Getting Started Online

Did you want to make your current print advertising into an Email Blast too? 

I would recommend doing an Email Reminder that will feature 2 products at a great price and we can also place a link to your full Dealer’s Choice Ad.  You will notice in your BW packets for the Dealer’s Choice there is an option to add on an Email Reminder. Simply fill out the edit sheet on what you would like to do and we will proof your Email Reminder via email.  To add an Email Reminder to your Dealer’s Choice sale is $30.00 each.

Click the link below to check out a sample

http://graphics.unitedhardware.com/Corporate/0512/Dealers/361-7/0512.html

The second option would be to do a custom email blast with a list of sku numbers that you send to me.  You will be able to pick up to  around 15 products and I will make a custom design based off of the products you select.  To do a custom design is $40.00 each.

 Click the links below to check out a couple samples

 August Sale:  http://graphics.unitedhardware.com/Custom/963-9/0811/0811.html 

Vendor Specific:  http://graphics.unitedhardware.com/Custom/963-9/1111/1111.html 

Winter Sale: http://graphics.unitedhardware.com/Custom/963-9/1211/1211.html 

All of the options above will be able to be emailed out to your customers, shared on your Facebook, Twitter or other social networks, along with being able to add to your website if applicable.  We also have an option of adding a tab to your Facebook page to have your sales up on your Facebook page 24/7.  

Questions?  Just ask Allison and she will be happy to answer them!

Have a great day Dealers! 

Collect those Email Addresses!

Find United Hardware on Facebook!

Check out United Hardware's Facebook page for the latest updates and know how for your online advertising!

Setting Up SKUs For Your Greenhouse

As you prepare your greenhouse for its opening weekend, it’s important to make sure your POS system is ready too. To track the performance of your live goods with accuracy, you need to be sure you are recording the true gross profit on the items you’re selling.

First, identify the SKUs you will be using to sell live goods. Use whatever number of SKUs will work best, and make sure you clearly communicate to your employees which SKUs are to be used for which products. Also, make sure these SKUs track quantities on hand. Don’t use non-diminishing or non-stock SKUs. Next, make sure that you receive the live items into your system by a) entering the correct quantity for each SKU and b) using the actual cost of the goods. As with any other purchase, the dollar value going into your POS inventory should match the total on each invoice. Be sure to continue this practice throughout the season as additional deliveries come in.

There’s no question that you will encounter damage and spoilage when you’re selling live goods. In addition, there will likely be items that are rung through incorrectly during the season. These factors are ultimately part of your Cost of Goods Sold. When the plants are gone and you close your greenhouse down, take a look at the inventory count for each SKU. If you still show a positive count, ring up that quantity, selling those items to yourself for $.01 each. For items that show a negative quantity on hand, you can either ring up a credit (return) transaction at $.01 each, or enter a purchasing transaction that buys those items at a cost of $.01 each, bringing all of the quantities on hand for your live goods to zero.

You may be thinking “Why can’t I just adjust the stock counts?” By simply adjusting the quantities on hand back to zero, you won’t get an accurate picture of your true gross margin on live goods. When you sell or buy back the incorrect quantities, the total amount you paid for plants is accounted for in your overall Cost of Goods Sold. If you simply make stock adjustments, your reporting doesn’t capture the cost of plants that were lost or discarded. It is for this same reason that you shouldn’t use non-diminishing or non-stock SKUs.

By taking these few steps to maintain accuracy, you’ll be able to accurately see the success of your plant sales and the profit they contribute to your business. You can use this same strategy for selling pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees during the holidays. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at ext. 599 or email jbettendorf@unitedhardware.com.

Looking for How-to Projects and ways to Save?

Have you checked out our new WordPress blog Doityourselftoday?

Lots of consumers now a days are looking for more resources online and doing more projects on their own to save money. Are you sharing How-to projects on your website and social networks? Spread the word by talking about your online resources in your store as well.

We have created a variety of blog posts for you to use. Feel free to copy and paste and use however you would like. Did you have a project in mind? Please let me know and I will do my best to execute.

You can also check out Hardware Hank's Facebook page to share blog posts with one click.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to assist you.

Happy Friday Dealers! I hope you all have a great weekend.

- Allison
agoebel@unitedhardware.com