Expert Advice

5 tips to boost footfall to your retail store

Posted on by Ali King
how to boost footfall

Getting customers through the door is the goal of any retail store. So, what are best ways to boost footfall and increase sales? Read on for our expert advice based on decades of experience working with successful retailers across the UK.

  1. Create the right vibe

High street shoppers scan shop windows looking for displays that tempt them inside. So, understand your target customer and create the kind of window display likely to appeal to them. Remember, it’s not one-vibe-fits-all.

For example, teen brand Abercrombie & Fitch favoured an edgy nightclub vibe with loud music, strong fragrances, and blacked-out windows to tempt young people in during the 90s. For a while, it saw profits soar.

However, as trends changed, so did the company’s strategy. Now, its Hollister stores offer a brighter, calmer, and more inviting experience.

When you know your audience, you’ll have an innate understanding of the colours, styles, sounds, fragrances, and effects that will draw them in. So, use this knowledge wisely and change it seasonally to hold their interest.

  1. Secure signage

A drab sign is all-too-easy for shoppers to dismiss or not notice. Therefore, make sure your outdoor signage is visually striking. Invest in the services of a branding expert and design specialist for maximum brand recognition and customer appeal. Then, work with a trusted signage company to produce and install the finished product.

Once you have a strong sign advertising who you are and what you do, look at other outdoor advertising options. A boards and banners, for example, can further grab the attention of strolling shoppers.

  1. Bring the customers to you

Take a proactive approach to increasing footfall by getting out there and bringing the customers to you.

Venture out into the high street, or busy areas nearby, and hand out flyers and samples to passers-by.

While you’re out and about, chat to customers, let them know where you are and why they’d love your store. Make sure you gather their email addresses so you can add them to your mailing list, making sure they’ve consented to receive your updates in line with GDPR.

  1. Streamline online and offline marketing

You may have nailed your in-store promotions and outdoor signage, but are you putting the same energy into your online marketing?

Create a marketing strategy that combines your in-store efforts with any offline marketing, like newspaper ads, and digital advertising. Promote your special offers on social media, and interact with customers who tag into your shop, post reviews, or mention you online.

Make sure you have a clear, up to date Google Business listing so customers can easily find your location. Plus, you can even track store visits as part of your Google Ads campaigns, so make sure you’re investigating all the ways you can market your business and streamlining efforts to ensure consistency and cohesion.

  1. Form partnerships

Joining forces with other local businesses is a fantastic way to drive more footfall to your retail store.

Keep an ear to the ground about local events and see how you can get involved. For example, book a spot at a local festival or ask to leave flyers or business cards in relevant shops and offices.

Consider appropriate connections for your business and how they could be mutually beneficial. For example, if you’re a food retailer, offer to give out tasters at a book signing evening or ask local shops, cafes, and businesses if they’d like to stock your products.

Approach your fellow entrepreneurs about hosting regular events together aimed at different groups of people – for example, parent and baby sessions, styling masterclasses, speed dating evenings, tutorials, or business networking mornings.

Get the right fixtures and fittings to convert more customers

Attracting more footfall to your retail store is one thing, but make sure you create the right in-store experience to convert browsers into buyers. Visit our blog on retail store layout tips for inspiration, or browse our extensive range of retail furniture, fixtures, fittings, and accessories to find the right setup for your store.