Dale Carnegie Training Recap: Our Top 3 Takeaways

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Star Micronics family.

A part of the Star family who visited Arizona.

Last month, we had the pleasure of visiting sunny Scottsdale, Arizona to attend a Dale Carnegie training that taught us some of the best tips and tricks to sell mPOS in today’s market. As we all know, technologies are always changing, and it’s a good idea to refresh your skillset in order to do your best and offer your best to your customers. Although we manufacture POS solutions, there were three key takeaways we received from the Dale Carnegie training that are also relevant for ISVs, resellers, and SMBs alike. Read on to get some good business tips, no matter what industry you’re in.

1. Don’t Just Hear – Listen

Our first takeaway sounds easy, but is often overlooked. When engaging with colleagues and customers (and friends and loved ones, too) don’t just hear what they’re saying – truly listen. Paying attention and really listening to what the other person is saying will not only improve your relationship, but also help you remember the conversation more fully.

The beautiful landscaping at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa.

The beautiful landscaping at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.

2. Mix It Up

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have a lot on your plate. To avoid things slipping through the cracks, mix up your tasks! Categorize your to-do list by things that already happened that you need to work on (responding to older emails), items that pop up in the present (a report that is due today), and things you need to deliver on in the future (writing a draft that’s due next week). Then, choose a task to begin with, and work one-by-one and alternate the type of task as you go. This will help you keep a variety of tasks in the foreground of your mind.

Dale Carnegie training.

Learning about the importance of mental attitudes.

3. Choose the Right Attitude

Last but not least, is a good lesson in developing a healthy, productive perspective. Per Dale Carnegie:

“It isn’t what you have, who you are, where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it. Two people may be in the same place, doing the same thing; both may have about an equal amount of money and prestige – and yet one may be miserable and the other happy. Why? Because of different mental attitudes.”

Thanks again, Dale Carnegie of Arizona, for having us and teaching us your ways!

The 5 Best Star Receipt Printers

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Star Micronics has a full line of printers for every type of work environment, ranging from solutions for aesthetically-minded users looking for a stylish printer, to printers for merchants who need a more durable option that can withstand temperature fluctuations, liquids, dust, and heavy use. Star’s receipt printer solutions include thermal printers, impact printers and, for business owners looking for a more complete solution to help streamline promotional efforts, Star allows you to create receipts, coupons, promotional messages, and surveys.

Do you know which Star receipt printer is the best for your business? There are several top options suited for a variety of retail, restaurant, and hospitality locations.

1. mC-Print2

mC-Print2 / mC-Print3

Star Micronics’ mC-Print2 is a smart choice for both the front- and back-of-the-house operations for businesses using traditional PC point of sale (POS) systems, tablet solutions, and web-based POS.

The mC-Print 2 is the mCollection’s 2-inch front-exit thermal printer, which is designed for easy paper loading and maintenance, ensuring minimal downtime in the fast-paced retail environment. Its ergonomic size is ideal for maximizing precious counter space and its five interfaces and multiple connectivity options deliver ultimate flexibility.

2. mC-Print3

The mc-Print3 has a stylish cube design that was created for busy and space-conscious restaurateurs and retailers. The mC-Print3 includes a protected control board and IPX2 splash-proof rating to guard against spills and particles that fly in even the most well-run kitchens and tough retail environments.

Its 3-inch compact footprint maximizes counter space and its ultra-fast 250 mm/second printing speed ensures customers are checked out and orders are printed as quickly as possible, safeguarding the customer experience. With multiple connectivity options, access to Star CloudPRNT and USB peripherals, such as cash drawer, scanner, and customer display, the mC-Print3 is well equipped to handle any restaurant or retail application.

mPOP

3. mPOP™ Multifunction System

The mPOP™, Mobile Point of Purchase, is the first hybrid for tablet POS that combines a cash drawer and a 2-inch, “drop in and print” paper loading printer. This compact Star receipt printer is an ideal solution for tablet- and mobile device-based POS systems.

The mPOP’s ergonomic, fully integrated design works with any tablet or mobile device. It’s sleek look and compact design is perfect for specialty retail environments, such as boutiques or salons.  It delivers the polished appearance these environments call for without compromising features, space, design quality, or functionality.

