Agatha Aviso

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Cross-selling is motivating customers to buy additional products related to what they are already buying. The right cross-selling strategy can significantly increase sales and build customer loyalty. When cross-selling, ensure that your offer is relevant and provides more value to the customer. We outline 15 cross-selling tips and techniques in this article for ecommerce shops and brick-and-mortar retailers. Cross-selling Techniques for Ecommerce Stores In ecommerce, cross-selling techniques are more often used on product pages, during the checkout process, and in customer lifecycle campaigns—cart recovery emails, order confirmation emails, and even regular customer newsletters. Here are some cross-selling tips you can apply to your online store: 1. Offer Related Items for Your Big-ticket Products Find your flagship products or big-ticket items and pair them with directly related products. These include items that your customers need to enhance the features they are looking for in your main product. Once you have your list, you can decide how to place them. Best Practice Tips: When planning for cross-product placements: Pitch low-cost products and smaller accessories that cost 10% of the main product at checkout page. High-ticket items and larger accessories that cost 15%–50% of the main item will sell better if displayed on the product page. Tap into a shopper’s impulse buying behavior. For example, offer related products that are easily missed: earphones for mobile phones, belts for pants, etc. Use phrases such as “Customers also bought,” “Shop the look,” “You may also like,” or “Popular related products” to encourage shoppers to buy. Cross-sell Tip in Action In Product Pages 2. Limit the Number of Product Recommendations Limiting the total number of options you try to cross-sell is a sound practice, especially for small businesses. Business owners sometimes forget to exercise restraint and display a long list of additional products customers can purchase. When this happens, buyers can become so overwhelmed with side offers that they abandon their shopping cart altogether. Best Practice Tips: The ideal number of cross-selling offers on a page is three. This gives just enough window in the checkout stage to increase the customer’s attention span and your conversion ratio. Hand-pick your offers so they include products that really fit the customer without taking focus away from the products in their cart. Cross-sell Tip in Action 3. Create Limited-time Offers There’s nothing like a little sense of urgency to get customers to take action. This is something you can also use to make the most out of cross-selling. You can present limited-time deals with popular items along with a customer’s original purchase to really get them thinking. Be sure to stress the fact that the deal does expire eventually. Best Practice Tips: Some great ideas that can increase the sense of urgency are: Flash sales/today’s deals “Special Day” discounts “Last Chance” promos for customers who previously showed interest Clearance sales “While stocks last” special offers You may try giving customers up to six hours to decide if they want the deal or not. Just don’t make the timeline too short (it may stress them out) or too long (the offer may lose the sense of urgency). Cross-sell Tip in Action 4. Highlight the Total Price at Checkout Most shoppers have a budget in mind even before they go to an online store. The basis of their buying decision is when they are assured their choice is the best balance between quality and budget. Naturally, it will be difficult to convince buyers to purchase additional products that will push them way beyond what they expect to pay. To get buyers to consider adding the products you recommend, you’ll need to base your recommendations on the total price at the checkout stage. Best Practice Tips: Try to keep your suggestions below 60% of what’s already in the cart. When a shopper is anchored to a price range, you need to show small products so they won’t be discouraged from completing the purchase. Cross-sell Tip in Action 5. Offer Bundles Reduce decision-overwhelm for shoppers by offering bundles. Studies show that helping shoppers decide by reducing complexity and narrowing choices can boost revenues by 5% to 40%. Bundles are the most popular cross-selling strategy according to Hubspot research—63% of sales teams employ this technique. Best Practice Tips: Mix low-selling items with fast-moving ones. Offer two or more products at a single price. Offer a set of high-priced and low-priced products together at a single price. Offer multiple varieties of products together at a single price. Let customers choose what they want in a bundle—this is an incredibly powerful cross-selling tactic. Allow them to make their own bundles and see how eager they are to buy from you again! Cross-sell Tip in Action 6. Use Social Proof to Your Advantage A study by Barilliance finds that the most engaging recommendation type is "what customers ultimately buy." This further supports how using social proof can be to your store’s advantage. Social proof refers to using online feedback from satisfied customers to help your business. The main objective is to build trust with online buyers considering your products. To help with cross-selling, you should reference positive online feedback for your products to encourage sales. Best Practice Tips: Show how many people have already bought the product or are currently looking. Showcase customer testimonials, product reviews, and ratings. Display visual user-generated content (UGC). Display expert reviews or product awards. Social proof provides you with the easiest persuasion strategy to deliver a compelling offer in a format that consumers trust the most. The customer reviews and expert feedback show your potential buyers how popular your products are. It also allows you to demonstrate how these products can make their lives easier and enhance the performance of the main product they are purchasing. Cross-sell Tip in Action 7. Personalize Your Offers Your ecommerce website might not be able to carry content like a blog can, but it doesn’t mean your message can’t be as strong. Content personalization will go a long way in presenting your products and gives you a much better chance at making a sale. The key is to find the right time and place for employing personalized content. Best Practice Tips: Here are some personalization strategies you can try: Use your customer’s name. Use words like you, your, and yours. Personalize a widget like a bubble that appears in different pages of your website. Personalize a web part like banners on your website. Using your customer’s name will easily attract their attention, and using “you,” “your,” and “yours” help make the shopper visualize ownership of the products you’re cross-selling. Personalizing a widget or web part is useful when you want to remind customers of the product that’s relevant to items that are already in their shopping carts. Cross-sell Tip in Action 8. Have Order Thresholds Displaying order thresholds—getting an incentive by doing a minimum/maximum spend—may not technically classify as a cross-sell as you are not actively recommending supplementary products to your customers. You are, however, incentivizing them to spend more by notifying them of an order discount threshold. Best Practice Tips: Display the offer prominently in your online store, across product and checkout pages. Make order thresholds interactive. Display the amount customers need to spend to unlock the special discount or offer when they add items to their cards. Utilize pop-ups to notify customers of the incentive. Free shipping is one of the leading drivers of online sales—using this as an incentive can help customers spend more in your shop. Learn how to offer free shipping on your products. Cross-sell Tip in Action 9. Educate & Provide Value First A key principle in cross-selling is to help customers make better buying decisions—suggesting products that make sense to them and are relevant to their needs. This can be a challenge for your online store, as you can’t get immediate feedback from your customers and know what they need. However, you can use customer data from your CRM or order history to offer informed recommendations that are likely to meet their needs. Best Practice Tips: Make your customer’s convenience a top priority when designing your cross-sell offer. This will make it more organic and possibly more effective. Don’t suggest additional items before a customer picks a product. Never bombard customers with too many cross-sell products. Make it easy for them to add to their carts when you are demonstrating products. Cross-sell Tip in Action Cross-selling Techniques for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers For brick-and-mortar retail stores, effective cross-selling is about creating strategies that will help you get the most out of your store’s foot traffic. Your aim is to maximize sales of your high-tier, low-priced older stock and new merchandise before you have to mark it down. At the same time, you also want to make your customers feel that you’re giving them more value for their money. This is important if you want to increase sales, widen your customer base, and build customer loyalty. 