The Annual Mayor's Luncheon was held last Friday at Stonetree. The Mayor faced some tough questions including one from Andy VanDolder who used VanDolder's new facility on the outskirts of Owen Sound as an example of heavy tax burdens on private sector business in Owen Sound. GO HERE FOR REPORT AND PHOTO REVIEW.
Alive at 5
BNI Ontario Central North & the BNI Business Referrals and Growth Chapter
cordially invite Members of the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce
to join us for light refreshments & networking:
Thursday March 4, 2010
from 5:00-7:00pm at Tuscany’s
1040 2nd Avenue East (A&P Plaza)
(No registration required)
Andy VanDolder is one of four new nominees to this year's Chamber Board joined by: Keith Hopkins, partner with Miller Insurance; Professional Center Property Manager Debbie McKague; and Steve Coffey, former head pro at Owen Sound Golf & Country Club and now one of three principal partners in North Point Investment Solutions. GO HERE to review more details and the entire roster for election at the Chamber's Annual Meeting & Dinner with keynote speaker, Mike Barrett, CEO of the Southwest LHIN.
Register for AGM
Retail’s Biggest Problem & Six Ways To Fix It!
by Donald Cooper
The #1 problem facing every retailer today is simple…there's way too many stores that all look alike, selling way too much merchandise that all looks alike, staffed by people who don’t know and don’t care. That’s it! Add to that an economy in “snooze mode” and it’s not a pretty picture.
All of that being said, money will still be spent somewhere and the very best retailers will always do well. These are the retailers who create, deliver and communicate compelling Value...retailers who have the ability to consistently excel at six things:
1) Clearly understand and passionately care about well-defined target customers.
2) Search out merchandise that has some clear functional advantage, or makes a compelling emotional connection with those target customers. Especially when times are tough, that's the only stuff that's going to sell at a price that makes you a profit.
3) Present that merchandise in a way that gets noticed, creates interest, shows "possibilities" and makes it easy and stress-free for customers to find it and buy it.
4) Hire, train, reward and inspire staff that know and care...and are empowered to do the right thing.
5) Effectively communicate compelling Value to target customers as a group and, more and more as time goes on, to their customers as individuals…and,
6) To do all of this with world-class operational efficiency that allows them to be price competitive and still keep a couple of pennies from each dollar of sale! Realistically, how would you rate your retail business in each of these six categories…and what does your rating tell you about what needs fixing?
For more information on how Donald Cooper can help you redefine and reinvent your business to create, deliver and communicate compelling, customer-owning Value, visit our website at www.donaldcooper.com or email us at info@donaldcooper.com.
