| Management Tips |
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| A fitness center equipped with commercial fitness equipment is a great addition to any company or employee center. It provides a safe and convenient environment where employees can get in shape and help maintain their health. ...more |
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| A fitness center equipped with commercial fitness equipment is a great addition to any company or employee center. It provides a safe and convenient environment where employees can get in shape and help maintain their health. Onsite fitness centers in the workplace demonstrate a commitment to employee health and wellbeing, which can lead to improvements in employee morale and productivity. With rising costs in healthcare, healthy employees are also important to maintaining a company's bottom line....more |
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| Even good employers lose good employees, including employees who leave because their spouse takes a new position in another city or state. However, there are poor, foolish, and costly reasons why employers lose good employees; here are 9 of them from my experience to avoid in your organization....more |
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| There is no substitute for a clean and well organized showroom. The best place to sell premium fitness equipment is in a premium looking retail store. Clean floors, windows and counters are a must; but do not forget about the floor models. Floor model equipment can get old, dirty and semi-functional quickly. ...more |
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| At a time when retail businesses are feeling the pinch even more, it is worth re-evaluating the security measures which have been put into place to safeguard both the business and its staff. Perhaps, it is also time re-read the insurance policy to make sure that you are fully covered for theft and vandalism and also comply fully with its terms and conditions....more |
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| In a bad economy, and even in normal times, cost management and, as importantly, cost awareness is key to a business’ success. It is easy when you are in the thick of your day to day operations – serving customers, managing employees, cleaning your store and similar – to forget to spend the time to review your costs....more |
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| Survival for very small businesses can be very challenging in a recession. We don't have the resources to ride out the storm if we experience a dramatic downturn....more |
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| Most people today would not want to leave $500 sitting in a cabinet in their home. They would prefer to put it in a bank so it can earn interest. Of course you always need a little in your pocket to pay for odds and ends but only enough to meet your needs until you can next get to the bank for more cash – generally a day or two at most....more |
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| Most people today would not want to leave $500 sitting in a cabinet in their home. They would prefer to put it in a bank so it can earn interest. Of course you always need a little in your pocket to pay for odds and ends but only enough to meet your needs until you can next get to the bank for more cash – generally a day or two at most....more |
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| It is hard enough to keep a business profitable when everything is going well, but add a fraud event to your business and things can get real tough. Where can fraud come from? The obvious risk factors are customers and employees. Customers will try to use stolen credit cards or write bad checks to you and if they have not yet, you are indeed fortunate. This article is not meant to be exhaustive on this subject as there are many better sources available on the internet but here is a short list of things you may want to think about....more |
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| Merchandising |
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| When you start looking towards building a commercial gym, you will need to think about all the different people who will be using it. Gyms are typically used by people with varying levels of experience with exercise equipment - from first-time gym goers to veteran fitness enthusiasts to sports professionals or bodybuilders. To meet the needs of these diverse groups, you will need a broad range of equipment. With Body-Solid, you can find a variety of fitness and exercise equipment to choose from all in one place....more |
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| One of the important, yet relatively simple, tools afforded by cost/volume/profit analysis is known as contribution margin analysis. Your company's contribution margin is simply the percentage of each sales dollar that remains after the variable costs are subtracted. When you know the contribution margin, you can make better decisions about whether to add or subtract a product line, about how to price your product or service, and about how to structure any sales commissions or bonuses....more |
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| Margin (or gross margin) and markup are two different ways of expressing the difference between the cost of a product and its sale price. However, margin and markup are computed differently and are used for different purposes, depending on which is most suitable. Most small businesses utilize markup formulas, but many neglect margin. That's a mistake, according to business consultants, since utilizing margin as a tool for analysis helps improve profitability. It's well worth the time for any businessperson to know the difference between margin and markup and how to use both. ...more |
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| Have you ever looked around your store and wished you could do something to make it look better? Are you looking for ways to help sell that new line of ellipticals? Want to know what will make your customers feel more comfortable? All retailers need fresh merchandising and display ideas to keep their stores updated and competitive, but most don’t know where to find them. ...more |
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| Merchandising Tour: Useful tips for managing and stocking accessory walls and fixtures...more |
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| Want cost-effective advertising signage that can change with your business?