4. Star Micronics TSP100III

TSP100

Star’s TSP100III line of printers was created to address connectivity problems that plague business owners. The TSP100IIIU delivers a simple and extremely reliable tether connection for iOS devices via USB connectivity. This sleekly designed Star receipt printer is spotlight-ready and looks beautiful sitting on a counter in both restaurant and retail environments.

The TSP100III thermal printer is easy to set up and compatible with Star Micronics Cloud Services, granting users access to a suite of value added services, including PromoPRNT. PromoPRNT offers retailers and restaurateurs the opportunity to create and schedule custom promotions printed on customer receipts, increasing customer retention and bolstering the bottom line.

5. SP700 Impact Printer

SP700

The back of the house is where heat, spills, particles, and steam can damage a printer to the point where it stops working. The SP700 impact printer is the answer to those concerns. This fast, two-color printer is built to withstand heat and humidity while offering clear and crisp type, clamshell design for easy paper loading, and an embedded power supply for space efficiency. The SP700 supports iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod touch®, in addition to Android™ and Windows devices.

Star Micronics’ printer lineup complements any device and includes options for every type of business and environment, even where space is limited. The company’s roster of printers includes thermal units for clear printing, impact printers for harsh work stations, and hardware with functional, compact footprints. Merchants looking for a new Star receipt printer can visit www.starmicronics.com for more information.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect from Star at NRF 2019

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It’s that time of year again – it’s the final countdown to NRF 2019! Commonly referred to as Retail’s Big Show, NRF attracts thousands of retail professionals from across the globe. Built on the idea that retail should be an experience, not just an establishment, the show will highlight the latest and greatest retail trends and technologies.

So what does Star have in store for NRF 2019? A lot! We’ll be setting up an emulated shopping mall in booth #3601, where we’ll demonstrate our latest mobile point of sale (mPOS) product line, the mCollection, which includes printers, scales, and more. We’ll also be showing off our value-add promotional tool, PromoPRNT. Need more incentive to stop by? We’ll be raffling off Apple AirPods, and we’re hosting a champagne and dessert-themed networking party!

Here’s a closer look at what we’ll be displaying at our booth:

The mCollection

When you look around our booth at NRF 2019, you will certainly see our mCollection! Our latest mPOS series is designed to be sleek, compact in size, and the easiest to set up in the industry. The mCollection features a reliable and remarkable user experience, and multiple connectivity options (Bluetooth, CloudPRNT, Ethernet, and Lightning USB and traditional USB). Stop by our booth to discover the ways the mCollection is transforming industries like retail, hospitality, cannabis, and more.

PromoPRNT

The fun doesn’t stop there. We’ll also be demonstrating PromoPRNT, our value-add promotional tool, in our booth. PromoPRNT allows retailers of all sizes to create and manage custom printed receipt promotions from anywhere, increasing customer retention and personalizing the shopping experience. Learn more about PromoPRNT in this video:

Our Partners

Our partners make Star shine. Here are the ones we’ll be highlighting in our booth this year:

Appetize is a POS, inventory and analytics company transforming how enterprises manage and process guest transactions at scale. With an omni-channel approach, Appetize makes front of house transactions more intuitive through fixed, self-serve and handheld form factors, while providing robust kitchen and back office tools. Appetize will be demonstrated on Star’s TSP654IIBTi and SM-230i.

 

With Apptizer, any merchant can create the mobile storefront their business truly deserves in minutes, with no coding or technical knowledge needed. Apptizer also can be integrated with payment gateways, POS and e-commerce platforms as a mobile storefront, giving more agility and accessibility to bring in a mobile-first experience to retailers and SMBs. Apptizer will be demonstrated on Star’s TSP100IIIUSB.

 

Evoke helps brands engage with their customers in creative, innovative, dynamic and rewarding ways. They look after the entire process from start to finish and work closely with clients to understand their brand and their customers. Evoke will be demonstrated on Star’s TSP700IIU.

 

Mad Mobile is a mobile technology leader with a strong reputation for innovation and delivery. They are enabling major retailers to re-invent the store experience, where 90% of sales still occur, and bridge the digital gap between online and in-store. Mad Mobile will be demonstrated on Star’s SM-L300.

