What Every Room Needs

Every Room Needs

Vintage. Vintage lamps add personality, charm and tell a story. Although their character brings life to a room, authentic vintage lamps are expensive and often times need work.

Help your customers instantly bring character to their rooms with "new" vintage lamps like Please Boy, Please Girl or Favorite Things (we love that it's also fill-able so you can put your favorite keepsake inside!) 

 

Spruce Up that Stuffy Old Lamp

Give your customers an easy and inexpensive way to fall in love again with their home décor. How? With a NEW Shade.

Offering lamp shades in a unique shape (square or oval perhaps) or size (over-sized for impact) lamp shade will help customers change the personality of their lamp.

Refresh that fabric to something fun and funky!

  

Find an exceptionally large variety of fabric choices. You and your customers will have FUN re-designing and revitalizing old lamps.  Sizes range from 5" to 18" in a variety of shapes including flairs, empires and drums!

Candle Sleeves for Seasonal Sales

Candle sleeves light up your impulse purchases by dazzling your customers with their warm brilliance. 

They'll brighten up sales and have a small footprint.

Dressed up candles bring a decorative glow to the ambiance of any room. Illuminate your point of purchase display with affordable Candle Sleeves - only $16 for a set of 6. Choose from 4 radiant designs for "Looks That Sell, at Prices You'll Love."

Fall Lighting Design Trends on the Rise

Light Up the Room with Metallic Finishes

Antique gold, bronze and copper materials can be found in home décor products from hardware to lamp bases and now lamp shades. Our newest lamps: Capetown, Corsica & Madrid exemplify beauty and rich warmth with their metallic finishes - both on the bases and trim of the shade.

They complement this year's color palette with a depth of metallic treatments from aged copper to shiny gold.  Appealing because they bring shine and sparkle to the softness of this year's pastel hues, you can turn up the light in your store by staging vignettes with these warm and shimmering lamps.

Saddle Up with Classics

Whether creating a look for a sophisticated productive office environment or for a weekend getaway rustic lodge, there's nothing like the classics – leather bound books, the smell of rich mahogany or fresh pine, the warmth of an antique or bear skin rug and the sense of adventure of equestrian accessories. At AHS, we appreciate the...  Read More.

 

Be Stage Ready

The design trends this year are strong, but not too overbearing; shiny yet not too bright.

Pantone's 2015 Color of the Year, Marsala coordinates well with the resurrection of pastel colors and the influx of metallic finishes.

Have It Your Way

AHS' Mix 'n Match Lamp Program allows the customer to have it her way! In today's world of customized coffee drinks, clothing and devices ... offering decor items tailored to an individual's personal design style is on the cutting edge and you can charge a premium for this service.

In this mass marketed world, your customers are striving to be unique and special. So why not make them happy with a custom lamp / shade combination. Our Mix 'n Match Lamp Program or the Customers Own Material (C.O.M.) option allow for thousands of unique designs, sizes, colors and finishes to coordinate with any room or setting. Both will allow her to have it her way and will position your business with a unique service and increased sales.

Happy customers...happy results!

Are You Hitting Your Target?

A well-defined target market is the first element to an effective marketing strategy.  It's more effective to focus your efforts on potential customers who are MORE LIKELY to buy your product rather than wasting time and money courting an undefined world of prospects who MIGHT become customers.

 

How well do you know your target customers?  

 

WHO are they? (Demographics)
WHERE do they live? (Geographics)
WHY do they make the choices they do? (Psychographics)
HOW do they buy? (Behaviors)

Because the consumer marketplace has become so differentiated, a business can no longer rely on generalities, but instead must focus on specifics. Resist the temptation to be too general in hopes of getting a larger piece of the pie. Today's marketing-savvy consumers do not like to be clumped with others. Your marketing efforts will be more effective when defining and understanding the personae of your customers.

• Are they interior decorators looking for versatility and variety? Or do they focus on a particular style?
• Are they first time home buyers needing a resource of information related to style, what type of lighting to use for each room, decorating services?

