Retail marketing can convert shoppers into buyers.
Foot traffic plays a vital role in the success of a retail store, which relies on the purchases made by customers to continue operations. With an effective marketing plan, you can pique the interest of potential customers and engage existing customers to increase sales and profits. As you develop marketing strategies, consider how you can increase the number of customers who walk into your store and how you can convert them into buyers once they arrive.
Instructions
1. Offer discounts. One of the easiest ways to build interest in a retail store is to put items on sale. To attract more people, offer sale prices based on seasonal needs: for example, a discount on snow shovels near the beginning of winter can lure customers into your store. Let your customers know about discounts and sales using flyers, newspaper ads, circulars and email.
2. Host in-store workshops or lectures. Invite guest speakers to give presentations in the store on topics that are relevant to your products and customer base. An outdoor store might bring in a person who hiked the seven highest summits in the world, for example, while a grocery store can host a series on cooking. Promote workshops by sending out announcements to community groups with similar interests, listing them on local calendars, and sending notices out on social media accounts.
3. Promote items inside the store. Place items that you want to promote in highly visible places, like on the ends of aisles or near the checkout counters. To attract customers at the beginning of their shopping trip, put large signs in the area just past the entrance of the store. You can also offer samples of new products to convince shoppers to take a chance.
4. Focus on customer service. Because of the high level of competition among retail stores who offer similar products at similar prices, excellent customer service can create customer loyalty. Train your store employees in techniques that will help them be friendly and approachable for guests, and make it a point to go above and beyond to help out shoppers. By offering a welcoming, helpful environment for shoppers, you can position your store above other retail stores and online shopping outlets.
5. Create a community. With the extensive use of social media by a range of customers, you can market your business with little to no cost. Create profiles on Facebook and Twitter, and send out an email to your contact list requesting that readers add you as a friend or follow you. Send out informative blasts about sales and specials, and provide links to interesting articles that are relevant to the products you sell. Because social media allows you to connect with customers whenever they are online or using their Internet-enabled cell phone, your chances increase of reaching them in a receptive frame of mind.
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