Capping off a week of training earlier this month, the NTY Franchise Company team came together for a morning of fun and volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, a local charity that ships easy-to-prepare, nutritional dry meals to children in need in countries all over the world. And we even got to keep the hairnets!
Check out some snapshots of the event below, and click here to learn more about Feed My Starving Children.
Earlier this month, Device Pitstop sent a couple of staffers to the Super Mobility trade show facilitated by the CTIA. Read about what they saw and learned in this blog post by Robby Molberg, Device Pitstop’s Inventory Sourcing Specialist:
Definition: CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) is an association of companies that specialize in all things wireless, i.e. carriers (Verizon, AT&T, etc.), suppliers (Apple, Samsung, etc.), accessories and many more aspects of wireless technology.
Benefits: CTIA advocates for all of their members through avenues in government as well as helping facilitate education for consumers in relation to wireless technology. In addition, the organization is heavily involved with voluntary efforts to self-regulate the recycling and reuse of wireless product.
Super Mobility: They also facilitate the Super Mobility trade show held annually. This year it was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Super Mobility is the MUST ATTEND event for everyone who’s business revolves around wireless technology, whether that be the sale of said devices, their accessories or the repair aspect. The convention brings together all of the biggest names to facilitate industry collaboration between not only the well-known companies but the startups as well; plus, it offers educational opportunities for all.
4G Advancements/5G: We were able to attend several keynotes and listened to key industry leaders such as John G. Stratton, the Executive Vice President and President of Operations for Verizon.
Mr. Stratton spoke of many advancements still to come in the 4G LTE Internet connectivity we enjoy with our smartphones today. He also touched on 5G speeds and how Verizon is working furiously to develop the infrastructure and put in place the technological requirements to see it realized by the year 2020.
5G is predicted to bring about widespread usage of the Internet of Things. Quite simply, this would mean our everyday devices, i.e. refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc., would all become connected devices and controlled through such interfaces as smartphones and tablets.
5G could very well replace fiber optic lines being laid in select cities to increase the current average speed (30mbps) to 1GB (1,000 mbps) of download speed! In laymen’s terms, that’s replacing the average consumer’s mini-van with a Ferrari! This is specifically relevant to IoT (Internet of Things) and having more devices than ever connected to the web and their subsequent draw on current bandwidth availability.
Summary: With new technology just around the corner to help facilitate faster connection speeds and connecting more of our everyday devices as an aggregate, Device Pitstop’s role in their customer’s lives will greatly increase!
As we become more reliant on technology to perform the most basic of tasks around the house, we may very well see our customers bringing a “smart” microwave in for repair or perhaps their “smart” thermostat (already in existence). This brings even more opportunity for education, repair services and saleable devices to the DP inventory.
Wholesale Vendors for Repair: We were able to meet with countless companies that offer a vast array of repair tools and parts to encourage growth and streamlining the repair process that we currently engage in on an everyday basis.
Quality vs Cost – Meeting in the Middle: With a vast array of potential suppliers of mobile repair parts out there and highly visible at Super Mobility, discerning which vendors to utilize is a monumental task!
We have come away from the event with more than we could possibly utilize and are working quickly to ascertain which are here to stay and those that won’t have longevity in the marketplace.
This means determining quality product that meets our expectations as well as affordable costs to effectively compete in each and every Device Pitstop location. These vendors are vetted in our corporate location before their recommendation is made to the franchisees for their daily usage.
Innovations in Repair: Super Mobility is the best and brightest in the industry, bringing their creations to fruition and showcasing them to retailers/repair stores such as us! We were able to take part in demonstrations of the latest in repair technology. Such innovations will further the profitability of more and more devices being repaired, especially as these devices are becoming a part of IoT (Internet of Things).
Cellphone/Tablet Suppliers: Device Pitstop focuses on the recycle and reuse side of consumer electronics. We want to keep devices out of landfills and in user’s hands for longer! We consider this to be wise stewardship of the resources we’re entrusted with as well as a great way for everyday Americans to cut rising technological costs.
Everyone wants the latest and greatest in mobile tech but not at the price tag buying new entails. One of our primary goals at Super Mobility was to find and develop relationships with vendors of refurbished cellphones. Gently used, current models that will bring the affordability factor in play as well as staying current with the latest advancements.
We have definitely found said vendors and are working with them to bring the best, refurbished smartphone/tablet technology to a Device Pitstop near you!