10. Showcase Items Prominently in the Store Presentation plays a key role in creating more sales. Simply put, if customers are not able to see your merchandise, they won’t know that the items they are looking for are actually available for them to buy. In the same way, complementary items and common pairings should be displayed prominently in your store. This helps customers visualize how the pairings work together and motivates them to make the purchase. Items that you frequently cross-sell should always be displayed together, or at least near each other. For example, you could display blazers and include a matching tie, or place your sock section beside your shoe section. Aside from minimizing the risk of losing customers while they try to search for products they need around your store, you will also impress your buyers with this smart and sensible customer service strategy. Cross-sell Tip in Action Trader Joe's display is a perfect example of showcasing complementary products today. It puts taco ingredients in the same display to show customers how the products are perfect for an easy dinner. (Source: Pinterest) 11. Continuously Train Sales Associates A brick-and-mortar retail store’s biggest asset is its staff, and the staff’s role in boosting cross-selling product sales is key to a better bottom line. One of the best cross-selling tips for brick-and-mortar shops is to continuously train sales staff on products. They should have the ability to recall a broad selection of complementary items in the store. Additionally, they need to have the skills to analyze a customer’s needs and come up with a personalized suggestion for each one. The goal is to provide personalized customer service while cross-selling products. This should be a crucial part of your sales staff’s training. Create role play exercises in which your sales team can practice scenarios with different types of customers. This activity should help strengthen their product knowledge and customer service skills, including the ability to customize and promote complementary products. Ensure your employees are able to justify their selection and make them explain their logic. They will also need to have a solid grasp of your store’s layout. 12. Ask Probing Questions Another skill that your sales staff needs to know is how to ask probing questions. This is what will help them truly understand the customer’s needs and suggest the most appropriate product to cross-sell. While this might seem like a very simple thing to do, it’s important to note that customers can become sensitive and leave the store altogether if a sales person is either too aggressive or too passive. Teach your reps to ask probing questions throughout the sales process. Their training should include knowing the right time and the right approach for asking probing questions. It should also teach them how to notice behavioral and verbal cues that can lead them to identify the right products and services for the customer. 13. Improve Transparency at the Checkout Counter Customers are hesitant in purchasing products they didn’t intend to buy because they are not equipped with enough information to make last-minute decisions. Those who are more conscious of their budget might not find any interest in getting more products at the checkout counter. However, if you upgrade your point-of-sale (POS) system to include customer-facing displays, buyers can have a better view of their running total and any discounts. Cross-sell Tip in Action is a retail POS system that’s fast and easy to use with any Mac or PC. It offers a customer-facing display, so buyers can quickly visualize the benefit of purchasing the products you’re cross-selling. Let customers into your world with Vend display. 14. Show Added Benefit of Complementary Products Nowadays, customers who walk into your store have already taken time to do research online about the products they are coming in to buy. This can be an advantage to a well-trained salesperson because it becomes easier to help the customer visualize the benefits of a complementary product. We say visualize, because retail store owners shouldn’t rely on product specs and features that customers will rarely take time to read. The human mind is more responsive to stories or images, so you need a more visual strategy when trying to cross-sell. Clothing stores use mannequins to display outfit suggestions, and grocery stores often showcase taste tests for food products. This gives customers an idea of the added value that your products can provide. 15. Use Round Numbers When Appropriate The psychology of pricing often emphasizes how customers are attracted to products with “just-below” price tag amounts (for example, $29.99); they often buy these instead of items with prices that are rounded (like $30.00). When it comes to cross-selling, show customers that they are getting more value for their money using rounded amounts. This increases the chance that they’ll buy the higher-priced alternative even when placed side-by-side with products sporting “just-below” price tags. This is the advantage of being able to personalize your messaging. In your marketing emails, displays, and through your sales staff, you get to show added value to your customers beyond $19.99 price tags. Instead, you can tell customers things like, “For only $10 more, here are the additional benefits you’d get.”’ The easy comparison makes it more likely they’ll accept the added purchase. Tips for Effective Cross-selling Cross-selling vs Upselling: Understanding the Difference Cross-selling and upselling are often mistaken for the same, but they are entirely different sales management strategies. Both are used to increase the overall value of a customer purchase. However, upselling is where you suggest additional products or services directly related to the one being purchased, while cross-selling involves offering additional products or services that complement the existing purchase. An upsell would include a multiyear warranty for a purchased product or even a newer model of that product, whereas a cross-sell would be a separate product that could simply be used with the purchased product. Cross-selling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Bottom Line Cross-selling is an important strategy for improving sales and growing your ecommerce or brick-and-mortar business. In fact, a study by McKinsey says it can boost profits by up to 30%. Experiment with our cross-sell tips to reap the benefits of recommending complementary products to your existing customers and keep your business thriving. You May Also Like… How to Start a Retail Business Managing a Retail Store How to Start an Online Store

Counterfeit money is currency produced by someone other than the government intended to deceive the recipient into believing it is authentic. Learning how to detect counterfeit money is a crucial part of store management. In 2021 alone, the Secret Service seized over $51.4 million in counterfeit currency. To check for bill authenticity, feel the paper, tilt the note, and check with light and magnification. We go through all this in detail below, but first, download our counterfeit money checklist to serve as a guide. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing designs and produces Federal Reserve Notes to include a number of security features. Counterfeiters can sometimes duplicate one or two of these unique characteristics but rarely all of them. 1. Watermark Watermarks in currencies are a characteristic security feature of authentic banknotes. When confirming the authenticity of a watermark, make sure it is: Only visible when you hold it up to the light Located to the left of the portrait and on the right edge on $5 bills Located to the right of the portrait on $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills Visible from both sides of the bill A replica of the portrait on the bill in the case of $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes When evaluating the most recent $5 bill design, hold the note up to the light to see three numeral 5s to the left of the portrait and on the right edge; in the previous design, the watermark depicts Lincoln’s portrait. On new $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes, the watermark is a replica of the portrait and is located to the right of the printed image. Generally speaking, if there is no watermark or the watermark is visible without being held up to the light, the bill is likely a counterfeit. 2. Color-shifting Ink Another quick way to distinguish between a fake and authentic bill is to look for color-shifting ink on the numbers (denomination) in the lower right corner of a $10, $20, $50, or $100 bill. For $100 bills, the bell in the inkwell (located to the left of the denomination) is also printed with color-shifting ink. In addition to the color-shifting denomination, the 2013-style $100 bills feature a color-shifting bell in the inkwell. While the inkwell remains a copper color, the bell shifts from copper to green when viewed from a different angle. 3. Security Thread The security thread is one of the most distinctive security indicators of an authentic bill. If you hold a genuine bill with a denomination of $5 or more up to the light, you will see a security thread running vertically across the bill to the right or left of the portrait. On $5, $10, and $50 bills, the thread is located to the right of the portrait; on $20 and $100 bills it is located to the left of the portrait. The threads are imprinted with “USA” and the denomination alternating across the bill, although the exact format of this text varies by denomination—as detailed in the table below. That said, the ultimate test involves viewing the bill under an ultraviolet (UV) light to confirm the security thread glows the correct color. This extra security measure was originally added to provide a quick way for bartenders to check the legitimacy of a bill. Based on these features, counterfeit bills will either lack a security thread entirely or will have a security thread with text, location, and/or color that do not match the denomination. Security Thread Features for Each Denomination *Federal Reserve notes designed before 1990 do not contain security threads. 4. Security Ribbon Unlike other notes, the most recent $100 note design has a 3-D security ribbon woven into the paper to the right of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. By moving the bill, you can see images of bells and 100s shift as you move. Tilting the note back and forth makes the bells and 100s move side to side; tilting the bill side to side causes them to move up and down. This 3-D security ribbon reportedly cannot be duplicated by counterfeiters, making it an easy way to confirm the authenticity of a $100 bill. 5. Crisp Printing & Borders Authentic US currency is printed using extremely detailed, die-cut printing plates capable of creating impressively fine lines. Because of that, counterfeit printers are rarely capable of duplicating the level of detail. To spot a counterfeit bill, take a close look at the printing quality—especially the borders—to see if there are any blurred areas. If you notice significantly blurry borders, printing, or text, it’s an automatic red flag for counterfeit money. 