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in store sampling provides a great customer experience that starts Word of marketing

Discover How Demos Add Value in Aisles

In-store demos are used in department stores and grocery supermarkets to introduce customers to products and, by doing this, increase their chances of purchasing the product. Retail in-store brand ambassador showcases products and allows potential customers to experience sample, or taste the product. Demos can be effective in increasing sales if appropriately handled. As a retailer, you must know 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, consider the store's size, 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 restrict potential customers' access to some merchandise. Below are some of the critical tips for a great in-store demo:


Engage Your Consumer

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


Have a Great Story


During an in store sampling, 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 anecdote will make your demonstration more like a friendly conversation. It can make your customers stick around if you can relate to them, increasing their likelihood of purchasing the product.


Find, Train and Retain Great Brand Ambassadors


One of the key features that can improve in-store demo sales in any retail store is the in-store demonstrator. An in-store demonstrator introduces a customer to a product and helps them try it as well. The importance of a great brand ambassador cannot be overemphasized. Customers will prefer to listen to a friendly and knowledgeable salesperson 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 genuine enthusiasm toward a product can increase the likelihood of a purchase. When you like a product and have complete knowledge about it and how it works, you will be very enthusiastic about introducing it to potential customers. 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 you like and watch your sales increase due to your enthusiasm.


Have the Product Nearby


Another essential 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 it. In the case of the latter, they might forget about it by the time they get there.


Have Adequate Knowledge Of the Product


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


FAQs


Question 1: Do In-Store Demos Work?


Yes, if carried out effectively. In-store samplings are a great way to help create a customer experience with products. If done correctly, it increases sales significantly and will promote customers' loyalty to a brand. Most consumers get stuck in the routine of buying the same products over time, but in store demos are a great way to showcase new products to consumers and give them a taste of something different from their routine, and this, in turn, will not only increase their likelihood to purchase a product, but also will bring them to your store more often as people appreciate an entertainment value of discovery.


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 hired by CPG brands. 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 staff member with adequate knowledge about the product and 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 be able to draw from personal experience during a product demonstration. ​