Running a retail store is to some degree governed my common sense. But when you walk into a store now, you likely have higher standards than you might have had in the past. This is because every single retail store now needs to prove its existence on a daily basis. It needs to not only hint at, but absolutely confirm why someone would have to get dressed, get in their car, drive to your parking lot, enter your building, look around, purchase the item and drive it home, rather than simply ordering it on the sofa, and waiting a day or two for its delivery.
That’s right, running a store is harder than it ever was. But this is a great challenge and not an obstacle. It can help you raise your standards to a near boundless degree, and motivate yourself and your staff in the process. And when you get things right, you can offer something that may have never been offered before. It might take some time to get the formula right, but if you do, you’d be impressed by the results.
Let’s see what that might look like:
Keep It Spotless
You really cannot afford to keep even the slightest hygiene standard slip. You should expect the best from yourself, your employees, and the cleaning services you employ. You should keep the floors clean and free from debris. You should ensure items are stored correctly, and products are in good condition. You should ensure, and this is important, that the front windows of your business are in great condition and look new.
You should also consider how customers will interface with your brand. For example, chip and pin machines should be regularly cleaned, because they will be pressed quite often. The place should smell nice, and be extremely well ventilated. Any issues pertaining to your guest hygiene should be cared for immediately. On top of this, consider the hygiene standards of your employees. They should be neat in clean uniform. With these efforts, your store will shine.
Organize
It’s important to keep your store accounts organized. Keep a solid, continually updated inventory. Ensure you use OCR for receipts in order to collate information you can analyze later, smooth the returns process out, and generally help avoid the busywork so common in a retail environment. Ensure that tabs or lines of credit are secured and continually considered, only for your most trusted guests.
Celebrate & Promote
You need to be visible as taking part in your local community, in giving promotions only at your store, at celebrating your offering by bringing in reliable speakers, guests, or partnered products. When you’re a dynamic and engaging place to celebrate a certain product or service, people wish to see what’s going on. Think of a tech store building computers and offering educational demonstrations, or a restaurant running a cheese festival. With that in mind, you’re sure to celebrate and promote your presence.
We hope this advice encourages your customers to return, time and time again.