6. Microprinting Beyond just crisp, high-quality printing, genuine US currency of $5 denominations and greater is characterized by microprinting. This super-fine text is difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce with their less advanced equipment. For that reason, counterfeited bills may exhibit unreadable microprinting when viewed under magnification. Close-up of “USA 20” microprinting to the right of the portrait on a $20 bill (Source: Wikipedia) The location—and text—of microprinting on US currency varies by denomination, so look out for these features when checking the most recent version of each note for authenticity. Denomination-specific Microprinting *Federal Reserve notes designed before 1990 do not feature microprinting. 7. Paper Material & Texture The paper used by the Federal Reserve for US currency is made up of 25% linen and 75% cotton; it has been supplied to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing by Crane and Co. since 1879. In addition to their composition, authentic bills feature small red and blue security fibers evenly distributed throughout the material of the bill. Counterfeiters attempt to reproduce this effect by printing red and blue threads onto fake bills in a similar pattern. But, a close look often reveals that the “fibers” are merely on the surface level—and indicates you have a counterfeit on your hands. All Federal Reserve notes are printed on paper with embedded security fibers. In addition to the material used for authentic currency, notes have a unique texture due to the raised printing used on notes of every denomination—including $1 and $2 notes. Larger denominations feature enhanced intaglio printing on the portraits. By running your fingers across portions of the bill, you’ll be able to feel this raised texture that’s not present in most counterfeit currency. The best place to check is along the shoulders of the people on the bills; you should be able to feel bumps and ridges. 8. Serial Number & Series Year A final check when evaluating the authenticity of a bill is to compare the serial number and the series year printed on the front of the note. The serial number, which includes a unique combination of 11 numbers and letters, appears twice on the front of each note—on the right side and in the upper left corner. On an authentic bill, the first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year printed to the right of the portrait. Serial number prefixes and corresponding series years are as follows: A (1996), B (1999), C (2001), D (2003), E (2004), F (2003A), G (2004A), H (2006), I (2006), J (2009), K (2006A), L (2009A), M (2013), N (2017), and P (2017A). Tools to Detect Counterfeit Money Just as it’s important to prevent chargebacks in a credit card-driven business, business owners and employees should know how to distinguish between authentic and fake currency during cash transactions. To simplify the process—and improve accuracy—there are a variety of products available. Here are some of the best options. What to Do if You Detect a Counterfeit Bill If you suspect you’ve been given a counterfeit bill, follow the recommended steps below to protect yourself and ensure that the US Secret Service can evaluate the fake currency. 1. Avoid putting yourself in danger. If you think a bill is counterfeit, do not make any statements or take any actions that might cause the passer to threaten or harm you. 2. Do not return the bill to the customer. Keep the bill so that you can pass it along to law enforcement. You won’t receive any financial remuneration for surrendering a counterfeit bill to law enforcement, but doing so can help combat counterfeiting. 3. Jot down some notes about the passer. Observe and record as much about the passer and their companions as possible—characteristics like height, weight, eye color, hair color, and any other unique features. Where possible, write down the passer’s license plate number and other identifying information. 4. Contact local law enforcement or the local US Secret Service Office. As soon as you suspect that a bill is counterfeit—and you’re not at risk—contact local law enforcement. Once you’ve made contact, only surrender the note to an identified police office or Secret Service Special Agent; you may also be directed to mail it to the nearest Secret Service field office. 5. Write your initials and the date on the border of the bill. Before passing a suspected counterfeit bill to law enforcement, write your initials and the date in the white border area of the note. 6. Handle the bill as little as possible. In some cases, there may be remnants of fingerprints, DNA, or certain processing chemicals that can help the police tie a bill to a certain counterfeiter. Handle a potential counterfeit as little as possible and separate the bill from your other cash by putting it in a protective cover, plastic bag, or marked envelope until you can submit it to the Secret Service. Counterfeit Money Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Bottom Line Whether you are just starting a retail business or managing your existing store, learning to identify fake money and training your employees to do so is important. Start by introducing your staff to each of the security features incorporated into authentic US currency—of each denomination. Then, consider investing in tools like UV lights or all-in-one counterfeit detectors if you want to provide an extra line of defense for your business. Retail employees who know how to spot fake bills can help reduce losses to counterfeit money. If your business continues to struggle with counterfeit money, consider reducing your dependency on cash transactions. Get started by learning more about the easiest ways to accept credit card payments.

A retail marketing strategy is an actionable plan to develop and promote products to attract and keep customers and drive sales—and it is essential whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting a retail business. With 20% of small businesses failing in their first year and over half of them not surviving by their fifth year, business owners must devote more time to developing solid retail marketing strategies to get people interested in their products—and keep them interested. Read our recommended ideas for implementing a retail strategy for your retail business. 1. Develop Curb Appeal Curb appeal is about the look and feel of your store from the street, including parking and landscaping. First impressions last, and this holds for your retail store. For potential customers and passersby, your storefront is their first impression of your business. Your store’s curb appeal must get them into the store so you can have a better chance of getting a sale. Some ways you can develop curb appeal: 2. Effectively Use Retail Space When developing your retail marketing strategy, you would be pleasantly surprised that the most effective ones do not always require spending a ton of money or undergoing a complete store overhaul. You can take two little steps to optimize the space you already have to improve the customer experience and boost sales: Re-plan your store layout Strategize your point-of-sale (POS) display Use our free step-by-step guide to planning a store layout to make the most out of your space. Download Free Store Layout Guide 3. Sell Custom Products Whether you are manufacturing a patented invention or creating a simple private label line, having products that shoppers can’t find anywhere else is an important step in increasing brand loyalty and name recognition, and can be a fantastic sales driver for your business. Sell Private or White Label Products Selling private label products is much easier than developing a custom product but offers many of the same benefits. Private label products are products manufactured by a supplier but sold under your brand name. These kinds of products are especially popular for skincare, beauty, food and grocery, kitchen, decor, accessories, tools, and electronic products. Create Brand Equity Through Private Label Brands When people use products with your brand name or product line name on them, it reminds them of your store every time they use the product. These reminders build trust, encouraging customers to buy more quality products with your name on it. Plus, retailers can typically make more money from private label products, as they’re usually inexpensive to manufacture. Still, you can mark them up to a much higher price since shoppers won’t be able to find that item anywhere else. 4. Create a Profitable & Competitive Pricing Strategy How you price a product is another important consideration for your retail strategy. If your prices are too high, you could deter customers and lose sales. On the other hand, if prices are too low, you can make a lot of sales, but won’t have any profit margin. Many retailers and ecommerce sellers use keystone pricing to price their products. Keystone pricing is a standard 100% markup, or double the wholesale cost. Selling a product for double the amount you paid is considered standard retail practice. Consider Your Market Position There are situations where you’ll want to deviate from keystone pricing. For example, if a product is selling exceptionally well, you might be able to increase the price. If you have a lot of private label or custom products, you may also be able to charge higher prices for those. However, if competitors or online businesses sell similar products at lower prices, you may need to consider lowering your prices to stay competitive. Conduct a competitor analysis to see how others price their products. If you find out all the other stores around you are offering the same products for the same price, you might look to create something unique—free alterations, no-questions-asked returns, or complimentary gift wrapping, for instance—and then charge more. Get feedback from your customers. Talking to your customers also gives you valuable qualitative insights into how to structure your pricing. Use Promotional Pricing Many businesses use promotional or sale prices to drive traffic and sales. Discount prices can leave small businesses with small profit margins but can effectively attract customers or clear out merchandise. Seasonal sales and coupons are popular promotional pricing strategies for retailers. 