Month: August 2023

Are you tired of the struggle of using spreadsheets to manage complex projects? Does the constant juggle between shared drives, texting, and spreadsheets make you feel more like a secretary than a project manager? Fear not, as there is a game-changing solution that can revolutionize the way you handle such projects – a custom database.

Imagine managing a project of installing window graphics at 250 nationwide locations: final install photos would come in via email and texts from dozens of installers and you’d match each one to a specific location. God forbid one wasn’t done correctly, and if so, you’d have to manage a go-back as well. The lack of a single location for all project information (install date would be in a spreadsheet, and photos stored elsewhere) and the absence of real-time updates (ex: how many locations are done and those that remain) add unnecessary complexities.

Enter the Custom Database

A custom database is the answer to your project management woes. It acts as a centralized hub, streamlining your workflow, and providing an array of benefits that can transform the way you handle big projects.

 

1. Centralized Data Management:

Say goodbye to scattered information across various platforms. A custom database offers a single, unified location to store all relevant project data. From the list of install locations to installer details and progress updates – everything is easily accessible to all team members in real-time.

 

2. Streamlined Photo Management:

Manual matching is no longer a headache and a job within itself.  With a custom database, installers upload images directly into the system, linking them to the location selected from a drop down list. Once saved, the images all show up so you can see them all together, and your dashboard updates with what is done and what is left to do. This seamless process ensures that you have a comprehensive visual record for each location and can focus on higher level tasks to ensure the project is a success.

 

3. Real-Time Updates:

Gone are the days of outdated spreadsheets and delayed communication. A custom database provides real-time updates, ensuring that every team member is on the same page. Stay informed about completed installations, upcoming tasks, and any changes to the project, all in real-time. 

 

4. Effortless Coordination:

Coordinating tasks and updates becomes a breeze with a custom database. Instead of relying on scattered texting and chatting, team members can communicate seamlessly within the platform. This boosts efficiency, minimizes misunderstandings, and saves valuable time.

 

5. Automated Confirmations:

No more manual follow-ups for confirmation. A custom database can automate confirmation emails once an installer completes a task. This feature not only acknowledges the hard work of your team but also ensures that you can easily track progress and maintain accountability.

 

The happy ending

Effectively managing large-scale projects across multiple installation sites no longer needs to be a daunting endeavor. Embracing the capabilities of a tailored database solution can significantly enhance your workflow, foster improved collaboration, and ultimately lead to greater project success. With centralized data management, real-time updates, and automated confirmations, a custom database empowers your team to operate with greater intelligence and efficiency.

It is time to break free from the challenges posed by unwieldy processes and fragmented information. Elevate your project management capabilities by adopting a custom database, and witness your major projects flourish like never before. Embrace the future of project management and experience the transformative difference it can make today.

 

Jeff Lo is owner of TGS Elevate, a visual marketing / merchandising company that provides printing, point of purchase displays, and store fixture manufacturing, and in-store build outs for companies that have 50-500 locations nationwide.

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Are you a new, exciting, and up-and-coming brand looking to take things to the next level? Great! To make sure you don’t take one step forward and two steps back, ensure a strong foothold in your messaging, market channel(s), and target demographics before you take that leap. In this article, we will explore three key steps you can take today to increase sales and take your brand to new heights.

1. Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

Understanding your target audience is the foundation of any successful marketing and sales strategy. Without a clear picture of who your ideal customers are, you risk wasting resources on ineffective marketing campaigns and missing out on potential sales opportunities.

To define your ideal customer profile, follow these steps:

Demographics

Identify key demographic factors such as age, gender, location, occupation, and income level that align with your product or service. Be as specific as you can – we’ve seen companies be so specific they made up names and stories of their prospect’s daily lives!

Psychographics

Dive deeper into your customers’ values, interests, lifestyles, and pain points. Nothing exists in a vacuum and there are synergies everywhere. Take advantage of this to create a framework and develop multiple points of attraction for them to come to you.

Behavioral Patterns

Analyze your customers’ purchasing behavior, online activities, and engagement with your brand. This data will help you craft targeted marketing campaigns that address their specific needs.

Use the data above to create a few profiles for who these ICP’s are, you’re ready to speak to their values and must haves with a compelling Unique Selling Proposition.

