For many retail stores, keeping the spark alive is hard. You’ll probably enjoy a continuous stream of customers coming in in the first few opening weeks or months. You’re the new kid on the block. Everyone wants to try the product or service you’re offering, sit on the new tables and chairs, explore the new menu or try the unique experience you’ve offered.
After some time, the sizzle slows down, and you find it’s harder to retain the attraction among your customers. So what can you do? Fortunately, there are retail marketing techniques that can attract customers to your store.
Here is a guide on how to attract customers to your retail store:
1. Update your store sign
Store signs are extremely important for any retail store. It tells people what your store is about and where it’s located, and it also increases brand recognition of the product or service.
While you may not need to change your store sign, look at it and see what you can do to increase its visibility. Is it clear? Can customers see it from a distance? Improving your store’s sign can increase its curb appeal.
2. Hold an in-store event
There are many reasons to hold an in-store event. There’s always a reason to celebrate something, from having events to commemorate holidays to inviting local celebrities to your shop for a meet and greet or hosting book singings or exhibits. It’s always a great time to get more people in the door for these activities while sampling the products and services you have.
Remember that whatever events you host, make sure it aligns with your brand’s tone of voice and outlook. For instance, if you offer pet grooming services, an in-store event you could host is a day with a celebrity pet trainer.
3. Hold a contest
Who doesn’t love a contest? If there’s any way to attract new customers to your store, it’s by holding a contest. You can have a food-related eating contest or a quiz- anything that’s simple, quick, and requires customers to come to the store to enter.
This contest can be promoted online, through email, and social media.
4. Use social media to its advantage
Encourage customers to review, take photos, and selfies while in your store. You can even set up a selfie wall to post photos that customers have taken in your store so that whenever someone else comes in and sees it, it might encourage them to take selfies too.
Another way to promote customers is to take photos in your store and tag you? Offer a discount to your customers.
5. Make use of Google Local Inventory Ads
Google inventory ads are perfect for targeting and retargeting audiences. When a customer services online for something, be it a product or service, these local inventory ads let them know you have what they want.
The best part is that you not only have what they want, but you’re also in a convenient location for your potential customers to reach you.
6. Be part of the local merchants association
It helps to be part of a community or association. Most of these merchant’s associations offer support, training, and even small loans to help local businesses.
Another benefit to being part of the local merchants association is being part of monthly events the association conducts, such as business fairs, conventions to network, and seminars.
7. Cross-promotion
Another idea to get existing customers to come back and new customers to discover you is to do more cross-promotion with other non-competing businesses.
You can collaborate with another company or put your flyers or coupons at nearby business locations. For instance, you can offer discounts in your store if they show you a receipt from Store A.
8. Use retail displays efficiently
Display shelving is often placed inside the store. However, they are also effective outside your store. To attract customers and pique their curiosity, move some of your retail displays outside. Set up a tempting sidewalk offer or sale to entice customers to enter your store. Use Acme Shelving.
9. Use gift cards
Everyone loves gift cards, and it’s a great way to get customers to come back to the store if they want to use their gift cards. They would probably purchase more than just the value of the card.
Make sure that you display these gift cards prominently using appropriate retail displays. Anyone who wants a gift card can easily see that you offer them.
10. Use email marketing
Use every possible means of online marketing techniques that can help you promote your business online. Email marketing is one of those ways to get into your customers’ inboxes.
They see you online, and hopefully, it’ll encourage them to walk into your store. Send emails to customers with a gift voucher, special sale discounts, or coupons for selected products. All of these should only be redeemed in-store.
