How to Create the Right In-Store Experience

2/22/18

Create an amazing in-store customer experienceResearch performed by the experts at Econsultancy* indicates that creating the right experience for customers in retail tech stores can have a real impact on traffic and repeat business. 

By surrounding shoppers with an immersive experience, you can boost their engagement levels and build brand loyalty in the highly competitive retail tech industry. 

Here are some key facts to consider when planning the perfect customer experience in your stores.

Time Is of the Essence

According to research conducted by Retail Dive*, one of the most important reasons shoppers gave for visiting a brick-and-mortar location rather than buying online was the ability to purchase an item and take it home right away. This instant gratification is a key element in the ongoing success of your retail business. 

Ensuring key items and new technologies are always in stock, you are able to satisfy this demand for immediate access among your most important demographics.

Econsultancy* also found that 64 percent of shoppers expect real-time interactions with the companies they frequently patronize. Making sure your sales staff can provide fast and accurate answers enhances the buying experience and ensures the most positive impression on current customers and those in the frame of mind to buy.

Compete Against Convenience

Shopping online offers virtually unmatched convenience for your customers. To compete with the luxury of shopping with feet up and pajamas on, your store must deliver real value-added services and experiences for your customers. As a technology retailer, you have exceptional tools at your disposal to make visits to your store an entertaining and interactive experience for your customers.

Interactive displays that allow your customers to get hands-on with the latest technologies and devices provide added incentives for shoppers to visit your store initially and to return in the future. 

By creating a positive atmosphere and providing more opportunities for interaction with staff members and tech devices, you enhance the shopping experience for first-time visitors and regular customers alike.

Offer Expert Advice

It’s vital for sales associates to have the training and knowledge needed to deliver meaningful guidance to your customers and to promote a positive experience for those in the market for big-ticket items and accessories to their existing tech acquisitions. 

Educating your sales team can pay off in a number of important ways, including the following:

  • Improved rapport with customers
  • Added confidence in sales situations
  • Enhanced reputation for accuracy
  • Improved position in relation to local competitors
  • Increased opportunities for upselling and cross-selling within your store

According to the research conducted by Retail Dive*, almost 20 percent of shoppers aged 18 to 24 cited the ability to ask questions of store employees as a major reason they preferred brick-and-mortar stores over online shopping

By providing them with accurate answers while in your stores, you reinforce this tendency among this critical age group.

Put Tech to Work for You

Many of the products you sell every day can also serve as focal points for your interactive displays. Computers powered by the latest Intel® processors, for example, can showcase video content and games to promote the featured systems and software at the same time. This ensures the greatest impact on shoppers who may be looking for an upgrade to their current PC setup.

Depending on the inventory you maintain, you may also be able to create hotspots that attract customers and encourage interaction. Gaming systems, wearables, and mobile devices are ideal components for these gathering spots and can boost your appeal to shoppers of all ages. 

Your sales associates are a key part of the customer experience. By encouraging them to take part in product training such as the Intel® Retail Edge Program, you can provide enhanced experiences for your customers while increasing morale and confidence among your sales team. 

 

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References:

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

©Intel Corporation 2018. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Retail Edge Program, and Intel Retail Edge Live are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

 

 

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