Starting a business is hard. Starting a retail business is really hard. There are so many factors to take into consideration and so many outside factors that could influence your success. There are products to design and develop; there is stock to manage and a physical premises to run, to name just a few. Of course, the actual launch of a retail business can fill you with hope, as people who are intrigued by a new shop popping up will head there to see what it is all about.
But making them come back is where your real challenge lies. It is that slump that comes a month or two after opening, which is why so many retail managers and owners find themselves tapping their chin and asking the question, “how can get more people matching in through the door?”
Well, to help you, we have compiled a list of methods that may help.
Give Your Customer A Reason
To get people to come into your store you need to give them a reason to come into your store. Maybe you can hold an exclusive event, or stock a ‘limited time only’ product every so often, or hand out some promotional offers to people that subscribe to your mailing list. Maybe you offer something no else does or can offer prices no one else can. All of these will act as a reason for people to walk in the door and keep coming back.
It’s About How You Sell
Yeah, that’s right. It isn’t just about what you sell but how you sell it. Here is a great way to think about it: no one needs what you sell. Unless the world is running out of air and you are selling oxygen, your customers probably don’t need your product. As such, you need to focus on how you sell. Give your customers a completely different buying experience. That is what sells; the experience.
Make Your Store Special
Start with an epic window-display, something that will grab the attention of passersby. If it is good enough, it will draw people in and you’ll be surprised at how many people will make impulse buys. The other thing to do is think about a customer’s time in your store. Invest in commercial air conditioning to keep your customers cool; if it is hot outside they’ll stay in your store for longer. Why not have attractive displays, or pair clothes in a unique way and on funky mannequins, or have a coffee machine that will give your place a nice smell-slash-refreshment, or better yet a popcorn machine. All of these will add to the customer experience.
Always Do Research
Never get comfortable with your place in the market. Always see what your competitors are up to. Research the market, see which way it is heading and what the current trends are. Research your sales history to see where you have best performed. Research the type of customer going to your competitors. Research your employees before hiring them. The more research you do the better chance you have at succeeding.