Tips For Mom And Pop Shops For The Best Year Yet

Talk to any resident of any town in America and chances are, they’ll be able to name a local mom-and-pop business – a favorite shop, a trusted place for a certain good or product, somewhere they know the owners by name and are willing to pay a little more for a more personal experience.

Competition is tough with large Internet companies rated as the number one challenge facing independent businesses. But as much as online retail giants like eBay and large chain stores like Target and Walmart have made it harder for these kinds of specialty stores to stay in business, small, family owned businesses remain an integral part of the nation’s economy. These stores may not have the resources that the powerhouse retailers do to spread their message, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to compete.

In celebration of National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day on March 29, here are two ways these small stores can increase their bottom line.

SHIPPING

As online shipping continues to grow in importance for consumers and businesses alike, low-cost and trustworthy shipping options have become increasingly critical to building and maintaining strong relationships with customers.

Small business owners need to understand all of their shipping options and look for the service and price that best matches their specific needs. Businesses can save money by choosing a shipping provider that offers a variety of options.

DIRECT MAIL

In a digitally focused world, a majority of consumers still prefer postal mail for a large portion of their multichannel diet when it comes to receiving information. In fact, 75 percent of people like to discover what’s in the mail and consider the time they spend with the mail well spent. That’s why a service like direct mail can be a great option to consider the next time your small business needs to communicate a message to both current and future customers.

Here are five reasons why:

1. It’s a low-cost, highly effective solution for targeting consumers – Direct mail creates that one-on-one connection that other media channels can’t match. It’s an effective way to generate leads, traffic and sales.

2. It helps you reach consumers in their homes – Every Door Direct Mail from the U. S. Postal Service provides the EDDM Online Tool that allows you to digitally map your neighborhood and quickly find and target an ideal consumer based on demographic information such as median age or household income.

3. It offers a flexible range of sizes – You can choose whatever package works best for your particular business need, making it ideal for anything from a quick sales announcement to an in-depth product or service story.

4. It delivers the results you need – Every one dollar spent on direct mail generates $12.57 in sales, according to the Direct Marketing Association. And, 65 percent of surveyed customers have made a purchase as a result of a marketing message received through Direct Mail.