Summary: CTIA Super Mobility was a whirlwind of exciting and innovating technological advancements that are currently available with many more to come in the near future!
The most impactful portion of the show was certainly meeting many current friends/vendors in person and furthering that relationship in addition to meeting a host of new ones! These relationships not only help us to stay relevant with today’s marketplace but keeps us on our toes for future innovations just around the corner and years ahead! One can never look too far in the future with mobile tech as it evolves at an ever-increasing speed.
Click here to see more from the CTIA Super Mobility trade show.
Check out this article from inc.com, which highlights Device Pitstop as a great option for supplying small businesses with high-quality, affordable electronics. Check it out:
Starting a business can be costly, but you can do it on a budget and still get the same results.
By Adam Heitzman
Let’s be real, getting a business off the ground is hard. Balancing employee management with everyday operations with promotions and PR with new client outreach with current customer satisfaction…yikes, that can get overwhelming and expensive.
Aside from your standard penny pinching accounting and budgeting tips, there are plenty of ways to stretch your business budget. By employing some of these overlooked budget hacks, you can shave hundreds off your operating costs and watch your profits soar.
The majority of mobile searches usually end up in a purchase from a local business. Think about mobile users who search on the fly: they might Google “Mexican restaurants near me,” read some reviews, and then select a nearby restaurant to eat at. For free or nearly free, you can optimize your website through reviews, citations, listings, and more to make sure you’re directing as much foot traffic into your store from the internet at possible.
Just about every business owner knows the importance of having a social media presence, especially since it’s free. But what many businesses overlook are the associations, groups, and networks that can be used to their entrepreneurial advantage. Customers like businesses that are part of associations and broader professional networks because it increases the trustworthiness of the brand. It’s also a great way to meet other business owners and develop mutually beneficial, professional relationships you can learn from.
And by negotiate, I mean haggle. When it comes to product suppliers and vendors, treat their asking prices as more of a starting point than the actual price you’ll be paying. Wifi, cable, office supplies-many of these things can be negotiated through your account manager, especially if your business has been a long-time customer. Shaving a few bucks off of bills here and there can add up to savings of hundreds of dollars.
Back up to the mutually beneficial, professional relationships idea. You can barter the services you offer with the services of other businesses to achieve mutual goals. Let’s say you own a small PR firm and your office is in dire need of a professional paint job. Find a locally owned painting business and offer to do some PR work for them in exchange for some of their services.
Election season has made “outsource” a dirty word, but you don’t have to outsource every last business function to another country. Freelancers and contracts can often be hired for much less than a full time employee. If there’s something you’d normally hire a position for, such as website design, writing, social media, etc., consider hiring an independent worker. More often than not, they can get the work you need done for a fraction of the cost.
If you don’t want to outsource any jobs and want to keep employees, you can always try cutting down the costs accumulated by employees. If you’ve been catering lunches once every week for years and the cost is getting to be a bit much, reduce it to just monthly catered lunches. Some businesses have even found a four day work week to be a better fit for their employees, who work hard to enjoy their extra day off, and their costs, which are reduced by not having a fifth day of office operations (think: water, electricity, etc.).
Experienced employees are awesome, but also expensive. Unless you’re in a business that absolutely requires a certain level of experience, such as a private medical practice or law firm, be more open to inexperienced employees. Recent grads are often willing to accept a much lower salary than someone with 5 years of experience, and with a little guidance, an inexperienced but bright employee can do just as good a job.
8. Buy used electronics/sell old electronics.
Electronics are one of the most necessary and expensive parts of owning a business. Computers, phones, laptops, upgrading outdated technology-it adds up quickly, but most businesses and offices can’t operate without them. The good news is that the prevalence and necessity of technology has made attaining it much easier. Try going through a reputable refurbished electronics store for your tech needs, such as Device Pitstop. You can buy your business’s electronics at a discounted rate, sell your older gadgets without biting too much of the cost, or even trade when it’s time for an upgrade.
Much like electronics, another costly but necessary piece of office equipment is office furniture. Desks, chairs, and conference room tables are deceptively expensive. Discount furniture companies offer cost-effective solutions for getting your office the right look. You can rent office furniture or buy from a clearance selection for discounted pieces that are good as new. Taking the discounted route on the expensive stuff like electronics and furniture can save your business thousands of dollars.
