We are proud to announce a new honor. SMS was recently selected as one of the "Top Woman-Owned Businesses in Illinois" by DiversityBusiness.com. The award recgnizes highly successful firms in Illinois that are owned and operated by women and minorities. This honor follows SMS being named last August to Inc. Magazines's list of the "500 Fastest-Growing Companies in America."
"I feel very honored," said Pam Zastrow, President of SMS. "This is much-appreciated recognition for the fact that we're working hard every day to serve our clients-and succeeding."
DiversityBusiness.com is the nation's leading multicultural website. To learn more about Diversity.com and the award, please visit www.DiversityBusiness.com
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"Boutique" Your Brand With a Store-Within-A-Store
A hot concept in retailing now is the "store-within-a-store." The term can mean a partnership between two different businesses, like a cafe set up inside a bookstore, or a decorating and design service within a home improvement center.
The store-within-a-store concept can also mean showcasing a particular brand so that it stands out within its category-setting up a sort of "in-store" boutique to promote a flagship product. When that happens, P-O-P displays and signage are essential to defining the boutique space, drawing attention to it, and creating excitement there.
"Boutiqueing is happening a lot of different ways now, " says Pamela Zastrow, SMS President. "It can draw attention to a premium brand, or help distinguish it from its competitors. It can create an area for up-selling services related to the brand, or pull together related items to give the customer a 'one-stop-shopping' experience. And P-O-P displays or signage are definitely important to making this store-within-a-store happen."
For example, one way to "boutique a brand" is to dedicate an aisle to it, with attention-getting signage that draws shoppers into the area. Once inside the aisle, displays can explain more about the brand's features and functionalities, or encourage customers to interact with the product. Co-locating related items can ease the customer's shopping trip. In this way, the "store-within-a-store" can simplify the environment in the large retail centers while reinforcing the brand.
With our broad expertise in signage and displays, SMS would be happy to discuss how we can make this concept work for you. Please just ask.
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