Things will take time to get normal after the lockdown has ended. Most importantly, when it comes to retail. Further, the foot traffic in stores will also not be the same as it used to be before COVID-19. Moreover, before retailers could hold in store events to promote foot traffic. However, such tactics are no more useful because COVID-19 is still there and worse than before. As a result, customers are still avoiding gatherings and life has still not turned to normal.
Therefore as the stores are gradually being opened and the lockdown in most countries has come to an end, retailers must prepare themselves for welcoming customers. More than that, they need to think of ways on how to attract the customers who are still fearful and afraid to go to public places.
Ways to drive Foot Traffic in Stores
The Teranoid team has come up with a few tips and ways that shall help retailers drive foot traffic to the stores.
Drive Foot Traffic by taking safety measures
Certainly, if retailers want to attract customers towards the store, they must ensure safety and security for them. So, retailers need to implement safety measures such as maintaining physical distance, providing hand sanitizers and masks. Moreover these safety measures should also be practiced by the staff so that the customers feel safe. Further, ensure that the store is clean and is disinfected continuously.
In addition, ensure that the store is not overcrowded. That is to say, the number of customers attending the store at one time should be limited and restricted. Select the maximum number of customers that can enter the store at a time. Make the rest of the customers wait but do not make that waiting experience troublesome and frustrating. Try to entertain the customers in some way while they wait. However to save the customers from waiting, retailers can also take appointments and then schedule their visit according to safety and security measures.
Exclusivity is the key to attract customers
Certainly, retailers need to be exclusive. That is to say, in order to entice the customers towards the store and to shop online, they need to give them some exclusive offers. For example, putting items on sale or marketing products that are offered for specific time. Certainly, customers are attracted towards products that are on sale and are for limited time. Therefore retailers need to think of such tactics that entice the customers to shop.
Drive Foot Traffic through Safe Placement of Merchandise
Certainly, there are retailers who cannot afford to offer sanitizers and masks to the customers. So, such retailers can make security measures by placing the store products far from each other. Further, plan the merchandise placement based on safety measures.
Attractive Window Displays drive Foot Traffic
Attractive window displays attract the customers. That is to say, customers will visit the store, if they find an item useful and attractive to them in the display. So make sure that the items placed in the window displays are useful, enticing and new. So, after retailers reopen their stores, they need to make the window displays more attractive than before. Moreover, the display should also be relevant and according to the current situation. As a result, customers should be able to relate to the products or the message displayed. That is to say, retailers should not simply think of their business and start promoting products. In fact they should display messages related to their security and the tough times that the whole world in going through. As a result, customers will be able to relate more to a brand that understands their state and are trying to lessen their stress by diverting their attention to other things. For example, making them realize that there is no harm in pleasing themselves if they shop because they deserve it.
Certainly, it is high time to;
“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.” – Steve Jobs