 

SuiteRetail enables retailers to better serve their customers. With SuitePOS, they have successfully made the in-store experience for employees and customers simple and efficient. In addition, payment transactions flow seamlessly, out-of-the-box, to sophisticated back-office ERP solutions such as NetSuite and Salesforce. SuiteRetail will be demonstrated on Star’s mC-Print3.

 

Vend is cloud-based POS and retail management software that lets retailers run their business in-store, online, and via mobile. Vend’s solution includes POS software, inventory management, e-commerce, customer loyalty, and reporting analytics. Vend will be demonstrated on Star’s mC-Print2 / mC-Print3.

 

 

Veras Retail creates in-store interactions between customers and retailers that are engaging, fun, profitable, and repeatable. They feel that a consumer’s relationship with a retailer (and thus their long-term impact to the retailer’s bottom line) is primarily forged in the in-store interactions with the products, the store staff, and the store’s physical environment. Veras Retail will be demonstrated on Star’s mC-Print3.

 

 

See you soon at NRF 2019!

Star’s Top 5 Blog Posts of 2018

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Happy New Year! To celebrate the beginning of 2019, we’re taking a look back at our top five blog posts that were published in 2018. But don’t be confused: just because these were our top blog posts last year, they certainly still have value today and beyond.

Read on to discover everything from how to implement an iOS POS system and how blockchain can optimize retail stores, to the benefits of digital signage and the importance of properly managing cannabis receipts. Happy reading!

1. 3 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Apple POS System with AirPrint Receipt Printers

 

 

Apple POS systems are extremely popular in many industries including retail, restaurant, hospitality and more – and that’s sure to remain the same in 2019. But how can you get the most out of your iOS POS setup? This blog post dives into three ways to do just that with AirPrint, from printing receipts directly from your device to controlling your cash drawer remotely.

2. 5 Benefits of Digital Signage Solutions

Digital signage displays do more than just look good – they’re a great way to boost your business’ marketing strategy! Discover the many benefits digital signage can offer you, including grabbing customers’ attention, providing dynamic updates, being cost-effective, boosting impulse purchases, and increasing in-store digital and social media presence.

3. The Ultimate Guide to Building Your iOS POS System

 

Another iOS POS post reached the top of our ranks this year – can you tell the systems are popular? In this blog post, we walk you through how exactly to set up the ideal iOS POS system, from choosing the right device to creating an aesthetic appeal … and everything in between!

4. 3 Things Cannabis Retailers Need to Know About Cannabis Receipt Regulations

 

Not surprisingly, one of our top posts in 2018 was about cannabis. Also not surprising is the fact that cannabis retailers need to pay close attention to cannabis receipt regulations, which is what this post is all about. There are three main things you need to stay on top of if you’re a marijuana retailer: adhering to your state’s requirements, managing your cannabis receipts, and including all of the required information on the receipts. Read on!

5. The Future of Blockchain in Retail

Blockchain, or an incorruptible digital ledger, is here to stay. It might sound a little intimidating, but in this post we explore how retailers small and large can use blockchain technology to improve the consumer experience, streamline the supply chain, and optimize payments and contracts.

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year!

6 Top Retail Trends Coming in 2019

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It’s December, which means a new year is right around the corner. Along with the big ball drop and lots of confetti, the New Year is also bringing a slew of retail trends. From multi-channel nurturing to the continuing growth of artificial intelligence, let’s take a deeper dive into the top 5 retail trends coming in 2019.

1. Experiential Retail

This first retail trend probably comes as no surprise: today’s consumers want to feel more engaged. Simply remodeling your store isn’t enough – you need to create an experience. Some examples of this include “pop-ups” that feature your best products (even if they aren’t for sale), in-store classes and workshops, incorporating your brand’s apps in brick and mortar stores, and more.

Speaking of apps, there are many types to choose from. Some features of today’s retail apps include:

  • Showing product aisle location, price, current stock, specs, reviews, etc.
  • Shopping list creation and coupon access
  • Augmented reality (AR) functionality, enabling customers to try on clothes virtually, see what products would look like in their home, visit “invisible” pop-up shops, etc.

