Opening a Dollar Store

In this article I present three groups that have a vested interest on helping you achieve the success you desire.

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There are actually many proven methods to increase the average sale size when you open a dollar store. In this article we focus on 5 proven methods to help you increase the average sale size in your store.

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During the twelve months immediately following opening a dollar store it is important to understand all of the processes within your business.  You need to know what happens and why.  Then lock down each of the processes so there is no variation from employee to employee.  If all follow the identically same processes, your results should be very consistent and predicable indeed. With that consistency will come an understanding of how best to operate your business.  As you maximize the operation you achieve the very real potential for dollar store profits.

Start learning and understanding the processes and procedures used in your business as soon as it opens. Especially focus efforts on the operational processes of your business.  If you take a hands-on approach to your new business you should be fairly familiar with all of the processes within 90 days of opening a dollar store.  Start examining each of the processes as soon as you gain that understanding.

Use this timeframe to not only understand each process and procedure, but also to streamline and improve all of them.  Once you really understand what is happening in your business, focus on ways to make improvements.  Those improvements will equate to better results for your dollar store.  That should mean dollar store profits begin to roll in more quickly for your business as well.

Once you have come to a final process flow, stop immediately and document it exactly as it is being performed.  If the process is efficient and effective, you’ve reached your first goal.  Do not make any further changes at this point.  Stop and lock down exactly what you are doing.  You will undoubtedly find opportunities for improvement in the future. But for now, write it down and stop making changes.

Next train all employees to the documented process.  Following training it is important to set expectations that every employee will follow the documented process exactly as it is documented.  You and they will know exactly the expected outcome when everyone follows those processes.

By the end of your first 12 months after opening a dollar store business you should have completed all streamlining and documentation of operational procedures in your company.  Don’t forget to document all future modifications and changes in those processes.  Train every employee about the changes as soon as the change is documented.  Then be sure to immediately hold everyone accountable to following the new process flow.  Remember consistency in the execution of your processes is one of the keys to achieving and then maximizing dollar store profits.

To your dollar store success!

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One of the real advantages many entrepreneurs find when starting an online business is it can be done fairly quickly, easily and for lower costs than starting a brick and mortar business. One such business opportunity is opening a dollar store online. In this article I present 4 online dollar store success tips.

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When you open a dollar store one of the areas of your store that must be constantly maintained is the checkout area.  This high traffic part of the store is in constant use.  With so many people coming and going it is easy for unsold merchandise to gather around the cash registers.  It is also easy for other items as well as dust and dirt to collect.  Focus on making this a part of the store you are proud of at all times.  In this article I present 4 tips about checkout area management.

Tip #1) If you open a dollar store be sure to keep the checkout area clean at all times.  This area gets an unbelievable amount of use every day.  It is also the area seen by almost every person who enters your store.  Be aware that dirt and dust will collect unless there is constant focus.  Dust countertops and equipment and sweep the floors multiples times throughout the day.  In fact schedule cashiers to perform cleaning duties at store opening and periodically throughout the day.

Tip #2) Customers are notorious for changing their minds.  As a result dollar store merchandise collects around the checkout area throughout the day.  Be sure there is a place for all non-purchased items to be temporarily stored for easy return to the sales floor.  Then be sure to establish a process for returning items to their original location on the sales floor.

Tip #3) Many who open a dollar store make it a practice to assign extra tasks to cashiers to be handled during the times when they are not aiding customers.  In some cases tasks such as merchandise pricing, straightening display shelves and merchandise in the lobby area, cleaning entry windows, and returning unsold merchandise that has accumulated are assigned to cashiers.  Be sure that no matter what the task the area is kept clean and clutter-free.

Tip #4) Make cash register inspections a regular, routine part of your day.  When you open a dollar store it’s easy to take a quick look and inspect this area of your store everyday.  Check for excess merchandises that may have accumulated around the registers.  Impulse merchandise also has a habit of taking over the entire countertop area as well.  Be sure there’s plenty of room for shoppers to place their planned purchases without difficulty.  Be sure the area is clean and tidy at all times.  Be sure you can be proud of the appearance of your checkout area.

To your dollar store success!

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If you are opening a dollar store there comes a time when you start to ponder adding radio and television advertising to your marketing strategy. You want to develop a successful campaign to take your dollar store sale levels to new, record heights. With the huge audiences served by television and radio, a well-thought-out campaign might seem like the perfect solution.

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If you open a dollar store you may need a dollar store expert to help you with cash flow problems. Your expert resource will help examine your current situation. If and when problems or potential problems are identified, potential solutions can be developed. A ‘best solution’ will emerge.

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It is truly unfortunate, but those who open a dollar store must put strong, clear controls in-place to protect their business. After all it only takes one employee with designs on stealing from you to wreak havoc with your business. Left uncontrolled that employee can take hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands in dollar store merchandise.

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Many who open a dollar store never consider the potential for theft that comes with owning and operating almost every business. Who would risk their very freedom over getting caught for stealing few hundred dollars in dollar store merchandise? The sad fact is there are many who will take the risk. It is your responsibility to safeguard your employees and your business from these would be thieves.

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