Category: Business & Marketing
Strength In Numbers: Why Join a Buying Group?
You just opened your e-mail only to see an ad from a big-box or chain store offering the same merchandise to consumers at a lower price than you’re paying for it. How many times have you commented on (or griped, complained and ranted about) how these businesses have all the buying power because they have [...]
It’s Time To Exercise Your Authority
How do you want your store to be perceived online? What impression do you want to make to your customers? Simply posting bits of information about your business and possibly adding a few products to a shopping cart isn’t really going to do much to inspire and motivate customers to remain engaged, build their trust [...]
How To Get Your First 1,000 Facebook Fans
Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions Promoting a vacant Facebook page is kind of like running an empty pizza parlor. You might have the best pizza in town, but, if no one comes in to eat, what’s the point? The same holds true for your Facebook fan page. Great content will go to waste [...]
Some New Year’s Resolutions To Stick To!
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions The arrival of 2013 brings a fresh start with wonderful possibilities. Many people make resolutions that focus on personal goals, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, etc. Although it’s a great time to take steps to improve the quality of your life, why not also [...]
A Closer Look At QR Codes
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions The facts are in, and it’s good news for brick-and-mortar stores. According to a new study by Deloitte, consumers who use smartphones when out shopping are 14 percent more likely to make a purchase while in the store than those without them. Deloitte’s study, “The [...]
Ways To Profit As Customers ‘GET SMART’
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions It’s interesting to see how smartphone use has affected sales for brick-and-mortar dealers. Many feel that it’s starting to hurt their businesses. Customers come into your store, examine your products, play your instruments and then shop online for cheaper prices. But for every negative, there’s [...]
How Music Retailers Can Benefit From CONSUMER SHOWROOMING
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions A customer with a smartphone in hand walks into your store, studies your wall of guitars, plays a couple, snaps some pictures, scans a few barcodes and then leaves without a word. What was that? What just happened here? It feels like you’ve just become [...]
The Pros And Cons Of Free Shipping
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions For many online shoppers, a free-shipping offer is the holy grail of great deals. Forget 10 percent off an item or a coupon code for an instant or future discount: Free shipping is what makes people click the “Add to Cart” button. Sounds like a [...]
Taxing Times For Internet Retailing
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions The Internet takes tax-free shopping to a new level. Shopping without that added out-of-pocket expense has become an effective motivator to influence customers away from their favorite brick-and-mortar music stores. But contrary to what you might hear, some Internet sales are subject to sales tax. [...]
IRCE Recap From A First-Time Exhibitor
By David Hall, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Cutting-Edge Solutions In early June, Cutting-Edge Solutions’ Bill Walzak and I exhibited at the Internet Retailers Conference and Exhibition in Chicago (IRCE 2012). It was the first time the company exhibited at this show. In fact, it was our first trade show outside of the music products [...]
