Quick tips:

1. Know your competition. No need to ever bad mouth or degrade them, just know what they do to bring in their customers. Find out why poeple buy from them instead of you. Use that information to sway them back to you.

2. Market locally. This is a community-based industry. Meet with the community leaders and keep your company in their heads. When you advertise, stay consistent with the message and have it looking professional ALWAYS.

3. Maintain. The store must look its best AT ALL TIMES! The look, the smell, easy-to-reach merchandise, the employee uniforms...the whole package! You want (potential) customers to think of you in a positive, professional manner.

4. Courtesy Calls. Stay on top of your late paying customers! A "courtesy call" speaks volumes. This keeps tabs on your revenues AND, when done right, it gives the impression of excellent customer service.

5. Be flexible at times. There is an incredible amount of "life situations" that you will be faced to deal with, whether you like it or not. If you can maintain the balance between what is good for the company and what would be a good solution for your customer, you will do well.

Keep in touch! Let me know how you're doing.