Taking advantage of the back-to-school shopping season helps your store achieve higher sales and increased traffic. The 2017 season is expected to see an increase in tech sales over 2016.
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recent study by The Consumer Technology Association (CTA*) reveals:
- 63 percent of American back-to-school shoppers plan to buy tech or tech accessories
- 88 percent of these shoppers plan to shop at a physical mass-merchant store
- 56 percent plan to shop at a physical office supply store
Understanding the current trends in back-to-school shopping is crucial in capturing the business the of these shoppers.
Here are some effective marketing strategies to employ during the late summer and fall of this year.
Support Mobile Shopping
According to Rubicon Project*,
60 percent of respondents plan to use mobile devices for back-to-school shopping. Brick-and-mortar retailers can capitalize on this trend by optimizing their websites for mobile use and offering in-store messaging and advertisements.
Making sure that sales associates are aware of online promotions provides valuable support for customers looking for the latest deals. This can prevent misunderstandings and ensures the highest level of customer service.
By tying in-store sales to the deals available on corporate websites, retailers can enjoy the greatest synergy for their sales efforts.
Create Opportunities for Last-Minute Shoppers
Many shoppers wait until the last minute—even after school has started—to make their purchases. By catering to these late-season shoppers with top-quality tech gear at affordable prices, retailers can achieve increased sales and profitability during this critical time of year.
Ensuring key products are on sale and available throughout the back-to-school season can also create increased customer satisfaction and an improved reputation for stores. By providing the cutting-edge products customers want and need and having these products in-stock makes a positive impact on last-minute shoppers for brick-and-mortar locations.
Maintain Inventory on Top Sellers
One reason many people prefer to shop in-store is due to the instant gratification they can feel buy immediately walking out with their purchases. It’s important for retailers to have the most popular tech devices and products available, particularly during the most important sales cycles.
This year’s hot products include:
- Laptops
- Portable memory
- 2 in 1s
- Smartphones
- Headphones
Provide Expert Customer Assistance
Customers expect store sales associates to
provide expert advice in addition to guidance on a wide range of back-to-school PC devices and product add-ons. Managers should ensure their sales teams have the knowledge and expertise necessary to provide excellent customer service, particularly during this key shopping period.
Doing so helps stores enhance their reputation among shoppers to ensure increased sales and profitability.
Key advantages of advanced sales and product training courses include the following:
- Ability to compare two products accurately and to make recommendations to customers
- Awareness of new product releases and how these additions will affect the consumer technology marketplace
- Confidence for dealing with customers in the store setting
By recommending and supporting educational opportunities for sales associates, managers enhance the brand’s position in the industry and ensure employees make the most positive impression on customers.
Understanding the trends in tech devices and consumer shopping helps retailers drive sales and increase revenue during the back-to-school season and through the upcoming holiday season.
The Intel® Retail Edge Program is designed to provide your sales associates with the expert knowledge and confidence needed to achieve increased sales and to enhance the reputation of your brands and your store among consumers.
The Program’s Learning activities and interactive sales tools, such as the
Intel® Retail Experience Tool (RXT), keep associates up-to-date on the latest devices powered by Intel. The RXT has been just been updated with the 8th gen Intel® Core™ processor information associates need to use with back-to-school shoppers. They can use it right on the sales floor to guide customers to the perfect device for their needs.
By encouraging your sales associates to participate in this cutting-edge online training program, you can enjoy the benefits of advanced sales and product training for your employees while increasing the rate of positive and engaging customer interactions.
References:
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
©Intel Corporation 2017. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Retail Edge Program, Intel Core, and Intel Retail Edge Live are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
