Choosing which products to stock in your supermarket can be an uphill task. On one hand, you need to consider the interests of your business like profitability, and on the other, you need to weigh the needs of your customers.
This is especially evident when you are considering whether to stock a product like decorative window films. It is easy to see the value that they can offer consumers but you may also be conflicted as to whether they are the right product to offer in a supermarket.
Well, wonder no more. Here is an objective look at why decorative window films are worth including in your supermarket inventory.
A Competitive Edge
Currently, not many supermarkets stock decorative window films. Most of them consider window films to be a product type that home decor stores or hardware stores should offer.
Stocking a variety of decorative window films in your supermarket goes against this norm. However, it gives you a competitive advantage over other supermarkets.
Will you be taking a risk? Yes, but it is minimal at best and is bound to pay off.
With some tasteful demonstrative marketing, shoppers will see how decorative window films can improve their homes and lives. In turn, they will begin flocking to your store to buy decorative window films and likely spread the word to their family and friends.
This will not only boost your window film sales but also increase footfall in your supermarket and earn you new customers altogether.
Product Diversification
Research indicates that most consumers stay loyal to brands that offer them what they need. This includes shopping at supermarkets where they know they can get their preferred product brands at fair prices.
Nevertheless, what many studies may not show is that consumers also appreciate businesses that introduce them to new helpful products. It shows that you, the retailer, are in touch with changes in the market and committed to fulfilling consumer needs.
Adding decorative window films to your inventory is right up this alley. They will make customers curious and appreciative of your supermarket as a brand that embraces innovation.
The window films will likely also market themselves because they offer practical solutions by providing privacy and improving the aesthetic appeal of any space.
Consumer Trends
DIY home improvement projects are all the rage in recent times thanks to television shows and social media trends. As we all know, such consumer trends increase consumer demand for the products used in those projects.
Providing products such as decorative window films or wallpaper, therefore, uniquely positions you to tap into that market and reap its profits.
Moreover, decorative window films go beyond aesthetic trends. Quality designs are also eco-friendly because they help with heat retention during winter and keep homes cooler during the summer. So, as far as trends go, window films are versatile and will likely appeal to a wide consumer base.
Convenience
Inventory management is a major consideration for any supermarket as it affects operational costs and the bottom line. It is thus prudent to invest in inventory that is fairly easy to manage or at least worth the cost of stocking it.
Decorative window films take up very little space, they are easy to transport when packaged even in bulk, and are not fragile. In a nutshell, you will have no hurdles from a business management perspective if you begin stocking window films in your store.
Profit Margins
Profit margins vary based on a couple of factors:
- The cost of the product
- The operational costs i.e. inventory management, marketing, etc.
- Market prices
As we have outlined above, the cost of inventory management when you stock window films is reasonable. The product does not require any special handling or present major challenges.
You can also aim for a simple marketing approach like social media promos or using decorative window films in certain sections of your supermarket to showcase their benefits. A worthy supplier could even offer you some extra inventory so that you can fulfill this at no extra cost.
On product costs, working directly with a decorative window film manufacturer gives you access to factory prices. This lowers your purchasing costs and you can mark the factory prices up to a competitive retail price to earn profits.
Cross-marketing
Cross-marketing entails pairing different products and selling them as a package deal or related discounts.
For example, you could offer shoppers in your supermarket a 20% discount on Christmas lights for every decorative window film that they buy. You can replicate this cross-marketing approach with a host of other products like wallpaper, carpets, shower curtains, and much more.
Cross-marketing decorative window films offers benefits such as:
- Versatility - you can pair window films with a variety of household products and create offers that appeal to shoppers.
- Higher sales - discount offers appeal to consumers and make it easy to close more sales. Plus, cross-marketing boosts the sales of more than one product.
- Seasonal appeal - decorative window films come in different themes from Christmas to summer vibes and more. You can use their seasonal appeal to boost the sales of other seasonal products through cross-marketing.
Customization
A competitive edge may only last so long because other supermarkets may soon also start offering window films. However, you can up the stakes by partnering with a decorative window film manufacturer and offering consumers something more.
Most supermarkets only sell generic stock. Which is to say that shoppers simply buy what is on the shelves. You can set your supermarket apart by:
- Encouraging customer feedback and stocking the decorative window films that consumers demand more of.
- Allowing buyers to place custom orders.
At face value, this may seem like a complicated approach but it can be seamless if you have a diligent window film supplier. You can also choose to offer customization to only bulk buyers or to all customers at extra costs or at certain times of the year.
In Conclusion
Today's consumer market is highly dynamic and demands a variety of product options at good prices. The days of rigid business approaches are, therefore, firmly behind us. It pays more to simply give the people what they want and if the people want decorative window films, why deny them?
