Attract More Walk-In Customers to Your Store
by Carrie Hinkel on March 12th, 2008
Every day, hundreds, possibly thousands, of potential customers walk or drive by your store every day. However, only a few dozen of them actually end up walking through your door. So, what can you do to attract all those customers who are mere steps away from your door? The answer is, plenty!
Visible sign – When attracting passersby, your store’s sign is the most important method for bringing in customers. A good sign:
* Is big enough to be seen from a distance
* Is easy to read
* Conveys the message of what the store sells
* Has a message that is short and to the point
* Has lights so that it can be read at night
Sidewalk marketing – The space around the front of your store is prime real estate, so why not use it to your advantage? Here are some simple, yet effective ways to get the attention of your potential customers:
* Big clusters of colorful helium balloons tied to your open doors.
* Artist-drawn sidewalk chalk drawings around the front of your store.
* People dressed up as characters related to your store, waving to passersby. For example, if you own a toy store, why not hire a Thomas the Train or Elmo character to wave to people?
* Place a large tri-fold sign in front of your store – tout a special or sale to entice newcomers to stop in.
Outdoor events – Hosting a fun and lively outdoor event outside your store is bound to have others take notice. This can be as big as a "Mardi Gras Madness" party or as simple as a sidewalk sale. The idea is to have your store be the center of the excitement. Some additional ideas are:
* For any kind of store: have a "free lunch" day, grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers.
* For a toy or children’s clothing store: host a "children’s fair" complete with a balloon-animal-making clown and carnival games.
* For a pet store: have a "free pet wash" day
Flyer handouts – Print up some brightly-colored flyers that entice customers with a coupon for a free gift or discount, a listing of specials or an advertisement for an upcoming event. Have a friendly employee hand them out with a smile outside your storefront.
Owning a brick and mortar store is certainly different than owning a website – especially when it comes to attracting customers. SEO tricks and online ads may help bring in visitors to your website, but they do nothing for luring passersby into your brick and mortar store. For that, you’ll have to be creative and think like your customers. One thing is for sure, before you can get them to walk into your store, you’ll have to get their attention first. If you think colored balloons or bright flags waving is tacky – think again. If you want new customers, you have to let them know that your store exists, and most times that means marketing to the equivalent of screaming. So, if you want to attract new business, it’s best that your store not be "shy".