For aspiring entrepreneurs, the prevalence of large corporations and big-box chains can make starting a business seem like a daunting task. To combat these challenges, many businesspeople are finding great success by starting kiosk businesses instead. With low overhead costs and short-term lease commitments, starting a kiosk business is a great way to jump-start your career. As with all business pursuits, it’s important to know how to run your kiosk business in a way that will make it profitable. With these following five steps, you can create a thriving and profitable kiosk business.
Sell a Great Product
Selling a product you have confidence in is essential to running a successful kiosk business. From accessories to fine art, the options for products are endless. Once you decide on a product, find a trusted wholesale distributor that is reliable and well-priced. It is also helpful to find a distributer that specializes in selling the product. For example, if you decide to sell sunglasses, you will want to find a direct source for wholesale sunglasses to cut out the middleman, saving time and money.
Choose a Busy Location
Once you have picked a product and distributer, you will need to find an ideal place for your kiosk. If you are setting up your business in a mall, aim to place it in a high-traffic area. You may have the best product on the market, but if no one is around to see it, it will do you no good. If you can’t land a prime location, recruit employees to advertise your business in the high-traffic areas and direct people to your kiosk.
Create an Irresistible Display
According to the New York Times, more people have been starting kiosk businesses in recent years. Therefore, you must create a kiosk design that will make yours stand out from the others. The first thing potential customers will see is your kiosk display. In just a matter of seconds, a passerby will determine whether or not she wants to check out your product. First and foremost, your kiosk must clearly display your product. It’s unlikely people will stop by the kiosk if they do not know what you are selling.
Most kiosks are in locations filled with other stores and businesses, so having a lively and attractive display is crucial. One way you can attract customers is by adding lighting to your display. This can range from spotlighting to decorative lighting, such as clear or colored strings of Christmas lights. You can further engage passersby’s senses by playing music and offering seating around your display to foster a comfortable and inviting environment.
Spread the Word
Be proactive when it comes to advertising your kiosk business. Take advantage of every opportunity to get the word out. Use print media by sending out a press release, putting an ad in the yellow pages and contacting a local or regional magazine. Local television and radio stations are always eager to promote new businesses as well; don’t be afraid to introduce them to yours.
In today’s world, social media is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways of promoting your business. Design a website for your kiosk and promote it using social media. Create a Facebook and Twitter page with links to your website. You can gain website traffic by tweeting about your business and letting friends know about new products and deals. You may also want to sell products directly from your website to increase sales.
When getting the word out about your business, remember that word of mouth is a valuable tool. Tell everyone about your kiosk and hand out business cards whenever possible.
Provide First-Rate Customer Service
Quality customer service is essential in any business endeavor, but when you are running a kiosk, it can literally make or break your business. Kiosk businesspeople face the challenge of proactively attracting people to their business without coming across as aggressive or pushy. Hire a friendly staff with superb people skills. Have your employees interact with customers in a way that promotes your business without putting excessive pressure them. The staff should also be knowledgeable about the product and willing to share that knowledge with customers. This kind of service will keep people coming back to your kiosk.
Running a kiosk business is a terrific way to kick-start your entrepreneurial career. Make starting your own business a reality by following these five tips for running a quality and profitable kiosk.
Mall kiosk image: dailylifeofmojo / Foter / CC BY
About the Author: Elizabeth Jensen is a contributing writer and small-business owner.
