With just over a year to go until events such as The Olympics and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, retailers across the country are taking steps to prepare to capitalise on the expected surge in sales such nationally recognised events will no doubt bring.
However, it isn’t just the big retail giants who will be able to take advantage and to mark National Independents Month 2011, experts at CTS Retail are urging independent retailers to focus on improving the customer experience as customers continue to seek out quality and service over and above price and prestige.
Scott Storey, MD of CTS Retail says,
“The High Street is a totally different marketplace than it was five years ago and being a top brand just doesn’t have the same power as it used to. Look at all the brands that have disappeared in recent months or have faced difficulties. The truth is that size doesn’t protect you from the threat of closure, in fact it probably makes it more of a threat.
Smaller Independent retailers can now use their size and low cost base totally to their advantage by making improvements to their service and experience that may cost larger retail chains hundreds of thousands of pounds to roll out across their stores. They can enjoy the first mover advantage in many areas and build a loyal and profitable customer base over the coming months, which will just strengthen their position and ability to capitalise on some of the big events coming up in 2012.”
Storey believes that rather than worrying about expensive store refits or hefty advertising campaigns, independent retailers can make smart improvements to small but significant aspects of their offering simply by exploring how their EPOS systems can support their staff in solving barriers to customer’s parting with their money, one of the most common being what happens when customers want to buy something that is out of stock.
He is advising independent retailers to explore the benefits of flexible EPOS solutions such as Cervello (www.cervello-pos.co.uk) as a way of linking various aspects of the sales process into one simple interface that helps simplify the shopping experience for the end customer.
“The most important aspect of any retail offering is that the customer gets the level of service they expect, hopefully better, and one of the biggest sticking points for any retailer is not being able to satisfy the customer’s requirement.
A customer who finds a product out of stock in a small retailer, but is then helped by an assistant to automatically order it for them then and there via their EPOS system and have it available for delivery or collection in just a few days, will retain a happy customer, prevent them buying an alternative product from another retailer and boost their brand reputation in the process,” says Scott.
To celebrate National Independents Month 2011, if you book your demo of Cervello in the next three months, CTS Retail will give you the chance to win an Android tablet. This is fully compatible with the Cervello software and gives you the opportunity of running mobile sales. To book your free demonstration call 01793 438721 and quote INDY11.
However, it isn’t just the big retail giants who will be able to take advantage and to mark National Independents Month 2011, experts at CTS Retail are urging independent retailers to focus on improving the customer experience as customers continue to seek out quality and service over and above price and prestige.
Scott Storey, MD of CTS Retail says,
“The High Street is a totally different marketplace than it was five years ago and being a top brand just doesn’t have the same power as it used to. Look at all the brands that have disappeared in recent months or have faced difficulties. The truth is that size doesn’t protect you from the threat of closure, in fact it probably makes it more of a threat.
Smaller Independent retailers can now use their size and low cost base totally to their advantage by making improvements to their service and experience that may cost larger retail chains hundreds of thousands of pounds to roll out across their stores. They can enjoy the first mover advantage in many areas and build a loyal and profitable customer base over the coming months, which will just strengthen their position and ability to capitalise on some of the big events coming up in 2012.”
Storey believes that rather than worrying about expensive store refits or hefty advertising campaigns, independent retailers can make smart improvements to small but significant aspects of their offering simply by exploring how their EPOS systems can support their staff in solving barriers to customer’s parting with their money, one of the most common being what happens when customers want to buy something that is out of stock.
He is advising independent retailers to explore the benefits of flexible EPOS solutions such as Cervello (www.cervello-pos.co.uk) as a way of linking various aspects of the sales process into one simple interface that helps simplify the shopping experience for the end customer.
“The most important aspect of any retail offering is that the customer gets the level of service they expect, hopefully better, and one of the biggest sticking points for any retailer is not being able to satisfy the customer’s requirement.
A customer who finds a product out of stock in a small retailer, but is then helped by an assistant to automatically order it for them then and there via their EPOS system and have it available for delivery or collection in just a few days, will retain a happy customer, prevent them buying an alternative product from another retailer and boost their brand reputation in the process,” says Scott.
To celebrate National Independents Month 2011, if you book your demo of Cervello in the next three months, CTS Retail will give you the chance to win an Android tablet. This is fully compatible with the Cervello software and gives you the opportunity of running mobile sales. To book your free demonstration call 01793 438721 and quote INDY11.