As the giving season approaches, advertising tends to get more expensive. A great way to maximize your brand’s exposure on a business is by partnering with a charity. Not only does it attract loyal customers and draw attention from a wider audience, but it also gets you tons of free marketing and publicity through your charity of choice. Team up with a local nonprofit this holiday season to save on marketing and outreach.
Check out this article from techrepublic.com about how Device Pitstop Maple Grove is one of the businesses drawing in techie crowds with Pokemon Go.
By Brandon Viliarolo
Pokemon Go recently hit 100 million downloads, and the number keeps growing. Find out how these businesses turned the craze into increased exposure.
There are now more daily Pokemon Go users than Facebook visitors—that’s how you know it’s a real phenomenon. Facebook makes it easy to increase exposure and profits, so surely there must be a way for Pokemon Go to give your organization a bump—and there is.
There are a lot of businesses out there that have found novel ways to turn Pokemon Go players into customers and clients, even without a storefront. Take a look at these reports from businesses large and small—you might see something that is perfect for you.
Retail and restaurants
Device Pitstop, an electronics buy/sell/trade business, dropped a lure in front of their Maple Grove, MN, location and offered free charging cables to visitors who stopped by that day. By paying to boost the exposure of a Facebook post regarding the event they saw a huge increase in foot traffic—100 more people than usual came into the store on the day of the event.
Tasty Burger, an east coast restaurant chain, noticed that their Harvard Square location was a PokeStop. To draw more players into the restaurant they decided to give away a free order of tater tots to anyone who caught a Pokemon at their stop and showed a photo to the cashier.
Businesses you wouldn’t expect
The list of shops and restaurants taking advantage of Pokemon Go is endless, but they aren’t the only people who can benefit from the trend.
IT services company Nerdio has been working with their clients on an interesting way to get exposure. Nerdio is giving clients like comic shops and arcades a $10 weekly budget to use on lures, and when players catch a Pokemon at the location they can post it on social media with the business name and Nerdio tagged. Each post is an entry for a gift card to the business where the Pokemon was caught.
Even online tutoring marketplace Preply is getting in on the game. They’ve allowed users to sign up as Pokemon Go tutors, creating a marketplace for people who want help learning to play the game. With rates ranging from $2 to $42 per hour there seems to be a lot of money to be made in teaching people to play a simple mobile game.
Boston performing arts festival Outside The Box estimates they drew in an additional 1,000 people per day by dropping lures all over Boston Common during the festival. They tweeted about it a bunch and dropped new lures every 30 minutes, making sure people moved around the grounds and the whole festival got exposure.
IP camera manufacturer Vimtag has managed to gain exposure too. They started a contest for camera owners who snapped photos of people playing the game, and winners were able to receive cash prizes, free cameras, and deep discounts on premium products.
As if that wasn’t niche enough, PRO Housekeepers, a small cleaning and maid service from Tampa, FL, has drawn in a bunch of foot traffic thanks to lures. Increased foot traffic has led to more clients to the tune of almost $2,000.
The 3 big takeaways for TechRepublic readers
Has it ever occurred to you that a classroom staple as iconic as the chalkboard could be reinvented over time? Believe it or not, the shifting landscape of education has been undergoing substantial changes since some of its earliest inceptions. Early 17th century classrooms quickly brought forth a number of unexpected innovations in areas as simple as the writing utensil, and the tail end of the 19th century was topped off by the revolutionary introduction of the “must have” chalkboard.
It’s difficult to imagine a time where schools lacked something as simple as a pencil, but the 20th century kicked off with the introduction of the convenient and money saving writing tool, and things only got more innovative from there. From experimental radio broadcasts to old standbys like the overhead projector and handheld calculator, the classroom has served as an arena for some of the most effective and widely used innovations in modern times. Check out our historical infographic down below to see how the humble beginnings of classroom innovation rapidly made its way from simple tools to the technological prowess of the smartboard.
Watch this video message from Chad Olson, NTY Franchise Company’s Chief Operations Officer, and be inspired to open your own resale business! Find out what makes NTY’s five resale brands unique as well as get a feel for our company values. Check it out now:
NTY Franchise Company’s VP of Clothes Mentor Ted Manley talks with NCR Silver about how to tell your story through store design. Check out the article below or read it on ncrsilver.com.
by: Deborah Nurmi
As a small business owner you are aware of how challenging it is to attract the customers you want to serve.