5. Build Your Online Presence Whether you have an ecommerce store, brick-and-mortar store, or mobile sales, your online presence is an integral part of developing a retail marketing strategy. An online presence provides more opportunities for sales, especially for shoppers who don’t live near your store or can’t make it in during store hours. Plus, you’d be losing out on the over 2 billion people worldwide that shop online if you don’t create an online presence for your retail store. Engaging with customers online also helps keep your business at the front of their minds so that they think of you when they do need to make a purchase. 6. Invest in Local SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t just for online retailers—physical retailers can and should optimize for search too. Prioritize local SEO—you don’t have to target the general keywords that thousands of other businesses are targeting. Instead, go for relevant keywords the audience in your area would search for. For example, create landing pages with your website homepage that target individual locations in your city or town. Optimize for “Near Me” Searches The number of searches that included “near me” increased by over 200% in 2019, and “open now near me” searches grew 400% in 2020. Optimizing your website for “near me” searches and Google Maps is essential to attract more people to your physical store. Remember, if people are searching for something near them, there is a pretty strong signal of intent (to buy). Get started by creating or updating your company’s Google My Business profile. Your profile should include your business name, address, opening and closing hours, contact information, photos, and a description that includes keywords. Consider incorporating local citations as additional cues to Google. Keep all your details consistent across your website and any other third-party app. To make your listing more relevant, encourage customers who visit your store to leave reviews on your business profile. There are also local SEO tools that can automatically optimize for you and offer recommendations on improving your rankings. 7. Run Geo-targeted Ads One of the best things you can do to attract more people to your business is to run location-based ads. Unlike general ads, geo-targeted ads target only people in a specific geographical area, preferably those who live in the same town or city as your physical store. Considering that businesses are expected to spend more than $32 billion on location-targeted ads by 2023 in the US alone, it goes without saying that this ecommerce marketing strategy works. Target People Near Your Store To get started with geo-targeted ads, you’ll need to create a business account with a platform from which you plan to run the ads. This could be Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, and/or Snapchat. Once your account is set up, you can create ads to show to people within a set radius around your store. For instance, you can show ads to people within 10, 5, or 2 miles of your store. The bid amount changes depending on the radius you set. This is a perfect tactic to promote click-and-collect services or online ordering for restaurants—especially ideal for minimizing foot traffic during COVID-19 outbreaks. Run Ads During Significant Local Events Another way to increase foot traffic to your retail store is by running geo-targeted ads during a large or significant local event. For example, if you run a music store and notice a famous artist or band performing in a nearby location, you can quickly run ads that target the audience attending the concert. This strategy works particularly well if you’re located close to an airport, stadium, university, or some other area where a specific demographic may gather. Retailers can also run these location-based ads during holidays. 8. Stay Connected With Customers Your first sale is just the beginning of a potentially long and profitable relationship. Part of an effective (and long-lasting) retail strategy is figuring out how you will stay connected with customers after the sale. Launch a Customer Loyalty Program A customer loyalty program is a great way to incentivize repeat purchases and learn more about your most frequent and biggest spenders. You can also incorporate referral rewards into your loyalty program to encourage word-of-mouth marketing—fueling both customer retention and acquisition simultaneously. What’s more, with a customer loyalty program, you can create shopper profiles that can serve as the basis for product marketing and your overall personalized marketing efforts. Associates can make tailored recommendations based on these profiles, and you can automate marketing campaigns and product recommendations based on their behavior. Send Regular Email Campaigns One of the most direct ways of staying connected is through email marketing. You can collect customer contact information at the point of transaction using a modern POS system and keep up with them post-sale. Don’t be shy when sending emails to your customers. Your loyal and top-spending customers likely want to hear from you more often. Of customers surveyed, around 70% preferred if brands contacted them via email. Implement a Retail Mobile Strategy Along with emails, collect your customers’ phone numbers so you can send them marketing text messages. Use mobile marketing to send notifications or promote time-sensitive offers to your customers. Location-based messages can also remind them to purchase in-store, provide additional product information, and promote exclusive in-store promotions. Regularly Conduct Surveys Customer surveys are an important part of your retail strategy because customers can provide unfiltered feedback on ways you can improve. Customer satisfaction surveys can be simple, with one or two questions and an open-ended space to leave longer comments. Some retailers also use customer surveys to measure interest in new product lines, events, or additional shopping hours. Using customer feedback takes some guesswork out of trying to improve your business, making customers feel their opinion is valued. Plan Regular Events Retail events are effective because they give your customers an excuse to shop, while also making them feel appreciated with some extra like a goody bag, early access to new products, or a special discount. Events drive traffic to your store and provide a reason to send out lots of marketing and promotional material. Download our free 2023 retail marketing calendar, which includes all the major holidays for 2023 and seasonal markers, below: Annual big retail events, such as back to school and the holiday season, are prime selling season. Take advantage of the influx of shoppers by employing these strategies: Back to School Marketing Tips for Retailers Black Friday & Cyber Monday Strategies, Trends, and Sales Tips How to Create a Retail Gift Guide Creative Christmas Display Ideas and Examples 9. Expand Through Partnerships Local businesses thrive when they work together. When developing your retail marketing strategy, consider neighboring businesses and how you could work together. Partnerships not only increase retail sales, but it’s also a great way to promote your business and get name recall. A few ways you can do this include partnering with stores in the same location, getting involved in community projects, and wholesaling to other retailers. 10. Turn Your Associates Into Marketers Associates can and should double as marketers and brand ambassadors for your retail business. They are the ones who interact with your customers the most. With the right sales staff, you can create an unforgettable and personal customer experience—and drive more sales. Use Associates as the Face of Your Business Humanize your business by showcasing your employees. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, your regular shoppers already know your store associates and will appreciate seeing a familiar face online and in marketing materials. If you have an online store, create an “About Us” page introducing your staff and put some faces behind your brand name. Or you can feature them in social media posts like Somatic Massage Therapy & Spa does: Offer the Right Training Hiring great associates isn’t always easy. Training your team and supporting hard and soft skill development is important. Make sure everyone knows about your latest promos and store updates so they can share them with your customers. Outdoor retailer REI is an excellent example of a business with associates who proactively contribute to the retail marketing strategy. REI hires associates who share a lot of characteristics with its target customers. Plus, they’re knowledgeable about the products and activities for which REI products are used. They have smart product recommendations and can promote items from their own experiences. Arm Staff With the Right Tools Equip your staff with the appropriate business tools, like a mobile POS, to help them feel more confident and drive sales instead of simply answering questions and maintaining the space. This way, they can walk around the sales floor and meet customers where they are. When customers have questions, they can look up the answers on the spot. Evaluate & Assess Your Retail Marketing Strategy Frequently Your retail marketing strategy is never complete—you need tracking to know if it’s working. Retail data analysis can help you unearth trends before your competitors do, allowing you to be an early adopter. Retail calendars, such as the 4-5-4 and 4-5-5, can also be helpful tools to monitor sales figures. With retail data analysis, you can accurately measure, track, and interpret sales, employee, and customer data to better understand your business and continue to hone your retail marketing strategy. Bottom Line Developing a retail marketing strategy requires thinking about what kind of products you’ll sell, where you’ll sell them, and how you’ll keep customers engaged post-sale. It is holistic and encompasses everything from your store’s appearance to product selection and pricing. Remember: there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy, and your particular retail marketing strategy will evolve as your business grows.

