If you own a store, you’re undoubtedly well aware that customers aren’t only looking for merchandise when they walk in the door.
They’re seeking something more: a client visit isn’t only about exchanging money for goods. When customers come to your store, they want to have a positive experience.
Here are a few examples of immersive retail experiences that will keep customers coming back to your store.
1. CREATE AN ALLURING AMBIENCE
There’s a tremendous difference between a store that just stuffs things wherever they’ll fit and one that is well lit and enticing.
You need to keep one eye on layout and decorating if you want to create a healthy profit and make shopping at your store a positive experience.
2. FEED THE SENSES
The general feel and appearance of your store is a wonderful place to start, but it’s not the only thing you should think about.
Investigate what’s going on beneath the surface. Try to appeal to all senses: Great visuals, pleasant perfume, tactile experiences, and ambient music.
3. CREATE A RELAXING AND CALMING ENVIRONMENT
Consider creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere within your store. This starts with your employees.
If they’re at ease, not rushing, and moving leisurely, the atmosphere will reflect that. On the other side, if they’re rushing about and can’t keep up, that’s how the store will feel.
Getting this right starts with hiring the right personnel, but you also have a responsibility to ensure that the store is always staffed with enough people.
Trying to save money by understaffing your company can only backfire.
4. EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY
When using immersive technology to retail, you can use touch screens and digital signs to attract customers’ attention, engage with them, and eventually keep them in your store.
5. CREATE INTERACTIVE MIRRORS
Interactive mirrors in dressing rooms are another type of interactive display. The mirror allows the shopper to browse the store’s inventory and make purchases without having to leave the fitting room. The shopper can also interact with the salesperson.
Some displays offer personalised services, such as the collecting of shopper information via a card or account. This information can be used to send notifications to the shopper after they’ve finished shopping or to figure out what’s in the shopper’s cart when they return to the store.
6. CREATE VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCES
Virtual reality isn’t just for games and gadget retailers. It’s also being used in nearly every store you can think of. The usage of virtual reality devices makes it easier for customers to traverse the business. One advantage of VR is that it allows you to navigate the physical business from afar.
Virtual reality frequently allows users to modify the goods they are purchasing, such as adjusting the colour, texture, or size, among other things.
7. ESTABLISH STORAGE POLICIES
It’s great to have sophisticated in-store technological gadgets that appeal to all senses, but I’m afraid it’s all for naught if you don’t have good front-line employees. The most significant creators of the in-store experience are the store’s frontline personnel.
Retailers should hire the best employees they can to get a competitive advantage. Don’t stop with the hiring process; take the time to familiarise the employee with the items and policies of the shop.
8. KEEP YOUR STORE COMPLETELY UP TO DATE
It’s critical to have a smooth transition from online to offline. The ability of your online and physical stores to work together is one factor that keeps customers in your store.
Shoppers continue to explore and buy things even when they are in a real store. Some retailers make the mistake of running their online and physical stores separately. If a store’s online store isn’t updated, an order could be placed based on items seen online that are out of stock at the actual store.
The shopper will lose interest in the store and give it a negative rating, which will be visible to other potential customers. To that end, it’s important to be present and engaged across all of the store’s channels.
9. OFFER CLICK AND COLLECT
Click and collect refers to purchasing items from an internet business and picking them up in person.
One of the benefits of in-store pickup is that it enhances the likelihood of customers purchasing other items while they wait for their order. It should be mentioned that this technique is not straightforward until it has been well mastered.
Managing orders, sales, and customers from a system necessitates a great deal of cooperation. Individual stores may employ independent systems, but all stores must work together effortlessly.
10. MAKE THE CHECKOUT SIMPLE
You’d be shocked how much the checkout process may influence your shopping experience. A long line is something that no one enjoys. As a result, cutting down on checkout time improves the shopper’s experience.
Retailers employ in-app checkout to reduce or eliminate the time spent in line. This enables the shopper to pay for and check out the item from the retailer independently. They simply show the electronic receipt as they leave.
Multiple registers are another technique to shorten the backlog. Restaurants, for example, can use a mobile register so that customers can check out without having to wait in line. Some retailers also employ POS (Point of Sale) machines to shorten lines.
Don’t forget insurance…
Because you are selling items and services in such a way that you are inviting members of the public into your premises, you would benefit from having a retail shop insurance policy in place that includes public liability coverage. In the event that a member of the public is harmed on your property or their property is damaged, you must be covered by retail insurance to cover any costs associated with paying for someone’s injury (including legal fees and compensation), as well as paying to remedy any damage to property damaged as a direct result of being in your shop.