3 Steps to Get Your Clients to Embrace Company Stores
With the rise of online retail juggernauts like Amazon, companies across a variety of industries are starting to adopt online shopping trends. The promotional products industry is no exception. The promo industry is steadily embracing online company stores for their clients as a way to help streamline their operations. Maybe your distributorship just started offering online stores or you’ve had the service for a while and no one seems to bite. Don’t fret, here’s everything you need to get your clients onboard and online with company stores.
Properly promote your online store service
First things first, you need to let your clients know that you offer online company stores. Your clients may not know you offer this kind of service, so get your name out there. Promoting your online stores can include advertising them on your social media channels, through marketing emails, or even in person with an outlined PDF.
Discover and research the needs of your clients
Next, you need to ask yourself what elements you need to include in order to create a successful company store for your clients. Aligning your goals with your client’s goals will save you time and headaches in the long run. Ask them preliminary questions before pitching company stores to them. Who will shop on the website? Is this store open to anyone or a specific group of people? How many orders will be placed per day or per month?
“Discovery is critical to aligning the store with your client’s goals and what they find valuable. For example, understanding they want to increase employee advocacy will help you tie their why into the pitch and help them rally behind the investment,” said Kristen Mulvaney, Facilisgroup Brand Marketing Manager for Commercio. “Pitching stores as part of an employee advocacy program is much more compelling to stakeholders than pitching a cool online store with branded products.”
It’s time to pitch your stores!
Now that you’ve promoted your online store service and researched the needs of your clients, it’s time to pitch your stores! This is your time to wow your clients by bringing their vision of an online store to life. Highlight the added value stores will bring to their business whether it’s increasing brand awareness or encouraging employee advocacy and engagement.
“Online stores may seem like a nice-to-have if clients aren’t bought in on the value at the beginning of the sales cycle. Like any other deal, make sure you bring a consultative approach to selling stores so you and your client both believe in the value the online store is providing,” Mulvaney said.
Still need help promoting and pitching company stores to your clients? Check out this resource for more information.
