{"id":6852,"date":"2020-10-14T14:32:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T14:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-402808-2566796.cloudwaysapps.com\/euro\/?p=6852"},"modified":"2022-07-07T09:17:53","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T13:17:53","slug":"appointment-booking-new-in-store-personal-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storeforcesolutions.com\/euro\/appointment-booking-new-in-store-personal-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Appointment Booking: The New In-Store Personal Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As people\u2019s shopping habits evolve, services that used to be reserved only for high-end retailers have gone mainstream and are now being implemented by mid-range retailers. This offers a new way of serving customers to better fulfill their needs and build relationships. Appointment booking is now \u201cthe next thing for retailers<\/a>\u201d that allows them to inspire customers<\/a> to return to their stores without hesitation, making the most of their business, people, and store hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appointment-based shopping is about providing that personalized brand experience for a customer that has a high intention to buy at his\/her own convenience in a safe and customized environment in-store. It also provides a great way to influence traffic patterns, create additional sales opportunities, and build brand loyalty via tailored experiences in-store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appointment Booking: The Customer and The Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n
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There are several benefits that selling through an appointment can provide to customers. To them, most of these benefits are about personal face to face experiences with convenience<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 something that an online interaction can\u2019t provide. No more struggles of long lines or crowded aisles. Customers can rest assured that the time they are spending in-store is going to be reciprocated by the retailer, the brand, and the expert providing them service. \u201cI\u2019m coming into your store, and I want to be assured of service and attention to fulfill the needs that I have. I appreciate your expertise and I want you to assemble all the pieces together for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers certainly expect that the retailer\u2019s focus and the sales associate\u2019s attention is solely on them. They may even want to select the person who they want the appointment with. From a repeat business perspective, this kind of one-to-one relationship is perceived as more important than just simply another transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s In It for the Retailer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Retailers are almost guaranteed that shoppers will convert once attending their appointments. But what happens with the customer once the appointment is happening? During an appointment, a sales associate has the opportunity to interact, serve, and engage on a more personal level with the customer. This investment of time and attention increases basket size and brand recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maximizing Retailer\u2019s Labor Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Appointment booking is a great way of maximizing the retailer\u2019s labor resources. Think about your available labor capacity in-store on a Monday or Tuesday morning. Most likely there are associates available and ready to perform any activity or task. By letting customers schedule appointments, retailers can maximize their staff productivity during those \u201cnot-so-busy\u201d times, utilizing their staff\u2019s experience during those quieter periods. During some peak periods, some retailers are even bringing in dedicated shifts to work on appointments with the confidence that the incremental sales will offset the labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Customer Loyalty by Customizing the Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Retailers are also able to customize the experience even more by doing the heavy lifting of the sales process before the person has even walked into the store. They know who\u2019s coming in for the appointment, what they\u2019ve purchased in the past, what they like or don\u2019t like and what their needs are. For instance, retailers like Kate Spade and Vow\u2019d Weddings utilize their online channels to understand the purpose and needs of their in-store appointments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Appointment Booking: Considerations for Your Store Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Appointments are fantastic for allowing retailers and store managers to estimate how many more customers they will and\/or are able to have in store. It is critically important to determine the plan around it for it to be successful. Here are the key planning points as retailers consider moving forward with booking appointments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n