Retail stores are struggling. I have watched dozens upon dozens disappear off the landscape in the last 25 years.
Some people think that consumers would opt for delivery over in store experiences. While some of that appears to be true there are still consumers who would rather go into the store, feel the fabrics, try on clothes, etc. and more importantly walk out of the store with items in hand because they want instant gratification.
If you are a retail store struggling, here are five ideas to assist in luring people into your store:
- Alter your marketing and advertising to appeal to consumers by showing the benefits of shopping inside the store instead of merely stating them with your advertising. For example, show the model feeling the fabric.
- Get your store in order (clean up the messiness). Chaos will propel someone to walk back out the door.
- Give incentives to people to come into the store.
- Survey your customers when they come into the store. Ask them why they came in, what prompted them to shop at the store vs. online, how often do they shop online.
- Build apps to help people locate products quickly within your store and advertise those apps with signs within the store.