The retail superpowers you need to boost sales
Retailers, we see you. You’re the ultimate multi-taskers, juggling customer services, sales and product strategy with a heavy dose of creativity, charisma and business acumen.
Every superhero needs a superpower, and here are five that every retailer should have in their locker when sales need a boost.
1. Visual merchandising
Applying a design eye to a display can breathe new life into any product range. Pairing complementary colours or utilising upcycled materials to showcase items, can draw customers to items they never knew they needed. Books can be your secret weapon in a display, adding a pop of colour, injecting a touch of luxury or signposting a theme.
2. Customer insight
Retail is part psychology and part matchmaking. The more you can learn about your customers, the better you can be at getting inside their heads to anticipate what they need or want. Chat to them when they’re browsing. Connect to your local community. Use your own sales data. Get to know who is visiting and why, so you can position the right product in front of them, at the right time and at the right price point.
3. Storytelling
Retail magic happens when you know how to set a scene. A curated approach to product selection can spark the imagination, helping your customers visualise who they could be with the right products. Books can help tie these retail stories together, adding humour, warmth or fun to connect to your customers.
4. Trendspotting
Being able to identify the trends that will resonate with your customers is key to ensuring that sales opportunities are not missed. The Bookspeed team looks out for trending themes in books, and will recommend the best quality titles to capture zeitgeist moments. Books are often a low-risk option for reflecting a trend in your range.
5. Product knowledge
Customers are becoming increasingly discerning about what they buy, often looking for sustainably sourced, unique items that will stand the test of time. Get to know what you sell so you can communicate with passion. It’s the perfect excuse to sample your own goods, especially if you retail food and drink!
Supporting your superpowers
It’s impossible to be great at everything, all the time. That’s why retail is a team sport. If you need to bolster your efforts with a partner who understands what it takes to deliver retail excellence, then talk to us about how your books can work harder for you.
