Unlocking the formula for memorable retail experiences

Retailing isn’t just about ringing up sales anymore—it’s about creating happy shoppers! A great customer experience is the secret sauce that builds brand loyalty and keeps people coming back for more.

Convenience retailers have an edge to shape and create memorable experiences by understanding customer behavior and subtly influencing their decisions.

But it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Did you know the average consumer spends just 4 to 20 seconds in front of shelves before deciding what to buy?

According to Vincenzo Russo, professor of consumer psychology and neuro-marketing at IULM University in Milan, these fleeting moments are driven largely by emotion, rather than rational consideration.

Interestingly, it is this overlap between “emotion and memory” that has crucial implications for influencing our ability to remember a product, a brand, and, therefore, to choose it again in the future, he said.

If only there was a way or rather a sure shot formula to hack this overlap!

If you think that’s tricky, here's another fact to consider. According to SAP Emarsys’ annual Customer Loyalty Index (CLI), almost half of UK Gen Z shoppers (46 per cent) and 29 per cent of other generations have abandoned a brand they were once loyal to because they grew “bored” of them.

Take the case of Liquid Death bottled water, which has been “radically entertaining” its audience to cut through the noise. The study states that 30 per cent of Gen Z, compared to 23 per cent of all demographics, have tried a new brand because of its “creative marketing”.

Additionally, over a quarter of Gen Z (31 per cent) are enticed by brands that use “cool” content or imagery, versus 21 per cent of other age groups. Meanwhile, 28 per cent of Gen Z, compared to 17 per cent of other demographics, seek out brands that deliver “memorable experiences”.

Clearly, consumers today, not just Gen Z, expect more than “business-as-usual"; they want meaningful and memorable experiences. No wonder, it is imperative to arm the stores with tactics to make them capable of leaving a mark on shoppers’ minds.

Perk up

The store entrance should be warm and welcoming. Placing fresh produce facing the entrance is an effective way to set the mood as the sight of bright fruits, or even fresh flowers signal quality and care to shoppers.

Well-organised shelves and clear signage help customers find what they need quickly. Use vibrant colours and attractive displays to catch your shoppers’ eye. Consider having a color theme but remember that sensory overload can make it difficult for customers to concentrate on products and focus enough to make a purchase.

In convenience stores, milk, bread, eggs, and crisps are hero products—the things people come for most frequently. So don’t bury them but also don’t make it too easy to find. While stores shouldn’t force shoppers to embark on a store-wide expedition for a pint of milk, placing such products just a little further inside the store creates a natural journey that gives other products their moment to shine.

Eye-level is buy-level—it’s an old trick, but it works. Place impulse items, snacks, and seasonal products in high-traffic areas like near the checkouts or next to essential goods. Use lower shelves for staple items that customers are likely to search for, such as porridge, pasta and so on.

Also, cross-merchandising can add a ton of magic to the sales. Think bread next to spreads, pasta near sauces, as well as crisps alongside beer.

Create clear zones with proper sign posting. Quite contrary to supermarkets, shoppers visit the neighborhood convenience stores in a hurry so they would appreciate finding things more easily rather being lost in a maze.

With the rising inclination towards health and fitness, it is a great idea to elevate the health quotient of stores as well. Dedicating and highlighting a section for organic, gluten-free, and vegan items can do wonders in bringing more footfalls from shoppers seeking healthier alternatives.

Installing a small refill station for basics like cereals, pasta, or cleaning products is also a great way of not only cutting down on single-use packaging but also for holding a place in shoppers’ minds.

Some independent stores, like Central Co-op Dodworth Community Store and Woosnam and Davies in Wales are already pioneering refill retailing.

As told by Asian Trader Award winning retailer Ehamparam Karunanithy who runs Premier Talbot Store in Poole, vouch for refill station, saying it not only work great for environment, but also it is easy on his shoppers’ pockets as it gives them flexibility to control the amount they are buying.

Engage all senses

Merchandising is not only about visual appeal. Apart from sight, retailers should try to engage all five senses to create a truly memorable shopping experience.

Tempting scents are a powerful, often overlooked tool. Aromas can evoke positive emotions and even trigger hunger! In fact, the smell of fresh bakery has been known for ages to pull even passing by shoppers into a store.