Creating a strong holiday gift guide will help your retail business offer better deals while maximizing sales, which is important as rising concern over inflation in the past year has not stopped US shoppers from spending, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Consumers are, however, more cautious, with 50% planning to shop around more for the 2022 holidays. To create a holiday gift guide, identify your target market and tap into your retail data, industry trends, and customer insights. Then, curate and categorize products, pick a format, and design it for distribution. Follow this up with marketing campaigns to ensure your gift guide is seen by the right people. Lastly, make sure to offer different ways to fulfill your holiday orders. Let’s walk through the steps below: 1. Determine Your Audience Before creating your guide, it is essential to identify and understand the needs of your target audience. From there, you can narrow smaller customer segments down and consider how they search for and discover gift guides. When thinking about who will read your gift guides, consider your target audience and those buying gifts for them. Collect Demographic & Behavioral Data Your point-of-sale (POS) system is a valuable source of demographic data, such as a customer’s age, gender, occupation, and geographic location. If you know which groups to target, you can plan your gift guides accordingly. For example, you can see which gender and age group shops in-store more often. Meanwhile, if you have an online shop, knowing the locations you ship to lets you create specific promotions for them such as free shipping on minimum spend. Do Customer Segmentation Another way to identify your target audience is to segment existing customers into repeat customers or one-time buyers and according to purchased products and spending habits. From there, you can create a gift guide by price or product type. POS systems with advanced reporting capabilities can generate sales reports according to customer category. 2. Choose Products After identifying your target audience, the next step is choosing products to include in your gift guides. There are different ways to approach this, but we recommend mixing all the approaches we discuss below. Review Your Store’s Sales Data Look at your retail analytics such as sell-through and conversion rates, as it will help you make strategic decisions about product inclusions. Make sure to review your store’s bestsellers, especially those purchased during last year’s holiday season. Identify Shopping Trends It’s also important to look at external data, such as shopping trends, because understanding what’s trending in your market lets you create holiday gift guides that are relevant and appealing. Google Trends is a great tool to identify emerging opportunities in your niche. For example, if gift cards are popular these days, consider offering them at different price points. If essential oils are trendy, consider adding them to one of your gift bundles. Involve Your Team Your sales associates—people on the floor—are an invaluable source of buying information. They usually have firsthand knowledge of your customer's buying behaviors and preferences. Don’t forget to get their insights on which products to include in your gift guide. They can also help you identify cross-selling opportunities that you can apply toward gift bundle creations. Ask Your Suppliers If you get your products from different suppliers, ask them which items are popular this season. Aside from helping you figure out things to stock, you can also double-check with your suppliers how much of their popular items can be replenished right away if you run out of stock. This way, you can decide on your buying strategy—whether to order more or less, depending on factors such as popularity and replenishment timeframes. Ask Your Customers Directly asking customers what they are looking to buy as gifts this holiday season (or types of gifts they’d like to receive) is an effective way to know which items to include in your guides. You can implement the following to gather customer insights: 3. Categorize Your Guide Once you have identified your target audience and the types of products you’ll include in your holiday gift guide, it’s time to work out how you want to organize it. Ideally, we recommend creating different categories—based on price, interests, personality, shopping behavior, and preferences. When categorizing gift guides, make sure that titles are unique and instantly convey a solution to a shopper’s pain point. For example, “Gifts for the Cheapskate” or “Gifts for The One Who Has Everything” are catchy phrases that tell shoppers right away which recipients the guide is for. Here are a few ways you can organize your holiday gift guide. Offer Gift Bundles Take it a step further by creating gift bundles within each gift guide category. Getting a bundle of items that complement each other is a type of cross-selling idea but offered at one retail price. This makes the buying decision faster, easier, and more convenient. Make it more irresistible by offering it a lower price than when buying each separately. Twenty-two percent of shoppers cite sales or discounts as the factor most influencing their holiday shopping. 4. Pick a Format After categorizing your products, it’s time to create the actual holiday gift guide to show your customers. As you plan on creating your own, determine the best format for your guide. There are many gift guide formats, such as printed guides for in-store distribution, printed flyers or brochures for direct mail, online catalogs, landing pages, social media posts, and videos. Include your gift guides in your holiday display ideas. Deciding which content format to use for gift guides depends on the following factors: Your audience: Find out where your target audience usually looks for holiday shopping gift ideas. If your target audience spends more time on mobile devices, investing in digital gift guides is better. The platforms where you will market your gift guide: If you make a gift guide selection in-store, it is better to create posters for display and distribution. However, if you plan to push your gift bundles through your email list, a dedicated landing page in your ecommerce store would be a better fit. Your niche or industry: If you’re in a visual niche, your gift guide may not need as much text as one in a niche where information plays a more significant role in driving conversions. In this case, you might need to exert more effort in a holiday display in-store or have an excellent curation of photos for a catalog. Your customers will likely view your gift guide on different channels or platforms, so you’ll want to make sure that your guide looks great no matter what. We recommend using a variety of formats for marketing campaigns. Treat your physical and digital storefronts as one. After all, phygital (physical + digital) retail is no longer a buzzword. It is how consumers discover and shop from brands and the way retailers should be marketing their products. Be sure to include omnichannel strategies into your holiday gift guide creation. Here are our suggestions based on the content format you will be going with. 5. Design Your Holiday Gift Guide After you decide on your gift guide format, the next step is to design your guides. You must present your products in a way that evokes emotion and inspires customers to action (shop). Remember that gift buying is an emotion-driven venture for shoppers—so use words and photos effectively. Use Catchy Headlines Gift guide headlines should speak directly to the customer. A well-written one hooks your target audience and entices them to browse. Use active voice Use power words Describe products in a way that they can see the benefits Use High-quality Product Photos The quality of your product photos has a massive impact on how your audience perceives your merchandise. Master DIY product photography if you need to save on resources. Design with an Omnichannel Perspective When designing your gift guides, remember the following: Digital gift guides should be responsive. Make sure it looks great on all channels—website, social media, and email campaigns. The layout should be clean—with white space—to avoid overwhelming customers. Learn how to create landing pages that convert. 6. Promote Your Holiday Gift Guides Now that you have created your holiday gift guide, it’s time to ensure it reaches the right people. It’s always best to combine physical and digital retail approaches to ensure your marketing campaigns have maximum impact and reach a broader market. Here are some ways to help you market your gift guide to the right audience. Send Gift Guides by Email Email is still one of the most effective marketing methods available. According to a widely reported stat, email gets you nearly 40 times more customers than Facebook and Twitter combined. Most people on your list are more likely interested in what you have to offer, so the chances of purchasing are high. You can also create personalized campaigns by segmenting your list and sending them personalized gift guides to increase the chances of conversion. Sending a series of email campaigns promoting your holiday gift guide will likely increase conversions. Some ideas for email marketing campaigns include: Highlighting holiday shopping information and deadlines Showcasing particular products from the gift guide Showing gift guides by price or budget and persona-based gift guides Mentioning different payment options and additional services such as gift wrapping Sharing customer reviews Indicating sale or limited-time offer in subject line Including last-minute gift ideas Share on Social Media Thirty-one percent of US consumers use social media to find products. We are sure that holiday shopping would not be any different. In fact, when asked which social media platforms they look to for inspiration during holiday shopping, US consumers most frequently chose Facebook, followed by YouTube and then Instagram. Work on SEO Make it easy for your customers to find your gift guide by implementing an effective SEO strategy. SEO plays a big part in retail marketing—even if you operate a brick-and-mortar store. For example, implementing local SEO strategies helps you get discovered within your community. You don’t have to implement a full-blown SEO marketing campaign with paid ads if you are not versed with it yet. Just remember the fundamentals of SEO and execute the following best practices: Do keyword research Add tags to your images Utilize strategic linking Focusing on user experience (make website pages mobile-responsive, have your store show up in Google Maps, etc.) Collaborate With Other Businesses & Influencers Check in with other local retail business owners and ask if they want to collaborate on creating and promoting a holiday gift guide. You add more options for your customers and increase your store’s exposure by tapping into other businesses’ audiences. Partner with businesses that have a similar target audience. For example, if you sell women’s beauty products, teaming up with a spa, fitness gym, or yoga studio could be a good combination. Partner with an influencer to help promote your gift guide if you are doing online promotions. Start brand awareness campaigns by way of hashtags and encourage user-generated content (UGC). 