Ready to open a brick and mortar store? Those who want to start their own business have a lot to consider before opening day. When it’s time to start designing how the store looks and getting ready for the first customers to arrive, there are a few things you won’t want to forget. Make sure you have these five things before opening day.
- Ways to Display Items for Sale
All items sold in the brick and mortar store need to be displayed properly. Customers should be able to see everything that’s available and easily get anything they want to purchase. Check out Used Gondola Shelving as well as other display options to create a combination of various displays throughout the store. This helps build interest in the store and creates a unique experience for new customers checking out everything that’s for sale.
- The Right POS System
There needs to be a way for customers to pay for their purchases. Brick and mortar stores often require a full point of sale (POS) system instead of a basic cash register so they can process many different types of payments. A POS makes it possible for customers to pay using credit or debit cards, cash, or check and more modern POS systems can let them pay with their smartphone. It can also make it easier for you to track sales, inventory, and more.
- Signs for the Store
Signs are great for advertising and making sure customers can find the store. A larger sign right outside the store should have the business name and logo. Roadside signs can help draw in more traffic. Smaller signs can be used to announce the opening day, to showcase items on sale, to get customers to sign up for a loyalty program, and more. Choose a variety of different signs to create interest but keep the branding the same throughout all of them.
- Security System
Though the majority of customers are going to be honest, it’s better to protect products with a security system than to wonder how inventory is disappearing if anything happens. A security system can help lower insurance costs as well since the insurance company will know there is video footage of anything that could happen to the store. Basic cameras can be inexpensive to purchase and easy to set up, creating a basic security system that can keep an eye on the store.
- Online Presence
Even if products aren’t going to be sold online, businesses today cannot avoid having a website. Use the website to showcase the hours the store is open, promote sales, encourage customers to sign up for a mailing list, and to promote the store to sell more products. Just a basic website is sufficient to start creating an online presence, though you may want to add to it later as you work on marketing the business further online.
There’s a lot that needs to be done before a brick and mortar store can open and be ready for customers to stop by. If you’re planning on starting your own store, make sure you have these five things before you open the doors for the first time. Taking the time to check everything carefully and plan for anything that might happen can lead to a far more successful opening day for your business.
