As technology advances, consumer behaviours change. As those behaviours change, so should marketing. Retail stores have immense potential to use smart devices, AI, robotics, augmented reality, digital signage, and more. These don’t just add a trendy, tech-driven aesthetic to your brand and store. The right technology can translate to better sales, customer satisfaction, and increased appeal.
Technology can reduce operational inefficiencies and improve the customer experience as they browse your store. Here are some technology ideas for store marketing:
Mobile Point-of-Sale
Every customer does not expect to find a mobile point-of-sale (mPOS). However, it will surely be a pleasant surprise that decreases the time a customer spends waiting. mPOS also allows customers to scan and pay quickly anywhere in the store on their mobile device.
Digital Signage Video Walls
Create a billboard-style video wall where you can promote products or tell brand stories. You can do hundreds of things with a digital signage player. Place these in high-traffic areas or parts of the store where you have the space to capture attention.
Augmented Reality to Engage
Engage your customer with augmented reality, or AR. It can do amazingly immersive things when imagining products in a person’s day-to-day life. You can try on products before purchasing, put products in interactive situations to gauge their appeal, and more.
Show Films In-Store
Market your store with short films produced for your brand. These films can be shown online via social media or in-store digital signage software. They can be storytelling, behind-the-scenes looks, product tutorials, how-to demonstrations, or something entirely different.
Post QR Codes to Scan
A QR code set next to a product can provide additional information, FAQs, and specs, among other things. It may also link to a tutorial or exclusive digital-only offers. QR codes sometimes direct customers to social media and encourage product sharing with their family or friends.
Create an App
An app brings the relationship with your shopper to a whole new level. On average, a mobile app increases conversions 5- 7 times compared to a mobile site. It’s also a way to personalize messaging and stay in touch, and you can accumulate points for every in-store purchase.
Host Virtual Events
By way of social media live stream, consider how you can blend live streams and virtual events into your store marketing plan. This can be a showcase of new products or a product demonstration in-store.
It can also be an event somewhat unrelated to your store, such as an acoustic guitar concert. Even a small five or ten-minute stream can be enough to let customers online know that something’s happening at your store and to come on down to experience it.
Store Traffic Analytics
Cameras and retail analytics software are a match made in heaven when tracking store traffic. Discover how many customers you’re getting, where they’re browsing, what times and days, and more. Use the data to guide your store layout and how you use your resources to close a sale.
Digital Signage Promo Sales
Run promotional sales that are displayed across your digital signage. You can offer many types of discounts by using digital signage for marketing. Feature the promo in simple, bold colours, text, and images on digital signage.
Here are some examples of what types of promotional sales you may want to pull from. Try percentage discounts off specific product categories, i.e. 30% off, 50% off, or 75% off. Consider multi-buys, such as ‘Buy One, Get One.’ or multi-saves, meaning when someone spends ‘x’ amount of dollars, they save and receive ‘y’. Also, use member-only sales, such as if you have a customer loyalty program.
In-Store Inventory Search
Set up an in-store digital screen for customers to search for items. An inventory search might include what aisle to find an item in and an official count of how many are left.
Loyalty Rewards Program
Create a loyalty rewards program to encourage repeat customers and incentivize sales. Award points or discounts to loyalty program members when they make a purchase. Use the customer’s info to personalize marketing messaging towards them and maximize the likelihood of another sale.
Create a Store Game
Provide customers with a gamified experience by offering a game they can play in exchange for in-store rewards. This can be arranged on your website or app and displayed in-store with digital signage software.
Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store
Allow your customers to buy products online and reserve them for in-store pickup. This will prioritize customer convenience and allow you to run e-commerce strategies alongside store marketing.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Take user-generated content from social media related to your brand and use it in your digital signage. Use buyers’ photos, social media comments, images and videos submitted to your brand, and more. When people see real customers giving approval and support to your store, it builds trust.