Updates You Can Make to Increase Foot Traffic

After the holidays, many retailers are faced with the challenge of keeping customers coming into their stores. Listed below are a few low-cost updates that can drive foot traffic in the post-holiday season.

Update your display windows. Create an eye-catching new display that invites customers into your store. Your windows are a welcome to passersby. Tell a story and pique their interest. People have been shopping for holiday gifts for the last few months, and now is their time to buy something nice for themselves.  

Create a new promotion and share it on all channels. Now is the time to share what you have that’s new. Everything that you are promoting in your store should be connected to your new message. Your in-store promotion should be reflected on your social media presence as well. Work to fight off the post-holiday blues by having a contest or event. Creating this buzz will motivate your customers to get out and shop your business.

Update your product assortment. Merchandise your newest product front and center. Resist the urge to place your clearance merchandise at the front of your store. It’s great to have a clearance strategy for what didn’t sell during the holiday season, but that is not what is going to draw the post-holiday customer into your store. If your business sells gift cards, be prepared for the redemption traffic. Have a plan for what products you want to highlight and put them front and center.

Update your customer experience. With the conveniences of online shopping, the customer experience can be your point of difference compared to those online giants. Customers still value their experience above all, so delighting them matters. Offer a service they can’t get online and you will have a loyal customer. This is also a great time to introduce a new service or experience. People are looking for what is new and fresh. Promote the new experience to let your customers know you continue to look for new ways to give them what they want.

Update the outside look of your store. Find a way to get the attention of customers walking or driving past your store. Have a bold presence outside your building in some way. Updating a sign, putting up a temporary billboard, or even painting your building a new color can invite attention. Adding new exterior lighting can also make your store stand out and create interest. Keep in mind that consistency is important, so if you are delivering a message outside, it needs to be reinforced with what people experience inside.