How To Attract New Customers To Your Retail Store

Today’s retail marketplace serves a much different function than in the past. Beating competitor prices is no longer the hook to attract new customers for brick and mortar operations, since people can now find the best prices by searching online. Even box stores have had to close due to better deals online. Yet many small retail businesses live on because they do things to excite and engage their customers, as the following store enhancing tips reveal.

Modernize Your Store 

Even if you sell vintage merchandise, make your store look like it exists in the present instead of the distant past. If it seems too old fashioned it can have a haunting or lonesome effect, especially when business is slow. But if the store has modern and unique decor it presents a much more authoritative and inviting image. Regardless of the merchandise you sell, give the impression that your store is ahead of the trends. 

Avoid Signs of Desperation

Instead of using big banners that pitch discounts, think of more creative messages that communicate long term store benefits. There’s no rule that says you have to use any signs at all in the store. Be careful of messages that imply your store is trying to unload merchandise quickly, or it may be perceived as desperation. Your store will have stronger credibility if it reinforces messages about your brand’s mission statement than your deals. You also will not have to change the signs as often if the messages are more timeless.

Create an Energetic Atmosphere

One way to attract new customers is create an energy in your store with custom upbeat music. It’s long been known that music can affect consumer behavior, but it does not have to be popular music. In fact, it’s better to work with local artists because they can waive the licensing fees that stores and venues are required to pay. Just make sure it’s upbeat music turned down below conversation level and used strictly as background, so that it will not offend anyone. Let it reflect your target demographic.

Build a Niche Environment

Make your store look like no other store in town, so that it will have its own identity. Things that are unique are simply much more memorable than things that aren’t. Embed themes in the ambiance that reflect niche products or services. This strategy helps the store build character, creating a more familiar image that can attract new customers who appreciate imagination and personality. One way to create a niche environment is to merge themes together in ways that have not been done before, such as posters of pets, which are already universally loved, using the niche products you sell.

Train Your Sales People

One of the most important lessons you can teach your sales staff is that information overkill can become an intrusion. Save all the important product knowledge for when customers ask questions. Many times they will come back into the store after they have made a purchase to find out more about products after having experience with them. Make sure sales people understand how to summarize product benefits and they do not pressure customers.

Offer Demonstrations

Engage with your customers by having sales people give demonstrations how products work. It’s not often people are treated to a tutorial when they walk into a store, so you can stand out as special by demonstrating products the way trade shows help promote new items. Then have the presenters answer questions from customers to create an interactive experience. Customers may be inspired to tell others about what they learned from informative presentations.