RETAILERS CHANGING BUYING HABITS FOR FATTER MARGINS

Most store owners know double-digit sales growth is a rare event. Once a store is well established, sales growth is steady but fairly slow.  So how can a retailer improve results? 

A growing number of retailers are boosting their profit margins by changing how they buy. 

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THINK YOUR SALES SHOULD BE GROWING FASTER?

Canadian retail sales have been surprisingly consistent over the past 15 years. 

You probably compare very well with some major Canadian retailers.

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Happy Holidays from Muti!

Our staff at Muti want to take this golden opportunity to say Happy Holidays to all our loyal customers throughout Canada and throughout time.  The year is coming to an end and yet another CGTA is around the corner.  This year Muti will showcase a number, if not all, of the Fall and Christmas collection 2012, as well, of course, as the Spring collection.

We’re heading in a new direction and love the feedback we are getting.  Price point is a concern high on the list and it is sadly the reason why our one Canadian designer, Bizoux Bizoux will not be returning this season with us.  “Made in Canada” comes with a hefty price tag.  Our other Canadian artist, Margaret Cresswell, is thrilled with the orders for her indoor/outdoor artwork.  And we will be seeing more of her work next Spring.

We have a few “Newly Opened” retailers that are doing very well and we welcome them to our unique, challenging, yet rewarding industry of which we are proud to be part of. 

We’ve got some newcomers to our rep list and love the enthusiasm and positive outlook.  On the same note, sadly we will miss the ones no longer with us and wish them well. 

For Fall and Christmas, 2012, the colours are still vibrant and contrasting, yet able and willing to work within the compounds of your existing décor.  Long gone are the days for most people where they start fresh and buy entire new rooms.  Our aim is to bring in accessories screaming “Look at me, I’m in style” to freshen or establish a room and to slide in with ease.  Accessories are where it’s at.  A splash of colour will do wonders to change an entire look.

I’ve been styling homes for more than a decade and have been very successful for my clients bringing in bagfuls of pillows, vases and décor accessories.  You’ve got to have it in your store in a big way, the psychology works which equates into sales.

Hope to see you at the CGTA in January or make an appointment to meet with your sales rep and visit our showroom.  Again, all the best and thanks for your business, it’s our pleasure to serve you. 

Lisa Aiken, Creative Director

Presenting our new spring and summer collection!

I think you are really going to see a difference in the line we’ve brought to you this season.  The reaction has already been spectacular, colour, colour, colour.  We would love to see you come to the showroom as it’s set up to really show off the product. Make an appointment with your rep. We will be hosting an open house from October 17^th to the 21^st. 

Our company has been working like crazy to bring you not only a great and exciting product line but with great incentives and on time, yes, on time! Our new team is dedicated to doing it right.

Hope to see you and hope you enjoy our new look. Just a little bragging, ”Retailer of the Year” loved the product and indicated pricing was better than the US market and that’s saying a mouthful.

Happy Retailing.

Thanks for your dedication and hope you have a great season. We’re here if you need us. 

- Lisa Aiken
Creative Director

Back From My Colourful Travels!

Hi everyone,

Hope retail is picking up now that the sun has decided to shine. Our buying trip was a huge success. I am going to pass onto you the colour scheme we have chosen for spring and summer, 2012. The next season is filled with colour. We sure need it to brighten our spaces and our lives.

The hot new colours are:

reds

fuchsia pink

blues of all shades,

oranges (which look amazing with reds and pinks)

black is back big time (did it ever leave?)

white of course

and peridot and emerald greens.

Now that’s colour. Gold is coming back in a big way which looks great with mustard yellow and oranges. Throw a little turquoise green with it and look out! Brass is an option as well, but it only ever looked good - and only ever will look good - on certain items.

Outdoor living has become the fastest growing category in home décor over the last decade or so. The condo market in GTA is booming and a terrace is a selling feature that embraces everyone. The scaling down is not so hard when you have an outdoor space. This is a market not to be ignored, no matter what you sell in your store.  Adding a few pots and decorative outdoor products, cushions, candleholders, fun dishes, will no doubt please your customers and draw them in.   

I have created some beautiful hand ties so you no longer have to buy a ton of single stems in order to fill a vase. Flowers are still the best and cheapest way to fill a room with colour. This enables you to pick up one piece and put it in a pot or vase and change a room`s style. We`ll have everything from outdoor furniture to the latest in indoor style. Can`t wait to show you!

Keep selling and keep smiling.  Until then, may your cash register always ring.

P.S. - Here’s a sneak peak at our categories and their embracing colours.

 TAILORED – BLACK, WHITE, SILVER

VIBRANT ROSEWATER – REDS, FUCHSIA, PINKS

THE COLOUR BLUE – NAVY BLUE, ROYAL BLUE, WHITE, SOFT BLUE, SILVER

GREEN WITH ENVY – GREENS, TAUPES, BLACK

ZARA – GOLD, ORANGES, MUSTARD YELLOW, TURQUOISE

GARDEN PARTY – WELL, TAKE IT ALL OUTSIDE…

-Lisa, Art Director at Muti

The Time Has Come to Shop Again!

The time has come to shop again, poor us, travelling all around different countries, shopping, eating, staying in fab hotels, but somebody’s got to do, to go where no man has gone before, well…

Anyway, trends for lots of colour are strong next summer. I can’t wait to bring you all the latest and the greatest. We’re really aware of pricing so that’s a bonus when you can get it for a good price. Retailers are being creative and inventive to boost sales. Product quality is key. 

This will be my first time travelling alone. You may never see me again. I have a hard time finding my way in Toronto, never mind on the other side of the world. IF I come back, I promise to bring you some great and exciting home décor. I love shopping for outside, it’s gaining huge in the home décor list as everyone is into making outside part of the inside and part of a short but sweet season to entertain, relax, tan, whatever. Don’t cut yourself short, you’ve got to have it. 

- Lisa, Creative Director at Muti

Open House!

Hi everyone!

Hope the spring weather is inspiring you in more ways than one!

People seem to come out of the woodwork when the weather warms. We are hosting an open house and even with the horrible rain on Sunday, we were jam packed with loyal customers and new ones too. We had lasagne, salad, sweets, breads, and lots and lots of wine. We are finding that our customers feel more confident in buying now plus we’ve got the big sale of 30% off. It’s scary buying sometimes as you don’t want to over buy but just as evil is when you don’t have the stock, that will kill your business – no merchandise, no chance for sales. Been there, done that.

I can only tell you that price is a huge consideration during these times and we’ve really kept our prices down to help you get your sales. We all need to get some cash. Hot items selling are the mirrors, small side tables, and various home accessories. It’s great to see our customers and they come hand in hand with husbands, baby’s, mom’s, boyfriends – I will take this opportunity to thank you all for coming and if you didn’t come this time, we hope to see you at our next one after thanksgiving. More about that later – no, we’re not serving turkey dinner. I can throw some cranberries in your martini but that’s it.

Happy selling! Sale is on until friday if you can make it!