7. Offer Plenty of Fulfillment Options for Holiday Gift Guide Purchases According to a Think with Google study, only 4% of US holiday shoppers did not use digital channels for their shopping last year. The line between online and offline shopping are becoming increasingly blurred, with convenience playing the key factor for people’s decision how and where they shop. Make sure to reflect your in-store products online (and have accurate inventory) and offer a range of delivery and collection options to make the purchasing experience as seamless as possible. Learn how to set up click and collect for your store. Twenty-four percent of respondents in a 2022 Holiday Shopper Study say they typically order last-minute gifts online and pickup in-store. Offer free shipping. More than three quarters of holiday shoppers in the same study intend to do at least half of their shopping online. Waiving shipping fees will help entice them to do all their shopping in your online store. Bottom Line Learning how to create a retail gift guide is a must—whether it’s a brick-and-mortar shop or an ecommerce store. Holiday gift guides attract high-intent shoppers (those who are actively looking to buy something), boost sales revenue, and promote your brand. While they are effective as a marketing strategy, you must first ensure your retail holiday gift guide is well-crafted, personalized for your audience, and strategically distributed so that it can reach your market at the right time. 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Returning customers spend 67% more than new customers, according to a widely reported stat, and implementing loyalty programs is one way to encourage customer retention. Even with the inflation crisis and lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, loyalty programs remain a highly effective lifeline for businesses. This article shares eight customer loyalty program ideas that offer monetary incentives (rewards) and non-monetary value. 1. Give First-time Purchase Discounts to Attract New Members Shopify’s Future of Commerce report found that 50% of shoppers are significantly influenced to purchase when offered personalized discounts. So, incentivize a sale by giving new shoppers a first-time purchase offer to help them get over the hesitation that comes with trying a new retailer. First-time offers are a significant part of acquiring new customers, especially for ecommerce stores. Shoppers cannot touch or experience online products, and it is hard for them to know what to expect from an unknown retailer. This generates more buying hesitation and a greater need to create incentives for people to take the plunge and try your shop. Example: Pampelone Pampelone is an online women’s clothing boutique that sells high-end women’s dresses and knits. With its pieces running a high ticket and there being no way for people to experience them firsthand, Pampelone works to overcome first-time purchase hesitation with a $10 discount for new shoppers. 2. Reward Customer Referrals Another strategy that you can use in your customer loyalty program is a referral program. This is a word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing strategy where you offer rewards to current shoppers when they refer their friends to your store. This strategy not only helps boost your overall traffic; referred customers are 18% more loyal and have a 16% higher lifetime value and a 13.2% higher spending rate than non-referred shoppers. One way you can introduce a referral program is through custom links that are tied to customer accounts. Customers can copy the custom link on their account and share it with friends, then you can track and reward that customer based on the actions that happen on that link. You can acquire custom links either from a referral service or through customer loyalty software. Alternatively, you can give customers a discount code to share with friends. They then get access to a discount once their friends redeem their codes. For example, you can give customers a sharable 20% off code, and when their code gets used, they, too, get a 20% off code. You can (and should) also use social media as part of your referral program. You can host contests where people have to tag their friends for entry or create custom links to your social pages that customers can share with their connections. Loyalty programs such as allow you to create custom referral links for sharing on social media, via email, or over text. You can also use the LoyaltyLion referrals widget. Example: Glossier A few years ago, Glossier was a small makeup and skincare brand that was just coming onto the market. It grew rapidly, however, and is now one of the most successful independent beauty brands out there, and this was largely due to its straightforward, easy-to-use referral program. Glossier offers a 20% off code to anyone that uses a custom link to refer and convert a customer. This—coupled with its branding as a young girl’s brand—made its name spread like wildfire as girls shared their links and got their rewards. 3. Award Points for Spending Another way that you can boost customer engagement in your customer loyalty program is through a points program. In fact, 91% of consumers have earned or redeemed a reward in the past six months, further cementing the idea that point-based reward programs are a great way to increase customer spending and create brand loyalty. In a points program, you award points that can be redeemed for rewards (e.g., discounts, gift cards, and special offers). What you award points for, however, varies from business to business based on what strategy works best. It is worth noting that today’s loyalty programs still lean heavily on cash rewards, with 59% of most B2C businesses offering cash back. Here are several ways that you can structure your loyalty points program: Spend-based Program: A spend-based program offers points based on dollars spent. This type of points program is best suited for companies that want to incentivize larger purchases. Visit-based Program: This points program gives points based on the number of customer transactions and is best for businesses that rely on frequent, small purchases. Loyalty Actions Program: A loyalty actions program is when award points are based on your defined loyalty actions. These actions might be commenting on a social media post, reviewing your products, shopping on a sale day, or buying more than two items. You define the actions that you want to see from your customers and that most benefit your brand. You can also create incentives with rewards and watch as customers start acting. Example: Nordstrom Nordstrom has a very popular loyalty program dubbed “The Nordy Club” that operates on a points system. In The Nordy Club, customers earn points based on how many dollars they spend and get both cashback and exclusive access as they accrue more points. It is a great example of a points program that not only leverages money-back rewards but also exclusivity to grow its program. 4. Create Perks Based on Tiers or Levels Exclusivity is increasingly important to the modern shopper. You can capitalize on this desire for exclusiveness in your loyalty program by creating a tiered membership structure. In this model, as customers engage and spend more at your business, their loyalty status increases, giving them access to exclusive deals and offers (similar to The Nordy Club example above). Shoppers are incentivized to continue to frequent and spend at your business so that their status and offers improve and become more exclusive. Typically, tiered programs have at least three levels and are tied to a points system. In other words, the number of points you have determines what membership tier you get to be in. This helps streamline the membership process and makes things easier to track and implement. Example: Sephora Sephora, a major makeup retailer, has a popular tiered loyalty program known as the “Beauty Insider Program.” Here, members can either be an Insider, a Very Important Beauty, or Rouge based on their points. As members climb the ranks, they get access to better deals, greater discounts, and exclusive freebies and events. Additionally, at Sephora’s rare sales, they get earlier access and a higher discount. The Beauty Insider program uses exclusivity as a weapon to drive Sephora’s loyalty program and incentivize spending. 5. Gamify to Boost Engagement As consumers are increasingly distracted and difficult to engage, gamification is becoming an important part of retailers’ marketing strategies. In fact, retail holds the largest share in the global gamification market. When Walgreens employed “gamification” tactics, it reported an increase in engagement and loyalty of 30%. You can gamify your loyalty program in a few ways with the help of gamifying tools: VR: Get customers to interact with your brand in an exciting and engaging way by using technology like VR. Contests: Contests with prizes boost your engagement. Maybe you do a raffle where every referral counts as an entry or you offer a special discount to your top monthly point holders. Get creative and motivate people with prizes that they actually care about. Prize Wheels: Let customers spin a wheel with different prizes and discount offerings. You can either create a prize wheel pop-up for your website or install a physical one in your store. Either way, you are sure to get people involved. Scratch Off: Create a scratch-off game that customers can get involved in as they buy more products. For example, say you add a scratch-off sticker to your large coffees, and if a customer gets a three of a kind, then they get a free large drink and pastry of their choosing. Example: throtl throtl is a car parts and gear ecommerce website that uses car giveaway contests to get people excited about spending and to boost engagement. If you are a throtl VIP member, you pay $10 a month to get access to your special rewards and offers, and those $10 count as 10 entries into the car raffle. For everyone else, every dollar spent equals one entry into the contest. This way, customers are incentivized to spend because of the prospect of a car prize. 