Every so often, it can be good to assess the layout and look of your grocery store and see what needs fixing or updating. In a world of choices, you need to stand out from the competition in order to have consumers choose you. Keeping a loyal customer base involves making repairs and upgrades when the time comes. Here are some things to consider repairing or upgrading at your store.
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1. Customer Experience
How easy is it for customers to use your store? Walk through as if you were a customer and try to imagine. Then, make upgrades with the consumer in mind. Replace squeaky, broken or locked caster wheels on your carts; the cart is vital to the shopping experience for most consumers, and a good cart will often lead to a good time. Make sure your signage is large, attractive and legible for all departments. You can even offer maps near the front of the store to help clarify the layout.
2. Curb Appeal
Don’t neglect the outside of your store: it’s the first thing most people will see when arriving. To make the customers feel more welcome, you can make repairs to sidewalks and curbs for ease of accessibility. Freshen the paint or finish of the building, repair any broken or dim outdoor signage and make sure your parking lot is well marked. Simple things like this will bring customers into the store in a better frame of mind.
3. Layout
Changing your layout doesn’t even have to involve moving departments. Sometime, upgrading shelving units and utilizing better racks and storage can give your store a whole new appearance without moving a single product. If you are looking to make bigger changes, start with a map to help you visualize the flow of customers. Decide what kind of layout you want and where the highest activity or interest areas are, and using your existing knowledge of the space to upgrade it. Finding a balance between what will sell the most product and what will serve the customers best can be key.
Your store can be important for the food and other goods it provides to patrons, but don’t forget about the overall shopping experience. Upgrading your store every so often with simple aesthetic and experience changes can make it easier and more enjoyable to shop there. Think like a customer and tailor the experience to their needs.