By understanding the 4 components of your target market (Who, Where, Why and How), you can fine tune your product mix and customer service policies, along with creating a more effective advertising and marketing plan.

HOW to profile your customers?

• Surveys – email, phone, in-store.  Ask - what they like, what they are looking for, what do they need, why do they shop, and what would make their decision-making easier for them?

• Social Media – Most social sites provide a free demographic breakdown of your followers in the admin area. If you aren't using social media, this may be a good reason to start!

• Email Database – Depending on how and where your database is set up, you can gather specific info on your customers.  Outside sources such as TowerData.com can provide data using your email database.

• Zip Codes – The U.S. Census Bureau provides free information by zip code.

• Payment Processor – can provide you with valuable info related to what your customers are buying, when and the average purchase amount.

We've all heard the phrase “knowledge is power”, well in the case of developing a marketing plan that is both effective and streamlined, it is.  Get to know your customers. Define who is most likely to buy from you and why – be specific and you will have a better chancing of hitting your TARGET!

Drive Customer Referrals with Surveys

Wouldn't you like to know -  how do you get a customer to refer someone to your business?

Why not find the answer through a survey? Surveying your customers regularly is a critical part of running a successful business. Surveys can uncover satisfaction -- or dissatisfaction, expose critical needs or offer a new opportunity to communicate with your customers.

The result: buzz about your business and hopefully... enthusiastic qualified referrals!

4 TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE SURVEY

1. Focus on the narrative, not the score.
Customer narrative is the most valuable part of any survey, not the numbers. Use open-ended questions that allow the customer to give specific feedback. Remember, you're probably not going to get a TON of responses, but the information that customers will give you will spark ideas!

2. Don't stack the deck
Don't stack the deck against yourself! Too many questions overwhelm customers and will cause response rates to decline. According to expert Fred Reichheld's, the most valuable piece of info you need to know: "How likely is it that your customer would recommend your business to a friend or colleague?"

Objective feedback and honest reactions are more useful than quantity of responses. Therefore, make sure you include ways to get truly candid customer opinions. Try setting up a blackboard with chalk letting the customer vote for their favorite display as they walk through the store. Give customers a Love It or Leave It token... they can pencil in what item they loved the most and what they didn't in a fish bowl at the register.


3. Close the loop
Survey feedback is worthless if you don't take action on it. The mere act of surveying a customer can increase satisfaction, but follow-up is where the real power lies. Customers generally view being asked for their opinion as something favorable, however what really knocks their socks off is when they hear back from that business after completion of the survey. Particularly if the customer was dissatisfied in some way. Receiving a personalized call or note to address the complaint is rather impressive. You can show appreciation to your customer with a GREAT offer, especially if they refer a new customer to you!

4. Immerse yourself in the responses.
Don't set the survey results aside and forget about them without the analysis. Take time to thoughtfully review your customers' feedback and the implications to your business. Share the results with your staff -- including verbatim customer comments -- and what these responses have taught you. Most importantly enlighten them on what the plan is moving forward.

There's no more important business measure than the voice of the customer.

Find out what your customers are saying to improve customer satisfaction and build loyalty.

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Satisfied customers are the key to staying in business for the long haul. As Paul Conforti, co-founder and CEO of Boston-based Final Desserterie, puts it, "In the game of business, sales and profit are how we keep score. But the game itself is all about customer satisfaction. Small-business owners need to be able to measure customer satisfaction to truly understand how well they're playing the game -- and customer surveys are the primary way of doing that."

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Reach your "New Year's Goals" this Quarter

As always, we start out a new year with many brilliant ideas and a vast supply of energy to achieve our goals. However, as the weeks fly by we can get sidetracked from our plan, and lose sight of our goals. Don't allow your business to run you! Here's how we can help...

Farmtime Clock
Top 10 Bestseller
2015 New Introductions

According to surveys, only 8 percent of Americans successfully achieve their New Year's resolutions.

