Retail locations large and small have many opportunities to impress customers by improving the in-store experience. This, in turn, can lead to increased retail success. What changes can you make in 2018 (and beyond) to wow your customers and ensure a positive overall experience? Here are a few strategies for consideration.

Cosmetic Fixes

If your store starts to look old and dilapidated, customers might start to wonder about the quality of your goods. Image is very important when it comes to the retail experience, and customers want to be wowed. Chipped counters, dingy displays, and a store that is in general disarray is not going to impress anyone, and such eyesores could deter patronage and sales. Cosmetic fixes and updates to fixtures will help to keep your store looking clean, fresh, and inviting.

Innovative Displays

Don’t ever forget you’re in competition for customer attention and loyalty. Your displays need to reflect this state of affairs if you want to entice customers and enhance the shopping experience. Generally speaking, this means creating attractive displays that are visually balanced; that draw the eye with color, lighting, and other elements of visual interest; and, that are accented by appropriate signage. You also need to be creative with concepts, however, like using revolving displays, to capture the imagination of shoppers and pique their interest.

Customer Conveniences

Do you offer shopping carts, baskets, or totes to customers when they enter your store? Or do you expect them to juggle items in their hands while they browse? Do your hangers feature sizes? Or do customers have to paw through items in search of tags to find that information? Do you have dressing rooms, shoe benches, and appropriate mirrors to encourage customers to try things on? Do you have samples and testers available?

As a retailer, you need to remove obstacles to making purchases. The less you impede the customer experience, the better chance you have for retail success. When customers are hampered and held up in the process of finding items they want because you failed to make the process easy and convenient, you will lose sales and customers as a result.

Focus on Customer Service

Enticing shoppers into your store is only step one. From there you need to make sure they have a positive experience with your brand. This means offering superior customer service that includes greeting guests, helping them find what they need, and adding convenience at every turn. Remember, you’re trying to build lasting relationships, and endearing consumers to your brand means providing a positive and personal shopping experience.

Treating customers well in-store is a great way to increase retail success, but you can also go the extra mile by paying attention to comments, concerns, and complaints. Any time you get negative feedback, turn it to your advantage—use it to improve the experience, not only for the customer with a gripe, but for all future customers. This gives you the best opportunity to meet your customer’s needs and create lasting patronage.

If you are a customer, who would love to update your store, shop our website, Specialty Store Services, for all your retail store needs.  If you have a question that you would like answered immediately, you can Live Chat, or phone us at 800-999-0771.