Using apps will not only make your store (and brand) more fun – it will benefit your customers, too. According to a recent study, over 60% of consumers say AR could improve their daily lives, including how they shop. By implementing AR into your retail marketing strategy, you’ll stay on top of the trend that’s predicted to attract 1 billion users by 2020 – and grow to $90 billion in size.

2. Multi-Channel Selling

Don’t let the changing retail environment scare you – there’s certainly still a place for brick and mortar. But the key to your success involves more than just the physical storefront: you must appeal to customers online, as well.

It’s not just speculation – it’s been shown that consumers embracing multi-channel shopping is a true retail trend. For example, on Black Friday this year, 54% of shoppers reported shopping both online and in physical stores. The time to funnel effort into your e-commerce approach (from your website to your social media strategy) is now.

3. Innovative mPOS Systems

Next year, point of sale (POS) systems will continue expanding further into businesses’ marketing and customer engagement strategies. Mobile point of sale (mPOS) systems are a perfect example of that transition. Because mPOS systems are deployed on mobile devices, they enable employees to bring the transaction to the customer, decreasing wait times and greatly improving the

Star’s mCollection can help you bring the transaction to the customer.

shopping experience. mPOS (and some traditional POS) can also enhance your brand’s marketing by allowing you to communicate and schedule coupons, promotions, job openings, and more via your receipt printers – all from one centralized device.

4. Corporate Social Responsibility

In this day and age, consumers don’t want to shop just anywhere – they want to purchase high-quality products from companies that care. Topics such as food waste and plastic pollution are making headlines left and right, and it’s more important than ever to practice what you preach. From sourcing locally to encouraging volunteerism, there are many ways to embrace corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can better the world – and align with your business objectives. Some examples of the business benefits of implementing CSR initiatives include improved brand reputation, operational cost savings, increased employee productivity, and a greater ability to attract and retain talent.

5. Data Driven Workflows

Data is king. If you build strategic data collection into your business model, you can then leverage it to improve everything from sales and marketing, to operations and customer service.

What does this look like? Big box retailers such as Walmart are using machine learning to optimize home delivery routes, and the technology could also be used for stocking and inventory, marketing and product placement, theft monitoring and more.

6. Artificial Intelligence

While the peak of artificial intelligence (AI) usage may still be a couple of years out, there’s no denying that AI is a growing trend – and a quickly growing trend, at that. Siri, Cortana, and Alexa are being utilized more and more, and it’s predicted that AI will follow a path similar to mobile shopping (starting off slow, then becoming a major channel for purchasing). This year consumers might just ask their virtual assistant for the forecast, but next year they could be asking to buy your product.

Is modernizing and optimizing your retail store on your list of New Year’s Resolutions? Discover how mPOS solutions can help you increase sales and improve customer satisfaction in our e-book!

3B Apps Chooses Star Micronics Printers for a Solution That Provides SMB Restaurants with a Competitive Edge

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It can be a challenge for small and medium sized (SMB) restaurants to compete with their large chain competitors when it comes to mobile technology. 3B Apps has a mission of offering affordable mobile apps to restaurants of all sizes so they can offer their customers the convenience of mobile ordering — and to level the competitive playing field.

The Situation

3B Apps creates branded apps that are designed with the restaurant’s logo, images, and menus, which are formatted for easy ordering and payment. When a customer places an order, it is sent to an iPad in the restaurant’s kitchen where it automatically prints. This function of the solution streamlines online orders for the restaurant, reduces the need for additional labor to enter the order, and eliminates errors that can occur when orders are rekeyed.

The right printer, however, is essential for the greatest efficiency. In a loud, busy kitchen environment, it’s crucial to ensure the kitchen staff doesn’t miss any orders. 3B Apps needed to find printers that offered a level of dependability that wouldn’t leave kitchen staff wondering if they had missed an order or if an order had failed to print.

The 3B Apps team evaluated options for printers to integrate with their apps that would give restaurants the dependability and enhanced workflows they are looking for.

Source: 3bapps.com

The Solution

After testing numerous printer solutions on the market, 3B Apps chose two of Star Micronics’s printer models, the TSP-100III and the SM-T300i, for several key reasons: the ability to integrate Star’s API, the features of the products, affordability and customer support.