                                                                                                                  
Before we fall into the lower 92%, let's take a look at what we set out to achieve at the beginning of 2015 and benchmark what we have accomplished so far. Pull out your list of goals now and take a look at these helpful topics to get you back on track.

• Are Your 2015 Business Goals SMART?
• How to get Your Business in Shape
• The down and dirty … How to love your customers and be SHOW ready!
• 5 Tips to get your Website in Shape & Make a Great 'Impression'

We want to know what business goals you set for this year and how AHS Lighting can help you accomplish them. 

If you're looking to make bigger margins on existing sales, you will want to join the AHS Advantage Club. 

If you're looking to broaden your customer reach, introduce new styles in your line. Both Industrial Chic and Fillable Collections are proven winners for home decor businesses and our Expressions and Stencil Collections are a perfect expansion for gift stores. 

If you want to increase business with high end customers, you will want to carry our Dual Fabric shade line. These modern shade designs work perfect with all of our classic bases and expert looks can be achieved at affordable prices. 


What business goals did you set for this year? Share your comments below or on Facebook and together we can make 2015 shine!

5 Tips to get your Website in Shape

So now that you have your store in order and your staff up to par on all your new products and plans for 2015, it's time to shape up your website!

We all know the importance of making a good first impression....right?

Let's start with the facts: Over ½ of all retail sales last year were influenced by the web. Your web presence is an introduction to your business and can be the key to turning a potential customer from "Should we visit this business?" to "Oh, yes, let's go there!"

Let's look at 5 COMMON PROBLEMS and SOLUTIONS to make a GREAT first impression:

 PROBLEM:  The design doesn't reflect the business.

 46% say a website's design is the number one reason to discredit a company.

SOLUTION: Make it simple and reflective of your company's image. Use graphics. 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. We're not just talking about product pictures, but use clever icons and pictures of decorated rooms with info bubbles, add downloadable coupons or consider shooting a video of the inside of your store.  85% of people are more likely to purchase after watching a video. This is where investing in a good web marketer and designer are worth it.

FIRST IMPRESSION: Short, sweet and memorable!

PROBLEM: Hidden Contact Information 

Can the customer find you? 

SOLUTION: A retail store should put the telephone number and store address at the TOP of the page, BOTTOM of the page AND have a 'Contact Us' page. Customers don't see your website everyday, so no matter where they look, they should be able to find and contact you. 61% of smart phone users will click away from a website if they can't find what they want quickly.

FIRST IMPRESSION:  A quick find!

PROBLEM: Malfunctioning Website

Are all pages working? Are there any links that lead to a 404 error page?

SOLUTION: Test, Test, Test! Visitors hate getting stuck. Make a navigation tree showing the links to and from all pages. Then test each link's connection so no one gets stuck. Have a lot of pages? Use a link checker tool like www.freesitemapgenerator.com to search for connection errors.

FIRST IMPRESSION: Life without the 404!

PROBLEM: No Call to Action. 

Are you effectively directing customers toward the desired outcome – an order, email sign up, etc.???

SOLUTION: Fine tune each page to have a specific topic that leads to one or two main calls to action. Reduce the number of clicks that the person has to make to do the action... for example, don't offer a link to the email sign up page, simply put the email form on EVERY page!

FIRST IMPRESSION:  Customer gets what they want - easily!

PROBLEM: Low Traffic

SOLUTION: To increase traffic to your website:

• Write headlines with words your customers use when searching
• Compose content on a regular basis
• Search engines can't "see" a photo, use alt text keywords to define what is pictured

FIRST IMPRESSION: You've been found!

Getting your website in SHAPE takes work and commitment. Set your goals and then 
define a plan based on a microscopic look at your website.  We want you to make 
not only a good first impression, but a lasting one and... gets the job done!

The down and dirty … How to love your customers.

Inspired by the traditional theme for February - LOVE, Let's ask ourselves:

“How can we show the love to our customers?”