Over time, stationary or printed signs will become out dated, and they are costly to produce. And let's face it, it's not a very 'green' option. But you can do something a little more green in your advertising. Use a low energy LED sign to light up the neighborhood with your business's message.
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| While nothing can replace a personal presentation to a potential customer, the next line of attack in landing a customer is the signage posted directly on the product and around your store. This is all about visually communicating and interacting as the customer browses your store. Creating a visually approachable atmosphere can add traffic and get you over the hurdle on the sales end and make your floor presentation that much more effective. ...more |
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| Online Marketing |
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| Many small business owners struggle with the seemingly overwhelming task of managing their web site. There always seems to be so much to do, yet no time to do it all (something we know all too well). This brief primer should help to highlight the key aspects of web site management that will help them gain the most from their web site with the time that they have available. ...more |
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| Online businesses are rapidly growing in popularity both among newbies and among established entrepreneurs. The reasons for this are fairly simple - low investment, potentially high returns, and excellent scalability. An online business can easily start as a one-person show, and end up being a global enterprise. ...more |
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| Now you have your new website and you are keen to start making some sales! But, how can you make sales if you do not have high volumes of traffic to your website?...more |
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| We’ve all heard the key tips for promoting a website, but this article is guaranteed to have some new ideas for you. Some are clever, some are crazy, a few are farcical (if you wonder whether I’m joking, I probably am!). I think these seventeen unconventional ideas should get you thinking differently about the way you promote your website....more |
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| You can create more traffic for you and your business without spending any additional money on marketing. With guerrilla marketing, it is more about out-smarting the competition than it is about out-spending the competition. Boundless opportunities and countless positive effects on your business await you when you take advantage of the guerrilla- marketing concept. guerrilla Marketing is defined as unconventional marketing designed for low budgets and maximum impact. guerrilla marketing gets you and your company in front of future customers in the places that they frequent. Customers today are bombarded with traditional advertising and have become resistant and unaffected by it. Meaning: it is time to change the way you market....more |
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| These 4 marketing myths can cause you to lose sales if you base your marketing decisions on them. But the related marketing tips I included with each myth will boost your sales if you act on them instead....more |
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| Whether you have a traditional, free standing retail store with an online site to support it or just an e-commerce store, the tips below can help increase how long customers stay on your website, support sales growth, and improve the overall design of your e-commerce website. As a result, you should see more returning customers and more sales. This is, of course, the goal… Right?...more |
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| Seems like every company these days is getting in on the e-newsletter bandwagon. They are simple and inexpensive to send, can be created quickly and provide a means of getting at the top of your customer's minds on a regular basis. Regardless of how many newsletters people receive, they will still read those that are offering them something of value and are entertaining. People will always want to learn and be entertained....more |
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| So what is upselling? Quite simply it is the concept of offering your customers something additional to, or more expensive than, the initial product they select to buy. The best known example is a well known fast food chain that never sells a burger without asking if the customer wants fries, or if they'd like to super size their meal....more |
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| "I'm at a loss on how we can properly market our business on the Net," Karen explained. "We've established an impressive marketing presence in print media and I don't want our home page to look shabby or sit there with no response."...more |
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| While traditional advertising like magazine ads or billboards can be helpful in introducing your company's offerings to a wide audience, tracking actual results can be difficult. Direct marketing is often an effective way to connect with potential new customers in a measurable way. Mail list brokers serve as your guide to this world, providing relevant lists of prospects for your marketing efforts....more |
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| You're on the Web, you've heard the hype: "If you build it, they will come." A Web site is often called your storefront on the Internet. It's also an information kiosk, a customer service center, and a post office box. A good Web site can be one of the most economical ways of getting information out to your customers. A Web site that you put up and then forget about, on the other hand, is just a way to impress your friends with nifty on-screen graphics....more |
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| Selling Tips |
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| Onsite commercial fitness centers have become an expected offering at any high-end hotel or resort. But even mid-level and budget accommodations are now benefiting from offering their customers a place to exercise while staying at their establishments. For vacationers, onsite commercial fitness centers are important for working off all of those wonderful, but high calorie meals typically eaten while on vacation. It is not uncommon for people to look in advance to see if a hotel or resort offers a fitness center before choosing a hotel for their vacation. Business guests often prefer hotels with well-equipped gyms that enable them to unwind from a full day of business meetings. An onsite commercial fitness center is especially important for fitting their normal fitness regime into their busy travel schedules, and many won't stay at a hotel or resort without one....more |
