How to Increase Footfall in Retail Stores: 4 Powerful Strategies You Need to Try

Low footfall is the silent killer of retail stores.

You’re investing in rent, inventory, and staff, but you barely have any customers. Operational costs are rising, and your bottom line is non-existent. How do you turn this around? In this blog, we’ll dive deep into 4 strategies you can use to supercharge your foot traffic. Let’s dive in.

How to increase footfall in retail stores

Why are some stores always packed with customers? Here’s the truth: It’s not just about the products they sell. It’s about the overall experience they provide.

Read on to learn the secrets of drawing more people through your doors.

1. Understand your customers

This might sound like basic advice, but understanding your customers is the key to everything. It’ll help you make smarter choices about what to sell, how to sell, and how to talk to your customers.

Firstly, identify three to four groups based on:

• Demographics

• Behavior

• Psychographics

When you group similar customers together, you can make better plans to reach them.

Next step is to develop in-depth profiles of your ideal customers (ICPs). This will help you understand needs, wants, and buying behaviors.

Think about their day-to-day life and how they decide to buy things. The goal is to figure out the best times to connect with them and how to keep them happy. Here’s an example of what ICPs for a typical retail store would look like -

2. Leverage digital channels

Fun fact: 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere else. That means you’re missing out on lots of potential customers if you’re not using digital tools. Eight non-negotiables for your online strategy include -

• Social media:

Share interesting posts about your business on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Show off your products or services, and promote any special deals.

Take a page from Sephora’s playbook. Their social media presence is filled with user-generated content, tutorials, and product reviews. This establishes them as a thought-leader in their industry, while providing value to customers.

• Website:

Have a website that’s easy to use and nice to look at. Make sure it has all the important info like your address, hours, and what you offer.

• Online ads:

Use tools like Google Ads to show up when people search for businesses like yours.

• Online listings:

88% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a related store within a week. So, put your business info on sites like Google My Business and Yelp. This helps people find you when they’re looking for local businesses.

• Emails

Collect email addresses from customers and send them updates or special offers to encourage them to visit.

• Online reviews

Ask happy customers to leave good reviews online, so new people trust your business.

• Local content

Post about local events or news on your social media. This helps people see you as part of the community.

• Influencer marketing

Partner with influencers who align with your brand to reach a wider audience and generate buzz.

H&M does a great job of this. They collaborate with microinfluencers to promote new product launches. This helps them cater to diverse cultural preferences, ultimately expanding market reach. It also drives sales and fosters a sense of community.

By using the above digital tools, you can reach more people and give them reasons to come visit your business in person.

3. Enhance the in-store experience

You need to provide exceptional customer experience to convince people to come back to your store. This encompasses a wide range of things, as illustrated in the infographic below:

Apart from this, there’s another key element that ties everything together: technology. Particularly, video walls. These large, high-impact displays are catching customers’ eyes and making waves in the retail space.

Here are five reasons why video walls are the next big thing for stores:

1. Instant attention

They are designed to captivate. Vibrant visuals and dynamic motion pull customers in, making your store stand out in a crowded market.

2. Interactive experiences

Boosting customer engagement is very easy with a video wall. From exploring product options to watching demos and VR/AR experiences — there are a number of interactive experiences you can implement.

3. Fresh messaging

Updating content is easy. You can quickly adjust to highlight new products, seasonal offers, or special events, ensuring your messaging is always relevant.

4. Story-telling

Video walls are a powerful way to share your brand’s story. Use them to communicate your values, showcase your products, and build deeper connections with your customers.

5. Data insights

The biggest selling point of a video wall is data analysis. They allow you to track customer engagement so you can understand what resonates with them. Finetune your approach accordingly, and you’re sure to have customers flocking to you in no time.

At Pickcel, we wanted to stay ahead of the curve and develop an innovative video wall solution that can truly impact your customer engagement and footfall.

We call it Wallcraft. And it comes decked out with a host of features:

• Synchronized multi-screen display

Effortlessly display content in sync across a number of screens. Perfect for large environments like malls or big retail stores, this feature ensures every customer sees the same messaging at the right time.

• Scalable symmetric video walls

WallCraft allows you to create stunning video walls with a symmetric layout that can scale to any number of screens. Whether you’re showcasing a product line or running a brand campaign, the experience is a visual masterpiece.

• Innovative asymmetric video walls

With WallCraft, you can also design artistic and asymmetric video walls without needing specialized hardware. This capability opens up endless creative possibilities, letting you craft unique visual experiences that capture customer attention.

WallCraft also gives you the flexibility to schedule different content for each screen. This means you can tailor your displays to suit different parts of your store or different times of day.

Now, for the last strategy that’ll help you increase footfall (and sales!):

• 4. Build strong community relationships

Becoming an active participant in your local community can build trust and loyalty from customers around the area. Here are three ways to do it:

• Host events

Workshops, seasonal celebrations, or charity fundraisers give people a reason to visit your store beyond just shopping. They provide opportunities for meaningful interactions. This can build stronger connections and encourage repeat visits.

• Support local causes

Sponsoring a local sports team, donating to a neighborhood charity, or participating in community projects shows that your store cares about what matters to its customers. This involvement builds your reputation and fosters loyalty, as people are more likely to support a business that supports their community.

• Collaborate with nearby businesses

By co-hosting events, offering joint promotions, or creating local shopping guides, you tap into each other’s customer networks. These partnerships increase visibility and create a sense of community that resonates with local shoppers.

When your store invests in building community relationships, it becomes a welcoming space where people feel connected. This encourages more frequent visits, longer stays, and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Give your business a boost with Pickcel!

To increase footfall in your store, you will need to create a memorable and engaging shopping experience for customers. This involves using innovative marketing strategies, providing personalized experiences, and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

One effective tool that can help achieve these goals is video walls. By showcasing products, providing information, and creating an interactive environment, they enhance the customer experience and attract more visitors to your store.

We’ve spoken to hundreds of retailers to create a video wall solution that truly meets your needs. To learn more about how you can use Wallcraft to increase footfall, book a free demo with us here.