WHY? Because when customers feel loved, they will speak highly about your business. Word of mouth is still the best kind of advertising! So let's get into the HEART of HOW? The answer is simple: Provide outstanding customer service. But HOW? Here are some HELPFUL TIPS:

BE SHOW READY! You only get one chance to impress.
Stand outside, in front of your store; CLOSE your eyes and take a deep breath. Pretend you've never seen your store before... Now, open your eyes! Do you see a clean, organized, presentable stage? Does your staff LOOK ready? Are they smiling? Prepare for everyday as if it's opening night... and remember that it's showtime every time a customer walks past (and hopefully inside) your store.


10-4 Good Buddy: How to make a customer feel important.
Within 10 feet of approaching a customer, make EYE contact; within 4 feet of approaching a customer, SAY something to the customer. After finishing a conversation or on departure, APPRECIATE your customer. Think of them as your GUEST. Once they feel comfortable, they WILL come back to see you! Yay, for repeat business!

Practice makes perfect you see! You must repeat after me!
Every other sales staff meeting should include 15 minutes of practice. Pair sales people with a partner; one will be the customer and one, the sales person (reverse roles after half the time). To properly train staff to answer common and ridiculous questions, practice answering with an upbeat tone while smiling with your eyes! Salespeople who master this will have a lasting impression on every customer.

In summary, when responsive and informative sales staff treat your customers with appreciation and are ready for every "opening day & night", you'll make a lasting impression. Not only will they be back for more, but your business will grow by customers spreading the word. See, LOVE does make the world go round and round!

HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS IN SHAPE

Now's the time!

It's not surprising that the #1 New Year resolution for Americans is “to get in shape”. Being fit and healthy has many rewards such as increased energy, improved stamina and greater zing!

 

Why not apply this to your business? 

 

Just like you, your business needs a new burst of energy every now and then. Your "healthy" efforts may even result in a financial boost through increased sales!!!

If a business “work out” plan was not one of your 2015 SMART goals (click to read article), here are some quick tips to get your lighting or gift store business in shape:

 

EVALUATE:  
Step back and look at your floor plan from your customer's perspective.

___ Is it easy for your customers to find what they need? Does it flow?
___ Is there adequate aisle space for movement? 
___ Is there a logical, yet creative pattern to your layout?
___ What can you do to make the shopping experience better for your customer?

 

UPDATE:  
Take a look at your store as though you are preparing for a photo shoot. Customers respond to something new even if it's simply re-merchandising and moving things around. They will get excited to come in to see what you have done and will probably notice something “new” whether it is or not!

___ Is it time for a new coat of paint?
___ Move lighting to focus on new products and different areas.
___ Plan for upcoming renovations if needed.

 

REFRESH: 
To keep customers coming back, you must introduce fresh merchandise. Shoppers love to discover the newest and latest items and be the first on the block to have one!

___ Make room for new products, lamps or shades purchased at market.
___ Develop a marketing plan to let customers know about new items.
___ Feature new products in windows and high traffic areas.
___ Inform staff on the features and benefits of new items.

 

IMPROVE: 
No matter how good we are at our business, we can always be better, especially when it comes to customer service.

___ Improve customer satisfaction: use an informal survey.
___Provide better info: Review signage, hang tags, etc.
___Implement a Customer First policy: set up staff training date to practice responses to most frequent customer questions.

 

ENERGIZE: 
Most of us love to be in the know and most love a party!

___ Organize your calendar of events for 2015! Maybe host an interior decorating class or room makeover workshop.
___ Keep customers excited with ongoing store news - personal and product updates through email, Facebook, Twitter. Help customers get to know you better!


Whether a personal or business goal, getting or staying in shape and developing a realistic plan are critical to a healthy future – physically, mentally and financially!  

Get started on your business' work-out plan TODAY!
It's never too late. 

Need help with ideas or implementing your marketing goals, contact AGS Business Development Solutions, marketing partner for AHS Lighting.