6. Run Special Events With Rewards & Limited-time Offers Offer exclusive member discounts for birthdays, special events, and anniversaries. These limited-time and event-centered promos are highly effective at motivating shoppers. Most loyalty software allows you to send messages and emails to promote events and offers. If you want to incorporate a birthday promo, be sure that you are collecting member birthday information and that you have a program that has a birthday promo option. We suggest  for an automated solution. Example: bareMinerals bareMinerals is a makeup brand that offers a free birthday gift and sends discounts and offers for most holidays via its loyalty texting and email program. The beauty brand capitalizes on every opportunity to do event-based limited-time offers and has become a successful company doing so. 7. Offer Paid Loyalty Programs A 2020 Clarus Commerce study on loyalty programs revealed that 70% of consumers would not hesitate to enroll in a paid membership or loyalty program so long as the benefits are valuable to them. And this seems to be a viable option for retailers; a recent study showed that 95% of retailers considered launching a premium loyalty program in 2021. Usually, paid or premium loyalty programs require members to pay an upfront fee (monthly or annually) in return for exclusive benefits such as bypassing common purchase barriers later on (like shipping fees). Once members join the program, they are more inclined to spend to maximize the program benefit, with 62% more likely to spend more on a brand after joining. This, in turn, should lead to increased average order values, higher repeat purchase rates, and more customer lifetime value. However, a member will only be a repeat customer as long as they are enrolled. And if they don’t see the benefits as worth paying for, they will not go for a second year. You need to go above and beyond what you have offered in the past. Examples of Successful Paid Loyalty Programs Amazon Prime’s membership fee unlocks free shipping. This feature allows subscribers to make frequent, repeat purchases without worrying about inconveniences. REI’s lifetime co-op membership requires a one-time $30 fee. Members then accrue points with purchases, can trade in used gear, get free shipping, and get access to exclusive products and discounts. Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription program that offers many benefits to its subscribers, plus an added incentive for those that stick around. The VIP program is only activated once you have been a subscriber for six consecutive months—a smart strategy to encourage customer retention. 8. Roll Out Mission-driven Loyalty Programs The pandemic also increased social justice awareness for consumers, as they prioritize brands that share their own beliefs and values. In fact, two-thirds of customers are more willing to invest in brands that take stances on social and political issues they care about. To do this, you need to know your buyer’s ideals and values. From there, find a common goal you can share. There are businesses that find greater success in resonating with their audience by offering benefits unrelated to money—building a special connection with customers and fostering trust and loyalty. Examples of Mission-driven Loyalty Programs TOMS shoes has a free, point-based reward system that allows customers to donate their points to support their listed foundations—a variety of awesome grassroots partners. These points correspond to a monetary value. Body Shop’s Love Your Body Club also offers a point-based system where you have the option to redeem them for discounts or donate to a variety of charities. Members also receive a $10 coupon for their birthday. Tips for Implementing a Customer Loyalty Program Whichever loyalty program idea you decide to implement, it would be best to keep the following tips in mind. Bottom Line With recent changes in customer preferences and buying behavior, fostering loyalty is more than just motivating customers to buy more. Industry experts call the new evolution of brand loyalty Loyalty 3.0, which focuses more on the emotional side of customer loyalty. Today’s loyalty programs should center around customer engagement both inside and outside of the buying cycle. Shoppers expect to be rewarded for actions that are not just based on spending to foster brand love. We would recommend you do a mix of the above-mentioned ideas to fit your business strategy. With a hybrid program, you can easily drive non-commercial goals too, such as supporting your brand positioning, culture, and advocacy (such as charities and foundations). Ready to get started? Learn how to create your customer loyalty program and choose from our recommended top loyalty software programs. You May Also Like… How to Start a Retail Business Retail Marketing Strategies Calculate and Improve Your Customer Retention Rate

In our evaluation of the best POS systems for small businesses, eHopper scored a 3.71 out of 5 based on our review of 31 data points. eHopper is a popular POS software that can work for small grocery stores, US-based butcher shops, fabric stores, spice vendors, and delis. However, eHopper did not make our list of recommended POS because most businesses will find more complete feature sets in other POS systems. eHopper offers free point-of-sale (POS) software for retailers, small restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and other business types. While the free plan is limited, inexpensive plans include ingredient-level inventory tracking, table mapping, and an ecommerce website. The hardware-agnostic programming means you can use its hardware or your own. However, those that need online sales would be better off with a POS that includes a built-in ecommerce feature under its basic plans such as . Those that need full-service restaurant features and advanced analytics tools would find eHopper lacking. In general, you can find better free POS systems on the market, like , , and . eHopper Deciding Factors eHopper Alternatives See fullscreen table × If you’re unsure eHopper is right for you, check out our evaluation of other popular retail POS systems. Under this category, eHopper got almost perfect points, mainly due to its free plan and zero installation fees. However, we found its payment providers limiting compared to other POS systems we have evaluated. eHopper earned high marks for its register features. However, it lost points for online sales, which you can only unlock under a paid subscription. eHopper also has very basic customer management functions compared to other POS options, which also caused it to lose points. While eHopper provides all the necessary management tools one would need for a POS system, we found most of them rudimentary, at the very least. For example, reports are not as customizable and in-depth as expected, and there are limited marketing tools. We find eHopper POS an easy-to-implement solution for small retailers. Easy-to-find functions and clear tabs simplify refunding tickets and ringing up sales, discounts, and modifications. It effectively employs both tabs and drop-down menus to ensure smooth workflows. Users can find a thorough database of features, including how-to videos that walk you through the processes and illustrated articles. Users on paid programs can contact support by phone, email, and chat, whereas those on the free program, Essential, are limited to the online help section. eHopper Setup & Installation Signing up for eHopper is super easy. On the website, click the Sign Up Button, then fill in a simple form specifying your type of business. Once eHopper accepts your application, it sends you instructions for activating your account. Some videos walk you through getting started, including importing your inventory and setting up sales taxes. We have looked at dozens of POS software and are impressed with eHopper’s user interface and features layout. The inventory section is perfect for small retailers and some quick-service restaurants. However, the price, scope, and features (supported by user reviews) suggest the software has limits, particularly regarding full-service restaurant functionality. While eHopper reviews are mixed (mainly for its customer support), the software’s low price point and detailed inventory tools make it a popular choice for those looking for small grocery store and free POS systems. eHopper User Reviews Overall, users found the software easy to use. eHopper looks to have been struck with the pandemic, as after September 2019, it went from nearly consistent 4- and 5-star reviews to 1-star reviews. The most significant issues were the hit-and-miss customer support and problems with the QuickBooks integration. A running theme in the bad reviews over the past year was “you get what you pay for.” The most recent user reviews dated 2022 are primarily positive, with almost all users commenting about how easy it is to learn and implement in their business. Capterra: 4.1 out of 5 stars based on about 50 reviews Methodology: How We Evaluated eHopper To evaluate and other POS systems, we looked for software that is affordable for independent business owners and included basic POS functions like check and order management, the ability to process multiple forms of payment, and inventory tracking. To find the best, we also looked for systems that support multiple business types or dominate the industry they serve. Click through the tabs below to see the full evaluation criteria. eHopper Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Bottom Line eHopper is an inexpensive POS software that nonetheless packs a lot of functions while being easy to use. Reviews indicate customer service took a hit in 2020, but the online help section explains the tools well. Check out the system’s free version to see if it will meet your needs.

