HOW TO ACE THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Using data insights from the Sensormatic Solutions 2023 Back-to-School Consumer Sentiment Survey and a survey study from Suzy Market Research, let’s explore how retailers can create captivating shopping experiences during this critical shopping season.
Embracing the Omnichannel Experience
In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, providing a seamless omnichannel experience is crucial. Consumers today expect a cohesive blend of online and offline interactions, and the back-to-school season is no exception.
By effectively bridging the gap between the physical and digital storefronts, retailers can establish meaningful connections with customers at every touchpoint, curating an unforgettable back-to-school shopping experience.
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79% of US consumers plan to visit physical stores this year, up from 76% the previous year.
Source: Sensormatic
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41% of US consumers plan a combination of in-store and online shopping.
Source: Suzy
30% of US consumers said in-store promotions would be an important factor in their choices.
Source: Sensormatic
Personalisation is Key
In a world where personalisation reigns supreme, modern consumers seek tailored experiences. Leveraging the insights from the Sensormatic survey reveals that 51% of US consumers intend to maintain or increase their spending on school supplies, meaning retailers have a prime opportunity to provide personalised recommendations.
By understanding and catering to individual preferences and behaviours, retailers can foster stronger connections with their customers, instilling a sense of loyalty and driving repeat visits.
Digital Signage: Captivating Visuals
Incorporating digital signage into the shopping experience presents an invaluable opportunity for captivating customers through compelling visual storytelling.
Eye-catching digital signage content allows retailers to design distinct static and animated visuals throughout their stores, putting a spotlight on back-to-school promotions, flash sales, and exciting product launches through attractive visual displays.
Synchronising online promotions with in-store displays creates a consistent and unified brand experience, encouraging shoppers to explore both online and offline channels. Seamlessly integrating digital signage content into the omnichannel journey enhances customer engagement and fosters lasting brand loyalty.
76% of US consumers indicated that in-store promotions influenced them to impulse purchase a back-to-school item.
Source: Suzy
Music: Elevating the Ambiance
Undeniably, music plays a critical role in shaping the shopping ambiance during the back-to-school season. By working with a professional music provider, you can curate music playlists to create an inviting environment that energises shoppers.
Elevating the overall mood with thoughtfully selected programs entices customers to spend more time exploring the store, ultimately leading to increased sales. By customising music playlists, retailers can ensure a music experience that resonates with their target audience, elevating the shopping journey to new heights.
Encourage Social Sharing and User-Generated Content
Leveraging user-generated content in the shopping experience can significantly enhance brand influence and cultivate brand loyalty. By encouraging customers to share their back-to-school shopping experiences on various social media platforms, retailers can tap into a vast network of potential shoppers.
When users create content such as images, videos, and testimonials, it not only amplifies brand reach but also fosters a sense of community and authenticity. When shoppers see real people sharing their positive experiences with a brand, they feel a stronger connection and are more likely to trust the brand.
This trust translates into long-term loyalty as customers become advocates, recommending the brand to their friends and family. As a result, the brand evolves into an influential force in the market, continuously attracting new customers while nurturing a loyal and engaged customer base.
Measure, Analyse, and Optimise
On-premise media marketing requires continuous improvement. Analytics provide real-time data insights, allowing you to measure the effectiveness of your content and optimise your offerings based on customer preferences.
Leveraging real-time analytics, retailers can measure the effectiveness of their content – be it music programs, audio messaging, or digital signage. This allows business owners to make data-driven decisions, such as increasing stock for popular items or removing items that are underperforming. Data can also be used to adjust pricing, implement testing on various promotions, and most importantly determine customer behaviour and spending patterns.
These analytics provide retail stores with valuable data-driven insights, enabling them to optimise their offerings, deliver personalised experiences, and stay ahead in a competitive market. By harnessing the power of data, retailers can make informed decisions that drive customer satisfaction, save money, and ultimately help grow business.
The Best Back-to-School Experience
As retailers prepare for the back-to-school season, embracing the omnichannel journey and leveraging the power of experiential media can elevate the customer experience to new heights. Mood Media makes it easy with its proprietary content control software known as Mood Harmony – the Brand Experience Platform™.
Harmony provides retailers with an easy-to-use and seamless solution. With its single-login interface, retailers can effortlessly manage their music and digital signage from one device, streamlining operations and saving valuable time.
The platform’s proprietary software ensures a tailored and cohesive shopping journey, allowing retailers to curate captivating visual storytelling and harmonise it with carefully curated music playlists.
Beyond creating a captivating ambiance, Harmony works alongside other applications to deliver powerful analytics, providing retailers with real-time data insights to measure the effectiveness of their content and make data-driven decisions.
By empowering retailers with such comprehensive control and insights, Harmony elevates the overall shopping experience, by offering immersive, personalised, and seamless shopping experiences, resulting in a successful and memorable back-to-school shopping season.
Get ready to make this back-to-school season one for the books!