It's the same old stuff

I was recently asked to come out and look at a company that had been established for approximately ten years, but the owner was dissatisfied with the amount of money he was earning.

This is the tale of a New York State natural food shop.

The firm is situated in a tiny community in western New York State. Located on a major thoroughfare, it probably receives as much foot traffic and vehicle traffic as any other business in the village's small "downtown" area.

This project will be an "outside-inside" one for me. Before we walk inside the company, I'm going to have a look at the business's outside to see if there are ways we can enhance or promote it better.

Outside: The town where this firm is situated is in rough condition, to put it mildly. Several of the structures on the property might need some external work, such as painting. For the most part, the outside of this company is excellent, with a few exceptions that I'll discuss in a moment.

The predominant hue on the building's front is white, which annoys me a lot. When it comes to retail storefronts, I don't believe white is a smart choice since it's so bland and uninspiring. In addition, the business's distinctiveness is diluted because of the town's abundance of white structures.

What would I do if I were in this situation? It's probably bright hues like yellows, reds, and oranges that would do the trick. colors that are vibrant and eye-catching. attention-grabbing hues that make the structure stand out from the rest of its surroundings. White isn't going to cut it when it comes to making a statement with this structure. Right now, it resembles any other run-down storefront in "any town" in the United States. You just need to re-paint the piece of your building that is visible from the street. Saving money is a benefit.

The concrete stairs, on the other hand, need to be repaired. Both the look and perception of the company may be greatly improved by this simple and inexpensive effort. Recall that everything is based on perception.

Brighter colors might be used for the front sign as well, but for the time being, I'm more interested in the facade and concrete work.

Finally, from an "outside-in" viewpoint, all of the signage on the front doors and windows should be changed, redone, or removed. Dog-eared, yellowed, and sun-bleached are just some of the labels on much of the current signage. When a consumer walks inside the facility, they see these signs and immediately get a negative first impression. For the foyer to seem clean, tidy, and professional, paper signage must be updated often.

Let me make it very clear to you immediately. Profits are directly related to the prices you charge for your products or services. Duh—right! But, as you may have seen, in order to command a greater price, a company must project a particular image or live up to certain client expectations. As long as the company is kept in good working order and runs efficiently, it is possible to provide discounts and make sales. If your company isn't well-maintained and well-run, you won't be able to charge greater costs because of the perception of your firm.

Inside: The "inconsistency" was the first thing I noticed as I walked inside the facility for the first time. Our ancient building has a drop ceiling, and the floor is tiled. The walls are old-style. There are a few things that may be done to make the company seem more "uniform" and "consistent" even if I'm not proposing substantial development.

We'll start with the structure's exterior. We can't rebuild the floor or take down the drop ceiling, so we'll just cover the walls. What might be the reason for your query? Why not post some photos of East Otto and the surrounding area? Display images of historic buildings and the people who formerly lived there. Giving the company a "theme," which it lacks at this stage, and one that connects itself to the neighborhood, will assist.

The ceiling tiles need to be changed and/or painted urgently now. There is no need to spend a lot of money on these tiles since they may be changed over time.

Stripping and re-waxing the floor are the only options. Waxing it on a regular basis is also recommended. I can think of no better way to enhance the overall appearance of a company than to keep the floor clean. The effects would be spectacular, yet this isn't a costly endeavor.

When a shop is seen as well-maintained, orderly, and well-run, it will not only draw in more customers, but also make more money since it can charge more to match its new image.

But not by hundreds of dollars in a few critical places. The inventory has to be boosted. " It's a wonderful opportunity for "Naturally Your" to cash in on the "low-carb" craze that's sweeping the country. As soon as feasible, I'd put a few hundred dollars into this area. Then I'd go ahead and make a fuss about it.

Secondly, gluten-free and sugar-free items are very popular throughout the country, and they should be given prominent placement in the building.

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to inventory management: do it on a monthly basis. Computerized receipt and check-off of sold items would make inventory preparation quick and painless. Store security and inventory "turns," which determine profitability, might benefit from this approach.

I thought the shop was a little too cold. While I understand the necessity to keep tabs on electricity expenses, I believe the image it provides clients is one of cut-rate service rather than first-class service. Even if it doesn't, I don't believe it's a good idea for everyone. Who, after all, desires to toil in the chilly air? You shouldn't be worried about the price. Everything I recommend is aimed at increasing the company's revenue and profitability. In my view, if you don't accomplish any of these things, your store's sales and profit potential will suffer.

Throughout the structure, there are too many outdated, rusted signs that make the space appear shabby. The indicators should be updated on the computer every month or so since they rapidly deteriorate.

When it comes to personnel, or rather, their looks, let's get into it. I strongly recommend that management implement a uniform shirt or smock for all employees to wear at all times. I believe this is a good idea since it encourages uniformity and gives the wearer a sense of accomplishment because they're wearing a "uniform". The public always respects the uniformed individual.Chain and franchise companies demand them because they know they work, no matter what you name it. It's not because they want to spend the money, but rather because it aids in their financial gain.

In order to avoid consumers having to go through the office area in order to get to other areas of the building, the store's layout must be rearranged immediately. My understanding is that it will take time and money, and it's already in the works.

Customers and personnel alike benefit greatly from having music playing in the business, so I'd go with anything you choose.

I believe a "Policies and Procedures" document would be quite beneficial to this company. The load on the staff and the owner to educate new workers will be substantially reduced as a result, not just because jobs will be completed evenly and consistently. It's not that new hires don't need training; they absolutely must; but, verbal instruction is ineffective because it is inconsistent. Instructions are seldom provided in the same order again. Verbal instructions aren't the best way to ensure that customers get consistently high levels of service and that business operations run smoothly. The most important aspects of the company should be discussed orally, but each activity should be documented in a basic step-by-step fashion and organized in a notebook.

Each new employee is given one of these notebooks when they start working for the company. The company's employment policies will likewise be kept in the notebook.

Customers and coworkers will notice a lack of professionalism among staff who aren't properly taught and don't operate in a professional setting. Is that correct? While admitting that this is the case may be difficult, it is the reality. All workers, including those on minimum pay, ought to be treated and educated in a professional manner. Do you want an increase in morale? Increases in output? What's going on? These adjustments should be implemented immediately as well.

What if there are still a few "bad apples" in there? You can't stop it, but you can transform some of these people who are on the verge of leaving into excellent workers by doing so.

Creating a "Policies & Procedures" handbook by doing a procedure sheet for one duty each week is the quickest method I've found so far. Make a list of each stage in the process... In other words, "Step 1: Do this first," "Step 2: Do this next," and so on. You'll have a comprehensive guidebook in no time, which you can photocopy and distribute to each new employee. A "Policies and Procedures" handbook may make a company owner's life so much simpler.

Let's go into advertising now. Classified advertising seems like the most straightforward and cost-effective approach to spreading the word about this venture. Every week, a local newspaper or penny-saver should have an advertisement for the shop. In addition, these advertisements shouldn't be generic ones like "Shop at Naturally Yours" type commercials. If you want to stand out from the competition, don't promote your whole shop; instead, focus on one niche, such as "Low-carb" or "Gluten-free" items or "Videos for rent." Remember to promote a particular product or service! Specifics sell, not generalities.

There is plenty you can do today to increase your company's profitability without spending a fortune. Now is the best moment to begin.