3B Apps incorporates the Star Micronics TSP-100III thermal printer into solutions for the majority of its customers. This high speed (250 mm/s) printer features easy setup, “drop in and print” paper loading, multiple connectivity options and easy Bluetooth pairing.

For 3B Apps’ customers that need increased mobility and durability — in food truck applications, for example — the Star Micronics SM-T300i provides the functionality they need from an ultra-rugged mobile thermal receipt printer. This printer, MFi certified for use with iOS devices, is easy to use and maintain, making it the perfect “kitchen gadget.”

Click here to download the full success story.

What is the Future of Receipt Printers?

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Receipt printers play an integral part in the customer experience. Every transaction at the point of sale (POS) generates a receipt; these paper (or digital) takeaways are proofs of purchase and potentially so much more. A good receipt printer enables store owners and managers to print coupons, raise brand awareness, and issue customer surveys. As receipt printer technology progresses, you can expect even more functionality, higher quality printing, and faster connections.

What does the future hold for receipt printers? These six features will become even more important as businesses evolve.

1. Front-Loading Paper Design

Front-loading printers are designed for easy loading and low maintenance. It’s inevitable that cashiers will need to change the printer paper at least once while there’s a line waiting. Quick access for a paper swap can shave time off the wait, which keeps the line moving.

2. Multiple Connectivity Options

Consumers expect always-on connectivity for uninterrupted service, so don’t limit yourself. Purchasing a printer that has multiple connectivity choices, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, traditional USB, lightning USB, Bluetooth, and cloudPRNT, allows for versatile, reliable use throughout retail locations. Mobile checkouts are mainstays in busy retail operations, so multiple connectivity choices will ensure your receipt printer is always up and running.

3. Easy Software Integration

The days of downloading multiple drivers, clicking around to integrate printers and software, getting frustrated and finally calling tech support is over. No one has time to sit on the phone to troubleshoot problems, so expect to see plug and play setups, with everything you need right in one box and online.

4. Hardy and Compact, but Still High-End and Stylish

Bigger isn’t better, and in the future, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a receipt printer that takes up a lot of real estate on a checkout counter. Instead, expect stylish, compact designs, even for printers that are tough enough to work in any modern environment.

5. Thermal Printing

A thermal receipt printer is quiet and uses a printhead to apply heat that transfers characters and images to receipt paper and labels. Thermal receipt printers have a higher resolution than impact printers, so they print crisp, clear images. For merchants that want a nicer looking receipt, or print coupons and marketing information, thermal printers may be the right choice.

6. Value-Added Services Included

You want more control from your POS system over services that were previously managed through third-party companies, such as surveys, promotions, coupons, and even digital signage. Star Cloud Services was created to bring next-generation customer engagement solutions to retailers by transforming their receipt printers into cloud-connected devices. This gives business owners total control over the what and how of communicating with their customer base.

Star Cloud Services include:

  • AllReceipts: a free cloud-based, digital receipt application that allows customers to store and manage receipts on their mobile devices
  • PromoPRNT/Promotion creator: a simple coupon creator that designs promotions for receipts
  • PromoPRNT/scheduler: schedule the duration of a coupon campaign by selecting a time, date, and printer for each coupon/promotion
  • Customer surveys: a direct line of communication with customers, printed on the receipt, to get their feedback on how your business and products are performing

Business owners shopping for a new receipt printer shouldn’t choose one that’s obsolete before it’s even out of the box. Look for a printer that is a front-loading device for fast paper changes, and one with myriad connectivity options for mobility and flexibility. Don’t let your receipt printer limit you — choose one that includes value-added services that gives you control over how and when you communicate with customers.

The Future of Printing with Star

TallySoft and Star Equip Specialty Retailers to Enhance Customer Experience

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Specialty retailers are facing more competition from big box retailers and e-commerce businesses than ever before, and they are exploring technology options to support efficient, profitable operations – but at the same time delight customers with great shopping experiences. TallySoft’s Retail Management system, TallySales™, is strategically designed to deliver both.

