Here are some tactics used by retailers to boost their exposure and appeal.
1. Offer a Unique Shopping Experience
Despite the rise of e-commerce, which promotes convenience and competitive pricing, brick-and-mortar retailers are not going away anytime soon. In fact, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market for US$13.4 billion in 2017, creating a striking physical presence for itself.
The truth is, traditional stores can never be replaced by their online counterparts because of the social aspect that customers crave — for example, offering a new and fresh environment where people can interact.
However, there are always new things to try in order to improve your clients' purchasing experiences. Many retailers, for example, include dining spaces and coffee shops to create rapport with their customers and encourage them to spend more time at the location.
Another approach to engage with your customers is to host special events. Many large stores or malls, for example, organise concerts and book fairs, which are both excellent ways to bring people of various ages and backgrounds together.
Alternatively, you can offer classes related to your business industry. Sephora, for example, organises skincare and makeup workshops in-store.
Another method we have discussed extensively in previous articles is incorporating a buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS) plan, which allows customers to visit your store to pick up orders they've placed online.
2. Form Strategic Partnerships that Address Customer Needs
One such collaboration is that between Target and ThredUp, a second-hand clothing store, to sell affordable and sustainable fashion items.
As consumers grow more conscious of their purchasing habits, several fashion firms are adapting to this shift in behaviour. In fact, according to estimates, the resale market will overtake fast fashion by 2028.
3. Generate Virtual Foot Traffic by Joining the Metaverse
According to surveys, one-third of Gen Z representatives want brands to build virtual stores where they can buy virtual clothes for their online characters or avatars.
If you're not a ‘zoomer’, this discovery may seem out of this world. However, gaming and virtual socialising places, like sports or arts, provide a means of self-expression.
Take into account that fashion labels like Forever21, Estée Lauder, and Tommy Hilfiger have already jumped on the Metaverse bandwagon. Nike, for example, has had tremendous success with their Nikeland showroom, which has over 7 million virtual clients.