When you start a dollar store never let there be a question whether you are open

When you start a dollar store one thing you cannot afford is the loss of customers. It doesn't matter whether the loss is for just one visit to shop, or it is a situation where the shopper and the dollar store sales you would have made to that shopper are lost forever. In both cases the result for your business is the loss of dollar store sales and profits. One of the ways this can occur is when shoppers cannot tell whether your store is open or closed. In this article I will present 5 critical actions to make it obvious you are open for business.

#1) Install an OPEN sign in the front window of your store.
When you start a dollar store it is easy to be overcome by all the tasks required just to get your store open and operating. Yet purchasing a large, easily seen OPEN sign can mean so much to your business that it cannot be overlooked. Be sure to turn the sign on as you open for business each day. Do not forget to turn it off at the end of each business day. If you have a long store front consider adding a second OPEN sign further down the front of your store.

#2) Leave the front door open during good weather.
One of the easiest ways to communicate the fact you are open for business is to leave the front door of your store open. Some landlords may not allow this. In other cases the doors are set to always return to the closed position and cannot be held open. However if this is possible, be sure to carefully block the door so it doesn't close unexpectedly and catch someone off guard.

#3) Place displays of dollar store merchandise outside the front of your store.
When you start a dollar store purchase rolling 5-tiered basket sets. These hold a good amount of dollar store merchandise. Yet they are also easy to move about and lock into one location. Select light, brightly colored merchandise to fill the baskets. Roll them outside as you open and return them to the inside as you close each day. This strategy not only communicates the fact your store is open, but it also will result in added dollar store sales.

#4) Place A-Frame signs outside the entrance to your store.
Here's another tactic that will help build dollar store sales while informing shoppers of your store hours. Place A-Frame signs on both sides of the entry. Have OPEN printed across the top. Then try advertising a special purchase of dollar store merchandise in your store. This also works to notify shoppers of newly arrived hot selling dollar store merchandise as well.

#5) Prominently post your store hours.
This seems like such a common sense move, yet many small retailers forget to provide this information. Clearly list your daily hours of operation. Use larger letters and numbers so every shopper can easily read the information. This information is best placed either on or next to the front door on the windows of your store.

To your success when you start a dollar store!

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Bob Hamilton is an entrepreneur, author, writer, business consultant and trainer.