11/11/16
The experts at the Consumer Technology Association* (CTA*) are forecasting growth of 3.8 percent for this year's Holiday season and a 3.1 percent boost in tech sales across the U.S.1.
Preparing your team to take advantage of these projections and to deliver the most effective customer service can help your store compete effectively in your local marketplace and with online merchants.
The right preparations can make a big difference in the overall success of your marketing campaigns and holiday sales plans.
According to CBS News*, some retailers are planning major changes to their strategy of attracting more customers this holiday season2.
For example, one retailer intends to deploy holiday helpers this year. These specially-trained sales associates will be available to assist customers by retrieving items they may have forgotten on their shopping lists.
Another will take a somewhat different approach by creating theatrical displays and interactive experiences for its customers. These and other retailers have announced plans to hire more temporary and part-time staff members to deliver the most responsive customer service in their stores.
To stay competitive, your store must also create unique shopping experiences and provide solid support for customers during the holiday season.
According to the 2016 Holiday Outlook by PwC*, shoppers will have larger budgets. PwC* found that urban Millennials spent an average of $500 more than other demographics during the holiday season, one-third of which is expected to go directly toward items for themselves.
By gearing device promotions and displays toward these key customers, you can potentially snag not only the sales associated with their gift-giving needs, but also their personal purchase.
With the prediction that urban Millennials will spend more than $1,600 on average this year, tech devices are likely to be front-and-center on their lists for personal acquisitions and gifts alike. The Millennial affinity for modern technology will provide opportunities for selling laptops, televisions, VR headsets, and other personal entertainment and communication devices.
Don't leave out the experiential component of your sales for these customers. Millennials are notably partial to experience-based marketing strategies.
Mobile marketing tools and loyalty programs continue to offer significant advantages in the brick-and-mortar retail environment. Data collected by Entrepreneur* indicates that 83 percent of all shoppers use their smartphones in the store to check prices and product features3.
By providing solid support through your own sales associates, you create better customer experiences while building a reputation for responsive customer service. This can potentially reduce the comparison-shopping activities of your customers while securing a larger percentage of sales for your retail stores.
Your sales associates serve as the front line for your customer experience and customer service efforts during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year. Ensuring that these key employees have the best training and the most effective support can boost your sales and your reputation in the competitive technology marketplace.
The Intel® Retail Edge Program is an innovative way to motivate your sales associates to learn more about the Intel® products and technologies available in your stores. The Program hones the skills of your sales professionals, allowing your store to make the best possible impression on customers during the holidays.
References:
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
© 2016, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, and the Intel Retail Edge Program are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
1https://www.cta.tech/Research-Standards/Reports-Studies/Studies/Supplements/Holiday-Forecast-2016.aspx
2http://www.cbsnews.com/news/holiday-helpers-and-theater-retailers-go-big-this-season/
3https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284283
