While we continue to deal with COVID, don’t forget to go back to your basics.

What makes you unique and different? Three things are important: 

1. Merchandising your product to make sure you are addressing the current needs of your customers.

2. Merchandising your inventory to make sure you have enough supplies to last you during and post-COVID —understand the logistics involved in today’s business environment.

3. Merchandising in terms of the variety and sizes needed to fulfill the demands of your customers.

You already know this. My goal is to shed some light on it, so you can drive and sustain your business during tough times—not just during this pandemic, but in any other difficult scenario.

As you continue to sustain or grow your business, think about your merchandise in those three aspects. You might want to think about how you stock your inventory, and your customer service approach.

What makes you unique is the ability to keep moving forward while being tasked with taking multiple directions, particularly when you are on your feet.

What can you do today to differentiate yourself from the business next door? How can you differentiate your selection, merchandising, and how you support your customers during tough times?

BEFORE YOU GO

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

1. What merchandise should you be carrying now, and what might you carry going forward?

2. Do you need to leverage other ideas that you have explored?

3. What other tools or resources do you use to differentiate yourself from your competitors?