According to Pam Levine, president of Levine Luxury Branding in New York City, all good retail design is based on one premise: Retail shoppers desire an enjoyable and memorable experience.
She offered the following 5 tips for designing a winning store space:
Branding matters
Think of your store as an opportunity to develop your “Brand Culture.” Brand Culture, part magic and part lightening strike, is the totality of your relationship with your customers.
“Consider everything you say as your brand message, everything you do as brand engagement and everything you present as brand visual merchandising. See it all as an opportunity to communicate and engage with your shoppers,” Levine said.
Know your customer
Know what makes you different from your competitors and what your customers are seeking.
“Ask yourself what is important about your services or merchandise that will mean something to your customers?” Levine said.
Give your shoppers what they want then help them share it.
“Millennials and others will want to share a good experience, cool product or new store discovery with others. Encourage shoppers to photograph, tweet, use Pinterest, social media and more while inside your store,” Levine said.
Interaction is key
Harry Selfridge is the father of modern marketing, and his most important question was “Are you being served?” Use Selfridges’ philosophy and make shopping an experience.
“Hospitality and pampering goes a long way – respect your customer,” Levine said. “Interest matters. Invite them in, personalize the experience. Make them feel at home. Serve coffee, cookies or wine,” Levine said. “Remember names and get to know your customers.”
Visual marketing is your silent salesperson
Store design is all about visually stimulating your customer.
“In order to attract customers and keep them shopping longer, store owners must learn how to effectively communicate visually. If possible, hire a pro,” Levine said.
Use the concept of visual storytelling. “Remember, your product is the hero,” Levine said.
Ted Manley, vice president for soft-line products at NTY Franchise Company, believes all visual marketing is storytelling.
“Effective visual merchandising is the ability to communicate to your customer by allowing your product to be a series of storyboards to excite your customer,” Manley said.
Storytelling with visual merchandising is a four step process:
Preparation: Understand what your product mix will look like for the display you are planning. What products are best sellers or hot right now? Spend time looking at your competition and other stores’ displays.
Advertising: What products, events or promotions is your store planning? “Decide how you want to communicate that, and then decide how you want to carry that theme into your store,” Manley said.
Development: Start with the store front. Your goal is to express the story you want to tell your customer. “Think of your windows or entry way as a billboard. You have 23 seconds to look at it and understand what that display or product is trying to tell you,” Manley said. Move inside and plan out your feature areas and endcaps and their stories. Consider color. “Color is the most dominating aspect of visual merchandising,” Manley said.
Execution: Your signage helps communicate key aspects of your visual story. “Signage is an art not a science. Be careful not to “over sign” your store, but don’t be afraid to tell the obvious in a sign,” Manley said. Next create in-store displays. “Demonstrate how an arrangement of merchandise can enrich a room or home. Help the customer envision the items in their homes or wearing a great outfit on vacation or at an event,” Levine said, “but don’t overdo it. Less is more – keep your presentations simple and uncluttered.
Visual marketing is an ongoing process. Be willing to review and change as often as needed. This will depend on your traffic pattern and how often your best customers visit your store. “Customers love newness, change and stimulation. A good visual merchandising program will deliver in sales,” Manley said.
Consider all customer touch points
Customer touch points include every contact a customer has with your brand from beginning to end. These may begin with seeing an advertisement for your shop or finding your website and continue through shopping and customer feedback. Touch points create a cumulative experience for your customers, so consistency is key. Service is imperative.
“Enthusiasm, care, sincerity and authenticity touches people on an emotional level. It’s key to building brand loyalty and is positively contagious,” Levine said.
The latest Device Pitstop is opening its doors in Eden Prairie, MN, this week. Check out an article featuring the new store in a local newspaper below. Or read it online at swnewsmedia.com.
Device Pitstop, a national chain that buys, sells, trades, services and upgrades computers and mobile devices at low cost, recently opened in Eden Prairie, according to a news release.
The store is hosting a grand opening on May 5 at its location at 8252 Commonwealth Drive. The activities include $25 gift card giveaways and drawings for tablets, computers and other items. The business is owned by Chanhassen resident Jeff Kiffin.
“Device Pitstop carries a wealth of laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones and accessories including Windows, Apple, Mac, iPhone and Android devices and parts. They sell certified products well below original prices, backed by 30-day and extended warranties,” according to a news release.
