Buyer’s guide to labeling machines for the neighborhood store

Among the resources available to neighborhood stores islabeling. As marginal as it may seem, it plays a very important role because it helps to optimize the process of inventory and stock management.

More broadly, labeling is an important tool that the neighborhood store can use to increase its customer base; strategic and functional use of labels can improve the overall management of the store, with significant benefits from several points of view.

Neighborhood store: focusing on targeted strategies to cope with competition

Neighborhood stores are commercial establishments that operate almost exclusively in the retail sale of products and services.

They do not fall under any official definition but, as is easy to guess, have a rather limited user base mainly to a local setting (the neighborhood). The term “neighborhood” commonly indicates a business that caters to an established clientele, for whom it represents a point of reference .

Large retailers and e-commerce represent competition that is often untenable due to new consumer dynamics that favor online stores or large shopping malls.

This is not to say that “neighborhood” establishments do not have a chance to retain their ‘slice’ of the market. To do so, however, it is necessary to implement targeted strategies that optimally meet customer needs.

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The impact of the pandemic on neighborhood commerce.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a major influence on the dynamics of almost all economic sectors; the new contingencies brought about by the health emergency affected the relationship between consumers and small and large retail players. Within this diverse and constantly changing scenario, some industries have benefited from the effects of the pandemic.

As noted in research by the Italian Food Retailers Federation (FIDA) Observatory, conducted in collaboration with Format Research, there has been a ‘rediscovery’ of neighborhood stores during 2020. Nearly half (47.3 percent) of such businesses reported an increase in clientele, likely due to a number of contributing factors:

• The closures imposed on shopping centers;
• Travel restrictions;
• A general fear of contagion due to contact with strangers.

ISTAT, in its report on retail trade published in April 2021, also reveals that: “the value of retail sales increases in all distribution channels“; in particular, businesses operating on small areas show a significant increase in sales (+38.1 percent). The figure, ISTAT points out, is: “the result of a comparison with sales in a month, April last year, characterized by extensive closures due to measures to combat the health emergency.”

The importance of effective labeling for the neighborhood store

In addition to the aforementioned benefits inherent in the logistical and managerial spheres,effective labeling also contributes positively to store operations from another, strictly functional point of view.

Thanks to a marking system adequate, in fact, the sales clerks can properly place merchandise within the spaces and facilities designated for public display; this helps not only to Improve the overall image of the environment commercial (making a positive impression on customers) but also to Facilitate access to information concerning the individual product (price, size, expiration date and the like), further incentivizing the customer to purchase. In addition, the psychological aspect, i.e., the ability to convey confidence and competence to each potential client, should not be underestimated.

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How to choose the right label printer for your neighborhood store

To optimally implement labeling processes for a neighborhood store , it is necessary to use appropriate labeling printers .

Of course, it is good to rely on devices that can guarantee high performance, even in the face of heavy use; in this respect, Brother printers are an excellent solution. Specifically, the PT-CUBE is ideal for making small labels while the Brother QL-820NWB is more suited to more complex needs, thanks to the provision of an LCD display and connectivity to smartphones and Bluetooth.

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