on the shopfront.

Focus On Retail

BY CHRIS TOURGELIS FROM OPUS DESIGN

From Zero to Hero: OPUS’s Tricks for Retail Triumph

Since 1968, the OPUS gift and homeware retail business has been a cornerstone of Chris Tourgelis’ family legacy. After weekends spent at the family store, Chris Tourgelis found genuine joy in retail. This passion led him to join OPUS full-time 27 years ago. A few years later, his sister Irene joined and together they have navigated the retail landscape for over 20 years. A journey filled with diverse experiences - committed to innovation and adapting to the ever-changing market.

Keeping Your Store Top Of Mind For Buyers

Having a strong online and social media presence really helps to solidify the hard work that you are doing instore. It is a way of reminding your customers that you are always innovating and there for them when they may need something. It is a vital part of sustaining any kind of success in retail.

Choosing Products That Charm Customers & Deliver Sales

Some of the safeguards we use include checking the social media following of a brand and the general ‘hype’ around it. We also always go for quality and we check customer reviews to ensure that the product will at the very least perform well.

Researching & Translating The Language Of Trends

• Attend trade shows and do them thoroughly. Some retailers dismiss trade shows as being old-fashioned but I believe that they are the best and most efficient way of the reading the market and getting a snapshot of what the industry is doing.

• Listen and learn from your customers. OPUS customers are always coming to us with news about products that are emerging, and we take this information seriously.

• Employ young media savvy staff! We have a team of bright and enthusiastic young people who are very aware of what is happening in the media and on the street. We are always having discussions about what they see and what they know and this a powerful way of having our finger on the pulse.

Brick By Brick: The Secret To Brick-And-Mortar Stores

A bricks-and-mortar store must be more than a showroom of products in this current day. There must be a sense of wanting to entertain your customer so that they gain more than a transactional experience.

To get customers to return, the stores mood must reflect your brand and the positive experience that your customer gains from it.

It is all about ensuring that we are positioning our service and products in the way that creates satisfied customers.

It is not enough just to sell the best products. Customers want to engage with you and your team, and they often want add-ons like gift wrapping and expert advice.

The Essential Ingredient For Starting A New Business

Always focus on your customer. Your ideas and concept for your business are obviously very important but if you do not understand the needs and desires of your customer you will find it very difficult to sustain a business in this market.

This takes effort, persistence and a lot of humility. Saying yes more often is the way to success. Making people happy is a simple concept but at the start it really should be the very essence of why you are in business. I have just embarked on a new business with my wife in the world of finance to do just that!