2/24/17
The customer experience has received a great deal of retail industry attention over the past few years particularly as it relates to brick-and-mortar stores competing with online vendors. Creating an environment that is appealing to customers can attract repeat business and added foot traffic for your stores.
Understanding who your customers are can help you anticipate and fulfill their needs more effectively. A little market research can provide added information for your sales associates that can help them fine-tune their customer service strategies to market your products and services more effectively.
Your market research can be accomplished in a number of ways. Customer surveys can sometimes provide accurate information regarding your current customer base. Given the right training, your employees can also serve as your eyes and ears on the sales floor and can provide you with added insights into the customers who most often purchase your products.
Many companies perform their own online research or enlist the help of a professional firm in identifying the most important demographics for their target audience.
Offering discounts or promotional goods in return for feedback can provide you with added insights into your current customer experience. These incentives are ideal ways to identify successes and challenges in reaching and retaining customers. By adjusting your in-store atmosphere and marketing plan to integrate the feedback received, you can build a reputation for being responsive to the needs of customers.
Building long-term relationships with customers can provide your store with added opportunities to make positive connections with these individuals and families. Once again, training is critical to provide your sales associates with the skills and tools necessary to make a good impression.
The initial approach to your customers can determine if a sale is made or lost. Ensuring that your associates have access to comprehensive training can ensure higher sales and an improved perception for your store. When sales associates come on too strong, it can ruffle the feathers of your customers; however, failing to provide help promptly can make customers feel unappreciated and abandoned in your store.
The skills of your sales staff are critical to your ongoing success. Providing employees with versatile training that includes product information, customer service guidance, and sales tips can pay off in increased sales and profits over the long run.
Supplying customers with accurate and up-to-date information and guidance is critical to maintain a reputation for excellence, particularly in the consumer technology field. Your sales associates represent the first contact most of your customers will have with your store. By ensuring that they are informed about the features and benefits of the products they sell, you can provide each of your customers with the best experience and service upon their arrival in your store.
The Intel® Retail Edge Program is a proven and successful eLearning platform specifically designed to provide your sales associates with a fun and practical way to learn about Intel® products and the products powered by Intel® processors. By encouraging your sales associates to take part in this innovative program, you can enhance their degree of expertise to provide an even better experience for your customers as they shop for devices in your store.
This article originally published on LinkedIn* here. It has been updated for freshness and accuracy.
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*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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