In spite of online shopping’s growing popularity, many brick-and-mortar stores still enjoy one key advantage over their Internet competitors. This is the opportunity to build strong, personal relationships with customers.
Still, offline retailers need to double their efforts to attract foot traffic and boost sales. If you have a brick-and-mortar shop, here are some things you can do to maintain a solid customer base.
Set Limited-Time Sales
For many people, there’s nothing quite like the attraction of purchasing items at a lesser cost. The lure is even stronger if the discounted product is available for a limited time only.
When you create a sense of urgency, you make customers check out your offers, and hopefully, buy from you on the spot. So, organize a sale. Start setting up those retractable belt stanchions and prepare for the arrival of sale-hunting patrons.
Place Online Advertisement
Not all shoppers use the Internet to order. Others go online to find a nearby physical store. It helps that local search engines provide brick-and-mortar businesses withopportunities to target their customers. So, why not make the most of advertising techniques to promote your products?
Get Social
Having a social media presence will help your shop stay relevant, even if you’re exclusively doing business offline. It allows you to increase brand awareness without spending so much money.
Since connections and communication are integral parts of social media, you have the opportunity to put a name, face, and personality to your brand. It makes it easier for potential customers to find and get to know you.
Launch In-Store Retail Events
Promotional events such as raffles, author signing, and other engaging activities are excellent attention drawers. You can also collaborate with local businesses to expand your reach. It will allow you to leverage resources and experiences while sharing your own. Prior to the actual event, you build anticipation by posting about it on your social media sites.
Host Workshops and Seminars
Increasing foot traffic doesn’t necessarily mean your efforts should be directed toward actual selling. Consumers appreciate it when businesses offer things that are not sales-oriented. This is why many stores partner with professional event organizers to conduct informative seminars and workshops.
Consider inviting individuals who are experts in their fields. Partnering with well-known resource persons will give your store a promotional boost. You might even have to invest in a retractable belt stanchion for crowd control if your guest has a huge following.