“They buy customer equipment for cash or trade in. They also provide expert on-site repairs and upgrades. Whatever the need, Device Pitstop has a complementary product or service.”
For more information call 952-446-7168 or visit devicepitstop.com/edenprairie.
On Earth Day and beyond, remember to recycle the electronics that your family no longer uses. Better yet, Device Pitstop will pay you for items that still have some life left in them. They’ll give you CASH On-the-Spot for your gently used computers, tablets, smartphones and more; then they’ll spruce them up and sell them to other customers for a great deal. Watch this video featuring Device Pitstop Overland Park to learn more:
This article, originally published on huffingtonpost.com, mentions NTY Franchise as a growing company in the booming resale industry. Read on to learn why franchising a resale store is such an appealing option for entrepreneurs:
By Yatin Khulbe
It goes without saying that finding the right balance between a successful retail strategy and an approach that sets yourself apart can be a big challenge.
After all, an increasing number of new businesses fail each year while attempting to break into the seemingly impenetrable arena of modern retail.
The wall of the booming big box and major brand monoliths isn’t entirely impenetrable, however. Surprisingly, a number of upcoming retail contenders and franchises have taken an unorthodox approach to the resale market in recent years.
They prefer to focus on cultivating an upscale atmosphere and level of service usually reserved for their conventional and big brand counterparts.
So how did “resale retail” go from a budget niche to a booming new brand of resellers with increasing interest and profit margins?
Here are some of the points which encouraged resellers in coming up with smart and unconventional strategies in recent years:
Flexible Points of Entry
The unique nature of upscale resellers as an up-and-coming industry often mean that aspiring entrepreneurs looking to break into store management or ownership can enjoy more substantive options to finance a small business.
The availability of franchise opportunities among national resale parent companies has skyrocketed recently.
Resale is a multi-billion dollar a year industry because it attracts the consumers from all economic levels.
Why are buyers are excited about resale deals?
The answer is simple.
Everyone wants to save money on consumer goods and utilize it for vacations, child education, retirement funds, and various family activities.
Breaking into franchise management can traditionally serve as a safer starting point for those getting their start in ownership across a variety of industries.
Companies looking to expand the influence of their existing resale branding have substantially increased the availability of options for management newcomers in recent years.
What does it mean?
A minor nest egg can be invested with a greater range of strategies for those looking to make the most out of their existing experience in retail and business.
Unfortunately, the majority of small businesses generally won’t expect to yield profit margins in the first months (or even years) of operation.
If a budding retail entrepreneur doesn’t find this initial period of low profits viable or attractive, a partnership with an existing upscale resale franchise can often provide valuable options for getting the ball rolling.
Consistent Consumer Experience
Traditional resellers have often relied on lower than standard profit margins and nonprofit dichotomies focus on providing a service to the local community.
On the other hand, upscale resale stores concentrate on consumer experience by understanding the needs and desires of their buyers.
Modernized resellers provide no restraint shopping experience to the customers. It allows for more competitive price points while still retaining the attractive benefits of a resale outlet experience. Resale businesses with a focus on this above-par shopping experience include growing resellers such as NTY (New To You).
Why modern resellers overpower traditional counterparts?
It’s win-win for both the parties.
Consumers lock down lower prices while still enjoying the experience and atmosphere that come with new goods retailer.
The benefit doesn’t extend solely to customers.
The smooth shift towards an upscale customer experience means that owners and franchisees can expect to enjoy an operative experience and keep up with the steadily rising revenue of retail frontrunners as well.
Strong Support Systems
Breaking into uncharted territory doesn’t mean that resale franchises are going alone. In fact, a vast majority of resale stores rely on the framework of support networks that allow them to fall back on training opportunities, marketing materials, and more.
The main question arises:
Why are they helping each other?
A range of prospective overhead costs is saved which require a lion’s share of time and money.
As a result, this support mechanism allows room for innovation.
Lower Overall Risk When Taking the Leap
The idea of kicking off small businesses looks very attractive, but it often leads to lower than anticipated profits. The standard new retail venture without well-timed market research means failing within the first year or even less timeframe.
On the more optimistic flip side, from the very beginning, resale retailers break into the market with the convenient advantages.
For example, reliance on inventory that stems from donated clothing, furniture, or even the computer hardware take away the pain of investing in new stocks.
Without investing deeply in product purchases on the front end, the same investment can be allocated for primary concerns such as property and operation overheads.
