inside and out. Add signs and banners to promote each season and holiday. Be sure to rotate displays of dollar store merchandise in your windows as well. To your success when you start a dollar store! Opening a dollar store? Learn the secrets of an insider at http://www.openingadollarstore.com
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