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Most specialty retailers are quick to claim that they provide outstanding customer service. Indeed, for many shoppers, customer service is what sets apart the specialty retailer from the big-box stores or discounters. But think for a moment about the person on the receiving end of this “good customer service”. Yes, we mean your shopper. What constitutes “good customer service” for her? And would each customer have the same answer?
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“I know half my advertising budget is wasted. I just don’t know which half.” — John Wannamaker, Department Store Magnate
Retailers of every size and stripe share Wannamaker’s frustration. Because some retailers don’t understand advertising, they try a variety of advertising approaches throughout their business lives. One is simply to refuse to play the game. Those people quickly become former retailers.
We’re told that the Chinese symbol for chaos is the same as the symbol for opportunity. If so, it’s an appropriate symbol for retailing. The more flexible you are and the more your operation delivers the "value" that today's customers seek (hint: it's not just low price anymore!), the more likely you will be counting yourself and your operation among the success stories of tomorrow.
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Store Manager, Office Supplies: "I found a lot of interesting and useful information in it for a person who runs a business. Lots of additional knowledge they easily can get from it."Owner/President, Outdoor Power Equipment StoreThis is extremely helpful and worthwhile."College Student"It's fantastic."Service Manager, Motorcycle Dealer"It makes you think."Sales Training Director, Convenience Stores"Concise and to the point; very good for the folks I work with."Internal Auditor-Inventory, Tractor Manufacturer"This would give much benefit to our organization."Owner/President, Apparel & Accessories Store"Well done. Easy to understand."
No retailer really wants to pay for bookkeeping or accounting. But it's necessary for two reasons: (1) to accurately satisfy the I.R.S.; (2) to accurately show where the business has been and where it is now. This second reason is essential for what REALLY matters: doing better in the future! The ROI has developed The Screening Test for Retail Bookkeepers. As an ROI Member you may download a free copy of that test to use as you interview prospective bookkeepers. For more information, see The ROI's "Bookkeeping Articles."