Any ideas to attract local customers to use our shopping precinct rather than out of town big boy stores?

I have a childrens boutique in a small village type shopping precinct. There are many types of shops from butcher, baker, greengrocer, craft shop, locksmith, fresh fish, cafes, bookmakers, hairdressers, beauty salon, dry cleaners, shoe shop, photographic shop, pubs, charity shop, ladies fashion, hardware, pet shop, jewellers, clock repairer, dolls house shop, insurance broker, toy shop, chiropodist, newsagents, independant supermarket and co-op.





We are all getting together next week to discuss ways of improving customer footfall through our pedestranised precinct - rather than people using out of town stores. Also, ways of attracting people outside of the area. However, we have a low budget to spend. Any fresh ideas for me to take along to the meeting would be much appreciated.





Point to note - over the road - we also have post office, major banks, travel agents two top tourist attractions and a beach less than one mile away.

Any ideas to attract local customers to use our shopping precinct rather than out of town big boy stores?
I'll use bike stores as an example.


At a good bike shop, the bikes are much more expensive than at the box stores, but they are of MUCH higher quality. You will also likely find many services complementing your purchase, as well, such as bike fitting (muy importante), riding advice, and a real mechanic onsite.


This sort of service keeps the bike shops alive, when it's easy enough to 'save' money on a crap-mart bike that'll end up gathering dust in the garage.





There'll be plenty of added-value services you can imagine for any sort of business. It's just a matter of developing them to the extent that people will be attracted to the stores, and advertising, then charging a fair price instead of greedily going for the 'boutique' prices on everything.
Reply:advertise
Reply:FIRST GET COUNCIL TO MAKE OUT OF TOWN SUPERSTORES CHARGE PARKING FEES THEN GIVE PEOPLE FREE PARKING IN YOUR TOWN PARK AND FOR ALL SHOPS UNDER 5 EMPLOYERS HALF RATES ALSO INSTEAD OF FREE BUS PASSES OVER 60 PAY HALF TAXIE FARES WITH GOODS TO THEIR DOOR FOR EVERY ONE WHO SPENDS £50 WORTH OF GOODS THROUGHT THE PRECIENT
Reply:Here's something that's worked for small merchant groups facing similar challenges:





Try creating a Local Merchant Discount Card. It would only be good at your GROUP of participating stores. One purchase at any of the member stores would make the shopper eligible for the card.





Card would be advertised in ALL participating store windows and could be promoted in other media as well. If oyu could enroll a local printer in the program you might then be able to get cards printed at a discount. Good Luck!
Reply:Yep, go naked.
Reply:Organise some attractions for adults and kids e.g. face painting and a few activities or have a few competitions to get people interested in coming to your stores. Invite a band and some dancers to come along and entertain for example. You would not need a huge amount of money if you used your imagination. Invite a radio station along and get them to broadcast from the area and that would generate some free advertising for all of the businesses in the area. Offer some incentives to purchase e.g a money of card giving a small discount. Good luck in generating new ideas. It is my experience that major banks are often prepared to invest some money in ventures like this if you approach them.
Reply:Locale independent retailers


specialist knowledge


personal service


high quality local PRODUCE


fewer food miles


with clothes etc don't try and compete on price with the big boys go for quality and exclusiveness.


use A boards on the street to advertise.


banners are inexpensive and can be repositioned easily


advertise on the side of vans statically and largely parked


be were of fixed discount scams


e/m for more id ears tom
Reply:Give something away.....I liked the discount card idea. Or a raffle...





Have a contest. In a local paper - ask people to write why they love your stores over the big one's -the added benefit is you'll now for sure what to keep doing.


Or have a contest for who spends the most during a certain amount of time ...wins their purchase. You get the idea, everyone loves the chance to win!





When the weather is better - or is it now... Have an outdoor event. A fashion show using local cheerleaders...brings in parents..Can also get you free publicity from radio and news.





Have a treasure hunt. Once a month, every Thursday...pass out a list. The list contains items not found in stores - they'll have to socialize with people or take pictures of items or video hunt...Prizes to the winners. Invite church groups...





Have singles night. Every Thursday... If all the stores agree to do it - it builds a stronger sense of community. Plus it's fun. The craft store could have silly crafts geared towards helping strangers connect. The grocer could have champange samples, the jeweler "if you met during singles night get an additional 30% off"..........





Support a group like Project C.U.R.E. - let them hold a fundraiser in the parking lot. Let them promote and advertise. You give a percentage of sales during those promoted dates to them. Pick a BIG group.





Good Luck
Reply:If you can not compete on price, then great personal service is all you have that they don't. Advertise your friendly local face and convenient location, with coupons to attract first time customers.