Queue? What queue?

Customers can be easily deterred by a long queue, particularly if it is visible from outside a store. Think about the last time you told yourself “I’ll come back later” after seeing the length of a queue. Usually, this will be when you have noticed it from outside.

Contributor: Holly Worthington By the time customers have chosen their products and then joined a queue, they are typically more committed to making a purchase, bringing benefits to the retailers who draw shoppers’ attention to the store, as opposed to the queue. There are many ways that this can be done, beginning with carefully planning the store’s layout.

Reduce queues With many stores limiting the number of people they let in at any one time, queues are becoming commonplace. Implementing ideas to reduce queues is the first way to battle lengthy lines of people, having separate areas for returns, increasing staff numbers and working as efficiently as possible. However, this is not always possible, so here’s how you can distract attention away from your queues.

Put tills at the back of the shop Locating POS at the back of your store gives shoppers the opportunity to browse, without being put off by any queues. In addition to this, it keeps the queue away from shop windows, allowing passers-by to clearly see products when they look in.

Obscure view of queues Eye-catching displays can draw attention away from queues, meaning

“By the time customers have chosen their products and then joined a queue, they are typically more committed to making a purchase.”

people are enticed to come instore, instead of being put off by a line of people inside. Creating separate sections, or using signage and fitting rooms to block the view of queues can also make shopping more enjoyable, preventing the line of people from frightening off potential customers!

Use mPOS systems An mPOS system is a ‘mobile point of sale’ system. These enable retailers to serve customers anywhere in the store, reducing the appearance of a queue, while also creating more space due to the lack of POS furniture required. Keep customers entertained Well-placed products and informative signage can work to keep queueing customers entertained. Many retailers get creative with their signage, including funny quotes, mini quizzes and many other innovative ideas that make queueing an enjoyable experience. After all… time flies when you’re having fun!