2. Be Clear on Your Unique Sales Proposition

In today’s competitive market, standing out from the crowd is essential for your brand’s success. To achieve this, you must have a clear and compelling Unique Sales Proposition (USP). Your USP is what sets you apart from your competitors and gives your customers a reason to choose your brand over others.

To create a powerful USP, consider the following:

Identify Your Unique Value

Pinpoint what makes your brand special and valuable to your customers. It could be a unique product feature, exceptional customer service, sustainable practices, or a combination of factors.

Address Customer Pain Points

This is the most straightforward starting point for most. First understand the challenges your target audience faces with existing market options and position your brand as the solution. Tired of getting sunburn because you can’t see where you applied sunscreen? Then try ours with zinc that adds a white tint so you’ve left nothing up to chance. Or, tired of sugary kids drinks at restaurants? Try our all-natural root beer with 50% the sugar. Demonstrating how your product or service can make their lives better will resonate with potential customers.

Craft a Memorable Message

Condense your USP into a concise and memorable statement that clearly communicates the benefits of choosing your brand. A strong USP should evoke emotion and leave a lasting impression. Tag lines, a jingle, humor – there are a lot of tools you can use – just make sure they don’t get in the way of the message, and stick the landing!

Once you have a compelling USP, integrate it into your marketing materials, website, social media, and sales pitches. Consistency is key to ensuring your message reaches your audience effectively.

3. Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with other non-competing, correlated businesses with a strategic partnership can serve as another channel for your leads and sales. Seek out partnerships that complement your products or services and align with your brand values. Strategic partnerships offer several advantages:

Access to a New Audience

Partnering with a well-established brand allows you to tap into their existing customer base and introduce your products or services to a wider audience.

Credibility and Trust

Associating with reputable businesses enhances your brand’s credibility and instills trust in potential customers.

Shared Resources

Collaborating with a partner can lead to shared resources, cost-sharing opportunities, and access to expertise that can drive innovation and growth.

Remember that successful partnerships are mutually beneficial, so be sure to offer value to your partners in return.

 

Increasing sales for your up-and-coming brand requires a strategic approach. Start by defining your ideal customer profile, allowing you to tailor your marketing efforts effectively. Craft a compelling Unique Sales Proposition to stand out from the competition and communicate your brand’s value clearly. 

Explore strategic partnerships to expand your reach and tap into new opportunities. By implementing these three essential steps, you’ll be on your way to achieving remarkable sales growth and establishing your brand as a force to be reckoned with in the market.

 

Jeff Lo is owner of TGS Elevate, a visual marketing / merchandising company that provides printing, point of purchase displays, and store fixture manufacturing, and in-store build outs for companies that have 50-500 locations nationwide.

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Launching a new product is always exciting for any business, and  it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Recently, we had a custom point of purchase (POP) display project that was no different. Our client had a tight deadline to deliver over five hundred custom POP displays to 80 different locations across 14 states to mesh with their highly anticipated product launches. We were, of course, happy to take on the challenge! 

The Problem: A Race Against Time

As the go-to point of purchase display manufacturer for Fortune 500-1,000 brands and retailers for nearly thirty years, we are accustomed to meeting tight deadlines. However, producing a final product is one thing, while developing and testing it from scratch then rushing to produce it en masse is something different altogether. The clock was ticking, and we needed a robust solution to fulfill our client’s requirements effectively.

The Solution: Precision and Coordination

1.Rapid Artwork Update: Caught during proofing, we identified color and copy issues within the artwork. Rather than send it back to the client for revision and risk losing more time, we coordinated with our client and our design team sprung into action to make the change. After carefully reviewing the artwork for other possible issues, we promptly updated the art files and sent them back for re-approval. What could have taken a week as done in hours.

2. Streamlined Production Process: To meet the ambitious production deadline, we started production with the POP displays that were not affected by the art changes. This saved the client rush fees and possible lost time. By optimizing our modular post-production finishing section to complete these first units while also setting tooling for the displays to follow, it didn’t disrupt our other projects going through the shop, or cause trouble when the other units caught up.

3. Shipping optimization: To make up for lost time, we ran the distro through our software to see which shipping points would take the longest, and started with those first. We found that while 80% of the locations would receive shipments in 3 days going ground speed (thanks to our centrally located facility in the MidWest) we could pick up production time by sending the farthest points first. We did this all on our end without prompting so our client didn’t have to lift a finger, worry about the specifics, or pay any more in shipping.

