The New Retail Sales Associate Job “The role [now] is less about folding sweaters than it is about selling them, and retailers are looking more and more for people to come into the role with the skills to sell…In turn, higher-caliber workers are looking for more than a paycheck—they want to advance their education. They … More »
Who’s Tried a Morning Huddle? Football players aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a pregame huddle to strategize and motivate. Many managers also call a morning huddle to get the day off to a good start. It’s a quick stand-up meeting—never lasting more than 10 or 15 minutes and ending 5 minutes before … More »
Small and Strong, That’s You Amazon and its battle with Walmart and other big-box and chain retailers dominates retailing news these days. How can small retailers hope to compete? By going with their considerable strengths, concluded a recent online discussion among members of RetailWire’s Brain Trust, a group of retail analysts, business academics, CEOs, marketers … More »
Halloween Marketing Tips Dance stores with large costume departments will be actively marketing around this holiday. But every store can use the occasion to draw attention and traffic. Here are a few marketing ideas from Square. Dress up the store. How about black and orange tutus or outfits in the window? Or a row of … More »
Make Holiday Sales Sparkle The holiday season may not be the biggest one for dance retailers, but it can still give an important boost to the bottom line. With people in the mood to buy, it’s a chance to pull in new customers—even nondancers— and boost the spending of existing customers. So how do you … More »
When Dance Teachers Come to Shop Dance teachers are at the very core of every local dance store’s success—not just as influencers of young students and where they shop, but as shoppers themselves. For fresh ideas on tempting products to stock for them, see the practical and fun pieces in our fashion section. And read … More »
Ready, Set? In a few weeks, crowds of customers will be heading your way—looking to outfit themselves for a new year of dance. With your orders mostly in, you may now be taking advantage of slower summer days to prep the store for your busiest season and fine-tune your stock and displays. DRN is here … More »
Ready for Fall? Summer hasn’t even arrived yet, but dance retailers are already looking ahead with anticipation to fall and the back-to-school season. Students will be pouring into your stores to buy the leotards, shoes, tights and tempting extras they need for dance class. And you’ll be ready, because most of you take in the … More »
Gaynor Minden has introduced two new “nude” colors for its satin pointe shoes—cappuccino and espresso—and the company has been getting enthusiastic and appreciative feedback. As Annellyse Munroe, Ailey II alum, wrote: “Now—because the color of my Gaynors complements my skin tone—I no longer have to dye my shoes.” Not having to spend time on the … More »
A Gift That Keeps on Giving As each new crop of young dancers signs up for their first class—and comes to their local dance store to get outfitted—storeowners know they have another opportunity to gain a customer for life. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, if all goes right. Knowing what local teachers like … More »
