The high street is a pinnacle of any British community, and the more small businesses that populate it, the healthier that community will be. Corner shops have long been one of the key staples to any high street, but with big box brands coming in and taking away customers, it can be harder and harder not just to thrive, but to keep your doors open in the first place.
The secret is two-fold. First, you need to offer all the essential basics to appeal to customers closer to you than the bigger stores. Two, you need to offer items the big stores don’t offer. If you manage to accomplish these two things, then your corner shop be able to stand out. Not sure where to start? Use this guide:
Sell Everyday Basics
There will be people who live closer to you than the bigger box stores so your corner shop needs to stand out. There will also be people who pass by your store and realize they need something on their way. By stocking the absolute essentials for men, women, babies, and the home, you can get sales from these last-minute shoppers. Examples include a small range of dental care, personal hygiene, baby care, cleaning supplies, etc. Try to have two to three brands in stock to give people the most option. Take note of what sells and what doesn’t. If one brand never gets sold, then you may want to swap it out for another.
Sell Fresh Foods as Well
If you have the space, try to sell fresh foods on top of the packaged goods. A small section of freshly prepared lunch meals or a small collection of essential fruits, vegetables, and other fridge foods like eggs can go a long way towards making you a go-to shop rather than just a place for booze and party snacks.
Sell Unique Products
In addition to selling the absolute classics both for a basic shop and also for those passing by, you’ll also want to sell unique items. Rather than just stock Lucozade, for example, offer other fun products like Prime sports drinks. You will need to buy Prime wholesale to get the business-only prices, which can help your store stand out. Run promotions on these special items one item per time to get people to try them, and if they like them, you’ve got a monopoly of these items in your area.
Make It Easy to Find Items
Use signs to help customers easily find what they are looking for. Large signs, even if they’re handmade, can help draw the eye away from the many logos that dominate stores today to the category of product. This way, customers can easily find what they are looking for.
Have a Community Board
People in your community come to you! This means you have a unique opportunity to help your community and make a bit of extra money while at it. You can have a small flat fee for people who want to post a flyer advertising their business or event somewhere prominently in your store. This community board also opens up a dialogue between you and other small businesses and organizations in your area. For example, you can sell your products at local events around you! Or event organizers can buy bulk products direct from you for their event or fundraiser. There are plenty of opportunities if you know where to look.
Sell Products Through Uber Eats and Other Similar Services
If you want to boost sales and your visibility, sign up for Uber Eats and other similar services. This way, people can order what they need for pick up or delivery. Since it’s a third-party service, you don’t have to worry about paying a delivery driver or managing an additional employee. To do this you will need a set of products available that are kept in bulk in the back, not in stock on the shelves. This is how you’ll be able to fulfill the order faster and easier and keep better track of what is and isn’t in stock for your online sales.
Have a Recommendations Sheet
Near the checkout, you should have a notebook open so that customers can write down food or product recommendations. You can then decide for yourself if you stock it or even get people to vote on it. Doing this helps enhance customer-store relations and can help your locals find more value in your brand, not the bigger stores.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
