Retail stores have faced a barrage of challenges over recent years: from the pandemic to the recent cost-of-living crisis, which has seen sales go down and costs rise significantly, a lot has happened to make life difficult for stores.
While online shopping has been a core focus over recent years, in July of this year, online sales fell by 1.2%, due in part to rising costs but also a rising focus on physical shopping.
During the same month, footfall in physical stores rose slightly, showing that consumers are turning back to in-person shopping.
Using physical stores offers many benefits for consumers, especially when it comes to costs, as they can find deals on perishable items and easily navigate sales. Also, shoppers get to see what they’re buying before they make their purchase, meaning they can avoid making the wrong decision. While you can easily compare prices online, many consumers carry smartphones with them, and can do this in physical stores, while also getting the benefits of sales and seeing the item in real life.
For Gloucester retailers looking to take advantage of this rise in physical shopping and compete with online stores, offering the right amenities and facilities is crucial to getting more consumers through your doors. Shoppers want to find retail premises that offer advantages over online stores, and that means getting the retail experience they want.
Keep reading, and we’ll explore some of the top amenities that your retail store could offer to attract more customers and achieve even greater profits, despite the challenges you’re facing.
Public Toilets
An obvious option to begin with is toilets that are available for public use. Having access to bathroom facilities can be important for many customers, particularly those who are differently-abled or have children with them. Keeping bathrooms clean and hygienic can be challenging, especially when you open them up to the public. Still, by using a regular cleaning rota and outsourced services such as sanitary bins and removal services from Woosh, you can save time and offer this useful amenity to your customers.
Try-Before-You-Buy Stations
To help customers try new things, improve sales and offer tempting freebies, you could set up stations where customers can try products before purchasing. This strategy is especially effective for beauty and skincare products or tasty food items. Try-before-you-buy stations might seem pricey, but you can actually use them to promote lines that aren’t selling as well, or to use up items that aren’t sellable or are just about to go out of date. So, they can be a great way to reduce wastage and drive sales for products that you’re struggling to shift.
Food Services
Free samples are a nice treat, but for those who have been on their feet shopping all day, something more substantial is called for. If you have a larger retail premise with multiple floors and departments, then you could consider adding a small café or snack bar within your store. This provides an opportunity for customers to grab a quick bite and spend more time browsing. For smaller shops, something as simple as a vending machine filled with tasty snacks could offer the ideal way for consumers to raise their blood sugars while you grow your profits.
Local Art
One great way to highlight your pride in being a Gloucester business is to showcase local artwork or collaborate with artists from the area to create an art corner within the store. This can attract art enthusiasts and promote a sense of community in your store. It can also be a great way to get more customers who like to shop at independent stores. As artwork doesn’t take much space to put up, especially when it’s wall art, this option is great for smaller stores with less space for larger amenities and additions that require a lot of renovation.
Lounge Areas
For larger stores and those where shoppers might have to spend a lot of time, like wedding boutiques, it might be beneficial to create a comfortable lounge area where shoppers can take a break, socialise, or relax. Providing free Wi-Fi and charging stations can encourage people to spend more time in your store. Having a longer than average shopping time can lead to increased sales, so while a lounge area might seem like it takes up a lot of space, it can be highly beneficial for your business.
Final Thoughts
What it comes down to for most customers is an experience that is enjoyable and memorable, which will make them want to visit your store for more than just shopping. By offering unique amenities that cater to different preferences, you can increase foot traffic and stand out from online competitors. Use this list to find inspiration and start upgrading your retail space for the benefit of your customers and the local Gloucester community today.