With only a few days until Mother’s Day, any store that sells Mother’s Day products will begin to see more and more male shoppers. If that’s your store, here are 10 tips to share with your team to get more from these men. For the rest of you specialty retailers, these are still good reminders for maximizing your sales opportunities.

1. Assume every man who walks into your store between now and Sunday is there to buy. Remember, we create more sales when we begin by assuming the customer is a buyer.

2. Don't ask if he needs help. You know he's there to buy something and that you are just the right person to assist him. Instead of saying "How may I help you?" or  "Can I help you find something?" say something like, "Welcome. I bet you are looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift."

3. Take charge ...

A fresh new year is a great time to change the flow of energy in your business, to focus on details, and to make your brand image exactly what you want it to be.

There are many facets to your brand image and the visual expression of it:

It is all a visual representation of what you can do for your customer: the experience you can provide, the products you sell, the service you offer, and the benefits your customer will reap by doing business with you. From your own personal appearance & attitude, to your business card, ads, & website, to your store or office environment design, everything about your brand image – designed or not – talks. Ask yourself what it is saying about your business, and start toTell Your Own Story.

Regardless of how long you have been in business, how you present yourself to potential customers ...

It’s customary to look ahead at the retail trends that will shape 2012 and the buzz, profits and challenges to profitable retailing.  Here then are the good, the bad, and the ugly that will keep bricks and mortar retailers from the smallest mom and pop to the largest big-box executives awake at night:

1. Expect renewed interest in customer experience. Many brands, having come off of two successively better holidays than anticipated, will free more money to improve training for their employees.

2. At the same time, expect more technology to debut making employees into call centers with legs.  From the fitting room to the kiosk to the smartphone, retailers will roll out technology fraught with unforeseen consequences that will give the impression of increased speed of service but build resentment in the employees.

3. Suppliers and manufacturers will be squeezed even more to make a deal so expect more ...

Store design and display is critical to the success of a retail business. Through my retail design blog and past consulting services, I’ve helped various storeowners with tips and advice on strong retail design. Here are a couple questions that have come up in the past.

Q. With the current economic climate, I don’t want to order a lot of new products, but I know how important it is to have my merchandise selection look new. So how can I make what I have look fresh?

A. There are simple things you can do to spiff up your stores without spending money on new products! The key is to restyle what you already have in stock. Combine existing products in new ways, add a fresh color to the mix and tap into seasonal themes to make them "current." Grab a few home decor or fashion magazines and see what's new, fresh ...

If you have not created your "Top 10 List of Holiday Gifts" now would be a good time. Create your lists based on your core customers, such as "Top 10 Toys for Big Boys" or "Top 10 List of Gifts She REALLY Wants". Create kids gift lists by age bracket. Gift lists by merchandise category are a good idea, too. Make your gift lists available online and in your store.

The focus on saving money this holiday has launched a new trend: gift lists based on price, as in "50 Holiday Gifts Priced under $50" and "20 Holiday Gifts Priced under $20".

Don't assume that customers know what's available in your store! Send an e-mail blast that includes all the details, including a photo and a brief description of each item on your gift lists. If you don't sell online, add your telephone numbers so customers can call in their ...