Marketing is vital for the survival and growth of any retail business, particularly independent ones like yours. How will consumers know what you have to offer, or that your shop even exists, if you don’t tell them?
Yet all too often, smaller retailers worry that marketing is too expensive for them, or takes too much time and effort to do. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Often it’s the simplest ideas that work the best.
So here’s 20 tried and tested ways to market your shop without necessarily having a big marketing budget:
1. Use your business cards to maximum effect. Add a listing of the merchandise categories and services you offer to the back of your business cards. Always carry business cards with you. Give them out freely and leave them where your target customers may visit. Remember to ask permission of the owner or manager first.
2. Create a loyalty scheme to reward your existing customers.
3. Book a 'celebrity' guest for an event at your store. Use people from your sector, local authors or well-known personalities. Don't forget to obtain maximum publicity in your area before and after the event.
4. Improve your shop’s fascia signage.
5. Join a trade association or organisation related to your sector.
The full version of this article is available to Members in the “Attract More Customers” section.
Join Now and gain immediate access to all the content on the site.
