BusinessMarketing
5 Ways to Reach Your Customers
Let’s review some crafty ways to encourage customers to visit your shop early, and save everyone unnecessary stress.
Photo Credit: ATA/Lester Photography.
Archery’s busy season is here, but it’s only getting started. As summer’s temperatures peak, so will the customers flooding your shop.
Some customers plan ahead, bringing in their bows for tuning and checkups months before opening day. However, you’ll always have plenty of procrastinators who, for whatever reason, wait until the last minute to visit your store for bow tune-ups and to stock up on supplies.
Let’s review some crafty ways to encourage customers to visit your shop early, and save everyone unnecessary stress.
If more customers come in early, they’ll help you spread out the work and cut down on overtime for bow technicians. And for customers thinking about getting a bow tune-up, a service discount can push them your way on your schedule. Photo Credit: ATA.
Few things motivate customers more than saving a few bucks. Encourage early shopping trips by offering discounts or deals on products and services. Offer discounts on new bowstrings or give a percentage off on bow-tuning service if they come in before the busiest season. Package such savings together as a preseason limited-time offer.
Good deals lead to more money. If more customers come in early, they’ll help you spread out the work and cut down on overtime for bow technicians. And for customers thinking about getting a bow tune-up, a service discount can push them your way on your schedule.
Last-minute visits and emergencies happen, of course. Customers will run to your shop when they’re nearly out of broadheads and arrows, or their bow is shooting poorly. Emergencies prompt customers to demand expedited services to get back into the field.
Encourage them to visit before disaster strikes by staying on their mind with discounts and preventive-maintenance reminders. However, stay prepared, and stock essentials for potential disasters. Flyers and social media alert customers to service offers, early-bird savings, and unique aspects of your store and range. Friendly reminders trigger customers to come in and capitalize.
Flyers and social media alert customers to service offers, early-bird savings, and unique aspects of your store and range. Friendly reminders trigger customers to come in and capitalize. Photo Credit: ATA.
How many “likes” do you have on your store’s social-media pages? Even if you’re happy with your number, you can always use more followers. Social-media pages are an easy, effective and efficient way to connect with customers.
Encourage current customers and attract new ones by offering incentives to those who “like” your social-media pages. Consider offering exclusive discounts or coupon codes to your followers. Put a time limit on the offers to spur customers to visit the shop before the busiest season.
Exclusive social-media offers that customers can click and collect encourage them to monitor your page, which helps you engage your customers year-round.
Have you changed your operating hours to accommodate the increased volume? Even if it’s just one day a week, consider keeping your shop open a little later to accommodate more customers.
If you open later, earlier or for extra days, make sure your customers know about it. Update your hours on your website, social-media pages and signage around your store.
This is the season many bowhunters and archers dream about. Show them you’re excited, too! Add some excitement outside for everyone to see. Encourage customers to come inside by making a statement outside. If drive-by customers notice your shop, they’ll be reminded to stop in.
Put out a sign that welcomes all bowhunters. Come up with creative copy that celebrates the season and displays your extra-special offers and incentives. If you have a display window, give it a bowhunting theme.
For more ideas on how to get customers through the door, explore ATA’s Retail Growth Initiative (RGI). RGI is free to ATA members, helps archery shops capitalize on their strengths, and explores new methods for serving current and potential customers. You can also learn lessons from your peers by requesting ideas in the Retail Growth Interact Community on ATA Connect.
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