8 Things To Remember When Creating Your Physical Store

8 Things To Remember When Creating Your Physical Store

Creating a physical store can be a huge step in your business plan. Perhaps you’re following on from the success of your online store, or you’re simply starting out this way to begin with. Whatever your reason for creating your physical store now, you have lots to think about. Read on for 8 important things you need to consider when putting your physical store together:

  1. Selecting Your Location

Where you have your physical store will have a big impact on how successful you are. It isn’t just about building it and expecting people to come to you. It doesn’t matter how great your store or concept is; if you’re too out of the way, it’s not going to be as successful as you want it to be.

The location you choose should have a high level of foot traffic. Ideally, you’ll choose a place next to non-competitive retail businesses. These businesses should have a steady flow of clients so that they might drive walk in traffic to you. Looking at quality

commercial properties that you can afford to begin with will help you figure out where the best place for you is located. Of course, it doesn’t make sense to open a high end store in the low end part of town, and vice versa. Also, never choose a location just because it’s close to where you live!

8 Things To Remember When Creating Your Physical Store

  1. Focus On The Curb Appeal Of Your Physical Store

The way your store looks on the outside will make a difference to how much traffic you get walking through your door. It’s no good telling yourself that people won’t judge a book by it’s cover, because in this case, they will. Make sure your windows are clean, and get rid of things like peeling paint to make sure your store looks its best.

Tasks like sweeping outside the front of your store should be taken care of regularly. Make sure you have staff members that you can assign various tasks to. If you don’t have the time or the man power, you could always hire a third party company to take care of it for you.

  1. Keeping Your Shelves Stocked

Making sure you have enough on your shelves can be one of the most time consuming things you encounter in business. Make sure you don’t take this lightly. Take a look at wholesale suppliers and get a good idea of what you’re going to stock and how much you can afford. Remember that building relationships with suppliers can be one of the most effective things you can do when opening a business.

  1. Ensure Seamlessness Between Physical And Digital Stores

Assuming you already have an online store, you need to make sure that this site is working in harmony with your physical store. Many people use phones, tablets, and computers to browse through and purchase products. Make sure you have a strong online presence and that you’re allowing your customers to shop across your physical and digital channels effortlessly. Having a click and collect option can be super effective, as the people who come in store to pick up an item might just decide to buy additional items – 69% of people do this when they shop.

8-6 minutes is the amount of time waiting in line a person will do before they walk out of a store. Give them options. Make it possible for them to buy online and pick up later, or make sure you can be ready with additional registers when needs be. Some stores are even using iPads now, as they can add another till system instantly. You can then take the iPad anywhere in store to complete a sale – it isn’t tethered to a particular spot.

8 Things To Remember When Creating Your Physical Store

  1. Creating A Theme For Your Store

Creating and maintaining a theme in your store can help you to create a better, more exciting experience for your customers. What colors will you use? What patterns? What will your tagline be? With a theme, you can create loyal customers and be the proud owner of a unique store.

  1. Hiring Good People

Hiring good people is important when you open a physical store. One of the best things you can do is hire young people who want to learn more about the type of business you run. For example, if you have a store based on beauty and makeup items, you’ll want somebody interested in that – not somebody who’s interested in getting a career in the auto industry. Ask them about their interests and hobbies, and make sure you ask what they can offer you as an employee. Write a list of questions that will help you to get to know them better.

  1. Offering Unbeatable Customer Service

Customer service is one of the most important things you can offer in any type of business. Your customers need to be treated like gold, as they are one of the most important groups of people to you (your employees too, but that’s for a different post). Make sure your employees keep in mind that the customers pay their wages, so they deserve their undivided attention whenever they’re in the store. Your staff need to be making sure they are going above and beyond for the customers, even if that means helping them to their car with their purchases.

Word of mouth is one marketing tactic you can’t buy these days, and this is one way you can get it. Offering amazing customer service will help you to differentiate yourself from other businesses and get new customers through the door, not to mention keep past customers loyal. Having incentives to come back in place can help too, so don’t be afraid to introduce a loyalty card and rewards.

  1. Pay Attention To The Way Customers Will Move Around Your Store

There’s a natural way that your customers will make their way around your store when browsing. For example, the majority of people will turn right immediately after walking in. How can you make this experience better for them?

If you can remember these things when creating your physical store, you’ll be well on your way to success. Leave anything you think we’ve missed out below!