Innovative in-store retail marketing ideas that can propel sales

Retail is a highly competitive segment, where the challenge of converting customers in-store is as big as that of driving business in the first place.

Although traditional advertising and digital marketing can go a long way in increasing the foot traffic, there is no assurance that all the visitors would convert. You need to go the extra mile with in-store marketing to bridge that gap. Essentially, in-store marketing is all about the strategies that target customers once they are in a brick-and-mortar store. 

The objective of these strategies is to engage and convert customers before they leave. Further, it promotes products, pushes cross-sells and up-sells, educates the shoppers, and builds brand recognition and affinity.

However, it is more complicated than it sounds. From dictating how visitors engage with the surroundings to controlling the customer experience, in-store marketing involves everything that will eventually drive them to close the purchase. Here are the tactics and ideas that brands can implement to take the strategy to the next level and propel sales. 

Focus on experiential marketing

With experiential marketing, you treat the shopping process like an experience rather than a money transaction. Think innovative and consider all that you can do to come up with impressive experiences for the shoppers who step in.

Measures such as creating lounges and setting up tutorials for shoppers to test the products can help you create the best ones for your customers. Similarly, adding activities and games to the waiting area and changing the way your employees interact with clients can be of help. Good experiences not only boost sales but also get you positive reviews from happy customers. 

This is why you need to put the stress on customer oriented experience and to make sure that your brand will have positive emotional connotations in the head of your customer. There are many ways out there to help your retail shop stand out of the crowd: social media campaigns, outdoor advertising, brand promotions, etc.

In this era of social buzz, it is equally important to create real-life experiences, but as a retail shop, this can get a little bit challenging. If you see that your customers won’t come to you, you can consider a mobile pop-up shop rental and appear right before them.

This means that you can take your brand on the wheels and make an unforgettable experience for your customers. The choice is up to you to generate innumerable creative ideas for your pop-up shop such as product testers, freebies, photo booths, and much more.

Offer valuable information to customers

Education and awareness are as important elements of selling as experience is. People prioritise your brand because they consider it to be the most reliable and that you offer them something they cannot get anywhere else. Ensure that you give them the right information and position yourself as a niche expert.

For example, if you sell fashion clothing and accessories, you can give your shopper a customised styling session to provide an informational experience. You will surely end up selling more and getting your shoppers back again.

Spice up things with entertainment 

Visitors who check in bricks and mortar stores are not always there with an intention to buy. Many of them want to simply see stuff and make instinctive buying decisions on the go.

Providing them in-store entertainment is a good way to make them stick for longer, which increases the chances of conversion. Invest in smart entertainment marketing, with brand-specific content that entertains, educates, and promotes at the same time.

Go the extra mile with the choice of songs and video content that plays in your store because they can influence the overall experience.

Reach out to customers for in-store surveys

Customer feedback is a valuable thing for any business as it lets you understand their expectations and know where you lack. You can conduct in-store surveys to gather shopper opinion as a part of your retail strategy. This approach ensures adherence because you get feedback from people before they leave your location.

So there is no chance that you will miss it out just because they forget or feel lazy to complete the surveys later. The simplest way to get feedback is by using interactive touchscreens by the cash counter or near the exit. Alternatively, you can have representatives to handle the task manually. Surveys not only fetch valuable data but also show your brand’s intention to listen to your customers.

Up-sell and cross-sell with signage

The core objective of in-store marketing is to drive instant buying decisions, right there and right now. Signage is a great way to propel your sales and get people to spend more dollars than they intend to, every time they step in your store.

You can use it smartly for up-selling and cross-selling by showcasing package deals for additional savings, promoting lesser-known offerings, and highlighting seasonal products they can try. Using digital signage in the right places inside your retail store is the best way to get attention and entice shoppers to spend more.

Finally, keep a close eye on your foot traffic to understand how people engage with the products and services and the areas that they frequent. You will be able to get some useful insights for taking their experience to the next level.

Smart sensors, cameras, and heatmaps are some high-tech tools you can leverage for this purpose. In-store marketing is one of the smartest investments that you can make for your retail business because its potential is much bigger than you may imagine.