Start Ups:5 Key Questions you should ask suppliers before doing business.

1. What are my payment terms and are they negotiable?
While payments for invoices are often due within 30 days, you can talk to your vendor about getting 60 or 90 days.

2. What will my total costs be?
While a supplier might give you a quote for the cost of a product or materials, be sure to ask about other fees. For example, are there delivery fees, fuel surcharges or restocking charges for returns that you must pay?

3. Can you give me a liability insurance certificate? Your suppliers should provide written proof that they have adequate liability insurance in the event that their products or parts malfunction. Get a new copy of the liability insurance certificate each year.

 

 4. If a product does not sell, are you stuck with it?
You don't want to get stuck with a finished product that flops or the parts and raw materials for a product that doesn't sell. Talk to your suppliers about their return policies. You want to negotiate the opportunity to return unsold products or materials.

 

5. Under what circumstance might prices change?  
Ask what determines a change in price. Is it tied to inflation or an industry index? If prices go up, how much notice will you receive?

For great information and retail locations available for lease contact Sharp Realty or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

Securing your first commercial real estate lease can be scary. Below are six point to consider before signing the lease whether as business owner or franchise owner.

• Evaluate your space needs. Do you plan to grow your business? Your lease term will likely be for many years, so plan accordingly.

• View a lot of properties. Make sure you're comfortable with the price of comparable spaces before making your final decision.
  
• Ask about how active the landlord is with advertising and using social media.
  With todays “social” world, most leasing management companies are using social media as a great form of connecting with the public to drive traffic to malls and shopping centers.
• Look for hidden expenses in the agreement. Charges above your fixed or base rent, like operating expenses, can surprise novices. They may not be in the term sheet, so ask specifically for this information.

• Feeling comfortable with the leasing manager is important.
  Because you are going to be working with this person or team for over a year you will want to be comfortable with the leasing manager.
• Don't review documents on your own. Have a lawyer review the lease.

       For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

       Sharp Realty
       Phone: 205-879-1995

       400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

       www.SharpRealty.com

How to Deal With Difficult Customers In Retail?

Having a retail store is both exhilarating and exhausting for the owner. At times this means dealing with difficult customers. Often, the anger expressed at the store or team is related to some external event and simply trigger by the problem in the store.

Below are some tips to help navigate you through dealing with difficult customers.

1. Remember to let your customers communicate how they feel.

People have the need to be “heard” or “vent” and this is often all they need to make things better. After they are finished venting, apologize for their unhappiness in your store – even if you do not feel they have been let down in anyway. It’s simply showing you support them in their role as a customer and value their business.

2. Really listen to your customers and what do they need to correct the problem. 

Even if it is not the way you normally handle things, try and deliver a response that shows you respect the customers opinion. If they are challenging your return policy, for example, you can state why it’s in place and that it had to be enforced. Often the explanation alone can help customers see your position in difficult customer scenarios.

3. Fix the problem at hand. 

Whatever the problem is, find a solution. This may mean breaking your own rules every now and again. As a store owner, you should have boundaries to help keep your business afloat and likewise, as a business owner you should be able to break rules when you feel you need to – or want to.  Use your best judgment!  Whatever you do, find a solution to resolve the problem and ideally, leave the customer feeling satisfied that they have experienced valued customer service.

In business problems will occur, people will complain and life will go on. A successful business means learning lessons from difficult customers. One day you may want to thank them!

For great retail locations available for lease contact Sharp Realty or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

Due to high unemployment many people are turning to entrepreneurship.

Instead of sitting around waiting to hear back from employers, many of the long term unemployed who have lost hope in the possibility of finding a new job are learning to be creative and proactive in making a living through entrepreneurship.

 

Many new entrepreneurs are now turning their passions such as consignment shops, clock design, pet sitting and writing books into a business. Most importantly, they are creating a business that fits in with their lives, families, personal and professional goals.

  

Starting a new business does come with challenges but the effort is more gratifying when it benefits you and your family.
 

After having the “big idea” contact several successful business owners and ask the following questions.  

1.            Define what sets your brand apart from your competitors?

2.            What type of marketing will be most cost effective?

3.            Where is the best store location? 

Shorten your road to success as an entrepreneur by learning from those who have already successfully traveled it.
 

 

Sharp Realty has a proven track record of success in commercial retail leasing and management.

Contact Rhonda at Sharp Realty

www.SharpRealty.com

205-879-1995

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why many Retail Store owners are moving to Madison, Georgia

Most retail store owners and franchise owners seek locations that will be a successful for their business but they also desire a town that is comfortable for the whole family to grow and thrive.

Madison is truly one of those great small towns. The high standard of the entire community reflects the quality of life they all enjoy, the clean streets, the abundance of seasonal flower beds, and the picturesque residences lining historic streets and surrounding the charming of the downtown area.

According to City Data:

Population in 2010: 3,979.  Population change since 2000: +9.4%

Zip codes: 30650
Estimated median household income in 2009: $45,507
(it was $36,055 in 2000)
Madison:$45,507
Georgia: $47,590

Madison city income, earnings, and wages data
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $226,659
(it was $110,300 in 2000)
Madison:$226,659
Georgia:$162,800

Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $297,685;
Detached houses: $321,414; Townhouses or other attached units: $84,820; Mobile homes: $43,273 

Unemployment in march 2012:
Madison: 7.9%
Georgia: 8.9%

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Madison:

• University of Georgia (about 26 miles; Athens, GA)• Athens Technical College (about 30 miles; Athens, GA)• Georgia College & State University (about 38 miles; Milledgeville, GA)• Georgia Gwinnett College (about 41 miles; Lawrenceville, GA)• Gwinnett Technical College (about 43 miles; Lawrenceville, GA)• Georgia Perimeter College (about 47 miles; Decatur, GA)• DeVry University-Georgia (about 50 miles; Decatur, GA)

A great retail location is the Madison Crossing shopping complex.  It is strategically located on US 129 close to many large stores such as Walmart, Rite Aid, Advanced Auto Parts and Lowe's.

