Social media is such a central part of our society – from seeing what our family and friends are up to, to shopping at the click of a button, social media is how we keep up to date on trends, events, news, and more.
There is no doubt that online shopping is more popular now than ever before, with the integrated eCommerce functionality on instagram and the introduction of its “Shop Now” function. But with Instagram amping up their eCommerce support, what can you, as a traditional brick and mortar business, do to make your store more Insta-friendly?
There are MAJOR benefits to making tweaks to your store’s environment with the main goal of attracting new customers. So how can you make your offline store more Insta-accessible? Here are some tips:
Make the space brighter and cozier ✨
Ever walk into a store and feel completely underwhelmed – just a “bleh” atmosphere altogether? Any business can achieve a more inviting vibe by adding a little more life to the space – plants, flowers, bird feeders if you have the outdoor space! By adding these simple elements, you can significantly liven up the atmosphere.
Another way to breathe life into a store is with LIGHT! 💡 Great light sources can come from windows, or you can opt to add gentle light fixtures. Twinkly lights are fun and easy ways to bring a brighter glow into the space. This will help consumers see your products more clearly, feel a little more awake while browsing your store, and – of course – take better selfies!
Finally, adding a lounge area with comfy seating can be a great touch to your store! Urban Outfitters has great examples of lounge areas they’ve integrated into their retail spaces. In their larger store spaces, they typically have an area with comfy couches and love chairs that make shopping super comfy and cozy for customers. The goal here is to offer customers a comfortable place to sit down and relax, maybe snapping pictures of the cozy spot that will compel them to share images onto their social profiles.
Pro-Tip: If your space has a Geotag and good lighting, individuals are more likely to want to post the space onto their own social profiles! This is the easiest way to curate user-generated content.
Add colours, patterns, and/or art 🌈
A consistent aesthetic is super important in making your brick and mortar store more instagram-friendly! The simple addition of a colourful accent wall will make consumers more likely to take photographs and share it online. It doesn’t have to stop at just bright colours, either! Adding cool textiles or graphics can make your space that much more eye-catching.
It’s essential to tie all of these cool additions in with your branding. Adding your logo to walls, products and other merchandise will tell people exactly where your customers are, and will allow them to search for you more easily. These subtle yet powerful touches help your brand stand out as customers start sharing awesome posts on Instagram!
Coordinate your space with your brand ✌🏽
The best example of tying your retail space to your brand and social? Glossier. They’ve managed to create a space that feels unified, both on and offline. They’ve created a minimalistic yet chic brand that’s distinguishable to their customers. When you enter a Glossier store, you receive a pink bubble package, which is instantly recognizable because they consistently share their in-store nuances and products with their audience on social!
If you’re a lover of Glossier, you may be aware that they’re known for having adorable quotes on their mirrors, which allows customers to take an on-brand selfie and share them online, tagging @Glossier along the way. This is an amazing way to entice consumers to take photos and other media content to be shared online, as it’s not something that stores commonly offer – and they’ve branded everything to give it an extra special touch.
Overall, the aim is to make your space something you yourself would love to take an image of and share. This can be achieved using colourful and eye-catching decor that appeals to your target consumer base. There are many benefits that can arise from updating your space: attract new customers, receive positive reviews online or by word of mouth, and utilize free advertising via user-generated content! The key is to #KEEPSOCIAL, always.
What could your brick-and-mortar business add to make it more Instagram friendly? Let us know!
-Chrissie Kourlas 🦋🌸 @chrysaphiakourlas
#KEEPSOCIAL
