Promotions and vouchers at Christmas can trigger both in-store and online purchases. Here are some figures according to a survey carried out by http://www.retailmenot.com/.
- The research found that 7 in 10 customers (68%) surveyed, believe that digital coupons have a positive impact on a retailer’s brand, and 68% stated that coupons generate loyalty.
- Of the consumers surveyed, 64% said a digital promotion or a coupon often close the deal if they are indecisive about making a purchase.
Vouchers or coupons are those little-added incentives that give customers an extra push in your businesses direction, especially in E-commerce. The benefits of these business applications are there for everyone to see but can you improve this process even further? The simple answer is yes, by accompanying your “deals”, “special offers” and promotions with great customer service.
Reaching your customers: Mobile and Promotions
According to PewResearch (2013) 56% of American adults are smartphone owners. eMarketer expects 4.55 billion people worldwide to use a mobile phone in 2014. That means there are many ways that a retail company can beam promotional information and customer support straight into the device in someone’s pocket. The availability of these channels means it is no longer the large corporations who rule the market place, SME’s and online communities now have access to the online market also.
Customer support can be achieved through channels such as:
Live Chat for Customer Support in Retail
A web online platform that allows for immediate responses from call centre agents regarding customer queries and all done while the consumer is still on your website. This significantly reduces “shopping cart abandonment” while increases upselling opportunities. Live chat support can close the deal for you.
Mobile Response for Customer Support in Retail
97% of text messages are read within 5 seconds and 32% of consumers respond to SMS promotions. A BPO company such as a call centre can be used to deliver a vast amount of promotional text messages for a fraction of the time and money you will use in-house.
Outsourcing is now one of the best business solutions available to retailers. For example, you can even outsource brochure handling & mailing services to a call centre and create databases containing customer information saving retailers time and office space.
Business solutions are not just “add-ons” that make improvements here and there; they are what give a retail company a real competitive advantage in the marketplace. Combine business solutions and promotions this Christmas and reap the rewards.