The Outcome: Mission Accomplished

Thanks to our team’s attention to detail, urgency, and problem solving we were able to meet the deadline, provide solutions, and create more ease for our client. All POP displays arrived in time for the product launch, impressing the internal stakeholders higher up in the organization.

Post Mortem: Navigating Challenges, Delivering Excellence

This project was valuable for our client to experience – meeting deadlines and budgets, providing solutions, and making the overall process easier and more reliable. 

At TGS Elevate, we take pride in turning challenges into opportunities and delivering outstanding results for our clients. As we continue to grow, we know we don’t know everything, and that continuous training and revisions are part of the process. Driven by urgency and perseverance (two of our company core values), we are committed to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to our clients for years to come.

 

Jeff Lo is owner of TGS Elevate, a visual marketing / merchandising company that provides printing, point of purchase displays, and store fixture manufacturing, and in-store build outs for companies that have 50-500 locations nationwide.

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Redefining Success – A Holistic Approach

Within the domain of retail visual merchandising, gauging success of past store fixture campaigns surpasses mere reliance on sales figures. An effective campaign extends its assessment to encompass the satisfaction of all stakeholders involved. It’s a lot like a 360 employee review. While you could focus on a narrow scope, you’re leaving out a lot of valuable information for future decision making. In this case, getting feedback on customer experience, brand perception, and employee ease and compliance are essential to determine how the overall campaign went.

Measurable Results – Balancing Qualitative and Quantitative Insights

To gauge the success of your last store fixture campaign, it is essential to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data provides objective, numeric measurements, while qualitative data offers valuable insights into customers’ sentiments and experiences. Combining these two types of data will give you a comprehensive understanding of the campaign’s impact.

1. Quantitative Measurements Before and After

Sales and Revenue: Track the sales and revenue generated before and after the campaign. Compare the figures to understand if there was a significant increase in sales during or after the campaign.

Foot Traffic: Analyze foot traffic data to determine if the campaign attracted more customers to your store. Increased footfall could indicate the campaign’s effectiveness in drawing attention.

 Average Transaction Value (ATV): Monitor the average transaction value during the campaign. If the ATV increased, it suggests that customers were willing to spend more due to the campaign’s influence.

Conversion Rates: Measure the percentage of visitors who made a purchase before and after the campaign. A higher conversion rate signifies that the fixtures positively impacted customers’ buying decisions.

2. Qualitative Insights Before and After

Customer Surveys: Conduct surveys to gather feedback directly from customers. Inquire about their perception of the store fixtures, whether they found them appealing, and if the fixtures influenced their shopping experience.

Social Media Listening: Monitor social media channels for mentions, comments, and feedback related to the campaign. This will help you understand how customers are discussing the fixtures and your brand online.

Employee Feedback: Engage with your employees to learn about their observations and experiences during setup and over the duration of the campaign. They are on the front lines and can provide valuable insights into how the fixtures impacted customer interactions.

Reporting and Tracking Progress Over Time

Regular and transparent reporting is crucial in evaluating the success of a store fixture campaign. Develop clear metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) based on the qualitative and quantitative data gathered. Use visual representations, such as graphs and charts, to present the data in an easily digestible format.

To track progress over time, create a schedule for reporting and analysis. You may want to assess the impact of the campaign immediately after its conclusion and then at regular intervals afterward (e.g., monthly or quarterly). This approach allows you to identify any immediate wins and to measure the campaign’s lasting effects.

Moreover, nothing can be more valuable than a post-mortem review with all stakeholders to discuss the results openly and collaboratively. Encourage feedback from different departments, including marketing, sales, and customer service, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the campaign’s overall impact.

Evaluating the success of your last store fixture campaign involves understanding the expectations of all stakeholders and measuring both quantitative and qualitative data. By adopting this holistic approach and tracking progress over time, you can ensure that your future store fixture campaigns are even more effective and impactful for your business. Remember, success is not just about the numbers; it’s about creating a lasting and positive impression on everyone involved.

 

Jeff Lo is owner of TGS Elevate, a visual marketing / merchandising company that provides printing, point of purchase displays, and store fixture manufacturing, and in-store build outs for companies that have 50-500 locations nationwide.

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