Out on a quest to find some unique retail store event ideas?
Your search ends here! Explore “footfall-attracting” event ideas for your retail store to grow sales.
Remember….
The finest retail store events provide something valuable to those who attend them. It may be something people discover for the first time, a unique launch deal, or an immersive experience.
Here are some retail store event ideas for your shop that you can apply to grow sales.
7 Irresistible Retail Store Event Ideas
1) Unique Experiential Events:
Ads come and go, but customers tend to remember their experiences for the rest of their lives.
Retail businesses are exploring new and imaginative methods to interact with customers these days – and you should too.
Take the example of Chanel
In 2019, Chanel created an impression in New York’s SoHo neighborhood with its unique pop-up boutique Atelier Beauté Chanel.
It was an interactive store event where customers could try their selections, receive expert skincare and cosmetic treatments, and take plenty of photos.
They also held a series of “makeup happy hours,” where guests could request a 20-minute one-on-one session with a Chanel beauty artist.
Out-of-the-box store decorations for your experiential event will attract both existing and new retail customers and encourage them to buy your retail products or services.
Store makeovers offer a visual and sensory experience. Truly, the sky is the limit when you think of retail store event ideas like this one.
You have a plethora of decor options including changing your store’s outside or interior into an exotic destination, such as a resort, or a period from the past, showing a historical event or subject.
Additionally, if your business appeals to youthful purchasing clients, you may create ultra-trendy experience events such as mimicking the atmosphere of a dance club venue.
2) Admission by Invitation Only:
How do you distinguish your shop from competitors selling similar retail products?
A way to accomplish this and grow retail sales is to appeal to high-end and high-intent buyers who seek out the uncommon.
A restricted access sale makes your event appealing to consumers searching for uncommon, limited edition, or high-end retail products. Sample sales via invitation frequently draw large crowds and increase sales.
Pro Tips:
Use retail shop management software that includes promotion or invitation templates as well as email marketing integration. This makes implementing retail store event ideas much easier.
Holding events is simple since you can send personalized promotions and invitations or utilize built-in ones to attract clients’ attention.
Get the benefits of ultra-smooth store management and operation while organizing events and beyond.
Retail experts advise Ari POS for the best end-to-end retail shop operations
3) Meet-Ups or Hobbyist Events:
For these kinds of events develop a periodic series of multiple events that promote your own retail industry as well as a community made up of your target demographic.
For example … (Arc’teryx)
Arc’teryx Academy was held in 2018 by the outdoor fashion company Arc’teryx. It was a four-day event that brought together outdoor enthusiasts including mountain guides and elite athletes via lectures, expert-led clinics and films. They provide three different experiences: mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding.
Take Another Example (Pace Athletic)
Pace Athletic, an Australian shop specializing in running footwear and equipment, excels at this. Pace founded the “Pace Run Club,” in which members meet and compete in running events around Australia.
These gatherings not only strengthened their community but also spurred the expansion of their business. “Pace Run Clubs are moving ads for our brand,” said Will Hatton, Pace Athletics’ co-owner.
Will stated that he and his co-founder invested in professional photography at these events, which aided their growth even more. Will and Stuart gained high-quality material for Facebook and Instagram as a result of their professional images, which enhanced social media engagement.
So, you don’t always have to have retail events within your store limits to boost sales. Explore the endless possibilities with these retail store event ideas.
4) Partnership and Collaborative Events:
Collaboration with other retail firms is a win-win situation, giving greater visibility and money to both sides.
For instance, take Sephora
Sephora collaborated with Dr. Dennis Gross, a world-renowned dermatologist in New York City. On this occasion, his National Medical Esthetician was on hand to provide skin consultations and to execute a special peel accessible only in his clinic.
Sephora was running a promotion in which buyers who spent $150 on DG products received a complimentary goodie bag as well as a $250 medical-grade peel from the medical esthetician. As Dr. Gross’s proprietary peel is one of the most well-known skincare products, this resulted in increased foot traffic and sales.
5) Enticing Enjoyable Events:
Enjoyable events are a fan favorite—people come to participate in fun activities, and your retail shop benefits from increased foot traffic and brand exposure.
Take inspiration from John Lewis
In 2017, John Lewis held an in-store event to commemorate the British summer. It was called National Treasures, and it featured 220 life-size cartoon exhibits in retail windows by Paul Thurlby.
With movies, live seminars, fitness classes, and Q&A sessions on a gardening society-themed rooftop location on London’s famed Oxford Street, it was entertaining and interactive. The event improved John Lewis’s ties with its consumers.
So, make it fun, make it win hearts – have an endless flow of customers in your stores with our retail store event ideas.
6) Private Previews, Exhibitions, and Displays:
Retail events that feature active displays of your store’s merchandise as well as taste testing, demonstrations, and guest speakers attract high-intent and high-end customers looking for a unique shopping experience.
Sneak peeks of new inventory and fashion shows featuring up-and-coming designers assist in marketing your featured inventory goods in an appealing manner.
Interested customers will return for additional shopping opportunities if these activities are spread out across several dates throughout the sales event. Self-conducted or professional retail surveys can assist you in determining the sort of dynamic display that is most suitable for your local market.
7) Holiday Celebrations:
You can attract innumerable footfalls by capitalizing on holidays and seasons such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. Pretty obvious, right?
Then, answer this question.
Do you believe that sitting on Santa’s lap is only for children?
If yes, then consider it again!
Now, Take a look at Petco…
Petco aims to make the Christmas season more magical for pet owners by providing a picture opportunity with Santa Claus for their four-legged pals. In addition to a photo with Santa for your pet, Petco’s #SantaPawsForACause campaign contributed 100% of the revenues to local animal welfare groups. Petco’s picture event was an excellent approach for the retailer to engage its pet-loving consumers over the holiday season.
So, unwrap your very own (special) retail magic this holiday with our retail store event ideas.
Time for a Quick Recap
We unveiled 7 distinct “footfall attracting” ideas for your retail store to increase sales.
Thousands of retailers rely on it to increase retail sales; why are you losing out on the benefits?
We encourage you to try Ari POS, a comprehensive retail business management software