REASONS TO VISIT - Getting Customers to your store this Christmas

With rising concerns about our safety amid escalating cases of Corona virus, potential customers will be more and more cautious about taking steps into the High Street for shopping this Christmas.

Safety is a priority, that goes without saying and retailers will need to keep on top of their methods for managing social distancing and cleaning and hygiene in store. Bold statements for handwashing, striking floor stickers to remind us to keep our distance, new policies for clothing returns. All of which is necessary, it needs to become part of the norm as we now know that we have a long journey with the virus throughout the winter months and into spring.

However, too many retailers are forgetting the main reasons why shoppers want to visit their stores – to browse and buy.

This Christmas will be a vital to retailers to try and regain some of the losses caused by the spring lockdown earlier in the year. Attracting customers back into store to browse and essentially buy their products for Christmas must be the main focus from this point.

So why would customers choose to visit your store over another? What more are you offering them when they visit that they don’t experience in the next?

Be Attractive! – Make your store stand out, offer some theatre, movement, jaw dropping display that is memorable and make them want to keep coming back to see what you can do next! …and don’t forget first impressions count, make sure your curb appeal is just as attractive to entice customers in in the first place. Lush cosmetics have recently launched a moving conveyor belt ‘sushi style’ to help make shopping for your bath bombs even easier.

Make it an exciting experience – Shopping can also provide a lot of entertainment and those that organise activities instore make the experience even more enjoyable – when customers feel happy, they are more likely to part with the hard earned cash. Live music, Cooking demos, Book signings, acrobatics, light shows….the possibilities are endless and will encourage more impulse purchases and a feeling of immediate customer gratification.

Add Value – Think about what other services are you able to offer your customers and add value to them to generate sales. Too often retailers think price and discounting to compete is enough, well not anymore! Used too often, you can come out with reputation for being low cost whilst taking a hit on your bottom line. Create loyalty by engaging and offering a high standard of service. Reward frequent shoppers to encourage repeat purchasing and visits back to your store. Provide expertise in your products and give advice freely – a personal shopper has more opportunity to build relationships with customers and connect with them. You might be able to offer tips and tricks when using your products, a gift wrap service or order now and collect at convenient time to you.

Remember – your goal is to entice people into your shop and make purchases - Choose to do one, do two or embrace all three! There is no right or wrong – test out a few options and see what works best for your store.

For more information on reasons to visit our store this Christmas, contact Spaceworks Interiors today.