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CSRA Retailers Prepare For $59 Million Back-To-School Season

Jul 23, 2020 10:55:15 AM / by Larry Julius

Based on projections from the National Retail Federation, Augusta area parents are expected to spend $59.7 million to equip K-12 kids for the upcoming school year. If so, then this shopping spree will be 29% bigger than last year's and the biggest take since 2012.

“By any measure, this is an unprecedented year with great uncertainty, including how students will get their education this fall whether they are in kindergarten or college,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay says.

“Most parents don’t know whether their children will be sitting in a classroom or in front of a computer in the dining room, or a combination of the two. But they do know the value of an education and are navigating uncertainty and unknowns so that students are prepared."

Along with pencils, paper, pens, and knapsacks, the NRF survey says 63 percent of K-12 families expect to buy computers and other electronics this year, up from 54% last year, and they expect to spend more at an average $274.44, up from $203.44 last year. The $71 difference accounts for the largest share of the overall increase in average spending of almost $93.

Also, because many parents are unsure if learning will take place at school or at home, back-to-school spending this year is expected to include home furnishings such as desks, chairs, and lamps.

To claim a meaningful share of this year's booming back-to-school economy, local retailers will need to advertise to let parents know that their stores are open, it is safe to shop, and the needed supplies are in stock.

By any metric, the best way to reach these parents is on Augusta radio.

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Topics CSRA small business owner, augusta small business owner, effective radio advertising, millennials, back to school shoppers, store traffic, retail, radio advertising, small business owner, small business, retail sales, retailer, retail stores, small business marekting, advertise on radio, small business advertising, millennial parents

CSRA Small Business: Appliance Stores Prepare For Rebound

Jun 17, 2020 9:30:29 AM / by Larry Julius

During lockdown, Central Savannah River Area consumers have been postponing the purchase of major appliances.  Despite the pause in buying, however, local shoppers are still expected to spend $30 million this year on ovens, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers.

Here's how appliance sales in the Augusta area will breakdown by category:

  • Cooking: $8,400,000
  • Refrigerator/Freezer: $4,900,000
  • Laundry: $6,100,000
  • Other: $8,400,000

Based on traditional buying patterns, at least 60% of all major appliance sales will occur between now and December.

To capture a larger share of all this spending will require local appliance dealers to advertise.

“Think you have a great product?” asks the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Unfortunately, no one’s going to know about it unless you advertise.”

The SBA goes on to say, “Advertising, if done correctly, can do wonders for your product sales, and you know what that means: more revenue and more success for your business”. 

By almost any measure, advertising on Augusta radio is the best choice for local appliance store owners.

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Topics best way to advertise, return on investment, roi, store traffic, retail, consumer spending, radio advertising, small business owner, small business, retail sales, retailer, retail stores, appliance store

Traffic In Augusta Is Picking-Up. Is Your CSRA Small Business Ready?

Jun 3, 2020 2:39:25 PM / by Larry Julius

More than 93% of Central Savannah River Area households own at least one vehicle. 

Pre-pandemic, 86% of workers spent, on average, 52 minutes every weekday in these cars commuting to-and-from their jobs.  

On their way to work, many of these drivers would contribute to the Augusta area's $9.3 billion retail economy by visiting the convenience stores, coffeehouses, auto repair centers, gas stations, daycares, grocery stores, or hundreds of other businesses they passed.

At lunchtime, these same cars would take their owners to restaurants, dentist appointments, nail appointments, barbershops, and on an infinite number of other errands.

On the weekends, these vehicles filled the parking lots of hardware stores, furniture stores, car dealers, appliance stores, bowling alleys, movie theatres, and nightclubs, 

Then in early April when the Governors of Georgia and South Carolina shut down their states to slow the spread of COVID-19, traffic came to a standstill and so did the spending.

There are strong indications, though, that in the CSRA, roads are filling up again.

