Online shopping has become increasingly popular, and we expect that they will increase even more this season of holiday shopping. According to a survey by Euclid, 42% of consumers plan to spend the bulk of their holiday budgets online, up from 38% last year. But while Cyber Monday is expected to be the biggest shopping day of the year, the hottest shopping day for brick and mortar retailers is the day after Christmas.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of consumers surveyed say that they are likely to shop in a physical store on Boxing Day, compared to 60% and 56% who plan to do it on Black Friday and the super saturday, respectively. How can your retail store get its share of these customers and make them loyal customers?
1. Give them a sign . Think of your store as "your most valuable display panel," suggests the study. If your store is in a mall or other area with lots of pedestrian traffic, storefront signs are surprisingly effective at attracting customers. Sixty percent of men and 55 percent of women surveyed are likely to visit a store if they see an attractive promotion displayed in the storefront.
2. Start marking the products the day after Christmas . Consumers who shop for Boxing Day are usually in a bargain – hunting state of mind – but because the deals are so plentiful, they are also willing to splurge. Instead of keeping seasonal products on the shelves until January, you can prepare your store for new, more interesting stocks by updating them now.
3. Put the welcome carriage . When customers enter the store, greet them and let them know about your current promotions and new merchandise. This can change the client 's mind state of "Grr, I just want to get in, go back this and go out" to "Ooh, maybe I will look around first. a little."
4. Spruce your store – and your stock . On Boxing Day, most stores seem to have been hit by a hurricane. Buyers do not want to linger in a store that looks like a war zone, so make sure your location is that of a ship. Why not put new goods too? Consumers who have been shopping for the last six weeks will be delighted to see something different from the same old, same old. Plus, a freshly stocked shop looks a lot more appealing than one with bare shelves and narrow displays.
5. Keep customers coming back . Use special offers so customers shopping on Boxing Day return in the slowest months before spring. For example, when customers make a purchase over a certain amount, offer them a discount or a gift card for a limited time in January. Train your sales staff to promote your loyalty program by asking each customer he wants to sign up.
6. Encourage gift card customers . If customers come with gift cards to spend, be prepared to help – and encourage them to spend more than the amount of the card. Suggest possible purchases and talk to them about current promotions that will advance their gift cards.
7. Turning returns into sales . When customers say that they want to return something, always ask if they want to look around the store and exchange the item for something else. Indicate similar products, or a different size, pattern or color that they might prefer. Do not forget to tell them about the new merchandise you just released.
8. Staff in place . In order to successfully sign people for your loyalty program, help customers with returns, keep the store tidy and suggest purchases or exchanges, you will need more employees on the floor than you can. ; usual. Reward your hard-working staff with overtime, a lot of appreciation and benefits like bringing food and coffee to keep them energized.
The day after Christmas can be difficult in the retail business, but it's also a great opportunity to show customers what's special about your store and turn it into loyal buyers for the business. next year and beyond.
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