Grocery stores are essential in life. We get the food we need to survive and feed our families. For grocery store owners it is a complicated mix of offering what consumers want versus keeping an efficient workplace and maximizing profitability.
In order to accomplish this, here are 5 tips for success for any grocery store, big or small:
1. Go Organic
The rise in awareness of environmental degradation and the increasing number of people wanting to know what’s going into the food that they’re eating is at an all-time high, and shows no sign of slowing. Grocery shopping habits are shifting and organic foods is becoming a big part of this. For grocery store owners, this is a tremendous opportunity. Organic food is no longer just for foodies, as sales are growing faster than any other segment of the grocery industry with annual sales in the U.S. topping anywhere from $16.3 billion to $29.7 billion, says foodeditorials.com. Allocating a portion of the store for organic foods not only gives those seeking humane and non-polluting foods what they want, it gives stores increased sales and builds customer loyalty.
2. In-Store Coupons
Coupons have always been a part of the grocery store experience but coupons are now becoming a bigger trend meaning managers must adjust ordering to meet demand (which ties to No. 3 on our list), according to the Houston Chronicle. One good trick is to place coupons on shelving aisles in order to draw attention to products consumers might not normally notice. Coupons placed in the front of the store near shopping carts is also a way to encourage to look for certain items. A special draw to slow-moving items that may otherwise sit on a shelf may be a good way to significantly maximize profits. As coupons go high-tech be prepared for the changes in store as people use them by accessing their smartphones or tablets.
| See Also: Clipping Coupons in a Digital Age |
3. Inventory Management
In order to run an efficient and profitable grocery store, proper inventory management is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. That’s where Revel Systems iPad POS system becomes an invaluable tool for grocery store POS. Grocery store owners not only have the ability to keep track of their inventory, but also can manage the purchase and reorder process seamlessly from within the backend management console. Customers regularly come into a store with requests for items and the store owner must often determine if carrying the item is worth the cost of keeping a customer. Revel’s iPad POS allows you to determine this as well as which items sell the best in the store and which items sit on the shelves.
4. Social Media
One of the ways to know if you are doing things right is to ask the customer. Not only is this a simple way to find out if your business is meeting the goals of the consumers but it might open up opportunities to gain more sales from other customers in the process. This could include being active in social media platforms such as Yelp, Twitter, and Facebook where an open communication between consumer and owner may be an interactive way to increase sales. This doesn’t even begin to explore the options of using social media to advertise, promote specials and offer coupons.
5. Increase in Prepared Foods
Some stores are starting to provide already made food or “buy and make” food where consumers can buy a nearly prepared meal, take it home and have it ready quickly. This includes things like salads, sandwiches or entrees for dinner. As majority of food income is being spent on prepared foods and that trend is projected to continue into 2014, this is an area where grocery managers will not just need to explore but will have to expand upon to meet the demands of their customers.
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