TallySales combines the art and the science of retail to provide retailers in niche markets with exactly what they need to operate successful businesses. The flexible, fully scalable, Windows-based touchscreen point of sale (POS) and retail management system provides easy-to-use tools for day-to-day functions as well as data analytics aimed at more effective customer loyalty, marketing, inventory control and labor management. TallySoft serves clients across the United States and internationally with its state-of-the-art software and highly responsive customer service.

The Situation

The TallySoft network of resellers provides one-stop shopping for retailers looking for complete solutions. In addition to TallySales software, the TallySoft network can provide POS hardware, payment processing, security, internet service, installation, and POS peripherals.

The TallySales solution often includes a mobile component that enables retailers to provide better customer experiences and increase sales potential. It also provides its retail clients line-busting capabilities during the peak season, even with limited counter space. But at the end of every transaction, TallySoft clients needed the ability, whether at the counter or on the sales floor, to provide the shopper with a receipt.

The Solution

TallySoft evaluated printers for its solutions, not only looking at functionality and performance, but also considering support. “TallySoft is a software company and dealing with hardware issues and support is something that we like to leave to the hardware experts. Star’s support team has won rave reviews from our customers with getting the customer’s questions and issues resolved quickly,” said Mike Stephenson, COO of TallySoft.

TallySoft also found that Star’s portable printers, such as the SM-S230i, are the perfect solution for TallySoft customers leveraging mobile POS solutions. The compact and lightweight SM-S230i 2-inch portable printer is easy to connect via Bluetooth or USB. This thermal printer also features a durable design for use on a busy retail sales floor, even during the periods of high-volume traffic and sales. “Customers love Star portable printers for mobile devices. They allow sales associates to step out from behind the counter and engage customers on the sales floor,” Stephenson said.

Click here to download the full success story.

Learn More About Star’s Portable Printers

The Power of Offline Marketing in Retail

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GDPR: The Renaissance of SMB Receipt Marketing

Today, because more than half of retail sales are influenced by digital – and GDPR influences data collection – a new trend is emerging: Retailers are turning to offline marketing.

GDPR (or the General Data Protection Regulation) has had implications for foreign small businesses and retailers, and now similar regulations are coming to the United States.

While large retailers may have the funds to dedicate to safeguarding their big data, SMBs tend to have smaller budgets and fewer staff to manage such procedures. How do these stores continue to successfully communicate with customers – and stay protected against regulation?

Receipt Marketing: A Secret Weapon to Boost Customer Engagement

Independent retailers may create email marketing campaigns or implement a basic loyalty program, but there’s another thing they could be doing: receipt marketing.

Apart from customer service at physical stores, what’s the one thing shoppers always take away with them? A receipt, which is an intuitive and significantly underutilized marketing channel!

Customer retention, loyalty and engagement are all built upon developing relationships, being memorable, standing out and creating a connection. What if a cute or funny message on a receipt could do that? What if coupons, discounts, QR codes and thoughtful messages on receipts could build rapport with your audience?

It’s Cheap, Easy, Safe and Humanizing

Because digital marketing doesn’t always produce results for brands with a strict budget, offline marketing that reaches all customers could be a more rational place to invest your customer engagement dollars.

Just think of the possibilities! Your messaging can be timely and feature endearing calls-to-action that brighten your customer’s day. And the best part? This type of offline marketing has no privacy infringements – just enticing offers and a personal touch that makes SMBs feel genuine.

Customer Incentives for Return Business

Receipts can be a great place to highlight special offers to boost future store, restaurant and kiosk traffic.

Offline Meets Mobile: QR Codes

QR codes embedded on receipts, cards and in-store posters mean offline marketing can sync up with mobile offers.

Persuasive Discount Offers and Time-Sensitive Offline Messaging

Receipt marketing is a great way to reach a lot of eyeballs at an extremely low cost. Discounts with time-sensitive offers can create some of the best results and are a part of the most persuasive loyalty campaigns.

