Keeping Retail Sales Competitive
Your customers miss you!
2020 saw retail box stores take a hit during the lockdowns and restrictions imposed on the entire country. With these restrictions in the process of being lessened and eventually removed.
A large percentage of American’s are like horses at the gate, chomping at the bit, to escape their living rooms, TV’s, captivity, and family’s loving faces.
Retail suppliers stand to gain long-lost friends and likely new customers.
Treat them like long-lost friends coming back to visit.
First, for a little perspective, look at what was happening before March of 2020.
2018 holiday retail sales grew at their fastest pace in six years, topping $850 billion.
Department store growth was up 10.2% in 2018 and home furnishings were up 2.3%.
Home Improvement sales were up 22% in 2020.
Improvements made on the family home will create a ripple effect into other basic and home comfort needs. Reinventing your business to meet changing consumer habits will help you survive and thrive now and in the future.
Steps to help customers discover you… again.
Unifying Channels- Make goods and services available to shoppers via multiple channels (in-store, online, and at the point of sale on different mobile devices.
Stores that offer only online sales have no physical connection with the customers. There is no product contact or experience. If your space does not allow for large amounts of inventory; recruit salespeople that can help the customer order what may be out of stock, online, at the point of sale. This experience bridges the gap between customer loyalty and convenience.
Equipping Sales Associates with the tools Shoppers use their own mobile devices when they shop in your store. Equipping Sales Associates with rugged mobile tablets, allows them to access inventory, location, best pricing and alternatives. Directly assisting the customer makes the shopping experience valuable again.
Consistent Information The mobile devices you purchase are only as good as your inventory control software and wireless connections. Up to the minute information on inventory, location and availability require a well-equipped warehouse. See Barcode Factory’s RFID Services.
Upsells and Benefits- Communicate with shoppers via the mobile device through mobile couponing or with flash sales.
Consider collecting data from shopper’s online and in-store purchases, seeing how habits differ depending on the channel.
Boosting the Shopper Experience-
Training and retaining friendly customer sales associates will pay off compared to asking shelf stockers where products are located.
A minimum wage worker who can upsell, gather customer information, inform and or send store coupons to their mobile devices, and make experienced recommendations have now become a valuable sales asset, and you have re-invented your business!
For fast and productive answers to all your questions Contact a Barcode Factory Representative
