In-Store Marketing Strategies to Drive Sales in 2024

There’s a widespread belief that traditional brick-and-mortar shopping is on the decline. While many people do prefer the ease and convenience of shopping online, some argue that it lacks the personal touch and human connection of in-person shopping. Typically, older generations tend to shop in physical stores more often than Millennials and Gen Z, who are more drawn to digital shopping due to their increased exposure to screens and social media. 

For big box retailers, the challenge is to meet the experiential needs of all age groups. The solution lies in adopting strategies that cater to both traditional in-store shoppers and tech-savvy younger generations.

Six In-Store Marketing Tactics to Help You Out

Here are six ways to take your in-store marketing to the next level and boost sales in 2024.

1. Get personal with geo-targeted notifications

With contextual location-based marketing, you can send personalized notifications to shoppers’ phones when they’re in the vicinity of your store. Offering exclusive deals or promotions can entice them to stop by and check out your products. For example, a clothing store could send a notification to a shopper offering 10% off on their first purchase if they visit the store within the next hour.

2. Create unforgettable in-store experiences

Make your store a destination by creating unique experiences that customers will remember long after they leave. Interactive displays, workshops, or events can all provide shoppers with a hands-on experience that helps them engage with your products. For instance, a home goods store could create a mock living room where customers can test furniture and decor, and even take photos to share on social media.

3. Personalize recommendations using data analytics

By using data analytics to track customer purchase history, preferences, and location, you can offer tailored recommendations that speak to their individual needs. For example, a bookstore could send a notification to a customer who frequently buys books on cooking, recommending a new cookbook that just hit the shelves.

4. Bring products to life with Augmented Reality

With AR technology, you can create an immersive shopping experience that allows customers to interact with your products in a whole new way. Shoppers could use their phones to scan a product and see a 3D visualization of it, or try on virtual clothing items before making a purchase. For example, a makeup store could use AR to allow customers to try on virtual makeup and experiment with different shades before making a purchase.

5. Harness the power of social media

Connect with customers and promote your store by using social media platforms. Location-based in-store marketing campaigns can help you reach a wider audience, while user-generated content can help build brand awareness and loyalty. For example, a restaurant could encourage customers to share photos of their meals on social media using a specific hashtag and offer a discount on their next visit as a thank-you.

6. Use indoor maps to make store visits intuitive

As shoppers start to return to stores post-pandemic, they’re looking for a seamless and safe shopping experience. Using digital maps to display the store’s layout and surroundings can help customers easily locate products and familiarize themselves with the store. For example, a grocery store could use indoor maps to help customers find specific products and even offer real-time updates on product availability and wait times at checkout. 

Implementing Your In-Store Marketing Strategy 

At Mapsted, our goal is to create smart shopping environments that brings the in-store experience to life for retailers of all sizes. We are committed to sustainability and have developed a location technology that is the result of years of innovation and research.

What sets Mapsted apart are these top features:

• Contextual messaging: Say goodbye to generic messaging and hello to targeted, relevant content. Mapsted’s technology allows you to send personalized messages to customers based on their location within your store.
• Audience segmentation: Get the right message to the right people. With Mapsted’s audience segmentation feature, you can divide your customer base into distinct groups and send targeted messages to each one.
• Location-based advertising: Increase sales and brand awareness with our location-based advertising tool. With Mapsted, you can display ads to customers based on their location within your store.
• Geofencing: Keep track of customer movements with Mapsted’s geofencing technology. You can set up virtual boundaries around specific areas of your store and receive notifications when customers enter or exit those areas.
• Proximity marketing: Engage customers with Mapsted’s proximity marketing tool. You can send push notifications or promotional offers to customers when they’re within a certain distance of a product or display. 

Final Thoughts

To survive, big-box giants and small- to medium-sized enterprises must chart a new course by reimagining their in-store strategies. Location-based marketing, which offers a tailored and contextually relevant shopping experience, can steer customers in the right direction, to increase foot traffic, sales, and loyalty. With the help of geo-targeted notifications, personalized recommendations, and augmented reality, retailers can create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impression. And, with indoor maps and geofencing to guide them, customers will navigate the store with ease, while retailers can streamline their marketing and hoist their profits to new heights. 

If you enjoyed learning about how location-based strategies can increase your retail sales in 2024, you would want to check out this blog on retail industry trends for the year ahead, and this video on the value of location analytics.