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Topics best way to advertise, return on investment, roi, store traffic, retail, consumer spending, radio advertising, small business owner, small business, retail sales, retailer, retail stores, in-car listening, vehicle traffic, in-car audio

Who'll Be Buying When CSRA Small Businesses Reopen?

May 19, 2020 7:16:00 AM / by Larry Julius

To slow the spread of COVID-19, the Governors of Georgia and South Carolina shut down all but the most essential businesses in their states in early April. This public safety measure inflicted a severe disruption to the Central Savannah River Area's $8.6 billion retail economy.

As local small business owners begin to reopen, each must concentrate on supercharging their cash flows to compensate for nearly 50 days of consumer abstinence. Turning the lights back on and hanging out a welcome sign might not be enough, though, to bring even the most loyal customers back.

Some customers may not return because of personal safety concerns. Other customers may have discovered alternative sources to purchase goods and services.

But, there is one thing every Augusta area small business owner can be assured of. Consumers will not return if they aren't aware that a business has reopened.

Advertising is a potent tactic for any CSRA small business that needs to reintroduce itself to local consumers.

“Think you have a great product?” asks the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Unfortunately, no one’s going to know about it unless you advertise.”

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Topics best way to advertise, store traffic, retail, radio advertising, small business owner, small business, retail sales, retailer, retail stores, coronavirus, corona, covid 19, crisis marketing, reopen

Small Business Advertising In Augusta: Target The Spenders

Mar 3, 2020 10:33:13 AM / by Larry Julius

Central Savannah River Area consumers spent more than $9.3 billion with retailers last year. The National Retail Federation forecasts 4.1% more will be spent this year.

Who are the shoppers that will be spending all this money?

According to Nielsen, 46.7% of retail dollars are spent by Augusta area consumers over the age of 50. This may surprise many small business owners because older consumers comprise only 36.9% of the area's adult population.

These older consumers account for a substantial share of spending in almost every retail category. This includes furniture, cars, pet supplies, fast food, and electronics.

To earn a share of these massive dollars spent by these older consumers requires CSRA small business owners to advertise.

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Topics best way to advertise, newspaper advertising, store traffic, retail, consumer spending, social media advertising, radio advertising, small business owner, television advertising, small business, retail sales, baby boomer, retailer, retail stores

CSRA Retail Boom: How Your Small Business Can Benefit

Feb 28, 2020 8:18:48 AM / by Larry Julius

Retailers in the Central Savannah River Area rang-up $9,337,776,000 in retail sales last year, according to Nielsen. But wait. It's about to get better.

The National Retail Federation forecasts that in 2020, sales will increase by as much as 4.1%. This will create another $383 million for local small business owners.  

“The economy is growing at a more modest pace, but the underlying economic fundamentals remain in place and are positive,” stated NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz. “Consumers remain upbeat and have the confidence to spend, and the steady wage growth that has come with the strong job market is fueling their spending. The state of the consumer is very healthy.

To claim a fair share of this enlarged pool of spending will require CSRA small business owners to advertise.

“Think you have a great product?” asks the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Unfortunately, no one’s going to know about it unless you advertise.”  

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Topics best way to advertise, millennials, Pandora, Spotify, newspaper advertising, store traffic, retail, consumer spending, facebook advertising, radio advertising, small business owner, television advertising, small business, reach, retail sales

The 5 Biggest Shopping Days Of The Year: Is Your CSRA Business Ready?

Nov 21, 2019 12:23:59 PM / by Larry Julius

Attention Central Savannah River Area small business owners. The five busiest shopping days of the year are imminent.

Based on data from the National Retail Federation, more than 318,000 CSRA consumers are likely to shop beginning on Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday.

“The tradition of Thanksgiving weekend holiday shopping has become a five-day event with consumers spending money in stores, supporting local small businesses, and online with their mobile devices and computers,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Even as people are starting to purchase gifts earlier in the season, consumers still enjoy finding good Thanksgiving deals and passing time shopping with family and friends over the long holiday weekend.”

