Key things shoppers are looking for as part of their shopping experience
Customers are the heart and soul of the retail sector and because of this, customers have been the key factor influencing retail evolution and the innovation of products and services for decades.
For retailers, an important factor is to keep their ears and eyes on the ground to understand shoppers’ desires for a quality shopping experience.
What is the customer experience when encountering your brand, store, and products online or in your brick-and-mortar store.
What are the key things shoppers are looking for as part of their shopping experience?
Having enough and variety of stock
A recent survey conducted by Guzzle revealed that an increasing number of shoppers have become frustrated with retailers who have insufficient stock or a limited variety of products from which to choose.
Every month, Guzzle uploads on an average between 800 and 900 catalogues from South Africa’s leading retailers with great specials on a large variety of products.
Outside of pay week, Guzzle uploads, on average, around 200 to 220 catalogues per week, while approximately 300 catalogues are uploaded during pay week.
Online shopping platforms
Online shopping is a continuously growing trend within the retail space. Shoppers are constantly on the lookout for user-friendly and secure online shopping platforms which allow them to purchase goods with ease.
Guzzle is a popular platform that facilitates the online shopping experience. Not only does Guzzle enable shoppers to browse for products at the comfort of their homes and offices, but the catalogues are also “shoppable” ie, if the retailer has an
online shopping site, products will click through to the retailer website so that the Guzzle users don’t have to search for products on the retailer site.
It’s therefore not surprising that over 700 000 users plan their shopping on Guzzle monthly, browsing over 11.4 million
catalogue pages.
Guzzle is not just a website, they also have an active social media presence. With an audience of more than 59 000 followers, their Facebook page is updated daily with the latest deals and specials.
More tills and checkouts
Limited tills and checkouts are a constant nightmare for shoppers. It’s therefore not surprising that the recent Guzzle survey pointed to a need for increased tills and checkouts in retail stores to avoid shoppers spending their quality time queuing in retail stores.
Convenience
Consumers in South Africa have placed convenience as a key aspect they consider as part of an excellent shopping experience. In a nutshell, it’s about finding what they are looking for nearer and faster with fewer hassles.
Guzzle has met this consumer need by ensuring that shoppers can search for products and catalogues by type and supplier.
Guzzle offers the convenience of accessing multiple retailer catalogues in 1 location without the consumer needing to visit multiple websites to compare products and prices.
Shoppers can also access digital catalogues on mobile and desktop as well as hardcopy catalogues with products,
brands, and retail stores anytime and anywhere in a convenient manner.
Discounts and specials
Discounts, specials, and lower prices mean everything to shoppers. The better the price, the more pleasant the shopping experience feels.
The recently completed Guzzle survey showed 82.1% of the participants visit the Guzzle website to browse for specials.
Guzzle has ensured that this need is met by constantly ensuring that their website features catalogues with the latest deals and specials from leading retailers and brands every month.
Availability and Communication
Consumers often have products they would like to purchase which are not always readily available.
The common need is wanting to know when those products are available at a discounted price. To assist retailers and shoppers alike,
Guzzle allows shoppers to set up email alerts which allows them to be notified and alerted when deals on their preferred products are available.
The benefit to the retailer is that you reach consumers who have already made a purchasing decision and are ready to spend on particular product specials.
The Guzzle site also allows consumers to set their location, this means shoppers receive catalogues based on their location details.
Guzzle has a mailing list with over 120,000 unique subscribers which retailers can also take over to reach a broad consumer market.
Clean and safe environment
A clean and secure shopping environment complimented by professional and courteous customer service are major drawcards to any retail space as they enhance the shopping experience for shoppers.
Retailers, therefore, have a major responsibility to ensure this is achieved for the sake of their customers.
Surveys
Shoppers want to be heard as part of their shopping experience. They have things they want to see and experience in the retail space.
Consumer surveys, like the recently conducted Guzzle survey, are an innovative way of collecting consumer feedback and making the
retailer more customer-centric.
Fast delivery and extra safety protocols
Delivery is the buzzword for online shoppers. What is also clear is that it’s not just delivery they are looking for but quick delivery. Added to this is the need for extra safety protocols to minimise the chances of crime and increased exposure to Covid-19.
From the above, it’s clear to see that shoppers are seriously looking for better shopping experiences and Guzzle has continued to be a reliable retail partner in meeting these diverse needs.
Guzzle Media