Are your 2015 Business Goals SMART?

Now that you're back from market inspired by all kinds of new products and ideas, be careful not to get bogged down before setting aside time to turn those ideas into SMART goals! What are SMART Goals? Well, listen up because they can lead you to great results for a stellar 2015! 

Specific

Set clear and specific goals.  Define exactly what you want your business to achieve with no ambiguities.

Meet Sally:  Sally really wants to grow sales this year, but knows just setting a revenue goal is unrealistic. She knows she needs to set some specific tasks - knowing that when her specific tasks get accomplished, she will see those results in the form of more sales. She also knows her goals should be:

Measurable

Sally can't measure happiness or how much her customers like something, but she can measure by quantity, attendance and sales! Benchmarks will show your progress and let you know when your goal is achieved.

Achievable

Sally likes realistic and attainable goals and she tries to have a good idea of the steps her business needs to take to achieve them. Don't set yourself up for failure with ridiculous and far fetched ideas. Like Sally, if you're honest with yourself, you'll understand and know what is doable as well as beneficial to your business.

Results

Celebrate successful results :) Pat yourself on the back and recognize all those who helped get you there. When you celebrate with everyone involved, they'll be ready to help you with your next SMART goal.

Timely

Time frames are a must. Set a specific deadline for when your goal should be achieved. Period. Whether it's three days, a year or 10 years. Your chance of succeeding doubles when you have a specific goal.

By taking the time NOW to define your goals using the above SMART guidelines you will be so much further ahead (and less frustrated) as the year progresses. Taking ACTION today will help you achieve better results TOMORROW.

Here are some sample SMART Goals that you can tweak to fit your business model and customer profile.

• Introduce one new lamp theme collection at the beginning of each quarter.
• Send one email per week that features three products every Tuesday.
• Interchange two to four displays in your store on the first Monday of every month.
• Host two events in 2015 - one charity related event in April, and a holiday one in November.
• Hold monthly product training sessions for sales staff.
• Offer a $100 sales bonus to the highest sales person in your store. 

 
If you need any help developing or implementing your SMART Goals, AHS Lighting & Home Decor recommends AGS Marketing for Action, Growth & Success.

IS YOUR STORE PROPERLY LIT???

Now that's a funny question to ask a store that sells lamps... or is it??? 

Research shows that proper and well placed lighting increases sales, not to mention safety and security. Customer behavior in retail stores is influenced significantly by perception and a sense of well-being. Light plays an important role in these two parameters. It conveys emotions and creates atmosphere, as well as making it easier for people to find their way around. We want customers to spend more time in the store shopping and ultimately making a purchase... or two!

So how do we get customers to spend more time with us? For years, you have recommended to your customers “the best lamp for the job”, so to speak, based on functionality, décor and illumination needs. But what about your own "house" ... your business? While some of you may have already fine tuned your store's lighting design, here are some tips on how to tweak the lighting in your store to improve your customer's shopping experience and ultimately sales!

• To make customers feel safe and secure, use warm white light. Although making the space seem smaller, it gives the customer a sense of familiarity. Suitable for bedroom or living room vignettes.

• Extend the amount of time customers spend in your store by using intermediate white light. Because it improves one's sense of well-being, it is strongly recommended for general lighting.

• Since contrast makes perception easier and heightens levels of attention, use pinpoint accent lighting that stands out from the surrounding homogeneous ambient lighting. Perfect for accenting signage.

• Put light sources close to the merchandise for greater visibility.

• Organize your light fixtures – chaotic patterns may confuse or fatigue your customers.

• For best brand and feature recognition, place quick turnover and impulse items under highly lit, color-corrected lighting.

• To improve safety, increase aisle illumination with spill light from the accented merchandise areas.

• Use accent lighting to feature merchandise in your windows, because it is often the customer’s first point of contact with your business. 
• Always leave on a light or two.  Even low luminance levels are sufficient to attract the curiosity of passers-by. It may be the spark that brings them in the next day!

