Own A Brick & Mortar Retail Location? 5 Ways to Thrive Post COVID-19

I know it’s Sunday but as I always say "How you start your week will be how you end it. "?

As you prepare your schedule and plans for the week spend a few minutes with this in mind, keep your pen and paper handy just in case you’re inspired to brainstorm.?

Brick and Mortar, Mall or Strip Mall Stores who do not take the next 1-3 months to make the shift to include online retail options and create a strategic plan to better utilize their retail space will mark my words "Lose" big time.

If you think you can wait it out and we're going “Back to Business as usual Post COVID-19 you’re sadly mistaken. This is in no way to discourage you but encourage you to push the envelope and shift your thinking.

Inventory is currently sitting in stores, shops and boutiques losing "Shelf Life" time, many are opting to ride it out as I said living and operating off savings, many have closed and others realize the sense of urgency to make the shift. In the U.S. we are 3 weeks into State mandated isolation for Non-Essential workers in most cases, Retail Stores who sell essential products have been allowed to remain open. 

Schools have officially gone to remote learning for the duration of the 2019/2020 academic year and this may be an indicator for how long retail locations can expect to be closed as well. Things are unpredictable at this point and we should act accordingly.

Let's get into it! Here are "5 Ways for Your Brick and Mortar to Thrive Post COVID-19!!!"

• Make Your Website, Social Media and Brick & Mortar work together to promote your brand

Let's face it most Brick & Mortar locations have been in business and are used to their way of doing things. Many have been in business for 5 + years and have gotten used to the benefit of making money daily. As long as my store is open "I'm In Business" COVID-19 has made us face a different reality for what life will look like going forward. Small Brick & Mortar locations must come to grips that only past clients and people walking by your store front know about it! Those businesses who make the adjustment(s) now will thrive in the future and those who don't will inevitably die off.

Creating or increasing your online/social media presence for your brand is critical right now! If you don't have the capital to invest in hiring a professional team to build your website and create a Strategic plan at this time invest in Social Media marketing and a low startup cost website. Squarespace or Shopify both offer amazing analytics, email marketing and other features you can use to shift the focus from your closed Brick & Mortar to your "Open" Online Store. Social Media is a great free way to reach your current audience as well as attract a new audience;

The trick is to this strategy is to ensure that all 3 offer the same feel, think of it as an ongoing conversation with your customer. The seeds you plant each and every day will reap a benefit and reward tomorrow. What you do for your business in the next month will speak to your results a year from now.

• Create Additional Client Profiles and Market to those Audiences

This is a step most Businesses I encounter Miss!!! They don't know who they're marketing to and relied on their physical locations being open to provide customers. This new era will force owners to attract customers in a more strategic and intentional way. Create an Ideal Client Profile List 10 Characteristic of your ideal client include these questions in your Profile:

How much disposable income do they need to have to shop with you?

Where would you find them online? Find them and Engage them;

What tone/style do they expect to be communicated in?

Use Social Media to test and tweaks you go.

• Experiential Retail - Develop your Retail Plan for Post COVID-19?

Most retail locations have pivoted to using retail locations as a way to Demo or allow their customers to experience their products while also offering them the option to purchase online; This will help Business Owners to create Hybrid shoppers attract new customers into retail locations, give an amazing customer experience every time and offer the convenience of both an in store experience as well as access 24/7 online.

What will be different about the way you operate your business? What parameters will you set to keep you and your customers safe?

Will you create a plan to reduce square footage for retail products? Add add on services ? Example: Clothing Stores can offer a Personal Stylist Session with every $300 session; or Free Tailor Services on the premises; Coffee Shops can add Books or Food for Sale offer Book Signings as an additional service;

• Deliver An Over the Top Customer Experience/Create Brand Ambassadors

Whether in Person or Online Deliver an over the top customer experience! Whether its answering customer questions via DM or Email make your self available; Those who really want to Wow their customers will anticipate their problems and solve for them. Video Content is where you win! Create "How To Videos" showcasing how to use a product you carry to solve for a problem or concern your customer has. For those of you who are camera shy, you have a few options:

1-Get over the fear and get in front of the camera

2- Hire someone who can get in front of the camera

3-Get behind the camera and film testimonials

4-Or ask your customers to become Brand Ambassadors by submitting Video Testimonials of them using your product or the results of using your product

• Build a Community/Email List

The best way to stay top of mind in your customers mind is to continuously show up in your clients face offer them more ways to front face you and your business in an intimate setting despite Social Distancing; Going LIVE on Social Media in a Private Community or sharing information via Insider emails can create that sense of Intimacy and exclusivity that keeps customers coming back. The causes you champion during this time will also increase customer loyalty. It's not always about the sale it's always about taking care of the customer.

How are you offering encouragement and empowerment during this time?

You can share the content of others that is relevant to this time; Create and share your content that may offer a solution to what they're going through right now; Answer questions, allow them to ask questions and connect them with the right people/services who can offer a solution.

How you treat and care for your customers during this sensitive time will be how they show up for you post COVID_19. They will remember the businesses that offered a kind word, the ones that were there for them when they needed it most!

I hope you enjoyed this article and are able to utilize the tips to Thrive Post COVID-19.

If you need support developing a strategy to make the shift I have a few appointments available in the upcoming weeks. Click HERE to schedule your consultation. ?