Our poll question last month asked what fall holiday draws in the greatest crowd to your store, and it really came as no surprise that Christmas won out. So as we approach the big day — and it’s not as far away as it seems — are you ready?

This year you might want to take a good look not only at your brick and mortar, but also at your Web site and your online store. According to results of Shop.org’s eHoliday study, conducted by BIGresearch, 45.8 percent of online retailers expect their holiday sales to increase at least 15 percent over last year, while one-third expect sales to go up to 14 percent.

Largely due to the convenience of the Web, more than one-fourth of online shoppers said they plan to spend a larger portion of their holiday budget online this year. And people are starting their shopping earlier, seeing as they can take advantage of the comfort of their computer when purchasing.

So what does this mean for you? If your Web site allows for online purchasing, make sure that customers know this option is available to them when they leave your brick and mortar. If they see something they like and are from out of town, remind them that they can shop online for ease and convenience at any time.

Make sure that your Web site is up to date, including any purchasing options, product testimonials and search functions. And offering certain online incentives can encourage not only online holiday sales, but sales throughout the year.

Finally, make good use of that e-mail list you’ve been creating and send out a holiday reminder that your store is open — not just during business hours, but online around the clock.

Michael Bohdan
Cockroach Hall of Fame

Please describe your location and what makes it unique.
My location is in a strip shopping center in Plano, Texas, just 15 miles north of Dallas. The museum shares space with my retail pest control supply store for homeowners of the Dallas area. I have been at this same location for 21 years. The museum is in the front half of the space. It consists of glass display cases with dressed up cockroaches, as well as live hissing roaches. What makes this store unique is that it is dedicated to appreciating the cockroach, as well as getting rid of it.

What is your retail history?
I have had no formal training in retail; just first hand experience in doing it. I’ve worked in many types of retail stores over the years and liked dealing with customers.

The Pest Shop started as a DIY store for homeowners and after appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, I moved it to Plano and added the “Cockroach Hall of Fame Museum” in the same space. I have met other retailers to share ideas when I give my favorite lecture titled, “The cockroach approach to public relations.” From first hand experience, I help give others ways to work with the media to get free publicity for their stores.

What is the most popular product you sell?
With regards to the museum aspect of the store, the most popular items are large 4-inch rubber roaches, coffee mugs, roach T-shirts and even live roaches from time to time. Lately I have started selling amber pendants with insect inclusions that are millions of years old, and mounted butterflies from the Amazon have been also popular.

What trade shows do you attend?
In the Dallas area I am fortunate to have the World Trade Center that has two major shows a year, so I get to see what new products are on the market and get more ideas on creative marketing. I also go to various bug conventions and various museums across the country for ideas.

What is your favorite part of this industry?
My favorite part of this industry is personal interaction. With more than 6,000 people coming to this micro museum, I get to see people from all over the world. I recently had a couple from England and Spain visit the museum. People are scared of roaches, but when you see them dressed up like Marilyn Monroach and Liberoachie, they laugh a lot. The interaction is fantastic and rewarding for me, as well as those people that come in. The Internet has made the world a lot smaller, and we are now connected on a global market.

What advice do you have for other retailers?
My best advice to retailers is make all of the people that enter your store feel special. I want their experience to be a good one, and when I deal with a business, I want to feel that they have my best interest in mind. When I Google “Cockroach Museum,” I am blown away by all the favorable remarks.

If you make your customer feel special, he will be a walking billboard for your company. Competition is difficult with the advent of the Internet, but if you stand out from the rest, you will do very well. Treat people like you want to be treated and the world is yours.