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Don't accent everything. Contrast is necessary to create focal points.
• Make sure your lighting is not erratic or spotty. Ambient lighting is needed to clearly see the merchandise.
• Make sure your displays flow. Random fixture layouts cause visual chaos.
• With the year coming to an end, it's a good time to take a look at the lighting in your store to create the right atmosphere, keeping your customers in the store longer and coming back ! The result could be an increase in sales for 2015! Now that's a great gift.

May your holidays be luminous...

For a good night's sleep...TURN ON THE LIGHT!

HOW DOES LIGHT AFFECT YOUR SLEEP?

Liberty Floor Lamp

Did you know that better lighting in your customer's home and office will help them sleep better at night? A good night’s sleep makes for a more productive and active day, not to mention happier customers. Sleeping well keeps our memories sharp and our bodies in balance.

 Mariana Figueiro, associate professor at the Lighting Research Center of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY says, “as we lead more sedentary lives (at our desks, computers and in front of the TV) surrounded by dim indoor lighting, rather than outdoors in natural light, the quality of our sleep can be negatively impacted. Light quantity and quality impacts our circadian rhythms.” Circadian rhythm is our internal, 24.2 hour cycle of biochemical, physiological and behavioral processes... and every living thing has one!)



Remind your customers that keeping their circadian rhythm in balance with proper lighting is key

to peaceful slumber. Research has proven that a higher level of lighting during the day with reduced lighting at night is important for a good night's rest. A study was conducted with elderly patients with sleep disturbances and ADRD (Alzheimer's disease and related dementias), who typically are exposed to less natural and artificial light throughout the day. The results showed that when exposed to brighter light during daytime hours and less during the evening, these individuals slept better and were less agitated.

Antique White Liberty

If one can't spend more time outdoors, then more lighting should be placed throughout the house and office. Careful consideration should be given to the type of lighting you recommend and its placement to keep one's circadian rhythm in sync. Effective lighting should surround you... Ceiling lights are good for general lighting. Table and floor lamps are important for both task and overall light, while accent lamps create a desired ambiance and contribute to the character of the room.

Waterstone Glass Accent Lamp

 Help your customers choose lamps wisely, not only based on design but also function and level of illumination; because light, or the lack thereof, plays an enormous role in the regulation of our cycles, especially our sleep cycle. Customers will be thanking you for an improved quality of life as well as returning to purchase brighter bulbs!!

Here's to a healthy and beautifully lit home or office... a better night’s sleep and more cheerful customers this holiday season!

A Reminder for Your Customers: On The SAFETY of LIGHTING

LIGHTING FOR SAFER LIVING

Proper lighting helps create a safe and beautiful surrounding both inside and outside of the home. Although some lamps and fixtures are selected as design elements, lighting actually has two more important functions – safety and illumination. Ample lighting not only creates a safer environment by deterring crime, but also improves quality of life. 

 

THE QUALITY OF LIFE FACTOR

Poor or inadequate lighting are often the cause of falls and accidents in your home and work place. Let's minimize the bruises, doctors visits and other damages by adding proper lighting to the area.

• Table lamps add an attractive design element to the room and will light up the area to avoid bumps, bruises and breakage. (Less doctors' visits and no explanation needed for how something broke!)
• Minimize strain and damage to your eyes with smartly placed table and floor lamps. Adequate lighting will help you better perform a variety of tasks such as reading, writing and other hobbies. (Save on eye examinations, headaches and improve the quality of your work!)

• Accent lamps and nightlights in bathrooms add just the right decorative touch while helping you find your way at night. (No need to wake up your partner by turning on an overhead light.)

• Well-lit foyers and entrances welcome guests and keep them from tripping. (You don't want to blame it on the wine when they actually couldn't see the second step...!)

A SAFER ENVIRONMENT

It is a well-known fact that well-lit homes are a good deterrent against break-ins. By the nature of burglary, light is counterintuitive. Burglars do not work in well-lit areas because the chance of being caught is much higher than working in the dark. 

