Customer Satisfaction Sets You Apart as a Retailer

Build a well-informed sales staff

How do you feel when you ask for directions to the cereal aisle and the sales person looks at you blankly or leads you to the bakery area? There are days when time is short and we ask for help because wandering is not an option. For me, weekends are precious and I have only a limited window to shop so I can give time to my baby, cook dinner and catch up on my weekend reading. As a busy professional with multiple work and family priorities, I think there is no excuse for not training your staff on what products you sell.

Connect with communities

In today's retail landscape, it is important that businesses go beyond connecting with individuals to reach niche communities, as they are close-knit circles where forming connections is easier, information travels faster and product sales multiply when like-minded consumers share experiences with each other. These communities could be comprised of pregnant women, young professionals in their first jobs or older couples living a distance from their children and grandchildren. Once, you have identified the group and its special needs, customizing offers becomes easier.

Talk about your unique offerings

You are in the business because of some unique features and services that only you provide or you do something better than any others in a category. You might own a photography studio that visits peoples' homes so family pets can be included or you could be a grocer who provides hard-to-find vegetables, fresh from the farm. The trick is to highlight these special offerings and create a special space for your brand in your customers' minds.

Provide a better shopping experience

There are two stores in my vicinity that opened recently. Where one store attracts large numbers of families, the other is doing poorly in terms of traffic. I wanted to understand the reason behind the difference in crowds each gets in spite of similar brands and options. I discovered that the more successful store had a good number of chairs for lounging, their washrooms had better lighting and were cleaner and they had a small nursery for kids with a feeding room. These facilities were missing or very poorly managed at the second mall. I am sure the families noticed the difference in their experience and made choices that had nothing to do with the products offered or the prices. The priorities are different for various retail categories and target customers.