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For any retail store, foot traffic is one of the best measures of success. The more people you have coming into your store, the better chance you’ll have of generating customers and making sales. Your storefront does a lot of the work here for you. You may get a lot of repeat business and online sales, but your biggest business opportunity will come from attracting customers in off the street. Passersby who may have never heard of your business before but are curious enough to want to check it out.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fashion outlet, a sports bar, an Italian restaurant, or a newsagent. The curb appeal of your storefront can make or break your success. You need to do what you can to grab people’s attention and make them want to come inside.
With this goal in mind, here are a few ways to drive more foot traffic to your store.
Keep your storefront well-maintained
First impressions matter. If people look at your store and see an untidy display, with cracked, peeling paint and dirty windows, they’re going to instantly develop a negative perception of your business. No one wants to buy lunch from a dirty sandwich bar or buy a new dress from a rundown clothes shop. Increasing your curb appeal is the number one thing that will help you attract more customers. Wash your windows regularly and sweep up the pavement outside each day. Tidy up your window display, and get any imperfections like peeling paint or cracked windows fixed right away.
Add an eye-catching sign
When a passerby looks at your store, is it immediately obvious what your business does? Is it easy for people who are actively looking for your shop to find you? If the answer is no, you could benefit from improving your signage. A large, visually-striking sign is one of the best ways to promote your store to people on the street. The name of your company in large letters that can be read from a distance will boost your brand awareness, and you can create a custom sign that fits the tone and nature of your business. For example, you could display a large beer glass image if you’re a bar, or a huge pair of scissors for a barbershop. Meet the sign designers who can create this effect for you.
Add a curbside display
Have you ever walked past a bar or restaurant and seen a sandwich board with a witty message? These kinds of curbside displays might seem a little cheesy but they make people stop and read, and consciously or subconsciously, take note of your business. And often, the funniest messages get shared across social media. It could be a joke, a motivational quote, or even a promotion letting people know about an event going on in your store. Keep it light, and tailor it to your business, and you’ll be attracting new customers in no time. Take a look at some of these examples for some inspiration.