PromoPRNT: The Free Offline Marketing Tool

Ready to get your offline marketing tactics rolling? Star Micronics has developed PromoPRNT, a complimentary, easy-to-use receipt marketing program for SMBs, local retailers and independent stores. With PromoPRNT, you can:

  • Make and schedule custom receipt offers and promotions
  • Manage receipt promotions from the cloud
  • Increase customer retention and drive loyalty marketing campaigns
  • Make each customer visit unique and make the experience more memorable

For small businesses, offline advertising will never really die because it drives repeat business in the age of e-commerce. With GDPR and look-alike regulations hitting the retail industry, offline marketing is a low stress, low cost and high ROI way of communicating with your customers … with a nearly 100% read rate!

Learn more about PromoPRNT

The Top 7 Ways Retail Stores Can Grow Repeat Customers

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Why Customer Retention Matters

For brick and mortar stores and small businesses, driving repeat business means everything. With increased competition for less traffic and reduced consumer attention, small businesses too need to learn how to stand out and be memorable. Increasing customer lifetime value is part art and all science—data and marketing.

The right customer retention tactics for your independent business could mean success or failure in the critical window; here you need to grow and increase ROI and focus in on your most valuable customers to drive sales.

1. Serve the authenticity motive.

Consumers need to feel a connection to your staff, your store, and your products to keep coming back. This requires great customer service, competitive prices, exquisite products, and building trust with authenticity. At the end of the day, your best customers will want to support you and see your establishment do well if they feel a connection. By being genuine, transparent, generous, and focused on giving to the community, your local business can do great things and drive people to care, and shop more!

2. Adopt a loyalty program.

The surest way to re-target customers and drive repeat sales is to choose and implement the best loyalty program that works for you, and generates higher sales on the top 20% of your customers that are the most profitable. With a solution like thirdshelf, small businesses and boutiques can quickly develop a loyalty program and easily on-board their customers to enjoy the benefits.

3. Drive visual and mobile attention.

Adopting tech at your small business does not have to be expensive, and it can help increase repeat sales and pair products most commonly bought together. This is fairly intuitive with the implementation of digital signage via Sophatar. The impact of digital influence on customer engagement is increasing; contextually based dynamic content that’s highly visual can increase basket size and augment the customer experience.

4. Have the very best customer service.

The key to having great customer service is in well trained and motivated sales associates and store clerks. Investing in employee engagement tools and staff training programs such as those offered by Myagi can help keep employees on top of their game. Customer fulfillment in physical retail really is very based on the human experience with staff, and if their training was skill-based, they will have all the tools to deliver truly memorable service.

5. Acquire and utilize customer data for personalization.

Even the smallest retailers should be obsessed with their customers and this also means gathering customer data. This is the genius of loyalty programs in that they benefit the entire business by understanding customer and product analytics at a deeper level. To increase customer retention, engagement, and repeat business, it’s therefore essential to gather customer information. Re-targeting with email marketing and personalized offers is the bread and butter of any customer retention program.

6. Elevate the customer experience that matters to your key customer segment.

Every business will have a sweet-spot of what the ideal customer journey looks like and the most common points of friction. By providing more of the best and minimizing the usual rough spots, independent stores can constantly improve the experiences they provide. Offering educational opportunities, events, and even appointments with an expert can provide added incentives for loyalty customers to convert. A tool like Booxi can drive traffic via online appointment booking while simplifying the journey.

7. Optimize and quantify your physical retail success.

For loyalty marketing that’s data-based, you will be able to create marketing campaigns that are customer-centric. This means having the right data your fingertips, both in terms of customer segments and actual foot-traffic, and for this, we recommend getting Dor. Dor can help you measure marketing outcomes as it’s an actual foot traffic solution that’s affordable and easy to install at your retail location.

One of the key takeaways is that growing repeat customers takes data, it takes hard work, and it takes a lot of testing via loyalty and marketing campaigns. The savvy retail entrepreneurs, who understand their customer the best, can implement the right solution to drive additional revenue and increase sales. Setting these priorities firmly in mind can enable you to grow your business with proactive growth mentality that is constantly in tune with your customers that are always in search of adding more value to their experience.

  • Do more with less; try new tools and software.
  • Eliminate pain points and friction.
  • Zero in on providing add-on value for your best customers.
  • Create fresh campaigns that truly differentiates your retail brand as an experience provider.
  • Incentivize repeat business will well-crafted and personalized offers.