Is Your Entryway Making a Positive First Impression?
Looking for a way to improve in-store sales, reinforce your brand image, or leave a lasting impression with guests to your property? There are many reasons why each should remain a major objective for just about every business owner, regardless of industry. From hospitality to commercial retail and sales, few things matter more than driving revenue with a strong brand and customer relations.
Fundamentally, it makes sense to focus on the customer conversion cycle to accomplish such goals. Savvy business owners can even implement psychology to inform, sell, and retain prospects, effectively driving them through the conversion cycle to generate long-term returns.
The study of psychology and sales has seen massive growth since the 1970s. There are a variety of texts, videos, and web-based apps dedicated to helping business owners harness the power of psychology to better serve customers and improve overall business performance.
How Psychology Affects Sales
In his book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” Robert Cialdini, Ph.D. provides a concise and clear overview of the basic psychological drivers behind most consumer choice. They are:
- Reciprocity
- Commitment/ Consistency
- Liking
- Authority
- Social Proof
- Scarcity
It all begins with a positive first impression. And for new customers, the first impression typically begins at the store, hotel, or property entrance.
Sales Start at the Entrance
We’ve all been there before: You enter a building, it feels unkept, and you are left feeling unwelcome or unimportant. Few situations are more damaging to the prospect of new customers and sales, which is why it’s vital for property owners to remember that sales start at the entrance of their store/property.
Bright interior decor, custom logo matting, wet umbrella bag stands, and (if the setting is right) a Greeter all make for a positive first impression with visitors and set the foundation for long-term relations. Let’s take a look at how these commercial products and best practices have a psychological impact on sales:
Reciprocity
The concept of reciprocity says if you give a customer something, they are more likely to feel the desire to reciprocate with something in return. Perhaps it’s a sale, or maybe it’s simply contact information that can lead to profitable long-term relationship. In either case, creating a warm and welcoming environment gives the customer a positive first impression and demonstrates a genuine level of care, increasing the likelihood they will reciprocate to your business with something of value.
Liking
The Liking concept is simple: Customers are more likely to give a sale to a brand or person with which they feel a general sense of linking. In this way, the entryway represents the ideal opportunity to demonstrate to visitors that your brand is likable. Keep things tidy, use an inviting color scheme, keep floors pristine, and offer extras like a place to stow their wet umbrella.
Final Touch: Making Rainy Days More Comfortable
As the retail industry saying goes, The devil is in the details. Brands can separate themselves from the competition by remaining attentive to details, especially those that leverage principles of psychology to improve customer experience.
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Shop umbrella bag stands and give potential customers a reason to pause, smile, and feel appreciated when entering your place of business. We proudly represent the finest umbrella storage and safety products on the Web. To learn more about Umbrella Bagger, contact Client Services as 855-328-8100.
Followup Reading
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