People love to shop and this isn’t going to change. Even with the rising inflation and people saving up for an uncertain future, we all still got to eat. However, shopping is not just about making a purchase. It’s much more than that. Shopping can be therapeutic, a way to calm down, or, on the contrary, an entertaining experience.
In this article, we are going to focus on how visual merchandising can help you make your store stand out. We’re also going to talk about the importance of social media for brands and for brick and mortar stores.
Buying in-store
First off, let’s see why people love to buy in-store, even now, when products are a click away. Recent stats show that 81% of Gen Z prefers to make purchases in-store. This is a bit counterintuitive, right? Considering that they have been born with technology at their disposal.
Well, going to the store allows you to have a different, more complete experience, compared to online shopping. There are a few differences between online shopping and in-store shopping. While online shopping is all about convenience, in-store shopping is about the experience. Online shopping comes with more options, while in-store shopping comes with immediate gratification.
Since shoppers love to come to the store, what makes your shop different from the others? If you want to make sure that customers come to your store and keep coming back, you should focus on making the store “Instagramable”. What does social media have to do with in-store shopping? A lot!
The power of social media
Social media is where everything is happening. 1 billion people have active accounts on Instagram and they share stories and engage with other users daily. Apart from loving to shop in-store, people also love to share things on social media.
Word of mouth marketing is still the “best performing” type of marketing. Statistics show that 93% of people trust recommendations from friends and family. Those recommendations don’t have to come directly, they can be displayed on a simple post on social media. Apart from word of mouth, a social media post of an innovative POP display from your store can also go viral.
How can you increase the chances of shoppers snapping a photo and putting it on Instagram or other social media platforms? With the help of visual merchandising.
Tips and tricks to have an Instagram-worthy store
1. Know and share your brand identity
Before you decide the types of campaigns your want to implement, the color scheme, or the best promotional materials, you need to focus on your brand identity. Every time shoppers step foot inside your store, they need to be able to recognize your brand identity. Everything from the shelves to the attitude of the employees tells a store about your brand.
2. Create an experience
One of the most important things that people expect when they come to a store is an experience. They don’t just want products or they would have bought them online. First impression matters and so does the second. Make sure that shoppers have a pleasant and entertaining experience in-store.
3. Use the right solutions
If you want to promote your store and entertain your customers, you should try out some of the most innovative solutions, like a robotic POSM. Tokinomo is the perfect visual merchandising solution. With the combination of light, motion, and sound technology, Tokinomo makes products stand out from the crowd (or the shelf) and it increases customer engagement.
Wouldn’t you share a story if you saw Tokinomo in-store?
4. Focus on trendy products
Another thing that will make your shoppers snap photos is if you always bring the newest and trendiest products. While they might not be selling for a long time, it’s important to bring exactly what your shoppers want and expect.
5. Seasonality is important
Lastly, don’t forget about seasonality. There’s nothing like the smell of cinnamon rolls in a store full of Christmas decorations and candy. Any interesting or out-of-the-ordinary decorations will make customers want to take photos and share them with their friends and family.
