There are many ways to increase sales in your hardware store — you can run a promotion, spend money on advertising, or invest in an e-commerce platform. But, those things all take up a lot of your time and money. Read on to learn 3 "Handy" ways to maximize sales of hardware store products — without spending a fortune.
Cross-Sell Merchandise
Hardware stores are perfectly poised for cross-selling, but many hardware stores neglect this opportunity. If a customer comes in for paint, he or she will likely only stop in the paint section. They won’t walk through the aisles of the store; they’ll head to the paint counter, grab the items they need from that area, check out, and leave. It won’t be until they get home that they realize they should have grabbed something to fill all those nail holes before painting, for example.
In many cases, they may not even realize there was a product to help them fill the holes in the first place. Assume that your customers don’t know what they need, and put add-on products near favorite items customers come in to buy. It’s essential to organize by category, but be sure to put everything for popular projects in one place to maximize sales.
Sell Convenience Along With Hardware
Most people are super busy these days, and they don’t want to run to 10 different stores to start a DIY project. Make life more comfortable for your customers and more profitable for you by also stocking cleaning supplies, drinks, snacks, and basic home goods. Some hardware stores go so far as to have necessary grocery items on hand. While these items won’t be the reason customers visit your store, they will help to maximize sales. Customers who stop in to purchase hardware will notice what you have available and often will be willing to pay a higher price than they would pay elsewhere for the convenience of shopping all in one place.
Re-evaluate Your Store Shelving
If your store doesn’t look put together, your sales will suffer. If your shelves are too cluttered or too bare, customers will notice. Take a good honest look at your layout and shelving. If something needs to be replaced, it’s worth investing in. Don’t just assume that the system you have now is the best one available. There are plenty of shelving fixtures for paint stores and hardware stores out there that will help you maximize sales. Choose the right one, and you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
We’ve been helping retail store owners maximize sales for years (read our success stories), and we’d love to help you like we’ve helped so many others. Learn more about who we are and when you’re ready, contact us to learn how we can help.