Drawing customers into your store and ensuring that they step over the threshold is important, and yet this can be difficult to do nowadays, when people are likely to be busy and there are many distractions to catch their interest instead. Therefore, here are some top tips that you can follow to prevent your potential customers from simply walking past your store without more than a cursory glance.
Invest in a Great Sign
Signs are vital to helping to create a great first impression on your customers as they will be able to tell your customers what your business sells and what industry your business is in – as well as show that your business is professional and smart. Signs are particularly important for independent businesses as they can help to attract your potential customer’s attention to your business and can ensure that your customers know your business’s name by the time they walk past your storefront. Not only this, but a great sign can also make sure that your business and its logo is recognizable immediately, and that your customers notice your store when they are looking for it, or if they have seen information about your store online. Therefore, you should find out more about ‘what does your sign say?’ to check that you are making the right impression on your potential customers.
Create a Beautiful Window Display
Nothing grabs a shopper’s attention more than a beautiful window display, though, and you should change this round often so that there is always something new to look at. This display should be bright and creative and should display your newest products in a way that makes customers believe that they cannot walk past without buying them. This is a way to allow passers-by to know what you have in your store and what they will find on the inside. You might even decide to relate your window display to upcoming events, such as celebrations like Christmas or Halloween. Many stores also opt to make their window display match the season, with window displays often being filled with red leaves for fall and snow for winter. This will then get your potential customers in the mood for shopping.
Put On Music
Although you should not be able to hear the music that you are playing in your shop on the street, when your customers arrive at your threshold, they should be able to start hearing the music that you are playing. Playing upbeat and popular tunes can help to get your customers to relax and put them in a more positive mood which is conducive to buying your products. If you feel as if you do not know the first thing about music, there are many generic store playlists that you can use on platforms such as Spotify or you may decide to put the radio on instead.
Give Them an Offer
In the first few days of your store opening, or when you have a special event going on in your store, you might decide to entice customers in by handing them a voucher or a discount on certain products, as they pass by your store or as soon as they step inside. This can then encourage them to look what your store has on offer and can make them think that they are getting a great deal if they make a purchase. Not only this but being presented with a friendly face can put them at ease and ensure that they feel welcomed into your store. They will also know that they can get help if they have any questions when they are browsing.
Make Your Store Smell Good
Although this may not be suitable for every type of store, many stores can use different aromas to create an atmosphere in their stores, and simply burning some incense or lighting diffusers can ensure that your store smells enticing. However, you should make sure that this scent is not overwhelming or else you may find that customers are put off by the smell or that it gives them headaches. This strategy particularly works if you are selling perfumes, bath products, candles, or even food, as these are all products that are bought by customers for their lovely smells.
Drawing customers into your store is often more difficult than you might expect due to the huge range of different options that are in your local shopping district. However, by taking action, such as investing in a great sign or creating a wonderful window display, you will soon be able to get customers through the door, regardless of whether your company is a household name or just opening.
