Effective Dollar Store Merchandising

What makes customers want to visit dollar stores? How can they be reminded about the dollar or 99 cent store down the street? What motivates them to make a purchase once they've arrived?

Let's start with getting people to the store. How does someone find out that there is a dollar store in their area? Do they see a sign on the building? Does a local newspaper ad catch their attention?

If someone already knows there is a dollar or 99 cent store down the street, what reminds them to visit?

Giveaways, specials, and discounts advertised in local media help bring buyers to a dollar store. Local newspaper ads are relatively cheap, and depending on the size of the market, local cable television ads can be affordable and very effective as well. The ads should outline a clear benefit of shopping at the store, and show how the dollar or 99 cent store being advertised is unique and different from other stores. Think of showcasing unique items, and having a memorable or funny spokesperson.

Public relations tactics can work well in getting a store noticed and giving people a good feeling about it. If a store owner can effectively organize a charity event and get the local media to cover it, people in the community will notice. Sponsoring a local little-league baseball or soccer team can make people want to support their local dollar store.

Dollar Store Advertising

What will make people buy once they've arrived at a store? Clean, neat, aisles clearly marked and well organized. Attractive packaging, good perceived value, some loss-leader type of items. Other good dollar merchandise includes Gadgets, tools, impulse items, consumables, toys, gifts. Consider the overall feel of the store and ease of navigation.

Merchandising and marketing are present in every detail of running dollar stores, and if these details are handled properly, your store will be much more successful, and your customers will have good feelings about the store and be more likely to come back more often.