Not so long ago, every business was tightening its belt to get through one of the toughest financial storms the world has seen in a while. It seemed like every market was affected by this financial maelstrom. Spending habits appear to be on the mend, so now is the time to take advantage. Knowing the best way to benefit from the switch in spending habits allows you to make the most of a good situation. Here are a few ideas that can help you to get the most out of this new dawn in consumer spending.
Learn Where People are Spending Their Money
Consumer spending has recently grown by as much as 7 percent in one month. This is the highest growth in a decade which doesn’t appears to be slowing down. But you need to know where people spend their money to take advantage of the trend. Even though the Internet is a prime location for spending, many people still prefer to shop in person. They get to pick up the items they’re looking at rather than simply reading about them. As a business owner, you need a good barcode printer from a premium company like Shopify so you can put price tags on everything in your store.
Don’t stop with selling in your store. Since so many people prefer to buy both in brick and mortar stores and online, you can take advantage of this by linking the two (check out our post “Starting Something New: How Online Commerce is Changing the Modern Retail Store“). Realize that many people will check out your store in person and then purchase online. By making your products available in both locations, it’s possible for you to double down on the opportunity to sell. The people who prefer to purchase online can look at the products in the store and still purchase online. Take advantage of this by moving items you no longer want on your store floor to your website.
Offer As Much Information as Possible
Your goal is to market to those with disposable income, which means you have to be smart in how you target them. The wealthiest individuals are not as prone to make impulse purchases, so selling to them with forcible techniques may backfire, as reported by Bank Rate. Giving your customers the hard sell will cause them to turn away from your products instead of getting them to take action. A better plan is to provide as much information as possible so customers can make their own decisions about making a purchase. When you provide information, be cognizant that the act of buying something is really a search for a solution to a problem. If you present your products as an intelligent solution to a problem, customers will be more likely to make a purchase. The information you present should be both in the store as well as online. In fact, many business owners have taken the approach of providing kiosks within their stores that are equipped with a computer connected with the website. This bridges the gap for interested buyers, and they can continue to learn and buy even after leaving the store.
Utilize QR Codes to Capture the Growing eCommerce Market
The eCommerce market is at an all-time high in terms of popularity. Mobile eCommerce sales will top $638 billion in 2018, according to a report from Goldman Sachs as recently reported in Business Insider. This massive growth is something you can take part of when you take advantage of such technology as QR codes. Your customers can scan the codes using their smartphones and instantly see your site and everything you have to offer. By allowing your customers to discover your website through their smartphones, you encourage buying even after they leave the store. If you have a responsive site, they’ll be even more likely to keep using it on their phone, because they will have all the access they would have if they were using a desktop.
Advertising through Social Media to Increase Sales Online and in the Store
Social media is one of the most important marketing tools any business can utilize. Facebook alone commands attention from more than half a million people. If you set up a social media presence and connect it to your website as well as your regular store, you’re more likely to take advantage of the massive growth in online sales, according to CNBC. The trick is to not present your social media as an advertisement. Remember that everyone on social media is there to have fun. If you make sure your social media site has a personal feel, customers are more likely to trust your company and want to do business with you. Create posts providing information about your business, your products and anything interesting related to your industry. If you create posts that connect with the individual’s preferences, your sales and your financial stability will grow.
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