Because of the challenges presented by the economy, owners of small boutiques must be quick thinkers to compete with big chain stores.
One thing in your favor is the fact that it will be simple to set the stage in your intimate little boutique.
Not so if you were the owner of a major chain of nationwide stores.
Shopping can be a treat for all the senses.
The more you engage the shoppers' senses, the more likely you are to make a sale.
You will want your customers' shopping experience with you to be memorable so that they will come back again and again.
Here are a few ideas that will help you create just the right atmosphere.
In your windows, be sure to have eye-catching displays.
Use dramatic colors and make bold statements.
Place several large, flashy items in the windows to capture shoppers' attention as they hurry past.
Make your displays enticing so that customers will feel strongly drawn to your store.
Your store should be a departure from the outside world.
Make it a unique experience for the senses.
Offer interesting and exciting sights, scents, and sounds.
There should be a light citrus or cinnamon fragrance in the air.
Your scents should be subtle.
People have a variety of reactions to scents.
Do not use sweet or flowery scents.
Play music softly in the background.
Knowing who your market is will make it easy to select something appropriate.
The music needs to be a balance between elevator and high energy.
Soft jazz would be an appropriate choice.
Be sure that staff members greet each shopper with a smile when they enter the store.
Your staff's attitude can make or break your shop's success.
There is a delicate balance involved between helping shoppers and making them feel as though they are being monitored.
If you have the opportunity to learn the customer's name, be sure to use it when you finalize the purchase.
Give the customers personal service that they won't find in chain stores.
Learn your frequent buyer's names and call them by name as often as you appropriately can.
Always arrange your merchandise in a way that encourages your customers to touch and explore it.
Have mirrors placed throughout the floor so that customers can hold up apparel items.
This will give them an immediate idea of how an item will look.
When shoppers have the opportunity to do this, they will feel encouraged to try on the item and see how it will really look.
This will bring you more purchases.
It is important to focus on the important area of the dressing room.
Make the dressing room as spacious as possible.
The right mirrors are imperative.
Choose quality mirrors so shoppers don't feel as if they are in a fun house at the carnival.
A well-maintained dressing room complete with carpeting, good lighting, and upholstered seating will go a long way in completing a sale and changing the customer from a shopper into a buyer.
One thing in your favor is the fact that it will be simple to set the stage in your intimate little boutique.
Not so if you were the owner of a major chain of nationwide stores.
Shopping can be a treat for all the senses.
The more you engage the shoppers' senses, the more likely you are to make a sale.
You will want your customers' shopping experience with you to be memorable so that they will come back again and again.
Here are a few ideas that will help you create just the right atmosphere.
In your windows, be sure to have eye-catching displays.
Use dramatic colors and make bold statements.
Place several large, flashy items in the windows to capture shoppers' attention as they hurry past.
Make your displays enticing so that customers will feel strongly drawn to your store.
Your store should be a departure from the outside world.
Make it a unique experience for the senses.
Offer interesting and exciting sights, scents, and sounds.
There should be a light citrus or cinnamon fragrance in the air.
Your scents should be subtle.
People have a variety of reactions to scents.
Do not use sweet or flowery scents.
Play music softly in the background.
Knowing who your market is will make it easy to select something appropriate.
The music needs to be a balance between elevator and high energy.
Soft jazz would be an appropriate choice.
Be sure that staff members greet each shopper with a smile when they enter the store.
Your staff's attitude can make or break your shop's success.
There is a delicate balance involved between helping shoppers and making them feel as though they are being monitored.
If you have the opportunity to learn the customer's name, be sure to use it when you finalize the purchase.
Give the customers personal service that they won't find in chain stores.
Learn your frequent buyer's names and call them by name as often as you appropriately can.
Always arrange your merchandise in a way that encourages your customers to touch and explore it.
Have mirrors placed throughout the floor so that customers can hold up apparel items.
This will give them an immediate idea of how an item will look.
When shoppers have the opportunity to do this, they will feel encouraged to try on the item and see how it will really look.
This will bring you more purchases.
It is important to focus on the important area of the dressing room.
Make the dressing room as spacious as possible.
The right mirrors are imperative.
Choose quality mirrors so shoppers don't feel as if they are in a fun house at the carnival.
A well-maintained dressing room complete with carpeting, good lighting, and upholstered seating will go a long way in completing a sale and changing the customer from a shopper into a buyer.
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