Based on the NRF findings, here are the number of shoppers local business owners can expect on each of these five days:

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Topics best way to advertise, newspaper advertising, store traffic, holiday shopping, christmas shopping, social media advertising, facebook advertising, radio advertising, small business owner, television advertising

How To Create Top Of Mind Awareness For A CSRA Small Business

Nov 8, 2019 3:30:00 PM / by Larry Julius

It's a fact. Unless a consumer remembers your business when it comes time to buy, then it is likely they will purchase from someone else. Staying top of mind, therefore, is critical for every Central Savannah River Area small business owner who wants to grab a share of the area's $9.3-billion retail market.

Advertising on Augusta radio provides local business owners with the most affordable way to move to the top of customers' minds. But, before discussing how to get remembered, we must understand why consumers forget.

Every second, local consumers are exposed to 11,000,000 pieces of data. A consumer's brain, however, is only capable of dealing with about 50 pieces of this data at a time. So, if my calculus is correct, a consumer forgets approximately 10,999,950 things every second.

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Topics advertise in augusta, best way to advertise, advertise in CSRA, return on investment, augusta radio, store traffic, retail, consumer spending, small business owner, top of mind awareness

Where Will CSRA Consumers Do Their Holiday Shopping This Year?

Oct 31, 2019 8:08:00 AM / by Larry Julius

Central Savannah River Areas shoppers are expected to spend $1.3 billion this holiday season.  This will be approximately 4% higher than last year. These estimates are based on forecasts by the National Retail Federation and Deloitte.

To claim a fair share of the Christmas cash, local small business owners will need to battle some giant competitors. Advertising on Augusta radio stations may be the perfect weapon to ensure success.

According to information published in the retail trade magazine Chain Store Age, as of right now, here is where consumers are planning to shop...

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Topics best way to advertise, augusta radio, store traffic, retail, holiday shopping, consumer spending, radio advertising, small business owner

CSRA Business Owners Target Drivers To Increase Store Traffic

Oct 24, 2019 10:37:00 AM / by Larry Julius

In 1930, the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation put the first car radio on the market. They called it the Motorola. This in-car entertainment would have setback a Central Savannah River Area consumer about $120. That would be equivalent to $1300 today.

But, if you had that kind of cash back then, you would be able to cruise around in your Ford Model-A, DeSoto, Packard, or Studebaker and hear the music of the day from radio stations in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta.

Today, there's a radio in almost every vehicle on the streets of the CSRA. Despite the competition on the dashboard from other sources of entertainment, AM/FM radio remains the dominant choice among consumers for in-car entertainment.  This is great news for local business owners who depend on Augusta radio to market their goods and services.

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Topics advertise in augusta, best way to advertise, advertise in CSRA, augusta radio, store traffic, retail

CSRA Retail Spending: Business Owners Scare-Up Halloween Sales

Sep 24, 2019 1:49:00 PM / by Larry Julius

Based on information from the National Retail Foundation, Central Savannah River Area consumers will be spending $13.4 million on Halloween this year. 

Typically, 80% of all Halloween shopping, according to the NRF, will occur between now and October 16.  The remaining dollars will be spent in the last 14 days leading up to the holiday.

Nearly 53% of consumers in the CSRA are expected to participate in Halloween this year, each spending, on average, about $86.  This money will go towards the purchase of candy, decorations, costumes, pumpkins, and greeting cards.

Almost every type of local small business enjoys a taste of this spending. This includes hardware stores, convenience stores, craft stores, fabric stores, thrift stores, florists, card stores, consignment shops, haunted houses, home decor store, bakeries, and, of course, candy stores.

To claim a significant share of this Halloween cash will require local small business owners to advertise.  The key to successful advertising is reaching as many Halloween shoppers as possible over the next four weeks.

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Topics advertise on augusta radio stations, best way to advertise, advertise in CSRA, CSRA small business owner, best way to advertise in augusta, best way to advertise in csra, store traffic, halloween, retail

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