For the brick and mortar stores still going strong, what has been the keys to your success as a store? I don't know if this has been done before and I don't want to do it in the form of a poll.. I just want to read some dialog..
i was brick and mortar before they found out i wasn't open 7 days a week,then they took that label away from me..... but successful,yes iv'e been very fortunate to have a great clientel and that all comes from these beliefs
1)interaction with the customers-take an interest in their conversations even if it's not sports related,provide them with knowledge on the hobby(i would never try to scam someone just to get their money
2)let the customer decide what he will collect,i'm just there to provide him with information he is ihe one that must make the ultimate descision(so many collectors collect beyond their means,thus leading to frustation down the road)
3)a shop owner must be prepared to buy and trade along with his selling,i have a section that i will trade (even guide) and i have a section that i won't trade or if i do i will want a bit more value
4)if a customer is making multiple purchases i will give him a discount without him asking
5)keep a good relationship with other dealers,the more people you can trade with the better
6)open a minimum of 2 boxes of every product(HOCKEY anyways)you won't keep your customers long if you can't support them
7)layaway,it works for me,the customer makes payments on the card at intervals of his choice,he gets the card when the payments are finnished
-there are probably a few other small ones but these are my main guidelines i swear by yhat has made me very sucessful in the hobby,