APRIL 2-8
CUSTOMER SERVICE Begin training your staff to give first-time customers a “tour” of your store. This is a good way to break the ice and make newcomers feel welcome. Also establish a new rule — salespeople must walk customers who have made purchases to the door (or their car with heavy purchases) and thank them for coming.
LEGAL Inspect sidewalks and driveways to identify areas where people might trip. Call a contractor if repairs are needed.
OPERATIONS Is your phone in a public part of the store? See if you can’t move it to a more private spot where conversations can remain confidential and won’t interfere with sales on the floor.
APRIL 9-15
MARKETING Brush off the cobwebs in your old marketing files. This is a great time to revisit successful promotions from the past and reconsider ideas that might deserve a second look.
MARKETING Target those expected tax refunds. Advertise a “Tax Day Special” sale on services or training programs on April 16. Any reservation gets 10 percent off the regular price.
FINANCE When finishing up your taxes, don’t forget to account for items lost to theft, disappearance or damage. These may be tax deductible.
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APRIL 16-22
STORE Mark Earth Day (on April 22) by looking into commercial solar energy systems that could be put on the roof of your store. Prices have come down sharply, and most states offer great incentives and low interest loans to subsidize the cost of installation (the payback period can be less than 10 years in many cases). Besides, a solar system shows a company’s serious commitment to going green.
INTERNET Add a calendar of events to your site. Link it to your own calendar.
TRAINING Hold a mini-conference right in your own office. Assign each staff person a topic for a 5 to 10-minute presentation. Extra team-building points if you make the event a potluck!
APRIL 23-29
MARKETING Do you have traffic that goes behind your business? Yes? So, do you have signage behind your business that’s designed to draw that traffic? No? Mary Gillen of IdeaSiteForBusiness.com suggests you get busy. Check out the traffic flow around your location and place signs strategically to attract the attention of the busiest traffic flow.
GENERAL Invest time in finding places where you can differentiate your business. These can be big and small. What does your door handle look like? What does your telephone answering machine message sound like? What does your 404 error page say? Could you make your cash register receipts more fun? Think of the power of 1,000 points of differentiation. And get busy.
