The outbreak of coronavirus has taken the world by storm. It has not only taken millions of lives but also affected many businesses around the globe. The good news is that the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing in different parts of the world. Thus, the nation has started lifting some of the restrictions, enabling businesses to resume their operations safely.
However, even though the situation has improved significantly, the war isn’t over yet. If we are not careful enough, we may encounter the second wave of the virus. In simple words, we are not out of the woods yet, and it’s extremely important for businesses to be cautious and smart with their implementation of merchandising moving forward.
Let’s face it - even though everything is returning to a new-normal, it has become impossible for businesses, especially foodservice businesses, to drive foot-traffic and sales.
Here are some tips that will help you drive more sales even during COVID-19.
Make your bestsellers more accessible
Once you know what your bestsellers are, make sure you dedicate more appropriate space on your counter high merchandiser for those items. During the pandemic, this could mean having more space for your money-makers instead of displaying different products alongside each other.
Whether you are running a bakery shop or a departmental store, understanding how to display your products can change the entire game. You can consider investing in glass display cases to ensure your products (money-makers or otherwise) are more accessible to your customers. Display cases not only entice customers into making a purchase but also ensure your products are stored at optimum temperature.
Better hygiene and sanitization practices
Unfortunately, now is not the time to run “business as usual”. Even though everybody is sick of lockdowns and staying home, they are still afraid and don’t want to take their business to somebody who can’t provide them a safe and clean environment. Therefore, it is crucial to have better hygiene and sanitization practices in place. From your commercial kitchen to display counters, clean, disinfect, and sanitize every nook and cranny.
Minimize high-touch displays
While consumers are usually big fans of interactive elements in the store, they are a big no-no during the pandemic. It’s important to remove any items or elements that invite touching, such as product samples, ketchup bottles, menus, and more. You can integrate technology into your business operations to simplify things. For instance, instead of providing your customers with a hand-drawn menu, you can have them scan it from their phones, providing a safe environment.
Running a business successfully in the age of the COVID-19 requires clear communication with the customers, smart store planning, and easy accessibility through counter high merchandisers.
