Foot traffic is one of the most important things to consider for any kind of retail store. This is because the amount of foot traffic you get in the local area directly correlates with your potential for success. No foot traffic tends to mean that you’re in a poor location. This ultimately hurts your sales potential, so it’s important that you focus on capitalizing on foot traffic or even finding ways to boost the number of people coming to your store.
So whether you’re thinking of launching a new store or are looking for ways to improve your current one, here are a couple of tips to help you increase store foot traffic and get noticed by customers.
Make a fantastic window display that showcases some of your best products
Most stores will have a large window that can be used as a display. This is your chance to shine, so make the most of it! Try and showcase some of your best or most popular products. If you’re running a store that offers food (such as a cafe or bakery) then you could even put your chefs or baristas next to the window so that passersby can see them working.
If you’re not selling any kind of food, then you should be putting some of your most popular products on display with some simple signage to help explain what they are or even show pricing. You should also be using your window display to showcase any kind of certification or awards that you have. This will help make your business seem a lot more reputable and will actually attract attention.
Lastly, use your window displays to show discounts, deals, and other promotions that your audience should know about. Having a large “sale” sign is a brutish but effective way to draw more customers into your store!
Get on social media and start encouraging people to talk about your store
There are many different ways to utilize social media to improve foot traffic. For starters, try and make Instagram-worthy scenes in and around your store. Beautiful item cases and displays are a good start, but you can also use large signs and posters that make a great place to pose for a picture. You could even invite social media influencers to your store if you’re willing to offer them something in return.
Social media is the key to unlocking more foot traffic even if you’re in a relatively obscure or remote location. However, it’s important that you maintain your social media presence so that you don’t suddenly drop off the radar. It’s vital to stay consistent when posting, and you should always engage with your audience on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to improve your relationship with potential customers. It takes a lot of work, but it’s worth it to create more buzz around your store.
Use big and bold signage to get noticed by people on the street
One of the most common ways to get people to notice your store is to use large signs. You could consider digital signs for business that use lots of fancy lights, or you could make a simple sign and light it up with some standard bulbs. There are lots of different ways to approach signage, but you generally want it to contain your logo, store name, and perhaps a summary of the products and services that you offer.
We highly recommend that you hire a skilled designer to help you brainstorm ideas for a sign. A good designer will help you create wonderful signage that will attract customers and bring in more foot traffic.
Decorating the outside of your store (if possible!)
Decorating the exterior of your store is a great way to draw customers in as long as you use it effectively. You don’t want to have a lot of tacky things blocking your window display, but there are a couple of effective ways to get people interested in your store.
For starters, make sure you have some kind of welcome mat for your customers. A plush red carpet is a great way to make the entrance of your store stand out and it can also help set a good first impression. You could also consider additional signs such as a sandwich board where you write or draw out your latest deals or popular products for the day. You might also want to add decals to your window display for seasonal changes, such as adding snow decals if it’s coming to Christmas.