Make sure that outdoor lighting is always functioning well - it's the key aspect of maintaining a safe property. Having a well-lit front porch means nothing if the back side of the house is dark or if all the lights are turned off inside your home.

According to the Allstate Insurance Company, fire and theft claims are higher during the holiday season than any other time of year, so take these necessary steps to improve your safety during the 2014 holidays.

• Keep an adequate supply of light bulbs on hand for all inside and outside light fixtures. 
• Add and turn on a table or accent lamp near the windows to make it look like you are home. 
• Take a step back to see how your house is lit up at night. Assess all of your lights for proper placement and coverage.
  

You can do it...Make your home safe and enjoyable. 

Good lighting is an important element in keeping our living and work environments safe as well as maintaining good eye strength and health.

Here's to a brighter and safer tomorrow...

Happy Holidays from your lighting experts!
~AHS Lighting & Home Decor

THREE POWERFUL STEPS TOWARD A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Can Small Business Saturday work for you or is it just another "marketing holiday"?

In 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday and in just 4 years, it has encouraged consumers to support small businesses to the tune of 5.7 billion dollars. 

Small Business Saturday (SBS) is expected to be even greater this year as awareness has grown by over 70% with local spending at an all-time high. Make sure to get your piece of the pie... a little bit of preparation can go a long way!

3 Steps to Enjoy More Success on Small Business Saturday
 

1.  CONNECT WITH A CAUSE
Select a local charity or cause and emphasize the importance of local community support. Customers support small businesses who make an investment in the community. Consider local art/cultural, sports groups or humane foundations.Invite the local symphony or theater group to perform at your business in exchange for a donation to their organization. They'll promote the event, broadening your reach!

2.  COMBINE YOUR EFFORTS

Work with nearby businesses or your shopping center. Create a neighborhood feel with combined marketing promotions such as a drawing with prizes or awards for shopping in your network of local businesses throughout the season. Collective efforts increase visibility and foot traffic; and pooling your marketing dollars gives you exposure beyond your individual efforts.

3.  CREATE A SPECIAL OFFER
Give your customers extra incentive to shop with you on SBS. Launch a special one day offer on a featured item or total purchase to increase foot traffic. Take it one step further...encourage your customers to come back by giving them a coupon for a future purchase when they shop on SBS. 

HERE'S HOW...

COMMUNICATE

Get the word out to stay top of mind with your customers this holiday season.  Your loyal customers are your biggest advocate and will help spread the word throughout the community. But don't forget to ASK!  

• Create signage and fliers to use in your store. 
• Create a SBS banner for your Facebook page and website.
• Schedule FB posts and tweets throughout the holiday season.
• "Like", "Follow" and "Tag" your fellow local businesses to broaden your reach.
• Set up cross promotional emails with your local business network to get more exposure.
  

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Offer refreshments, have extended shopping hours, music, giveaways, etc. Make Small Business Saturday a big event at your business! Show them that you value earning their hard earned dollars!

COMPLEMENTARY MARKETING

Take advantage of FREE marketing offers. Visit Small Business Saturday on Facebook for free access to marketing and promotional tools like in-store signage, e-marketing materials and other special incentives. If you accept American Express cards, easily create your own offer using the GO Social Tool.

CAPTURE NEW CONTACTS

Build your customer base. SBS is a great opportunity to build your own customer database for long-term marketing throughout the year. Be sure to capture email addresses of new customers during the holiday season.

Of course, you'll need to plan your inventory and merchandise your store relevant to your promotions and special offers, not to mention adding a little seasonal touch. Remember, small businesses are the backbone of our economy with 80 cents of every $1 spent staying within your community.
 

We hope to have ENLIGHTENED you with a few good tips for a successful Small Business Saturday this November 29. Please ILLUMINATE us with your stories, pictures and success by posting to this blog or our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you!

