If you own and run a business within a retail environment, you’ll be extra busy at this time of year.
The festive season always brings shoppers out in force, and they’ll be on a mission to purchase something specific, along with spending a little extra here and there.
This is great news for you; however, January can sometimes cause a dip in sales, especially after the last of the discounts have been made, and all of last year’s stock has left the shelves.
Therefore, it’s worth thinking about how you can utilise the extra profit the store made over Christmas, and reinvest into the physical space your customers enter and shop within. Creating a positive customer experience will be key to long term success, especially as a physical retail space.
You need to ensure that people want to return to the shop and only have good things to say about their browsing and buying experience. So, it’s time to list the areas of your retail space that need updating and improving so that you can make the necessary changes to thrive in the new year.
The following are some ideas and inspiration for retail business owners who want to create the best environment for their shoppers, every time they visit.
Consider the weather
It sounds silly, but keeping an eye on the weather outside will allow you to provide comfort to anyone who enters your store. If it’s a freezing day; turning up the heat a little could ensure they stay to ship that little longer, and vice versa during a heatwave.
Investing in a great energy management system will allow you to adjust the temperature accordingly, and many utilise smart sensors so that they can do the hard work for you.
The music you play with obviously fits with what you sell; however, it’s always a pleasant shopping experience when the sounds reflect the season. There’s no harm in a little Christmas cheer this time of year.
Provide a space to rest
Giving shoppers somewhere comfortable to rest their feet and legs is another great way to get people to enter the retail store. If a customer knows you provide seating, they’ll ensure they head your way mid-shop when they’ve been walking around for a while.
This gives sales staff the chance to engage and for your customers to browse your wares. It’s also a nice touch to allow partners to sit and rest as their other halves try on clothes.
You could go one step further and provide an area to serve refreshments; many bookstore chains include a coffee shop, so it could be worth considering what’s right for you.
Give great light
It can be a challenge; however, you need to ensure that every single part of your store is well lit, and the customer can see everything with ease, without giving them a headache.
Therefore it’s worth researching the best lighting for retail spaces and ensuring you can create the right ambience for the environment, whilst being functional and practical too.
The more you invest in your retail environment, the more costumes will be flocking in to shop.
View Original Article
