There are countless ways to segment customers, but two especially useful categories are high-intent and low-intent. High-intent shoppers are motivated buyers with a strong understanding of what they want. Low-intent shoppers are less engaged, less decisive, and less likely to convert. Stores that systematically identify high-intent shoppers can use that knowledge to deliver exceptional customer service to those people most likely to complete a purchase, and allocate their floor staff’s energy and attention with the highest return on effort. Volumental’s in-store FitTech solutions powerfully enhance that capability, and in this blog we’ll explain how.
Most footwear stores look like every other footwear store. By contrast, the Volumental in-store scanner offers a novel experience for customers that they might not have seen anywhere else. With an eye-catching fixture, placed strategically on the store’s floor plan, the FitTech station draws in high-intent customers and separates them from window shoppers. Customers willing to engage with your in-store technologies are likely open to further discussion with your floor staff.
According to recent research by Shopify, 32% of consumers say they’re likely to engage with in-store experiential moments, and 35% shop in-store because they find the experience enjoyable. By creating opportunities for novel and unexpected experiences, stores create tighter bonds with their shoppers and make it easier to spot those high-intent customers.
A high-intent shopper typically has some idea of what they want to buy, but there are several pieces that need to fall into place to secure a successful purchase. For example, if a shopper knows that they want a pair of running shoes, perhaps from a specific brand, they still need to find a size and model that fits and is within their budget. The in-store scanner is a tool that helps the customer fill in those knowledge gaps in order to feel confident in making a purchase.
At a store with a Volumental scanner, the customer could choose to have their feet scanned, in order to receive sizing information that will help them find a great fit, and footwear recommendations based on their specific fit profile. When you see that a shopper is using a foot scanner, it’s a safe bet that they have high intent and are eager for more information to help them make a purchase. At this point your store staff can educate the customer about the results of their foot scan and ask questions about their needs and preferences.
New research by Edelman, which studied more than 13,000 consumers, has shown that the traditional one-way purchase funnel is increasingly outdated. Instead, 78% of consumers find things that attract them and make them loyal to a brand after their first purchase. When you scan the feet of your high-intent footwear shoppers, they are given the option to request their foot scan via an email connected to your online store. This allows them to opt-in to your email marketing and / or loyalty program, so that if they want to view their foot scan at a later date, they will go to your store website to do so.
On average, shoppers who have their feet scanned with Volumental go on to view their scan between 5-6 times a year - that’s a lot of good touchpoints for them to engage with your brand. By staying in touch with your customers, you build that relationship and increase your presence at the front of their mind when they next want to buy a pair of shoes.
So, to recap: