![]() IntroductionHololenses. Pop up stores. Magic mirrors. Are retailers keeping up with the latest tech trends? Are they adopting the right tools in order to capture a lift in sales and shape their customers’ buying experience? How will they get customers to walk out the store saying wow that was unbelievable! I have to buy something! In today’s busy retail market customers today have access to more information, available at their fingertips 24 hours a day, than ever before. Successful retailers have achieved customer loyalty and an ever-lasting relationship with their brand. But how? Here are 5 ways successful retailers build a customer-Intimate experience: staying ahead of the game! 1. Empower your customersMark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and star of the show Shark Tank once said: “Treat your customers like they own you, because they do.” That quote perhaps best captures the essence of the customer revolution. Empowerment is a guaranteed investment, when you empower your best customers to make decisions quickly the results will be amazing: increased user adoption, enhanced customer loyalty, increased sales, decreased attrition, and word-of-mouth advertising that is less expensive and more credible than anything you could buy. Successful companies approach the empowered customer with a willingness to listen and be taught.
2. Effective Omni-channelingThe world today is driven by technology, which is always changing with limited duration. The retail industry is on the verge of a fundamental transformation driven by digital technologies. As retailers adapt to the digital age, the line between physical and digital commerce is becoming increasingly blurred. Today consumers demand custom experiences as part of their everyday lives, and seamlessly blending technology, lifestyle and service to meet consumer demands is a critical strategy for successful retailers. Offering a differentiated Omni-channel engaging experience is important in attracting and retaining engaged customers. According to a survey from the Harvard Business Review, shoppers who engage with retailers across multiple touch points are driving boosts in conversion rates, both online and offline, as they become increasingly reliant on more than one channel to aid in their purchasing decisions. Retailers using this technique align their messaging, goals, objectives, and design across each channel and device. The possibilities of Omni-channeling in pursuit of retail goals are endless. More retailers are catching up, with Barnes and Noble opening full service restaurants in their stares, and with Toys R Us creating interactive play areas for parents and kids, but this change did not only affect brick and mortar stores; even online giants like Amazon are experimenting with physical locations in order to accommodate their customers in a multitude of ways.
3. Speak the language of your customersSpeaking the language of your customers will undeniably accelerate your sales and make your brand more engaging. It’s that simple. Cut out the fancy words. Stop trying to develop creative ways to describe your value proposition. Just describe what your company is, what it does, and who it serves simply, concisely, and in your customers’ language. Nothing will accelerate your brand more than speaking with clarity. Starbucks is a world renowned brand with a language unto itself, and over the course of thirty years they have trained consumers to understand a whole new language. Developing a new language for your brand might sound like an exciting opportunity to differentiate your company. But the downside of using unique ways to describe your products and services are incredibly high, when a customer doesn’t understand, they don’t buy. And it takes a long time to educate your clients on a new language. 4. Listen to feedback loopsWinning over customers have been the easy part, getting them to come back for more and inspiring them to keep returning often takes new techniques. If you really want to retain your customers as well as grow your business, then pay attention to what customers say. Brands such as Uber, Amazon, Tesla, Netflix, are disruptive and innovative because they’re fanatical about customer engagement providing experience that customers don’t expect. The reason is to get repeat business from the same people, and acquire new customers at a lower cost. It is essential to constantly monitor feedback and consistently track key performance Indicators regarding satisfaction, loyalty, attrition and ease of use. Best-in-class companies are continually re-crafting their offerings to stay one step ahead of their customers’ changing needs. The quality of customer service and consumers experience can significantly impact a retailer’s bottom line. In fact, 66% of consumers are willing to spend more money with a company that provides them with excellent customer service, according to Microsoft, while 60% of consumers say they have not completed an intended purchase due to a poor customer service experience! 67% of the core survey population said fun experiences are more important than owning things. 61% said they will pay premium for experiences they feel are worth it. There’s always a beacon of where to go – your customers. Listen to your customers! They’ll teach you how to speak: their language. 5. Consistency & Simplicity Successful Retailers keep things Simple!
Final ThoughtsCustomer intimacy is not about transactions it is about transformation.
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You can read more about value connect, customer intimacy and how to achieve commercial excellence in retail and merchandising. You are also welcome to view and download our full online brochure for your reference.
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