Finding and attracting customers is one of the most important jobs for any business owner, especially for those who own furniture stores. For a furniture store, customers drive sales and growth, so acquiring and retaining customers should be a top priority. Implementing the right strategies can help get customers coming through your doors and forming lasting relationships with your brand. Here are some tips to get started:

Build an Online Presence

Having a good website and an active social media presence is essential. Your website should provide customers with information about the furniture you sell, photos, customer reviews, and contact details. Create accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest where you can share product photos and promotions. Publish content regularly to engage customers and build brand awareness.

Use Customer Management Software

Basic retail point-of-sale systems will allow you to manage customers, process sales, and gain valuable customer data and analytics. This data can show you which products are popular, who your best customers are, and more. You can use that insight to target promotions and offers to particular customer segments.

Offer Loyalty Programs and Rewards

Implementing a points-based rewards or loyalty program can incentivize repeat purchases. Reward customers with coupons, gift certificates, or discounts after they reach a certain point threshold. Customers love feeling appreciated for their loyalty, so make them feel special with exclusive promotions only offered to reward members.

These could include:

• 10% off for first-time customers

• "Refer a friend" program that rewards both the referrer and the referee.

• Loyalty cards that accumulate points for future discounts

• Birthday or holiday coupons

These incentives will motivate people to visit your store and try your products.

Provide Exceptional Customer Service

Customers will keep coming back if every interaction with your store is positive. Training your staff to be helpful and knowledgeable, and to quickly resolve any issues that arise. Follow up after purchases to ensure customers are satisfied. Ask for reviews and referrals. Remember that word-of-mouth is one of the most effective forms of marketing, so do everything you can to create delighted customers.

Offer Niche or Exclusive Products

Carve out your own segment of the furniture market by sourcing niche or hard-to-find furniture pieces that customers cannot get anywhere else. This could be vintage or antique reproductions, custom pieces made to order, or designer brands other stores do not carry. Positioning yourself as exclusive or specialist can help attract the right customers to your store.

Advertise in Local Print and Digital Publications

Newspaper and magazine ads can introduce customers in your community to your store. Start with ads for major promotions or new product launches to gain attention. Once you build a customer base, smaller regular ads focusing on new products or seasonal trends can help maintain visibility. Pair print ads with a digital presence through ads on local sites, YouTube, and search engines.

Proactively reaching out to acquire customers takes work but using a combination of the strategies above can help get your furniture store off to a successful start. The most important thing is to consistently provide an exceptional customer experience that keeps them returning again and again. 

To effectively acquire, manage, and grow your customer base, having the right furniture store software and point of sale (POS) system in place is essential. Hana Retail is a cloud-based retail management platform designed specifically for furniture stores like yours. Sign up for FREE today!