subject: How to Build Dollar Store Sales with more Frequent Visits [print this page] How to Build Dollar Store Sales with more Frequent Visits
Are you about to start a dollar store? If so you have undoubtedly found there is a very real investment required to bring more traffic to your store. While some shoppers might accidently just see your store and stop in to investigate, others need to hear your store name and message many times before they are motivated to make that actual first step and come to your store. The other half of the formula is to develop actions which bring current shoppers back to your store more frequently. So how do you get shoppers to come back to your store again when they do stop in?
The list of options is limited only by your imagination and creativity. In this article I present 8 examples of a store environment which will not only get shopper back to your store again and again, but will also motivate shoppers to stay in your store longer each visit. It is this combination of frequent visits and spending longer while inside your store which helps to build dollar store sales for those who start a dollar store.
#1) Hold contests focused on children
Coloring contests are the popular choice. These cost little to startup and children love seeing their special entry posted on the wall. Provide small prizes such as store gift certificates.
#2) Conduct drawings
Make the rules very simple. Again, the goal is to have fun with this. Allowing customers who make purchases during a specific time to enter online, on a small entry form, or even on the back of a duplicate receipt is all it takes. Make the prize(s) worthwhile to maximize the number of customers who enter.
#3) Add a 'Frequent Shopper' rewards program
Consider simple options such as punch cards to track purchases. When a shopper reaches a certain total dollar amount of purchases offer rewards or even discounts on their next purchase.
#4) Use email and Twitter
Announcing limited sales or discounts is easy using email or Twitter. You do need to collect email addresses or shoppers need to sign up to follow you if you use Twitter. Both are simple methods which can be effective for those who start a dollar store.
#5) Hold sidewalk sales
Want to bump up dollar store sales over a weekend? Hold a sidewalk sale. If your landlord will not allow you to do this outside your store then hold the sale inside your store. This is not only a great way to add to dollar store sales. It is also an effective way to selloff slow selling and old merchandise.
#6) Conduct weekend Barbeque Events
Shoppers will be interested in stopping by for a hotdog or hamburger along with a beverage. You might even be able to convince a nearby restaurant to actually do the work in exchange for gaining exposure to potential new customers. Even charging $1 or a similar small amount will not meet with much resistance.
#7) Hold craft events
When you start a dollar store holding craft events and other activities which are focused on highlighting some of the products sold in your store is a great strategy to add even more excitement for shoppers while adding more sales for you.
#8) Create 'Preferred Shopper' customer nights
This is a great way for those who start a dollar store to recognize shoppers. Require shoppers to sign up and then send a flyer announcing each upcoming 'Preferred Shopper' customer event. Hold these events immediately after the store closes. Reveal new, just arrived merchandise. It is also a great way to kick off the various holidays.
Never allow your focus on growing dollar store sales ever-higher to stop. This must be a top priority for those who start a dollar store. After all ever-higher dollar store sales are a big part of the success formula. Combined higher sales with aggressive cost cutting and you have a winning combination.
