High street customers unwilling to wait

Feb. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- The research suggests consumers are becoming less tolerant to having to wait to be served and as a result, many retailers could be missing out on valuable sales by not addressing the issue.

Over a third of the customers questioned by Displaysense said that if they were met by a queue upon entering a store, they would make a quick exit.

Steve Whittle, marketing director at Displaysense, believes that this growing impatience can be attributed to the rise of online shopping, which consumers see as fast and convenient.

"With online shopping things are almost instant and all within the control of the shopper. This is a mentality that customers are taking with them when visiting high street stores and as a result, are less tolerant to having to wait," he explains.

Although traditional retailers now need to compete with the convenience and accessibility of online shopping, there are steps they can take to tackle the problem - and even turn queuing to their advantage.

The use of queuing barriers, such as retractable barriers, is one option open to stores and Mr Whittle points out that using such queuing systems effectively can mean that long queues can be less conspicuous to a customer who walks in off the street.

"By introducing carefully thought out strategies, such as well-planned queuing layouts and express tills, retailers can manage their customers more efficiently," he states.

In an article written by Displaysense for its customers, the company recommends that retailers also ensure that a queue is not the first thing that shoppers see when they enter the store, as this can be a big turn-off for many customers.

This could be achieved by carefully positioning eye-catching shop displays and merchandise near the entrance to the store, as well as using queuing barriers to keep queues away from the doors.

But Mr Whittle notes that queues do not have to reflect negatively on retailers and on some occasions they can even increase sales.

"Queues should not always be seen as a bad thing. They demonstrate that the store is popular and can generate intrigue as to why there is a queue. By implementing in-queue merchandising systems, retailers can increase their customer spend while they are waiting to pay, as well as make them aware of new products and ranges within the store," he comments.

Effective in-queue merchandising systems have become very popular among some of the leading retailers. And according to Mr Whittle, they are the perfect place for special deals or impulse-buy products to be promoted to customers, leading to a boost revenue and enabling retailers to turn queues to a store's advantage.

Mr Whittle stresses that in the age of convenience and speed on the internet, retailers need to do all they can to minimise the negative perception of queues and maximise their sales potential by installing effective systems to appeal to their 'captive audience'.
Ends
Displaysense has been working in the shop displays sector since 1978 when it started out in Hertfordshire. Since then, the organisation has grown substantially and now manufactures its extensive range of products in 25 countries around the world.

Orders can be shipped anywhere in the world and the company constantly seeks to update and improve its offerings. Following a philosophy of choice, value and service, Displaysense's customers can rest assured that they will receive the best products from the leading shop display and fittings retailer.

If you would like any further information about the products and services offered by Displaysense, please contact us.

Email: sales@displaysense.co.uk

Tel (UK): 0845 200 8139
Tel (Int):  +44 (0)1279 460 460

Address:
Displaysense
Rye Street
Bishop's Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2HG
United Kingdom

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Displaysense has been working in the shop displays sector since 1978 when it started out in Hertfordshire. Since then, the organisation has grown substantially and now manufactures its extensive range of products in 25 countries around the world.

Orders can be shipped anywhere in the world and the company constantly seeks to update and improve its offerings. Following a philosophy of choice, value and service, Displaysense's customers can rest assured that they will receive the best products from the leading shop display and fittings retailer.

If you would like any further information about the products and services offered by Displaysense, please contact us.

Email: sales@displaysense.co.uk

Tel (UK): 0845 200 8139
Tel (Int): +44 (0)1279 460 460

www.displaysense.co.uk