15 Ways to Increase Sales in a Dragging Economy

1. Discounts – Straight discounts are fantastic when the economy is in a rough patch. For example, retailing institutions such as Wal-Mart typically see significant sales increases when the economy is in a down turn. This is because consumers are being significantly more judicious when it comes to purchases.

2. Luxury and Necessity Good Placement – The first thing consumers in financially tough times will do is cut out luxury goods.However, one way to work on increasing the sales of luxury items is to place them close to necessity items in the store.

3. Add More Workers – One of the biggest things to slow down sales during a busy time is to have too few people working. In tough economic times, it’s tempting to try to cut back hours and save money, but the money you’ll be losing will be more.

4. Special Promotional Offers – If people are being more judicious in their expenditures, then they want better deals. Special offers, such as “buy one, get one free,” can do wonders to draw consumer interest.

5. Giveaways – Everyone likes free stuff. having a giveaway can do wonders to increase store numbers. If a business had a special giveaway regularly, then overall customer numbers would likely increase.

6. Celebrity Endorsements – If your business has the ability to pay for Celebrity Endorsements, why not consider it? Local celebrities are still celebrities, so endorsements can be just as effective.

7. Local Commercials – If you can get local stars, then local commercials would be the natural progression of things. In all seriousness, local commercials can be a fantastic investment even for a large company, because of an excellent targeted consumer base. In a dragging economy, consumers become more demanding and want to know what you offer especially for them. Local commercials are a great way to get such a message out.

8. Make it a “Must Have” – If you find less of your product is flying off the shelves in a bear market, and then you need to make your product a “must have.” Companies like Apple Computer are still able to have solid sales in rough economic climates because their products have the “cool” factor. They become “must haves” because Apple is able to bridge the gap between needs and wants.

9. Longer Hours of Operation – When sales are in decline, one great way to rectify this is to lengthen the hours of operation. If you are open for longer hours, then you should see an increase in sales.

10. Go Online – If you’re attempting to make sales, and you don’t have an online facet to your businesses, you’re missing out on great opportunities. Increase sales by making a web site. Giving consumers the ability to shop online can do wonders to increase sales. Make sure your web site is easy to use and customer-friendly. The more ways potential customers can access your products, the more opportunities there are to make a sale.

11. Go Green – Concern for the environment is at an all time high in this day and age. Businesses with social consciousness who are concerned about the future of the planet will definitely enjoy positive PR. So, if you are noticing that sales are taking a nosedive, it can be a fantastic idea to revitalize your business by going green.

12. Go Global – If you need any proof that today’s business world is truly global, look no further than the stock markets. When one country’s market is in decline, other countries’ markets will soon follow. The best way to combat this is to make sure your invested in every market you can be. You can increase sales simply by widening your consumer base.

13. Advertise Online – Having a web site is great, but actually advertising online coupled with having a web site is even better. Google AdWords is an excellent way to promote your web site and increase your sales with a positive ROI. Having an online presence can help, but it is much more helpful to be an industry leader when it comes to online enterprises.

14. Word of Mouth – Some of the most loyal customers come directly from word of mouth. The best way to generate word of mouth buzz is by having high quality service coupled with effective ad campaigns. Word of mouth is the trustworthiest type of advertising. Essentially, this means that your biggest sales increases will come if people decide to tell their friends and family about your business.

15. Relocate – Some areas are simply more economically sound than others. If you find that your sales are dwindling significantly, then it’s a good idea to consider relocation. Moving into a bigger market, or a less competitive market can do wonders for the bottom line of any business. Moving is not an admission of defeat, but rather, an affirmation of a willingness to have success, even if success comes at the cost of leaving one’s comfort zone.