It's easy to get into a downward spiral of 'stock not selling so therefore I'll reduce stock quantities.' Before you know it you have just a few pots in a corner and you're wondering why your sales have dropped so much! I know it's often quoted but 'If you don't have it you can't sell it.'
Don't get trapped.
All Change
If stock isn't selling then reduce it, clear it and start again. Did you buy the right product to start with? For example terracotta sells best in the summer and blue doesn't sell much anymore. Have you asked your customers what they want?Have you the right supplier? Can they offer you value, range and service? If not then drop them and try someone new. Change is good.
Merchandise for the Eyes
Be clever, practical and creative with your pot display. Can your customers access all your pots? Are the themed by colour, style and type? Can you see all of them? Chances are you will answer 'No' to some of those questions...
Strip it down and start again!
The Missing Link?
Don't just have pots with pots, have pots with plants! Build pots into plant displays to increase link sales. Red square topped pots look great with Buxus cones, basic terracotta with herbs, strawberry pots with, er, strawberries. Then perhaps combine them together into a deal price.
Show it off to sell it.
Add-on to Add-up
Be a little pushy with add-on sales. Pots are an easy sell with plants. Have a stock of basic black stackable pots on offer at the checkout and get staff to suggest them to customers with appropriate plant purchases. The same is true for hanging baskets by the way!
If you don't ask...
Of course these tip will only work if that large yellow ball in the sky comes out to play!
