Easy Strategies to Get Customers in Your Door
As the owner of a dealership, whether it’s large or small, it’s easy to get tied up in the day-to-day workings of your business and forget to step back and look at your larger purpose: that is, providing amazing service to your customers.
But first you have to get them in the door. Let’s take a look at some tips you can use to make your customers happy and set yourself apart from your competition.
Strategy #1: Improve Your Parking
Many owners don’t think twice about their parking. After all, it’s a parking lot. What’s the big deal?
Well, it’s a big deal to your customers because most of the time, they’re in a hurry. They want to get in and get out so they can get on with their day. Customers can easily get annoyed with parking lots that are too small. And, this annoyance can cause them to go somewhere else.
A good rule of thumb is that for every square foot of your retail store, you need five square feet of parking.
It’s also important to analyze how your lot is laid out. Many customers can’t walk easily on gravel, so using asphalt is your best bet. Your lot should always be clean and attractively landscaped. Remember, this is your customers’ first impression of your dealership when they pull in. Make it a good one.
Strategy #2: Improve Your Curb Appeal
Your customers want to know that they’re shopping at the best store. And, this realization starts with how your store looks from the outside. Curb appeal is extremely important for dealerships, and yet most owners don’t give it a second thought. Their focus is the inside of their store-not the outside.
Go outside and look at your building from across the street. How does your store look…is it attractive, or dirty? Can potential customers easily read your signs? Is your garbage bin placed where everyone can see it, or is it hidden in the back? Are the windows clean?
Make every effort to improve the curb appeal of your building. All these little details send big signals to your potential customers about the quality of service they can expect from you and your team. When you take excellent care of your building, and how it looks, your customers know that they can expect the same level of attention once they go inside.
Strategy #3: Make Sure You Have an Identity
Some dealerships try to be all things to all people. But you know how the old saying goes…when you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one. Dealers that carry several different brands of the same product just end up confusing their customers with information overload. And then, they don’t end up making a purchasing decision.
If this sounds like you, then use your OPE point of sale software to determine which products you’re selling the most of. These products should become your identity. Take the time to become an expert on these core products, and let the rest go. You’ll better service your customers with your in-depth knowledge of these items, and you’ll help them avoid the confusion from having too many choices.
Last Word…
Having a successful dealership means you put your customers, and their wants and needs, first. Strategies like improving your parking lot, improving your curb appeal, and using your OPE point of sale software to improve your product selection can go a long way towards getting customers in the door, and keeping them around over the long term.
outdoor power equipment software, Store Operations | 
June 1, 2010 8:48 am
