Happy fiftieth birthday David
Foot Traffic
If you are in retail one of your biggest concerns is getting
feet in the door. We call that foot traffic. If you have a restaurant or have a
movie theater or night club, you call it getting butts in the seats. The
concept is the same even though the name is different. A rose by any other name
still has a bee in it that will sting you.
Many stores try to increase their foot traffic a multitude
of ways. Wal-Mart has the “Everyday Low Prices” idea which, in theory, works
better than most other methods. Some stores will use sales and promotions. Some
stores will have contests and give-aways. But the best method of getting feet
in the door is word of mouth.
If, once a person comes in your store you treat them well,
they will probably be back. If, however, you ignore them or, worse yet, are out
and out rude to them, chances are good they will never cross your threshold
again. It is important to serve every customer well every time.
In order to improve foot traffic the store must decide what
it can do better than most other stores. Once they have decided that, they can
use that as a niche to get people in the door. One local convenience store
brags on their restrooms. Customers stopping there can be sure they will find a
clean restroom. Their prices are higher than most other stores, but they have
the cleanest restrooms around. Families that need to stop for a drink and chips
will probably stop there and pay a few dollars more so they can use a clean
restroom.
Whether your store offers the cleanest restrooms, the
freshest coffee, the tastiest snacks, the coldest drinks, the widest selection
of snacks or whatever, you need to use this as your selling point. Get the feet
in through the door and then turn that visitor into a customer.
Can you think of some great ideas to get customers to walk
through your doors? Share them with the old redneck in the comments.
Disclaimer
The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional.
Please be sure to consult your attorney and/or accountant with any specific questions.
There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances. Please Visit McClendon Enterprises
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