Light background music or even ambient sounds can subtly shape the mood of not only the shoppers but also of the staff. According to new survey by a music licensing company, four-fifths (82 per cent) of retail worker recognise music mood-boosting benefits during a shift, while two in five workers claimed that customers respond positively to music in store.

Another way to engage a key sense is having tasting sessions in the store. Sampling is a classic but often underused tactic. Let shoppers try a new snack or soft drink or wine—once it’s in their hand, they’re far more likely to buy.

Nisa Local retailer Amit Puntambekar, who often conducts tasting sessions in his village store, told Asian Trader, “When we introduce new lines of wine (from Hatch Mansfield), we often hold tasting sessions. These products can be anything between £10-20+. The tastings help the customer understand the price-point and give them confidence to buy the product.”

Seasonal and Local

Seasonal merchandising is a massive opportunity. Be it annual tradition like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, the summer BBQ season or sport events like EURO 2024 cup, convenience stores can play an instrumental role in creating buzz in the community.

The key is to plan well ahead and catch early shoppers. A dedicated seasonal display—well-placed and well-lit— tends to draw in attention of customers.

This year saw several leading convenience retailers like Aman Uppal and Neil Godhania embracing immersive merchandising when they went an extra mile in creating in-store theatre themes around EURO 2024.

While Uppal’s One Stop Mount Nod store in Coventry created a “5 meters by 4 metre football pitch” in the centre of the store, Godhania’s Neil’s Premier store in Peterborough was installed massive Euro themed vibrant displays throughout the store, along with a small goal post. England did lose the finals, but these stores won as they were successful at creating memorable experiences for the community along with a great talking point and some great sales too.

Godhania told Asian Trader at the time, “These efforts have created a festive in-store experience that’s helped attract more customers, drive footfall and boost sales. The response has been great, we have had an uplift in sales and change in consumer behaviour.

“Sales have increased significantly, and we’ve used the event to our advantage by enhancing our customer engagement through our in-house promotions.”

Additionally, shoppers love to feel connected to their roots, and local products provide that sense of authenticity as well as community spirit.

Retailers like Kaual Patel are setting some interesting benchmarks here. Not only fresh bakery items but his Nisa Local Torridon store also keeps potted plants provided by a local supplier.

“My community loves the fact that I actively work with smaller local suppliers,” he told Asian Trader.

Miles ahead

Replacing paper signs with sleek, easy-to-update digital screens might seem like a huge change but it can elevate the consumer experience to another level altogether. Not only do they look professional, but they allow retailers to quickly rotate promotions, announce limited-time deals, or even display video demos of new products.

Digital screens are another way to jazz up the whole experience. According to a survey, commissioned by Saturn Visual Solutions and carried out by OnePoll, people are more likely to splurge in a store with digital displays while a good portion of the younger generation think digital displays enhance their in-store shopping experience.

Other digital elements, be it presence on an instant delivery apps like Snappy Shopper or being on mobile marketing apps like Jisp can instantly elevate the overall experience.

Some convenience retailers are making some super-smart moves on social media to not only put their store on digital map but also to make it go viral, thus attracting massive footfall.

Run by retailer Imtiyaz Mamode, Wych Lane Premier store in Gosport is one such store that is not only popular in its neighborhood but also drives footfall from nearby towns owing to its huge fan following.

With almost 6,000 followers on Facebook and thousands more on TikTok, the store is popular online as “treasure chest for candy” owing to variety of American sweets from Reece’s Pieces to Nerds along with American range of cereals, soft drinks and ice creams.

The result? Shoppers from as far away as Leicester and Burnley flock to this store, some even documenting their visit on TikTok and Insta. Some of the videos made by customers showing the store’s range have garnered millions of views, attracting people from far and wide, with some ending up spending hundreds of pounds on one visit.

Mamode told Asian Trader, “For me, the change happened through social media. It helped me to broaden my customer base beyond the close vicinity as I was able to put my store on the virtual map and on the must-visit list for young people.”

Today, successful merchandising isn’t just about product placement—it’s about creating an environment that makes customers feel comfortable, cared for, and tempted to spend.

At the end of the day, even the best merchandising can fail if your staff isn’t welcoming or knowledgeable. Convenience stores have a unique advantage here. Armed with flexibility and personal touch, convenience stores can go miles ahead to create great shopping experiences. And some memorable ones too.