Host a Girls Night Out

May 30, 2008

Source: The Merchandise Group


According to Jennifer Ganshirt with Frank About Women, women account for $2.1 trillion of U.S. consumer spending; which is more than the entire economy in Japan. To best capture this market, small businesses can host women-focused events to maximize profits and visibility. If done correctly, closing your store for a girls' night event can reap big rewards for your small business. Follow the guidelines below for developing your perfectly themed girls' night:

It's All About the Theme
Hawaiian, Sex & The City, Las Vegas or any other creative theme is an easy way to entice female shoppers to attend your event. Themes add an element of fun to any event and get customers actively involved. Including theme-inspired giveaways ups the fun factor, or ask attendees to wear a piece of themed clothing (think flip-flops for Hawaiian, stilettos for Sex & The City and metallic's for Vegas). Decorating your store to match the theme is a biggie, as is offering food and beverages that accurately compliment your event.

Wine Tasting
Not only is wine tasting a popular party option, it's also a nice way to create a relaxed and shopper-friendly atmosphere. Partnering with a local winery gives exposure to both parties and is always a big hit with female shoppers. Local wineries also tend to attract those involved in the local wine scene. Either way--with wine tasting--everyone wins! Foodies What's the perfect complement to any wine tasting?

Free food!
Joining forces with a local grocer, restaurant or caterer can keep shoppers in your store longer and gives them the opportunity to try out new foods. Consider allowing the grocer to sell their products on-site to increase sales opportunities. Also, encourage your food partner to have a few wait staff walking through the crowd with goodies for shoppers to easily grab. If you don't want to partner with a food retailer, consider offering samples of in-store food products laid out near the wine tasting center. Be sure to include the price of the food items featured and carry plenty in stock. In addition, have water available (sparkling mineral water is a nice option) for guests to drink--this applies for the wine tasting as well.
 
Chocolate
It may be cliché', but women love chocolate. Offering a selection of dark, milk and bittersweet gourmet chocolates adds an elegant touch to your event. Pairing wine and chocolate together is a popular event combination that can attract a great turnout, and add a lot of enthusiasm. Try to provide chocolates that are exotic and sold in your store for maximum profits.

In-store Treats (massage, pedicures, flowers, etc.)
Every woman loves to be pampered! Often, attendees will come to an event in the hopes of trying out a new pampering treatment. Partner with a local chair massage therapist for five minute massages (a huge hit for the massage therapist and your business!) or work with a local salon to give away some type of facial or hand treatment for the event. Another easy idea to implement is bringing in flowers to give to each guest that attends.

When it comes to hosting a ladies-night at your store, creativity is everything. Use a combination of the techniques above to create a memorable event for your business. Once you have the details in place, you're ready to begin promoting your event. Writing a press release and promoting the event through your social networking profiles are great inexpensive options for getting the word out. When it comes to increasing your segment of female shoppers, definitely be sure to consider a girls night event.

Host a Girls Night Out

May 30, 2008


Source: The Merchandise Group

According to Jennifer Ganshirt with Frank About Women, women account for $2.1 trillion of U.S. consumer spending; which is more than the entire economy in Japan. To best capture this market, small businesses can host women-focused events to maximize profits and visibility. If done correctly, closing your store for a girls' night event can reap big rewards for your small business. Follow the guidelines below for developing your perfectly themed girls' night:

It's All About the Theme
Hawaiian, Sex & The City, Las Vegas or any other creative theme is an easy way to entice female shoppers to attend your event. Themes add an element of fun to any event and get customers actively involved. Including theme-inspired giveaways ups the fun factor, or ask attendees to wear a piece of themed clothing (think flip-flops for Hawaiian, stilettos for Sex & The City and metallic's for Vegas). Decorating your store to match the theme is a biggie, as is offering food and beverages that accurately compliment your event.

Wine Tasting
Not only is wine tasting a popular party option, it's also a nice way to create a relaxed and shopper-friendly atmosphere. Partnering with a local winery gives exposure to both parties and is always a big hit with female shoppers. Local wineries also tend to attract those involved in the local wine scene. Either way--with wine tasting--everyone wins! Foodies What's the perfect complement to any wine tasting?

Free food!
Joining forces with a local grocer, restaurant or caterer can keep shoppers in your store longer and gives them the opportunity to try out new foods. Consider allowing the grocer to sell their products on-site to increase sales opportunities. Also, encourage your food partner to have a few wait staff walking through the crowd with goodies for shoppers to easily grab. If you don't want to partner with a food retailer, consider offering samples of in-store food products laid out near the wine tasting center. Be sure to include the price of the food items featured and carry plenty in stock. In addition, have water available (sparkling mineral water is a nice option) for guests to drink--this applies for the wine tasting as well.
 
Chocolate
It may be cliché', but women love chocolate. Offering a selection of dark, milk and bittersweet gourmet chocolates adds an elegant touch to your event. Pairing wine and chocolate together is a popular event combination that can attract a great turnout, and add a lot of enthusiasm. Try to provide chocolates that are exotic and sold in your store for maximum profits.

In-store Treats (massage, pedicures, flowers, etc.)
Every woman loves to be pampered! Often, attendees will come to an event in the hopes of trying out a new pampering treatment. Partner with a local chair massage therapist for five minute massages (a huge hit for the massage therapist and your business!) or work with a local salon to give away some type of facial or hand treatment for the event. Another easy idea to implement is bringing in flowers to give to each guest that attends.

When it comes to hosting a ladies-night at your store, creativity is everything. Use a combination of the techniques above to create a memorable event for your business. Once you have the details in place, you're ready to begin promoting your event. Writing a press release and promoting the event through your social networking profiles are great inexpensive options for getting the word out. When it comes to increasing your segment of female shoppers, definitely be sure to consider a girls night event.