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| Today’s fitness market is very competitive. When sales are tough to come by, sales associates will often reach for their easiest closing tool, discounts. There is no doubt that discounting product can be effective and allow sales associates to close a higher percentage of potential customers. Learn how to close better with these quick tips......more |
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| Onsite commercial fitness centers have become an expected offering at any high-end hotel or resort. But even mid-level and budget accommodations are now benefiting from offering their customers a place to exercise while staying at their establishments. ...more |
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| The USA Hispanic Market’s buying power has become of increasing importance to businesses across the nation. This target demo is important not only because of its sheer volume, however, but because of the specific psychological characteristics which frequently come into play for USA Hispanics when making a purchasing decision....more |
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| It looks great on the internet or in the store; a brand new, shiny bit of kit for much less than you expected to pay. But when you get it home will it deliver? Is buying cheap home fitness equipment false economy?...more |
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| Get beyond “yes”: Time is your enemy. Once you’ve gotten your target to agree in principle that you’re going to make this deal, move them as quickly as possible toward getting it into writing. That’s because into the narrow opening between “yes” and signing on the dotted line can creep things like second thoughts, competition or unforeseen events. So if you get a verbal expression of interest, then move resolutely toward a verbal commitment, then as quickly as possible to a written agreement that hopefully closes out the sales cycle....more |
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| Osteoporosis is a common concern for aging women. Most experts recommend high-impact aerobic activity and strength training to increase bone mass and density to help lower the risk factors of osteoporosis. ...more |
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| When you are picking out the equipment that you are going to use to build your new home gym there are several things that you will want to consider....more |
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| 1. Failing to build a rapport with the customer. From a simple greeting to a little chat about niceties, non-sales directed small talk go along way in developing an easier and more open mood in the customers....more |
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| Here are 4 easy ways you can boost your sales for little or no new expense ...and without making major changes in your selling process....more |
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| It is important that you keep a sign board outside the shop to generate business. Compared to other outdoor signage, Neon sign is considered best because it attracts more customers for your business. Most of the shops do not give much importance to sign board. In reality, you should put a signage board i.e. Neon sign outside the shop. First thing you need to do is make a rough plan of what your business looks like from the front. ...more |
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| Somehow, people have the perception that a small business does not export. A business that is going international is usually assumed to be a large company, and with this perception in mind a lot of small business owners shy away from trading internationally. It is the problem of scale that frightens them, but is this indeed true?...more |
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| Functional training is the hottest category in strength training today. Functional training is a generic term for training your body for daily activities, specific movements, and sport specific training. The movements required for functional training involve incorporating multiple muscle groups and joints in a compound movement with weight resistance....more |
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| When thinking of kettlebells you probably have a vision of old-time barrel chested men with curled mustaches. This is not true anymore as many of today’s athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and military, to name a few, are utilizing the benefits of kettlebell training. A former Soviet Secret Service trainer, Pavel Tsatsouline, is credited with bringing kettlebell training to the U.S. with much popularity. ...more |
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| Many of todays high income customers don’t have a lot of time to spend shopping for fitness equipment. They know two things - they have the money and they want to workout at home. Wouldn’t it be nice if with a little guidance and visualization they would walk out of your store with a large purchase? Why not make this easier for both your sales team and customers buy creating room packages? ...more |
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| Inversion tables have been widely recognized as the best solution to a problem that affects over half of the US population; back pain. Back pain exists for many reasons but usually back pain is caused by a combination of factors over the course of time. The most common causes can be attributed to gravity, weak core muscles, and bad flexibility. Because this is such a widespread problem, the amount of potential customers is rather large. ...more |
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| Successful selling is all about overcoming objections that the customer may have to finalizing the sale. Especially these days, a major hurdle to a large purchase can be the overall cost. A good consumer finance program is key to helping overcome this objection. There are a number of programs out there with American General, Wells Fargo and General Electric being three of the most common names that are in the business today....more |
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