With the increasing popularity of smoke/vape shops, it’s understandable that they would be an attractive option to a budding entrepreneur. Being part of a popular trend won’t be enough in itself, though. Like any business, you’ll need ways to stand out and provide a pristine customer experience. Don’t be one of those shops on the side of the road with just a sign above the door hoping customers will walk in because they have nothing better to do. You’ll need to be creative, efficient, and have top notch products and employees to really succeed.
Stand out from the crowd
The first thing you can do to draw attention to your shop is to make sure information about commonly bought items is displayed in clear view. Show passersby what you’re selling. Use brightly colored advertisements and images in the windows and on your walls. Anything you can do to make the store itself look interesting from the outside will be a big help.
Of course, there are other ways to bring attention from outdoors, as well. If there is a nearby parking lot where you can do this, setting up a sign for your shop is a good idea. Definitely make a big deal about your store’s grand opening in particular. Fly banners, flags, and set up anything else you can in the immediate area to bring foot traffic. This should have you set with some initial customers, and it can be a great way to spread word.
Varied and organized products
Obviously, your products are what will ultimately make or break your business. Whether you’re selling Heady glass, vapes, apparel, or anything else, you’ll want them displayed pleasantly and logically. One of the worst mistakes you can make is having an unorganized store where customers can’t find products or where certain products aren’t displayed at all.
Make sure your products are organized in such a way that the most popular ones are at eye level and grouped in a sensible way. Displaying products by brand name is a simple, but effective, way to do this. There should be a natural flow from one group of products to another throughout the store that makes it easy for the customer to find what they want. Good lighting and overhead music helps create a friendly atmosphere and encourages purchases as well.
You can’t underestimate the importance of your online storefront, either. You’ll want to at least show your most popular products on your store site. With more and more people relying on the internet, an attractive site can easily be what determines if a person comes into your store or not. Obviously you shouldn’t feel obligated to display prices on the web if you’re worried about competitors seeing it, but potential customers need to know what you have available.
Events
Don’t sleep on events after your store opening. Regular events can be an excellent way to generate foot traffic and gain more customers. Live music, glass blowing competitions, or even a simple cookout can all be fun ways to promote your shop. If the storefront itself isn’t the best choice, you can potentially work together with a venue that could help advertise your shop even more.
Your storefront can always be valuable for product demonstrations, though. This is arguably the most effective way to advertise your products, and it’s a great way to both educate your employees and have meaningful interactions with customers. You may even be able to get representatives from companies you sell products for to help with an event. Make sure to film these demos for your company site so that even people where weren’t there in person can still see your products in action.
Starting a new business is never an easy process, but with some creative advertising, a strong online presence, and through interacting with your community, you will greatly improve your chances at a successful run.
