There are many ways you can attract customers and entice them to enter your brick-and-mortar store.
You can have a website, a Facebook page, Facebook ads, banner ads on online newspapers, blogs, and other online assets. But once they get there, what will they see? Will your store live up to the expectations set by your Facebook posts and online ads? And what if your potential customers aren’t online or haven’t seen your ads?
If you are a business that thrives on local footfalls and sales, you need to focus on visible and physical markers of branding and advertising. One proven way to attract the attention of potential customers and encourage them to visit your store or showroom is to invest in flagpole lighting. This will ensure that you are able to get a steady stream of local footfalls even during the evenings and night timings. When people see a brightly lit flagpole of a business, they are likely to take action, or at least become aware that such a business exists. If you happen to start a new venture, this is an absolute must for your business.
Here are ways you can attract customers and drive up business for your physical store, apart from using online advertising.
Effective Offline Ways to Increase Foot Traffic to Your Store:
1. Start with the Logo
Your logo is more important than you think. It’s true that building a good business reputation attracts and keeps customers, but your logo helps you get recognized and remembered.
Your logo should be unique enough to help you stand out from the competition, and never a copycat made to look close to other successful, existing brands-unless you don’t mind going to court.
If you think your logo can make a good first impression and can be prominently displayed in the store, use it. But if you feel some changes are needed, consult a designer to help you make improvements.
2. Let them See the Sign
If your customers can’t see your sign, you’ve wasted their time and you’ve wasted money. There are few things more frustrating for shoppers than to not find your store, or tell it apart from your competition.
Make sure the signage you have made and put up in your storefront is big enough and sufficiently sturdy to withstand typhoons and other forms of wear-and-tear. As much as possible, make your store’s signage colorful, readable and bold. Vibrant and creative solutions can be particularly effective during sales or promotion days, driving increased foot traffic to your store. For instance, if you’re running a fruit shop with a special price on seasonal vegetables, consider using a massive replica of the vegetable made from eye-catching advertising inflatables or sturdy cardboards to communicate the news of the special offer. Branded advertising inflatables, in particular, can be tailored to your specific needs, effectively conveying your message and attracting curious shoppers to your storefront. LED business signage has become particularly popular in recent years, with some companies even allowing you to upload your logo online to have it transformed into a custom neon sign.
3. Put out the Welcome Mat
Like the classic Hollywood red carpet, a large red welcome mat with “Welcome” spelled out in big, bold letters can make customers feel appreciated. It’s a small touch, but when customers feel like VIPs at your store, that can make them keep returning.
4. Use Landscaping
If your store is a standalone structure, place decorative plants, flowers, trees, and a well-maintained lawn whenever possible. Beautiful landscaping brings in more customers, as they’re more enticed to visit a store by a nice, green area than a lifeless storefront with only asphalt or concrete. The greenery also makes the area cooler for customers to walk through.
5. Consider Inflatables
Aside from the points mentioned above, one way to boost foot traffic to your store is custom inflatables outside your shop. These eye-catching installations have the potential to enhance the overall customer experience. Tailored advertising inflatables, specifically designed to represent your brand and products, serve as compelling visuals that can attract passersby and create a memorable impression. The use of custom inflatables provides a unique and engaging way to show promotions, special offers, or new arrivals, capturing the curiosity of potential customers.
6. Balloon It Up
A cheap yet effective way of making your storefront stand out is to decorate it with balloons. Balloon pillars bearing your logo and brand placed at your store’s entrance can create a more festive atmosphere, and customers will take notice.
For as long as you have a physical store, you need to invest in ways to make it look more attractive and pique the curiosity of potential customers. The more attractive and interesting your store looks, the more people will visit, and they may even do some of your PR and advertising for you by posting pictures of it online.
While it’s true that online shopping is fast becoming popular in the Philippines, you should still make sure that your store is as attractive and welcoming as possible because most Filipino shoppers still love going to stores.
Read Also:
