“The New Store Workbook: MSA's Guide to the Essential Steps from Business Plan to Opening Day”

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 — The Big Idea: Writing the Business Plan
Chapter Highlights:
Elements of the business plan
Creating sales and inventory projections
Figuring capital costs

Chapter 2 — How to Get There from Here: Timeline from Business Plan to Opening Festivities
Chapter Highlights:
From vision to reality — drafting ideas into a workable plan
Establishing a realistic timeline for construction
Introducing your store to the community

Chapter 3 — From the Ground Up: Store Design and Visual Merchandising
Chapter Highlights:
How to pick the best site for your store
Criteria for a good store design
Different kinds of drawings and plans

Chapter 4 — The Goods: Planning, Selecting and Purchasing
Chapter Highlights:
Developing a merchandise plan
Locating sources and purchasing merchandise
Important considerations when selecting and buying products
Tracking sales and inventory
Evaluating pricing strategies
A sample merchandising plan
Adding kiosks to your sales efforts

Chapter 5 — More Than a Cash Register: Selecting the Point of Sale System
Chapter Highlights:
Deciding on the best POS system
Assessing software and hardware capabilities
Preparing a request for proposals
Setting up training programs
Getting the most from your system

Chapter 6 — Thwarting Thieves: Store Security
Chapter Highlights:
How to screen prospective employees
Different kinds of surveillance systems
Controlling access to sensitive areas and information
Writing a sound policy on shoplifting

Chapter 7 — Fun with Numbers: Financial and Inventory Procedures
Chapter Highlights:
Using ledgers and journals
Daily, weekly and monthly bookkeeping procedures
Setting up a merchandise buying plan

Chapter 8 — Tell Them About It: Marketing the Store
Chapter Highlights:
Developing a marketing plan
Timing and budget information
Marketing tactics

Chapter 9 — Good Help Is Hard to Find: Staffing Issues
Chapter Highlights:
Determining your staffing needs
Using volunteers or paid staff
Writing definitive job descriptions
Formulating policies and procedures
Hiring, training and reviewing staff

Chapter 10 — The Customer Is Always Right: Customer Service Basics
Chapter Highlights:
Establishing customer care guidelines
Giving discounts to store and museum employees
Providing special services

Chapter 11 — Off to the Mall: Opening the Off-Site Store
Chapter Highlights:
Assessing the potential of an off-site operation
Evaluating satellite sites
Negotiating and securing the best possible lease
Key differences between on-site and satellite retailing

Chapter 12 — The Internet Awaits: Opening an Online Store
Chapter Highlights:
Assessing the potential of an online store
Creating a project plan
Doing research

Suggested Reading
Terms and Definitions

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