AMP UP 4th Quarter SALES

Novelty lamps take charge with lower prices and seasonal appeal...

Here are 4 reasons why novelty lamp sales continue to grow. Recharge your inventory and amp up your sales by taking advantage of the opportunity novelty lamps offer your business!

1. Price Point

   Novelty lamps are typically lower priced than traditional table and floor lamps and, as a result, consumers are likely to replace these lamps more often. Novelty lighting is often theme based and/or seasonal, and therefore, considered replaceable or short-lived.
   At AHS we are constantly evaluating our price points to be sure our lamps are affordable and cost effective to the consumer.
   
   
   
   

2. Endless Possibilities

   With the ongoing infusion of the latest trends and fads, there's always an onslaught of novel designs and creations in the home décor business. Through the use of different mediums such as metal, wood, ceramic, glass, paper and fabric, the possibilities are endless.
   At AHS, we are constantly scouring all available sources for new and clever lighting ideas. We look at all products through viewfinders imagining everything as a possible lamp. Our intent is to create a plethora of unique lamps that will freshen your inventory and dazzle the customer. We also encourage and welcome your suggestions and ideas for the next “latest and greatest”.

3. Seasonal

   Decorating for Christmas or any other holiday and special event has become more prevalent in the home décor industry. Novelty lighting is a great way to bring warmth and character to standard decorating concepts and ideas. Another creative way to spruce up your holiday decorating is with seasonal lampshades as they are easily interchangeable and affordable.
   In 2014, AHS excitedly introduced our HOLIDAY/Everyday Program which gives a customer four options of 1 base with 2 lampshades for that seasonal touch as well as for everyday.
   
   
   



4. Gotta Have It

   Lighting in a novelty sense offers customers a unique option for changing their décor or enhancing it. Sometimes buying a lamp is not about the need, but about its appeal. Coming home with a new and unique item is always rewarding! So make sure your inventory includes some fun novelty lamps to entice the customer into that “Gotta Have It” moment.
   Our designers are constantly on the lookout for unique finds at prices that give the customer no option but to say “Yes”. AHS Lighting has existed and excelled for over 30 years as a leader in novelty lamps. From our original bear to vintage oil lamps, lithographed lampshades, reproduction vintage lamps, Christmas, bird and rooster lamps and so forth, AHS has been there through the years with that must have new product.
   

These four reasons explain why novelty lighting has a place in all homes. We at AHS have served this niche well and continue to work tirelessly to stay ahead of the curve by providing leading edge novelty lamps and shades for you. We want your customers to keep coming back for more. We trust that you will continue to look to AHS for “lamps that sell at prices you'll love” – our motto!

Allow AHS to be your guiding light, helping you develop and grow your novelty lamp business.

Do you C.O.M.???

How many of you reading this blog know what the letters C.O.M. stand for? In case you don’t, it stands for Customer's Own Material. If you aren't already taking advantage of this unique and creative program that AHS Lighting offers, then it's time for you to let your creative juices flow and do “C.O.M.”!!!

   

Whether it's you or your customer with a plethora of ideas or the desire to be a lamp designer, your creative interests will be fulfilled with our customer's own material program. From fabric choice to an exotic trim or a cuter than cute applique, everything is possible! When that customer walks through the door looking for a specific color, shape or fabric to match their bedspread, couch or paint color, you can give them the exact look they want with our C.O.M. program. Voila...a happy customer!!!

We have an expert team of “shade-making’” ladies in our Indiana factory who are quality-conscience with over 51 combined years of experience! They can create your shade in 7 different sizes and 4 unique shapes along with your choice of fabric, trim and detail. The options are unlimited and their attention to detail is unmatched!  

Proudly made in the USA. 

If you have always dreamed of becoming an interior designer (or your customer has) here is your chance! Call one of our very knowledgeable customer service reps today to discuss your design ideas. 

We look forward to working with the next “Coco Chanel” of the lampshade world!
 
Go forth and be creative!!