Do you need to move your store to a bigger property? Perhaps there’s a more lucrative location for your products or services? Maybe it’s a mandatory change due to a decision by your landlord? Whatever the reason, you have reached the stage where you’re planning to relocate your retail store.
Understandably, this is going to be a significant challenge. You need to try and make the move as seamless as possible – otherwise, you could lose a large chunk of trade and customers.
With the right strategy, however, you can make the move a successful one. There won’t be any worries about losing business or not meeting your goals. With that said, here’s a quick guide to relocating your retail store.
Let your customers know ASAP
Simply put, if you have a loyal customer base, you never want to drop any unexpected news on them. Your store moving to a different location is a big change, and it will naturally disappoint some customers.
However, you can limit the damage by keeping them in the loop. Tell your customers about the move as soon as possible, and also take the time to explain why the relocation is happening.
Before moving, host a pre-move sale
As you’re gearing up for your move, there’s one certain obstacle that will be causing you to panic: inventory. If you have mountains of stock sitting around, it’s going to cost you a lot to transport everything over to the new location.
This is where a pre-move sale can be particularly helpful. Not only can you significantly reduce your inventory, but getting rid of old stock also presents the chance to truly start afresh with your new store.
Pick the right date
If you’ve operated your retail store for an extended period of time, you’ll be aware of how sale numbers shift across the year. Well, when it comes to relocation, it pays off to complete the move during a slow period.
For instance, if you relocated during the Christmas season, this would be catastrophic to your turnover figures. Yet if your business is usually quiet during February, moving at this time will only cause minimal damage.
Select a moving company
If you don’t utilize the correct packing supplies, your inventory could end up being broken beyond repair during transport. The same can also be said for improper handling.
This is why it’s essential you pick a professional mover for the relocation. Commercial movers know how to pack, store, and transport your goods in an efficient manner. You can rest easy everything will remain in the same condition while also knowing the move will be done in a speedy fashion.
Remain online
Even if you have to temporarily close your doors, this doesn’t mean you have to stop accepting sales altogether. An online store means your customers can continue to purchase your goods.
Even if you don’t have the benefit of an eCommerce platform, you need to have an online presence. With this, you can keep customers updated about the move and also build up excitement for your store’s relaunch.