The anchor store: Bi-Lo (41,423 SF)
Other Tenants Include: The Cato Corp. Shoe Show, Hong Kong Restaurant, Fancy Nails, Madison Family Dentistry and Orthodontist Center.

SharpRealty is based in Birmingham, Alabama and currently manages over 1,000,000 square feet of space throughout the southeast.  Sharp Realty specializing in managing and owning office buildings and retail centers.

Other Shopping Centers, Malls and Offices available for lease.

Contact Rhonda at Sharp Realty

www.SharpRealty.com

205-879-1995

Eyeworks - Grand Opening in Washington,IN

Sharp Realty is pleased to announce the Grand Opening on Monday, August 6, 2012 at 9am of our latest tenant at 109 Cherry Tree Plaza in Washington, IN.

Eyeworks

Eyeworks doctors in Washington will be Dr J Scott Hendrix,
Dr Rhett Baker, and Dr John W DeCoursey.

Bottom row L-R Dr. Dirk Bochner, Dr. Rhett Baker;
top row L-R Dr. J. Scott Hendrix, Dr. Mark Hendrix

Eyeworks perform routine eye health examinations, Check for Glaucoma,Cataracts, and all other eye diseases. Perform Diabetic eye exams, Lasik evaluations, pre and post-op Cataract Care, diagnose and treat eye disease.

Fit and prescribe all types of contact lenses from disposable,  one day wear, and flexible wear types. Also contacts for astigmatism, colored contacts, and bifocal contacts.

Nobody has a bigger inventory of contact lenses in this area!

Eyeworks are available after hours for ocular emergencies also. There is a reason we continue to grow each year, we treat you like family!  

"Glasses and Contacts in About an Hour" has been our pledge to you since we started Eyeworks in July 1986. Our optometric practice actually started on the same block in downtown Vincennes in 1945, by our founder, Dr. Eli B. Hendrix, Jr. We've been able to grow and expand because of good people just like you coming to us for your eyecare and vision needs. Because your time is valuable, we have a modern, on-site computerized lens lab where we can make most prescriptions in about an hour or less. You don't have to wait days or weeks to get your new glasses,
Eyeworks

Call 812-254-1600 to schedule your appointment.

109 Cherry Tree Plaza in Washington,IN. 

Website: www.eyeworksofvincennes.com

Facebook: IlikeEYEWORKS

Hours: M-T-Th-F 8-5
W 8-8
Sat 8-12

___________________________________________

Sharp Realty, LLC.
400 Union Hill Suite 300
Birmingham, Al. 35209
Phone: 205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com

8 Ways to Get Foot Traffic to Your Retail Store

The main goal of any retail store is to get customers to walk through your front door! Here are some tips to drive foot traffic to a bricks-and-mortar store.

1. Have a grand opening or re-grand opening. 

Make this day as big a deal as possible. Provide food, offer door prizes, and serve up other enticements and entertainment to make the day memorable. And, while you're doing it, keep tabs on who shows up by having them register to win a prize by providing their name and email address.  

2. Plan on holding other promotional events.
Any promotional event that draws attention can be effective. Look into an in-store raffle or giveaway, and advertise the event on social media (free) and as widely as your budget will allow. Connect with a local celebrity — say, an author or sports figure — having him or her on the premises can bring in clientele. But, no matter what you do, make it exciting and appealing to the public.

3. Make your business newsworthy.
By being newsworthy it attracts business beyond a 24-hour window.  For example, try donating a portion of the day's take to charity can win a flattering article in your local newspaper. Or investigate whether a local radio station would be willing to broadcast live on the day of your promotional event. The key is to grab the attention of customers who can't make it in at that particular time. That drives foot traffic in the future. This makes it all the more likely the customer will read or hear about it and come check it out." 

4. Have a sale.
Nothing beats the lure of something that's less expensive for a limited amount of time. Do an e-mail blast campaign to existing and to boost foot traffic, urge them to bring a friend to receive something free or additional discounts. Have a group or individual check-in deal on Facebook for the event.

5. Host a seminar or workshop.
Boosting foot traffic doesn't even have to involve a direct effort to sell a product or service. These days, education is every bit as important and value-added, as consumers want to know how to get the most out of what they buy.

6. Use Social Media! Social Media is free and a great way to STAY connected with your customers and gain new customers. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are great ways to drive foot traffic to the retail location.

7. Promote a mall walking program. Convincing your complex owner to host a mall walker program can provide free publicity and exposure for the store and can literally increase foot traffic near your store.  Mall walker programs are an excellent way to market your store and have a positive impact. Centers often encourage mall walker programs by helping to organize clubs, offering discounts, and providing health checkups onsite.

8. Follow up with your contacts.Keep encouraging foot traffic by staying in touch with customers by different ways, such as social media or e-mail blast. Let them know about events and encourage them to share the news with friends on social media.  

For great tips and retail locations available for lease follow us on Facebook or Twitter.


Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com