The concept of the self shop H24 is attracting the attention of many entrepreneurs, but most of the possible applications remain unexplored.
Among them is the challenge of unsold stock. Efficient stock management is crucial to avoid financial losses: unsold stock takes up valuable space and is effectively a worthless investment. For companies in many sectors, understanding consumption dynamics and adapting sales strategies is essential to maximise revenue and optimise inventory: finding effective ways to sell unsold products therefore becomes a priority to ensure the long-term success of the shop.
The application of automated selling technologies can become a solution to this problem: in this article we see how.
Self shops H24: opportunities to consider
The use of 24-hour self-service vending machines opens the way to interesting business prospects as an innovative and effective solution to the problem of unsold goods.
Imagine that every shop has a space dedicated to the automatic sale of certain products – as pharmacies and tobacconists, electronic cigarette shops already do.
This approach makes it possible to reach a wider and more diverse audience, potentially interested in special offers or discounts on surplus products. Think, for example, of unsold bakery products such as brioches, bread, pizzas, etc., which are often thrown away: an automatic shop window also allows ‘stock funds’ to be put on sale, drastically reducing the amount of discarded products. These products would all have been ‘lost’ without any takings and affecting the company’s costs as a net loss.
Moreover, due to their continuous operation, vending machines can generate sales even during the night or on holidays, when traditional shops are closed.
Below are some elements to take into account.
Optimising product visibility
Even in self H24 mode, it is important to ensure that products are seen. A vending machine with an effective display can significantly influence customers’ purchasing decisions and increase sales.
- Well-designed lighting can draw attention to products. Using LED lights to highlight specific areas of the shop and create a welcoming atmosphere, while directional lights can highlight new arrivals or promotional items.
- Clearly visible labels and price tags help customers find what they are looking for quickly.
- Creating themed or seasonal areas can make the shop more attractive: for example, a section dedicated to summer items during the warm season or a showcase with Christmas products during the holidays can stimulate impulse purchases.
- Use technology to monitor sales and analyse which products are most popular and adapt the display accordingly, moving less popular items to more visible positions or promoting them with discounts.
So let’s talk about customer experience and how it is inextricably linked to salesmanship.
Pricing strategies: discounts and promotions
The attractiveness of unsold products lies in the possibility of buying a good quality product at an affordable price. For this reason, the promotion must be carefully formulated, also based on the analysis of sales data. This allows the shop to manage the stock and the surplus that is created over time in such a way that it is still profitable.
For example, packages of products can be created, combining unsold items with popular ones, or special offers can be made for those who use the vending machine, such as additional discounts or loyalty points, helping to build customer loyalty. The platform created by Harvin allows this by combining different products with the possibility of including discounts or promotions.
Synergies with communication channels
Once ad-hoc promotions have been created, we have to present them to the customer. This can also be done via communication channels such as social networks, newsletters and websites, and ecommerce applications with pick-up from the vending machine cannot be excluded.
The most modern retailers provide software and interfaces that facilitate synergy with web marketing tools and allow the implementation of advanced sales strategies.
Collaborations with local businesses
One aspect to consider is the creation of collaborations with other companies and local shops, which can bring mutual benefits in terms of economics and visibility.
For example, it may be decided to offer complementary products in each other’s outlets: a grocery shop could collaborate with a local bakery to sell their fresh products via vending machines.
These collaborations may also extend to the sharing of resources, such as advertising space or joint marketing campaigns, reducing costs and increasing the effectiveness of promotions.
Enabling technologies and forward-looking capabilities
As you can imagine, in this space we have only begun to scratch the surface: the concept of a self shop H24 can be declined in a variety of applications, which change depending on the sector, the products sold, the location, and the business objectives of the entrepreneur.
All of this has as its main requirements the choice of modern and reliable equipment and machinery, endowed with the necessary functionalities to act as an enabling technology and solidly support the creation of a new source of income.
Do you want to set up a self shop H24?
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Contact us by mail: info@harvin.eu