How to Make Your Retail Store Stand Out

The high street may have taken a battering over the last couple of years, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some intense competition out there. In fact, if you want to make your mark in the current climate, you probably have to do more than ever to stand out from the crowd.

We’ve come up with a few ideas that can help make you and your retail store more appealing.

It’s not enough these days to rely on the sales you make and the customers you meet in your traditional brick-and-mortar shop. Consumers are using ever more sophisticated means to find and buy what they want and you need to be ready at every step on their journey.

That means building an online presence, whether that’s through social media channels, a blog or an online store. And making your brand consistent across all these channels will make sure that your potential customers know who they’re dealing with as they move from one to another.

When you’re trying to go one better than the competition, the best thing you can do is get in the right staff, the sort of people who are going to make your customers’ visit one to remember. Good customer service is always a key ingredient when shoppers think about a positive shopping experience. 

But what are the characteristics you’ll be looking for? Here are a few:

• Friendly
• Knowledgeable
• Helpful
• Enthusiastic

You too can play your part by ensuring that your staff get the right training, especially so that they can effectively support your branding.

We all window shop, but very few stores give us enough reason to venture in. So what can you do to make your potential customers take that vital step?

• Create an eye-catching shop front
• Place a sandwich board on the pavement outside showing any offers
• Regularly refresh your window displays

Of course, you can also encourage them before they even hit the high street by advertising in-store events and offers on social media and in the local press.

We’ve all heard about businesses that offer better terms or prices to new customers than existing ones. Don’t fall into that trap, because that’s the best way to lose those customers that have been paying your bills and wages. 

Loyalty cards continue to be a great way to make sure regular customers keep returning, but if you encourage customers to follow you on social media (or even better, give them a good reason to!) then you’ll have the opportunity to offer things like:

• Exclusive online discounts
• Early bird deals
• Offer codes
• Personalised selections

Even if your store is initially successful, it’s vital that you don’t become complacent. Whatever it is you’re selling, chances are that it’s unlikely to be a market that stands still. Fashions, technology, media interest – there are any number of reasons why what’s popular today may not be so popular tomorrow (and vice versa!). Read industry or trade publications, follow influencers on social media – in fact, whatever it takes to stay on top of things, do it!

That way, you’ll be ready to shift your stock or focus in time to make the most of shifting moods and tastes.

Running a retail store can be a lonely business, so it’s always a good idea to take any support that’s on offer, whether that’s from a local traders’ group, friends and family or industry bodies such as BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association).

Here at Morplan, we support retailers across the country by offering the very best value in retail supplies so that when you do get customers into your shop, you can show your products off at their best without eating into your profits.

Find out more by getting in touch with the friendly team at Morplan today.