Running a brick-and-mortar business requires a great deal of hands-on work. Unlike managing an online store, you will need to spend time and exert physical effort to ensure your establishment remains profitable. Much of this involves enhancing customer experiences starting from the time they enter through the doors to the moment they pay for an item.
By focusing on improving in-store experiences, you help customers gradually increase their interest in purchasing your products. Not only will this help increase your sales margins but it’s also a major factor in generating repeat purchases and increasing brand loyalty. With this in mind, the guide below should help you identify the most essential strategies to make customers happy while they shop:
1. Make your establishment navigable
Customers are more motivated to shop when they know exactly where to find the products they’re looking for. Use glass displays to feature your latest products and set up signs showing the location of specific product lines.
It’s also important that your establishment provides large enough space for customers (especially those with mobility issues) to move around. The aisles should be wide enough so that shopping carts and wheelchairs can pass through. This provides seamless foot traffic that keeps people engaged as they browse the shelves.
2. Optimize the storefront
In-store experiences start when people notice the exterior of your establishment. An attractive storefront can do well in stirring people’s curiosity and reeling them through your doors. Consider decorating your storefront with clever signage and an interesting window display. These days, your business can do well in attracting customers if it has an Instagram-worthy exterior, so be creative in decorating your storefront in a way that excites people to find out what exactly it is you sell.
3. Personalize your offers
Sales attendants often get a bad rap for being too annoying, but some people appreciate getting recommendations while shopping. Your aim is not to be intrusive; instead, you should be more helpful and respectful of your customer’s choices. This would mean avoiding upsells when they aren’t even sure if a certain product suits their needs. Answer their questions professionally and consider their needs as a top priority instead of focusing more on getting the most value from their purchases.
4. Use the right technology
Despite the popularity of e-commerce, in-store shopping continues to thrive all thanks to new technologies meant to enrich face-to-face experiences. From installing an AI chatbot near your door to knowing how RTLS systems works in providing personalized services, putting a premium on new technology helps streamline store operations. More than that, it’s also a great way to impress shoppers who might be thinking of going on a second visit to your establishment.
5. Always ask for feedback and comments
Delivering excellent customer service is impossible without knowing what your market expects from you. Asking for feedback online or offline can provide you with insights on improving everything from the products you sell to the interior layout of your business. With these inputs, you will be able to build a business around your customers’ needs.
Endnote
For your business to prosper, improving in-store experiences should be part of your overall strategy. When they’re happy, they will be more than eager to come again or encourage others to visit you.
