You Can Get Corporate Sponsorship By Michelle Christie

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Women business owners, are a fast growing group and finding funding for projects and initiatives in the current economy can sometimes prove challenging, which leads many on the hunt for creative ways to boost revenue. With access to capital being the focus, exploring the possibilities available through corporate sponsorship is a viable option. Sponsorship, when done well can provide an additional income stream for your small business. Being a micro-business does not exclude you from gaining corporate sponsorship. Instead of thinking that your company is too "small" or that sponsorship is for "big" companies and "we cannot offer much value", ask yourself these questions:

1. What exactly is my company?s message or the reason for my project? (Example: My message is empowering teenagers between the ages of 14 -18 years old!)
2. Which companies out there best align with my message? (Example: Educational Brands, Clothing lines..Ice cream and Candy Companies? yes, they have brand messages too :-) ... that list could go on and on?)
3. Who out there would like to meet my tribe? Who would benefit from my audience or my database or advertise on my website?

Once you have answered these questions and identified those people, write a proposal and send them something that will make them think "Great!" by partnering with this project we could generate more business, more visibility for our brand. Keep in mind that seeking sponsorship is not necessarily about asking for the big money upfront, it is about finding your company a new partner that wants to work with you so you both grow and both become more successful. As I regularly say, it is about building strong relationships. Our mantra at MACsWomen is Creativity Over Competition?. Creatively build that bridge to yes!

Ideally, your company and event generate multiple sources of revenue; one important source for many events is corporate sponsorship. Now that you have some defining questions, realize that you are not too small and you have value. Identify those values, your audience, your database, your website and many other options. Take action, get out there and build strong relationships with brands that fit your mission.

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Using Mannequins to Enhance Your Store By Adam Christie

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Mannequins are an invaluable display tool for fashion retailers and by thinking carefully about how they are used and where they are positioned, stores could find they attract more customers and increase the amount shoppers spend.

The first thing to decide if you do not already have mannequins among your shop fittings is what sort you would like.

There is more choice than you may first imagine in this regard, with everything available from lifelike, full-sized models to stylised designs of certain body parts.

Life-sized models are usually the best option for use in window displays, as they allow you to showcase entire outfits to the shoppers passing by in the street. They can also be posed in various ways, enabling you to set up something that is eye catching.

Don't forget to make use of other display stands you may have available, as giving your mannequins some props to interact with will only add to the impression they make.

Meanwhile, models of the torso, for instance, could be put to better use on the shop floor, as they can be positioned on top of shelving units or rails and will take up less space than their full-sized counterparts.

Placing these in vantage points above the garments they are displaying could be a good way to help your customers navigate the store and find exactly what they are looking for.

One of the major advantages to life-sized mannequins is that you can use them to highlight entire outfits, teaming skirts and shirts or jeans and tops with other accessories from your store.

Suggesting ensembles in this way is subtle and may just give your customers some ideas. Seeing examples in front of them of how to mix and match the products on sale may encourage them to try something new and to add an extra item to their shopping bag.

This can be particularly true of accessories, such as belts or jewellery, which can add the perfect finishing touch to an overall style.

And if your customers agree, you could find that the average spend in your store increases, due to the influence of your well-dressed mannequins.

Don't be afraid to experiment with ideas - after all, if you dress a mannequin up and it doesn't look as you would like, you can simply change things around or start again completely.

It is worth taking the time to decide what items you especially want to promote, as well as which garments work together as a whole.

The style of the mannequin you are using may also have a bearing on the overall appearance - for instance, if it is a stylised model in silver, it will look more contemporary than one that is flesh-coloured and has a realistic face.

Decide what message you want to send to consumers - and what demographic of shoppers you would like to attract to your store - and choose your mannequins accordingly.

As with any display stand, where you position your mannequins in the store is crucial, so think carefully not only about where they will look great, but also about how they may affect customers' movements around the store.

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Guide to Cleaning Glass Display Cabinets By Adam Christie

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Glass display cabinets can help improve almost any store, with many benefits associated with selecting these kinds of shop fittings.

As well as being an excellent way to showcase valuable goods without obscuring your customers' view of the products, they can also help increase sales.

This is because shoppers will believe that the goods on display have a higher value, as they are stored in a secure way, which may encourage them to splash out on items they feel are desirable.

As an increased benefit, the cabinet really does increase security by reducing shoplifting of the products inside.

You will also find that glass cabinets are an excellent way of encouraging consumers to interact with your sales staff as they will require assistance if they want to view one of the products on display.

This will give your shop assistants the opportunity to close a sale and help drive up revenue.

However, as with all display stands, it is vital that you look after your glass display cabinets to make sure that they make the right impression on the customers who visit your shop.

Keeping glass cabinets in pristine condition is a must if they are to be effective and there are some simple rules you should follow to ensure your glass display stands look as good as the day you bought them for many years.

Firstly, regular cleaning is essential. Glass can become dirty quickly and fingerprints, smudges, smears and dust on a cabinet can all give off the wrong impression to shoppers, as well as potentially obscuring their view of the items inside.

It is advisable to clean your glass cabinets every day, either first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

You may even want to encourage your staff to give them a quick wipe during the day if they become particularly dirty.

But what is the best way to get a smear-free finish on your glass cabinet? Using a lint-free cloth is a good first step, while selecting a cleaning product that is designed for glass will also make the job much easier.

You may also find that polishing the glass with newspaper after you have cleaned it helps to remove any remaining smudges.

If your glass cabinet has a wooden frame - or one made of metal - it is important that you choose a cleaning product that can work on both materials.

Opting for a wood cleaner and using it on glass is likely to result in many smears that are hard to shift, while using a glass cleaner on wood can dry it out and make it look old before its time.

A multipurpose cleaner that is suitable for glass, wood and metal will probably be your best option.

When you clean your glass cabinets, it is vital that you take the time to look over your handiwork and check that there are no visible marks from a range of angles.

Look in from every visible side and check the appearance of the display stand from a variety of heights too.

Of course, having a spotless exterior to your cabinet becomes redundant if the products and shelves inside are covered in dust, so you should also remember to clean the interior thoroughly on a regular basis.

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