How To Attract More Customers To Your Retail Electronics Store

Looking to attract more customers to your retail store? I think most retail business owners would say yes to this question. Common sense should tell you that the more customers your store has, the more sales it will produce. Rather than relying strictly on word-of-mouth and 'dated' marketing methods, however, you should consider some of the high-tech methods listed above.

Create a Smartphone App

One incredibly effective high-tech solution to attract more customers is to create a smartphone app for your store. Dozens of the country's top retailers currently offer their own apps for Android and/or iOS, allowing them to reach out to a new customer base. There are a couple of different ways to approach an app for your retail store, one of which is to create a game. Smartphone users love to pass the time away with simple games, so this idea is bound to generate some downloads. Another option is to create a smartphone app consisting of sales, promo codes and discount news for your store. Penny-wise shoppers will download and use this app to save money on their next shopping trip.

Of course, some retail store owners may turn their head at the idea of creating a smartphone app simply because they have no previous experience in this field. While coding a functional app is a painstaking process that require skill, you can always hire one of the many companies out there to handle it for you. Don't be afraid to email various app development companies for custom quotes on your project.

Social Media Engagement

If you aren't actively updating your social media networking accounts on a regular basis, you're missing out on of the easiest ways to attract new customers to your retail store. Facebook is a powerful marketing tool that store owners oftentimes overlook. if you haven't done so already, take a few minutes to create a business account here. Use the official name of your retail store so customers can easily find it. Also, be sure to add a custom profile pic and cover page to add more depth and professionalism to your account.

A Facebook page is only useful for retail stores if it's updated frequently. Allowing your page to grow stagnant will discourage customers from viewing it. So, how often should you update your Facebook business page? There's really no easy answer to this question, as it depends on your specific niche, clientele, etc. A good rule of thumb, however, is to update it at least a few times a week. This should keep customers interested and engaged, which also increases the chance of them sharing and 'liking' your posts.

5 of The Biggest Productivity Killers In Retail Stores

Does your retail store or business suffer from a general lack of productivity? There's nothing more frustrating than investing all of your time, money and energy into creating a solid retail business only for your productivity to come a crawl. In the highly competitive world of retail, this can spell disaster for an otherwise profitable business. To learn more about some of the biggest productivity killers in retail stores, keep reading.

#1) Poor Employee Work Ethics

One of the biggest productivity killers in retail stores comes from poor work ethics among employees. Some store owners hire employees based on a 'gut feeling,' without taking the time to analyze their applications and perform in-depth followup interviews. While you may get lucky and find a hard-working employee on occasion, chances are you'll end up with slackers who simply want to earn a paycheck for showing up to work each day. And in turn, this lowers the productivity of your store.

#2) Accounting

Of course, another major productivity killer for retail stores and businesses is accounting. When you're busy analyzing sales, expenses, revenue and profit, it's easy to overlook other steps of your business. Rather than performing all of these operations yourself, a better option is to invest in a professional accountant. The additional money it costs to hire a professional accountant will prove to be well worth it in the long run.

#3) Not Using a Computer System

In today' fast-paced world, there's no reason why any retail store or business should not be using a computer system for performing transactions. Unfortunately, however, some store owners sill prefer to do things the old fashioned way, writing down transactions and customer card numbers by hand. Not only does this take more time, but it also leaves the customer vulnerable to card theft and identify fraud.

#4) Poor Management

A fourth productivity killer in retail stores is poor management. You have to remember that management is there to set an example for other employees to follow. And if they are constantly slacking off, exhibiting an unenthusiastic attitude, or a general lack of professionalism, your entire store will suffer from a loss of productivity.

#5) Taking Personal Calls

Last on our list is taking personal phone calls at work. If you currently allow employees to use their cellphones while working, you may want to reconsider this position. Even if it 'appears' your employees are able to multitask while using their cellphones, it's almost certainly lowering their productivity levels.

Tips For Setting Up Checkout Aisles and Counters In a Retail Store

One of the most underestimated areas in a retail store are the checkout aisles and counters. When you are busy worrying about inventory, shrink, shipments and bringing customers through the door, it's easy to overlook this part of your business. The fact is, however, that setting up your checkout aisles and counters in a more attractive and pleasing manner will result in a greater sales; and that's something every store owner should seek. So, how are you supposed to accomplish this? Keep reading and we'll reveal some essential tips and tricks for setting up checkout aisles and counters in a retail store.

Checkout Shelving

Each checkout aisle should be made with shelving on both sides to offer customers certain one last chance to buy product. The key thing to remember when choosing your checkout aisle product is that it needs to be somewhat of a spontaneous purchase. After all, your customers have probably already picked out the items they came to your store to purchase. Some spur-of-the-moment products include snacks, lip balm, key chains, beverages and really any other type of fun accessory. Try to think outside the box by choosing items that aren't on the everyday "milk n eggs" list.

Merchandiser Displays

In addition to shelving, you should also use merchandiser displays around your checkout aisles. Doing so will allow you to display special offers and promotions to your customers while they are waiting in line to checkout. Studies have shown that customers are more likely to view displays when they are waiting in a line, so use this to your advantage by showing them what sales your store currently has. It's a simple way to give your customers one last exposure to a billboard or advertisement, which could in turn generate more sales in the future. You can fill merchandiser displays with basic product adverts, or you can use them for special in-store promotions.

Move Product Fast

Do you need to get rid of certain product in a hurry? If so, try moving it up closer to the counters and checkout aisles. By placing the product closer to the checkout aisles, it will naturally receive greater exposure; thus, increasing the speed at which it's sold. This is helpful for reducing your store's overall shrink by getting rid of products in a hurry. Just remember to occasionally go back through the items here and replace them with new ones. People get tired of seeing the same products over and over, so keep your checkout aisles updated with new items.