The ideas mentioned here are all great..but if I owned a store I would have to have a big staff to do all of the things mentioned...I managed a store on a half time salary and 2 part-time associates, but I worked the other half at home placing orders online, bookwork and samples. In order to do shows I had to get family to help, (for free-just dinner). I do remember that the best compliment to our store was the friendly service that we gave.
like the time a man came in at 3pm and said how much would it cost to hem his pants, he was a basketball coach and needed them for a gave at 5pm. One of the girls sat right down and hemed them, he came back and we said "no charge". He couldn't believe it, gave us $20. went away very happy. We would attach badges to local firemen recuits as a way of giving back to the community.
---YLI is a handquilting thread that has a light wax on it that prevents it from tangling and it is very strong. It is a brand that has other sewing thread also.