10 key strategies to attract and retain your customers in-store

All businesses have the same major challenge: attracting and retaining their customers. This is all the more true as nowadays it is always more difficult to achieve this goal with an increasingly fierce competition. As such, it is essential to be able to offer an optimal customer experience.

For this, several strategies are available to merchants such as store layout, product enhancement or marketing strategies implemented. In this article, we reveal 10 effective strategies to attract and retain customers.

Care for your shop window to capture attention

First of all, what is the first thing your customers will see? Your showcase. Indeed, a shop window is usually the first point of visual contact between you and your customers. Thus, the latter must be attractive, highlighting your products, to attract customers.

For this, we advise you to opt for a careful staging, with appropriate lighting. In addition, it is important to regularly renew your showcase according to the seasons, highlights or trends so as not to tire passers-by and thus lose interest.

Use limited discounts and offers

Then, it is also possible to attract customers in-store with promotions. Promotions are an extremely powerful lever. You can opt for time-limited offers, creating a sense of urgency and incentive to buy.

Discounts on certain products, exclusive offers for your loyal customers or flash sales, all these strategies can increase in-store traffic and encourage you to take action. It is important that you use effective communication to communicate these offers.

Encourage customer reviews and testimonials

Nowadays, who better than a customer to recommend a shop. Your future visitors and customers will attach great importance to the recommendations of former customers. That’s why it is essential that you ask your satisfied customers to leave a review on Google, your website, social networks or any other platforms.

Do not hesitate to highlight these reviews within your shop with dedicated displays or on your various communication media (flyers, newsletters, ...).

Develop a strong social media presence

Social networks are an element that should not be overlooked. In fact, active communication on social networks is essential to attract customers to your shop. Find the social network that best suits your target and customers. 

For example, you can publish photos of your store, current offers or products. The most important thing is to be original and engaging by communicating a message that corresponds to you and meets the expectations of your target. In addition, do not hesitate to communicate on several social networks.

Use Click and Collect and in-store delivery

Then, don’t hesitate to offer your customers various delivery solutions. Click and collect is a great way to book a product online and pick it up in-store. This will also increase your store traffic.

Offering multiple options to your customers will help optimize their shopping experience as well.

Create in-store events to attract people

Proposing events is an excellent way to make your shop live and energize your activity as a launch party, product demonstration, workshops or collaborations with other traders or artists.

This type of event will allow you to create a bond with your customers, while strengthening your brand image.

Set up an attractive loyalty program

Acquisition is one of the first challenges for any business, however, customer loyalty is all the more important. In fact, it costs 10 times less to retain a customer than to acquire one again.

For this, a loyalty program can be interesting to set up to encourage your customers to come back regularly, offering them exclusive benefits such as cumulative points, personalized discounts or gifts. This type of strategy will allow you to strengthen the link between you and your customers by retaining them in the long term.

Improve in-store shopping experience

The layout of your business plays a key role in attracting customers. By creating a welcoming and attractive atmosphere, you can spark the interest of passers-by and encourage them to enter your shop. Think about the layout of products by organizing your space to facilitate the flow of customers, with store shelves or trade displays. Make sure the aisles are wide enough and that your goods are easily accessible.

Showcase your flagship groceries by placing them in strategic locations with grocery furniture. Identify those who stand out in your shop and put them forward to attract the attention of customers as soon as they arrive. Use appropriate lighting to create a warm atmosphere and enhance your products. A good light can make all the difference in the visual appeal of your store.

Create thematic areas to engage customers. Divide your space into different areas to design specific product categories or promotions. They encourage the curious to explore more and stay longer in your business. Finally, make sure to maintain a clean and impeccable store organization. A clean and tidy space gives an impression of professionalism and inspires confidence to your customers.

In addition, it is important that your professional counter is functional and blends perfectly with the rest of your shop to offer an optimal customer experience.

Partner with other local businesses

As mentioned earlier, collaborating with other local merchants can be an excellent strategy to pool efforts while attracting complementary customers. 

If you are a wine seller, it may be worthwhile to organize a wine tasting in partnership with a delicatessen. This synergy will enhance the visibility of each business, while creating a local dynamic. It’s win-win!

Leverage local advertising channels

Finally, communication is extremely important. Networks are a great way to reach your customer base, however, local communication is an effective lever to attract customers to your store.

City displays, advertising inserts in local newspapers, advertisements in regional radio stations are all solutions that can be interesting to boost the activity of your company.

An active presence in local trade associations and events also helps to build your reputation and attract customers.

Attracting and retaining customers in-store requires a strategic approach that combines careful design, attractive offers and effective communication. By implementing these 10 strategies, you optimize the customer experience and strengthen the traffic of your store.