Will US Government Shut down Airport Retailers? Radio Show hosts offer help
Due to heightened security, airline travelers are no longer allowed to carry liquids or gels of any kind onboard an airplane.
Now, most of you are probably saying, 'So what?' or 'Who cares, it's no big deal..I'll just leave these items home.' But have you stopped to think what this is doing to the duty free stores and other retailers operating at the airport?
Some of these stores carry nothing
but perfumes and liquors. Their sales are going to come to a halt and they will no longer be able to pay the rent, utilities, etc. The U.S. Government and this new security measure is going to put them out of business if this regulation continues.
Or...will it?
On our weekly radio show, Growing Your Business, we discuss ways for business to market with "Out of the Box" thinking. In other words, unusual, non-conventional marketing practices.
Well, these stores need to be doing some major out of the box thinking if they are to survive. The following is what we have come up with that can help these retailers make it through tough times:
1. Offer to ship the product for FREE. It might be a good idea to have some very large signs displayed at the front of the store that you will ship for FREE. Another sign might say, ASK US HOW TO GET IT ON THE PLANE. I would also start contacting the airlines and make some type of arrangement to have it shipped on the same plane that the passenger is traveling on.
2. Diversify- Now is to time to start thinking of alternatives products and goods you could sell.
3. Co-op- What about cooperation with other retailers in other locations. For example, A duty Free shop in the UK can make an arrangement with a Duty FREE store or any store for that matter in the US. This way when someone sees something they like at London's Gatwick airport, they can purchase it and pick it up when they arrive at Newark airport.
4. Flyers and catalogs- what about putting a catalog on the plane where potential customers can purchase items and have them ready when they arrive at their destination.
5. What about contacting the airlines and putting your items for sale on the plane. You can pay the airline a percentage and even pay the flight attendant a commission.
Getting businesses to think out of the box is the only way you can survive the tough times. The above examples are just a few ideas that will help this type of business. If you have other ideas you wish to share to help these business send them to us at
infok@growingyourbusiness.net.
Fred and Lyna host a weekly radio talk show on Alltalkradio.com called Growing Your Business. They also write a weekly newspaper column. If you are interested in their column, please send an email to info@growingyourbusiness.net
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