Smart Selling: Store Adaptations for Safety
As COVID-19 rapidly evolves, it’s fascinating to watch how adeptly major sectors of our economy are adapting in order to continue business while keeping safe.
Here are some ways stores may continue to serve customers, and provide the life-enriching products their customers seek during this unprecedented time.
1. Promote applicable product selections
Activity ideas and enriching educational tools for families home from school and daycare can occupy curious minds. Popular product categories include puzzles, games, crafts, exercise equipment, and gourmet for family-friendly recipes. Check out Paddington Station in Ashland, Oregon for some ideas.
Craft supply packages with detailed instructional booklets and interactive "how-to" videos online offer another option and provide a fun keepsake when completed.
2. Showcase what's in store
"Teachable moments" can instruct on the culture, society, history, and artistry of an item. Schedule a virtual tour on your social media channels to teach and show customers around. You can introduce your followers to staff, display the newest product to hit shelves, give a behind the scenes look, or just share your thoughts throughout the day. Posting real-time content, especially on Instagram Stories, provides a moment your followers may find relatable.
To present new product while also promoting customer favorites, create online "look books" by pairing apparel and accessories for outfit ideas, bundle items in a wedding gift idea display, and with spring starting, snap a photo of items for enjoying the outdoors (even if it's just for our backyards). Items can be shown based on price point, a color story, or general theme that speaks to your brand.
3. Offer safe accessibility of purchases
Curbside pick-up services are growing in popularity. You can ask customers to "call or text ahead" to take orders. Make "grab and go" bundles of items typically sold together for customers in a rush. Offer complimentary delivery to customers' local address within a specific mile radius from your store to provide relief, especially for families.
Through email, website updates, and social media, it is beneficial to keep customers informed of hours, product availability, and your health and safety measures. Many businesses, such as grocery stores, are closing early in order to sanitize and give employees the opportunity to take care of themselves. Continual communication will give customers all the information they need to know. Where's the Party in California began offering curbside service and is doing a great job communicating with customers through social media.
Gifts and Decorative Accessories checked in with retailers from across the country for more helpful strategies. Read the article here.
We are in uncharted territory right now and this is a learning experience for us all. The most important thing is your health and safety. We, at AmericasMart, hope everyone stays safe and takes the necessary precautions to remain healthy.
