Five Marketing Ideas For Shopping Centres
Increasing customer flow in shopping centres is a daily challenge for managers and retailers nationwide. Customers have higher expectations than ever before – it’s no longer enough to simply sell items face-to-face, as many visitors to shopping centres now want the ‘experience’ of shopping. Attracting potential shoppers requires a robust marketing strategy, but it can be difficult to generate new ideas to keep customers coming back. Thankfully, here at Shoppertainment, we have come up with 5 marketing ideas you can wow your shoppers with and encourage them to return to your shopping centre time and time again.
Sale, Sale, Sale!
We all love a good bargain, so why not entice hungry shoppers in with a deal they can’t resist? In-store sales, coupons and promotional codes are all fantastic ways to draw the attention of customers and get them visiting your stores.
Outlet and shopping centre-wide discounts can be just one way of driving traffic to your shopping centre, but targeting different offers at specific customers takes this idea a step further. Limited-time vendors, seasonal promotions – like summer and winter sales – and back-to-school events or discounts for holidays provide an incentive for customers to venture out to browse your shops in-person.
Reward Loyal Customers
Another step would be to introduce a customer loyalty program, where members can receive extra discounts or exclusive rewards unavailable through online shopping platforms. A loyalty program can also open the gates to a number of other marketing opportunities, including email marketing and regular social media updates, keeping your shoppers in-the-know about any new promotions.
Organise Themed Events
We have spoken before about the benefits of hosting themed or brand events, but showcasing products and services can be a great way to diversify the shopping experience for your customers. Putting on events at the weekend when shoppers will be most likely to visit breaks up the usual routine of a day’s shopping, giving participants a chance to relax with drinks and snacks to watch the show. Dedicated event spaces inside of your shopping centre are perfect for fashion shows and meet & greets, but smaller events can take place anywhere there is room, and might actually be better for directing people to specific stores in the case of a brand promotion.
With the help of Shoppertainment, we will ensure your shopping centre event runs smoothly. Discover our shopping centre event agency services today!
Share It On Social Media
Setting out a viable marketing strategy for your shopping centre is great, but unless people know what’s going on, it will struggle to be successful. The best way you can share the latest news and events is to take full advantage of social media. Here, you can post about upcoming social events, special promotional offers, and the arrival of new products and stores.
Good communication with customers doesn’t just mean increasing your marketing though. Your customers are vital to the success of your retail business, so listening to feedback and recommendations from the people who regularly visit your shopping centre can help you discover insights about what shoppers enjoy and what you need to focus on improving. Getting customer feedback through surveys and quizzes is as rewarding for your shopping centre as it is for your customers, particularly if they receive a promo code for completing it!
Shout About Your Stores!
Creating content centred around the shopping experience can really boost your footfall, particularly when you have a selection of enticing stores to promote to your audience. Showing your customers that you’re not just engaging with them, but also your retail stores, bolsters your image in the eyes of shoppers. This means you can act as an intermediary, introducing brands and customers to each other through your social media and marketing channels.
Ready To Start Your Marketing Journey?
Now you’re ready to apply some of these marketing tips to boost your shopping centre footfall! As shopping centres continue to adapt and change to meet the demands and needs of their customers, it is becoming increasingly important to implement effective marketing techniques to draw in foot traffic and keep your shoppers engaged. But don’t worry – we have plenty more suggestions and strategies that can help improve your marketing for your shopping centre!
At Shoppertainment, we have years of experience in managing commercialisation and providing PR and digital marketing support for shopping centres and retail outlets across the UK. From providing website design services to temporary retail spaces like pop-up shops and Retail Merchandising Units (RMUs), we can rise to any challenge your shopping centre is facing. For more information on how we can help with your shopping centre commercialisation, contact one of our team members today!