Shopping is one thing today’s consumers are well versed at, being tech savvies and extremely experienced when it comes to shopping in traditional and virtual channels. To constantly stay connected to consumer’s sophisticated and high expectations for service, value, offers and choice. The power has shifted for the retailer to the consumer and it’s now up to retailers to meet the consumers diverse needs and to start engaging them in “new rules” of retail. Here are a few tips one must consider while developing strategies to meet today’s customer’s expectations:
1. Offering a smooth and continuous experience
Offer a seamless experience across all retail channels whether kirana stores, online, mobile or social – it’s important to offer a smooth customer experience across each of these touch points.
2. Service consistency
Multi-channel retailers are expected to offer store returns on online orders. So one must make sure it’s a pleasant, convenient and easy store return process for your customer. And staying consistent is at most important.
3. Providing product details
The liability of the product is often marked by the information given about it which includes online access of product levels, availability and location information.
4. Price it well
Your competitors are the best to help you while pricing your products and your research on them will make you well aware of the pricing. Today’s consumer is acquainted with technology and is constantly shopping for the best available deal by comparing prices.
5. Update yourself with Retail Trends
Define your understanding of retail trends and purchasing patterns like what styles, brands and assortments works for your store.
6. Identify your customers
Identify your customer behavior patterns and find your audience as they will be the ones who support you in the near future.
7. It’s all about the WOW factor
Making sure that your store has that WOW factor about itself, cause this would help you have an upper hand in the market. Whether it’s in your merchandising, staff friendliness and knowledge of in-store promotions, you need to offer an in-store experience that will keep them coming back.
8. Promote cross-channel offers
Never let your customer check-out without offering them some sort of reward, discount or contest entry. The best way to keep them coming back is to give them a reason to.
To provide their customer with the best possible service that they desire and to have a solid system in place that will support their demands is the key in today’s world of retailing which should be on top priority on any retailer’s to-do list. Investing in a company which provides end-to-end control over the entire retail business, from point of sale to merchandising to order fulfillment in all the way through financials would be your first step towards ensuring that you meet today’s customer demands and expectations.
