Warmer weather means retail shops are keeping their doors open and preparing for in-person customers and experiences. However, driving interest to your shop doesn’t just happen once your door is open and a sign is posted outside. Organic growth requires genuine, in-person experiences and consistent engagement.
What is Shopper-First Retail?
Shopper-first retail provides customers with the unique, in-store experiences they have been waiting for since the initial COVID-19 quarantine. The lockdowns created a sense of uncertainty among shoppers. With times slowly returning to some form of normalcy, retailers are discovering ways to meet customers’ needs in a more intimate way. Shopper-first retail is when the needs and wants of the shopper are first priority.
Adding Shopper-First Retailing into your Store
There are small, easy ways to incorporate shopper-first retailing into your store. Once smaller steps have been taken, a business may see some positive changes happen.
Follow the Trends
Even though trend-chasing is not always the best way to do business, it is an important one in the post-COVID retail market. Shoppers want interactive, relatable experiences when shopping in person. Diving into the leading trend for your brand helps your business connect with more customers while improving the shopper-first retail experience. This also may mean stepping outside of your comfort zone a little bit. Collaborating with other, like-minded businesses is a growing trend across many retailers. By supporting other brands, they will support you in turn and help grow your business.
Add Unique Payment Methods
With self-pay kiosks popping up in many retail spaces, payment methods are obviously a discussion point in shopping trends. However, self-pay is not the only trend helping improve the shopper-first retail experience. Customers want convenience almost as much as they want the products they’re purchasing. Contactless payment is a quick, convenient solution that works well for both the retailer and the customer. Apps such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are just a few of the methods retailers are incorporating into their business. Not only is contactless pay quick and easy, but it also is sustainable, with less paper and plastic required.
Create Customer Experiences
Online shopping is still an obstacle for many brick-and-mortar retail shops reopening their doors after quarantine. With social media and websites easily accessible, in-person retailers need to create relatable, relevant experiences for their customers. This means connecting with them in the community on a personal level. This doesn’t mean backing away from using social media. Using those platforms to reel more customers into the shop is actually a great way to improve engagement and create more shopper-first retail experiences. Hinting at exclusive in-store discounts through Instagram or college student in-store specials on Twitter connects the online and in-shop spaces and can improve shopper-first retail.