Gift Basket Business Blog

Your Check-Out Area Makes a Statement!

November 27th, 2007 at 03:12pm Lorie Obernauer

Just read a good article in the October 2007 issue of The Gourmet Retailer: “Check Out Areas Leave Lasting Impressions”. Too often, our check out counters can be a mess! It’s where we keep phone books, extra pens and supplies, it’s a “lost and found” area, and a general “catch-all” for things that no one knows where else to put. The authors suggest that “the front check-out is a selling department and its appearance, organization and level of interpersonal care is a reflection of your business and attention to detail”.

Here are some tips to make your check-out area an important part of your store:

• First, of all: make sure the area is clean! As I said previously, the check out counter can easily become the space where employees drop things that don’t have a “permanent home”. Customers may inadvertently leave shopping lists or coupons on the check-out counter. The check-out counter is often the last impression that customers have of your store. Make sure it’s a good one!
• Put some “suggestive items” at the check out counter. Make sure these are small enough so that they don’t take up too much counter space. (For example, single serve cookies or chocolate truffles displayed in a basket.) You can sell these items or just offer them for “tastings” so that your customers can request to have their favorites put in the next basket they order.
• Have your cashiers wear name-tags and make sure they engage the customer in some conversation. They can simply ask: “Did you find everything you need?” Or they can comment on what the customer has chosen: “I tried those cookies last week and they were delicious”. The cashier may be the last person your customer sees in your store. Once again, be sure that this is a positive experience.

Entry Filed under: Business Tips