Local businesses are back in favor with consumers: around the corner, you can find
choice, quality and service, as well as a warm welcome and personalized advice. Yes, the independent
local retailer is having its moment.
Independent retailer: how to get noticed
Merchants
are looking for new tools to boost
their visibility: private or municipal signage on public roads,
eye-catching storefronts, and creative, colorful window displays.
But is that
enough? No! Other approaches are needed to build a
lasting connection between consumers and merchants. Direct marketing tools combined with new communication channels such as the internet and
social media make customer loyalty more effective. Through short,
regular, and engaging messages, merchants invite their customers to discover new products and take advantage of
attractive offers.
An independent local retailer — standalone, but connected!
Consumers feel valued, and merchants keep better control of their inventory and customer flow.
Today, thanks to sophisticated yet easy-to-use loyalty programs,
every independent local retailer can have their own system, tailored to their business and their customers. While
the investment is very modest, it may still give some pause.
That said,
grouping retailers into clubs or business associations within the same
neighborhood or town can make it easier to get the project off the ground. Financial support
may also be available through government bodies.
The independent local retailer keeping pace with progress
Modern loyalty card systems allow merchants to communicate directly and
personally with their customers through the channels of their choice: mail,
email, SMS, and social media. Software accessible from point-of-sale terminals
manages customer databases and removes technical burdens from merchants,
so they can stay focused on their core business.
One final
point: the return on every euro invested in this type of loyalty system
can be measured precisely by tracking the revenue generated by each customer.
Independent local retailers now have access to the latest loyalty best practices.
If you feel you need support, a customer loyalty specialist can
guide you through the process. Don’t hesitate to contact us.