In our evaluation of the best POS systems for small businesses, POS Nation scored 3.66 out of 5 (based on a review of 31 data points). Although it just missed making our overall guide for small businesses, its industry-specific features make it a top point-of-sale (POS) pick for industries such as liquor and grocery stores. It also leads the pack of POS systems we recommend for convenience stores. We have researched dozens of POS software and can say that for specific industries, leads the pack. While pricier, it offers excellent features that make it a good choice for many retailers, specifically for convenience, liquor, and grocery stores. For example, it is ideal for these industries because of its lottery ticket management, shrinkage detection, employee shift tracking, robust inventory features, and reporting for specific state regulations. It also has perishable inventory tracking, mix-and-match pricing, case-break inventory tracking, and detailed vendor management—along with options for integrated self-checkout, scales, and scanners. Since POS Nation is designed for retailers, it lacks features specific to food-based businesses such as reservations or bar tabs. It also needs customization to be able to take online and phone orders, so if you need that, consider a multichannel POS system. POS Nation Deciding Factors POS Nation Alternatives See fullscreen table × POS Nation has two basic plans: one with a monthly subscription and another for a one-time fee. There’s also a custom-build plan that offers more flexibility; you can choose your own processor (the other plans require a Worldpay agreement) and pick only the features you need without any long-term contracts. POS Nation earned high marks for its affordable hardware options and zero installation fees. The lack of a free plan and third-party payment options prevented it from getting a perfect score. It is also worth noting that its subscription fees are higher than many other POS systems we have reviewed. One thing POS Nation does a little differently is that basic hardware is included in your POS plan. POS Nation has great register and checkout features. Based on our evaluation, it earned perfect marks for its speedy checkout tools, transaction management features, customer management, and available loyalty program feature. However, it got docked points for lacking online ordering tools like ecommerce and order ahead. Unlike most POS systems, POS Nation has multiple interface options. Clerks and cashiers can easily find an item to see its stock keeping unit (SKU), price, availability, and more. You can set discounts, bulk pricing, and time-based rates. Scales and scanners make it a great option for delis and grocery stores. Customers can also check themselves out or you can check them out with a mobile option. If you have age-restricted items, the ID scanning makes it easy for cashiers to verify ages. This software is feature-rich, and even better, POS Nation customizes the software before installing it on the hardware. This makes it very convenient and, if afterward, you find you need something else, you can call POS Nation about adding it. In our evaluation, POS Nation earned perfect marks except for marketing tools and multilocation management. It offers these features but they pale in comparison or are paid features compared to other POS systems. 24/7 customer support and training with the monthly plan Arrives with software customized and installed Large, bright buttons and good workflow Fee for customer support after first three months POS Nation customizes your software to your industry and your particular business before sending it to you so that you can hit the ground running. This software has a clean interface, and you can customize workflows with hot buttons to make ringing up a customer faster. In addition to how-to guides and demo videos, POS Nation offers blogs, guides, and videos on industry topics, from Black Friday sales to how to choose and use POS systems―even its competitors. Its onboarding process also stands out. You are assigned a customer success manager upon subscribing, and they will help set up your POS hardware as well as train you and your employees on the software. If needed, he can even help you import all your inventory. When it comes to technical support, you have access to 24/7 technical support in the first month of subscription but would need to pay an additional $39 a month if you wish to retain the same level of support after three months. Ultimately, we like POS Nation’s wide range and industry-specific POS features and high-level of support available, but find its pricing plans a bit on the expensive side compared to other POS systems we have evaluated and tested. We also noticed that 24/7 technical support can only be extended to users that are willing to pay extra for it monthly. It remains a very popular software among retailers and, all things considered, we recommend POS Nation for retailers that need its specific features (especially convenience stores). Those on a budget should check out an alternative like . POS Nation User Reviews Overall, users say POS Nation is intuitive, fast, and easy to maintain. Managers praise the reporting, inventory, and customer management functions. Users also give the POS Nation support staff high marks, calling them professional, knowledgeable, kind, and genius. Complaints were few. Most involved the desire for specific features and complaints about customer support—these were well outnumbered by praise, however. The one consistent complaint was about the system lagging and crashing. Overall POS Nation User Ratings: Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars based on nearly 120 reviews Trust Pilot: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,000 reviews The mixed reviews are also reflected in Finances Online’s customer satisfaction algorithm, with the software garnering a 77% user satisfaction rating based on reviews, comments, and opinions from POS Nation users. It is worth noting that GetApp ranked POS Nation No. 1 in the POS software category and the retail management systems category in 2021. It is also listed as one of the 2021 FrontRunners for top retail inventory software in North America by Software Advice. Methodology: How We Evaluated POS Nation To evaluate and other POS systems, we looked for software that is affordable for independent business owners and included basic POS functions like check and order management, the ability to process multiple forms of payment, and inventory tracking. To find the best, we also looked for systems that support multiple business types or that dominate in the industry they serve. Click through the tabs below to see the full evaluation criteria: POS Nation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Bottom Line If you are looking for POS software that is customized to your needs, POS Nation is well worth considering. It offers software and hardware combinations that are especially suited for businesses in the grocery and liquor store industries and also those in retail. The software comes installed into the hardware, and you get 24/7 support and training during your first month. Call POS Nation to get started.