In recent years, retail brick-and-mortar establishments have experienced a significant decline in popularity. With the convenience offered by the booming eCommerce industry spearheaded by Amazon, more and more people opt to make purchases, big or small, through online eCommerce platforms.
But even with this change in consumer behavior, there are still many advantages offered by physical stores. Although convenience is the key benefit of buying things online, you still cannot see and touch the products you want to buy. Not to mention, you need to count on the waiting period to receive it.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic sent plenty of retail physical stores struggling to make ends meet. With forced shutdowns and social distancing regulations, even major retailers filed for bankruptcy. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of retail establishments doing the best they can to survive.
With vaccination rollouts, though, it seems more promising for brick-and-mortar retail stores. COVID-19 protocols would be less stringent, and people will have confidence again to shop in person. But then again, getting foot traffic can still be a challenge for retailers.
How Brick-and-mortar Establishments Can Boost Foot Traffic
1. Omni-channel Strategy
People want everything to be fast and convenient these days — and it includes shopping. Consumers prefer a seamless shopping experience.
This means seeing your products on any of your social media pages, and with just one click, your customers will be transported to your business website, where they can finish off their purchase.
Take heed from the biggest names in beauty retailers like Sephora. They adopted an omni-channel strategy, making it easier for their customers to shift from social media to their mobile app to check on previous purchases and product reviews.
2. Website Optimization
Younger consumer demographics which includes millennials and gen Z-ers typically learn more about retail stores through online research.
Rather than take time walking down the main street to check for the products they want to buy, they instead prefer to hop on their computers or use their mobile phones to check your store. After all, searching online is more convenient.
Considering this, you have to optimize your business’s website for local searches. This includes making your website navigable and mobile-friendly and providing accurate information about your Google My Business place.
Retail establishments that have a strong digital presence enjoy the presumption of trustworthiness and honesty. If they can find you online and you have an up-to-date website, consumers are more likely to buy products from you.
3. Boost Curb Appeal
Eight percent of consumers learn more about a retail establishment by setting foot inside. It is a small percentage, and given all these social distancing measures in place, the number could be smaller.
Nonetheless, you can still increase your retail establishment’s foot traffic by working on its curb appeal. Just as online shoppers hate hard-to-navigate websites, in-person buyers do not want to enter an ugly and dingy retail store.
You might want to consider hiring a landscape contractor and a tree service company to add some greenery to your facade. Placing adequate and eye-catching signage is another thing to consider to make it easier for customers to find your store.
Tasteful window displays of your products also is a good option for boosting your retail store’s curb appeal.
4. Invest in a Lounge Space
All the more in this interconnected age, global consumers heavily rely on friend and family recommendations on what products to buy and services to try.
Given this fact, take some time to create a beautiful and comfortable lounge area for your customers and guests. Think of your store as more than just a place to sell your products.
Invest in a good quality sofa and couches. You may offer free Wi-Fi and even some beverages. Surely, you will not only be making your retail store inviting to loyal patrons but even new ones. Even non-shoppers would be enticed to buy something from your store.
5. Offer Coupons & Discounts
Who could say no when your favorite products are on sale?
Another way to boost foot traffic to your retail store is to offer coupons and discounts. One of the oldest marketing tricks is making sales by sweetening the pot, and this is done through discount coupons, hassle-free returns, and bonus samples.
No matter how small it may be, customers get excited over the word “free.”
Not only does give out these incentives makes your customer feel special, leading to improved customer relation and brand loyalty, but it also helps you remove old stocks from your inventory.
Nonetheless, nothing more could attract customers to your retail establishment but good customer service. Hopefully, these tips will help you increase foot traffic to your retail store.