Demos Add Value in Aisles

In store demos are used in department stores and grocery supermarkets in order to introduce customers to products and by doing this, increase their chances of purchasing the product. A retail in store brand ambassador showcases products and give potential customers the opportunity to experience, sample or taste the product. Demos can be effective in increasing sales if handled properly. As a retailer, you must be aware of your customers’ needs and make necessary provisions for these needs. One of the features of demos that can increase the chances of attracting potential customers is the cleanliness of the demo table and surrounding space. When planning an in store demo, put in mind the size of the store and create enough space between aisles and keep walkways free of merchandise. As much as a demo is meant to increase the probability of a customer buying a product, it can also reduce sales if there are cramped spaces in the store due to a product demo and it can turn off potential customers. Below are some of the important tips for a great in store demo:

Engage Your Consumer

​In order to have a great in store demo that will add value to sales, you must be willing to engage your consumers. Speak with them and know more about their needs. The more people get to know you, the more they trust you and the more they are likely to buy your product. Most consumers make buying decisions based on their emotions and the more you connect with your potential consumers during in store demos, the higher their chances of buying your product and there is a likelihood that they might become loyal customers. 

Have a Great Story 

During an in store demo, a product demonstrator must be able to inject anecdotes and funny stories instead of making the potential customers feel like they have been sucked into a sales pitch. For example, if the product is about kids and your potential customers have their kids with them, you can tell a story about how much your kids love the different flavors of the product you are demonstrating. This will make your demonstration more like a friendly conversation and it can make your customers stick around if you can find a way to relate to them and this in turn will increase their likelihood of purchasing the product. 

Have a Great Brand Ambassador

One of the key features that can improve in store demo sales in any retail center is the in store demonstrator. An in store demonstrator is the one who introduces a customer to a product and helps them try it as well. The importance of a great in store demonstrator cannot be overemphasized. Customers will most likely prefer to listen to a friendly and knowledgeable sales person than an aloof and overly professional one. Having an air of friendliness and professionalism can improve customers’ willingness to buy a product.

Pick Items that You and Other Staff Members Really Like 

During an in store demo, your display of enthusiasm towards a product can increase the likelihood of a purchase. When you like a product and you have full knowledge about it and how it works, you will be very enthusiastic to introduce it to potential customers and your enthusiasm can be infectious thereby, prompting consumers to purchase the item. The next time you want to do an in store demo, choose a product that you like and watch your sales increase as a result of your enthusiasm.

Have the Product Nearby

Another important point to note during an in store demo is the ready availability of the product. Consumers are more likely to buy a product if they can grab it right away than when they have to walk down the aisle to find the product. In case of the latter, there is a probability that they might forget about it by the time they get there.

Have Adequate Knowledge About the Product

Customers like to ask questions about a product and as an in store demonstrator, you must have adequate knowledge about the product as this will give customers the assurance that they are in good hands. When customers ask questions and they are not satisfied with the answers, this can decrease the probability of them purchasing the item.

FAQs

Question 1: Do In Store Demo Work?

Yes, if carried out effectively. In store demos are a great way to bring customers in touch with products and if done in the right way, it increases sales and can also promote customers’ loyalty to a brand. Most consumers get stuck in the routine of buying the same products over time but in store demos is a great way to showcase new products to consumers and give them a taste of something different from their regular routine and this in turn might increase their likelihood to purchase a product thereby, increasing sales.

Question 2: Who is a Brand Ambassador?

A Brand Ambassador or a product demonstrator is a person who shows consumers how to use or sample a product and helps them try it. Often, a product demonstrator is a store employee and an expert on the product at hand. There is nothing more powerful than a great product demonstration. When done correctly, it allows the customers to see and feel how things will be better if they buy a product and it takes the skill of an experienced and skilled demo person to sway the emotion of potential consumers. A product demonstrator does not have to be necessarily expensive to afford instead, any member of the staff who has adequate knowledge about the product and has an aura of friendliness and professionalism can be a good demo person. The person must be enthusiastic, outgoing, well spoken and quick to learn. The person must possess good communication skills and must be able to draw from personal experience during a product demonstration. ​