Running a retail store can be tricky, but what about overseeing hundreds of stores in one place? If you own a shopping centre, you need to know how to ensure you work well with franchise owners and companies in bringing their products to your space. So how can you ensure your shopping centre is as customer-friendly as possible? Consider these tips to improve the customer experience in a new or renovated shopping environment.
Keep It Clean
No one wants to visit a shopping centre that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years, so hiring a commercial cleaning team to wipe up spills and put rubbish in the correct bins is a must. While you hope most people will respect the space, there will always be people who assume the rules don’t apply to them. With so many people visiting your centre, it can be tricky to highlight everyone who litters, so ensuring your team is ready to clean up wherever is a must and it keeps the centre looking as pristine as possible.
Make It Accessible
You can also identify the best ways to make your store accessible and welcoming. This factor should account for all customers, including anyone in wheelchairs or those with sensory sensitivities. You need multiple lifts and ramps to ensure easy access while grinding the right balance between a fun, vibrant environment and being too overwhelming is a must. If you are concerned about sensory issues, encourage visitors to speak directly with the attending manager to see how to best accommodate their needs.
Guide Your Visitors
Shopping centres can be overwhelming and even confusing, especially if people are visiting for the first time. You can make their experience more enjoyable by helping them get around using digital mapping kiosks that help them find what they want without aimlessly wandering.
Digital maps are a great way to help visitors find the retail store they came for and they can highlight other stores that might catch their interest along the way, which can keep them in the centre for longer.
Make It Easy to Come and Go
Whether your shopping centre is located in the city centre or on its own lot slightly out of the city, you need to ensure it is accessible. The best way to achieve this is by working with local bus companies to establish a bus route that takes visitors right to the door.
This approach can be a specific bus designed purely for shopping centre transport or work as a useful terminal that is easy to find. Once you’ve established this partnership, work with a bus shelter supplier to give your visitors somewhere safe and comfortable to wait after they have finished shopping.
Offer Multiple Amenities
Shopping centres are not just about the stores. The best places are also an experience, so finding ways to offer an all-day experience is crucial. This not only makes your centre more appealing, but it also gives people a reason to stick around even after they have finished shopping.
One essential amenity should be a food court where customers can refuel during their trip or before they head home. Additionally, since families are some of the most common visitors, a place for the kids to play (and parents to get a break) will also make the centre more successful.
Ensure Safety
Everyone deserves to feel safe while shopping. Your visitors come to buy birthday presents or check out new clothing lines ready for the season. The last thing they want to worry about is getting in harm’s way.
Therefore, investing in reliable shopping centre security is vital. You don’t need to populate the entire space with guards, but having a team ready to leap into action when necessary is crucial. Many stores will also have their own security team, adding more confidence.
Provide Diverse Shopping Options
Your centre should cater to as many customers as possible, so it’s not worth only featuring high-end stores. A good shopping centre features a mix of everything, from affordable clothing stores to more expensive electronics or homeware department stores. The more variety, the more appealing your centre will be, and this ensures everyone has a great experience as they won’t feel priced out or like their visit was wasted.
Customer Friendly
The more customer-friendly your shopping centre, the easier it will be to attract and retain visitors. While many people believe that retail is dying, especially with e-commerce being so convenient, there is still space for a shopping centre, and these tips can help you increase interest and make your space the place where shopping, including families and friends, congregate for a fun, successful day out.