How to Stand Out As An Independent Retailer
|In·de·pend·ent| adjective, free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority.
As an independent retailer, you have free reign with your business. You’re not necessarily tied down to a corporate decision and you know which products make the most sense for the shelves in your store. Although with the keys to the proverbial kingdom also comes all of the decisions about your business, both big and small. Creating schedules, tracking profitability and trying to keep up with regulatory changes is enough to make you say Uncle!! But as an independent retailer, you have to consistently find ways to stand out amongst your competition. Consumer demand is changing at a rapid pace and if you’re not listening to your customers, you could be left behind. Check out some of our out-of-the-box ideas for creating excitement at your retail store and learn how to stand apart from the rest.
The easiest way to stand apart really involves little to no investment and is one simple word: SERVICE. Providing the best possible service to your customers will definitely make you stand out in the crowd. The best part is that it doesn’t take much to quickly implement this measure. It’s pretty common sense and all about having a positive attitude and serving the customer efficiently. Only a satisfied customer will become a regular customer.
If you want members of your community to frequent your store, get out there and make it known. There is no shame in publicity and becoming involved in your community or neighborhood goes a long way in forming relationships that could benefit your business. Sponsor an intramural adult basketball team and offer a free sports drink for the players after the game. Or head out to your local small business association to network with other small business owners and get feedback on how they have been successful. Becoming friendly with your competitors is not a bad thing either. You don’t have to share all of your success secrets with each other but you can swap war stories and band together if and when legislative issues face our industry. Almost as easy as providing good service, just getting out there and making connections with others in your community is a no-brainer.
For all of you creative thinkers out there, we recommend offering something special that no one else does. Do it and become a local legend. For example, your store could claim fame to the tallest beef jerky display in the state. Invite your customers to take a selfie next to it and have them post it on social media with a hashtag linked to your store. You could even take it one step further and create a contest with one lucky winner getting free beef jerky for a year. The possibilities are endless but don’t be afraid to think of something unique. Remember when Lady Gaga started her music career and was known for doing some of the most outrageous stuff anyone had ever seen? Well it worked for her, surely it could work for you!
At the end of the day, our industry has many resources available to independent retailers, with many of them being free. Check to see if your state has an association or join in on some of the national associations if you haven’t already. Not only do they offer industry tradeshows and seminars, but they also offer webinars and other tools to help you grow and manage your business. Investing in your business and making sure you stay on top of current trends is always worth it.
