Businesses in the retail or hospitality industry may be experiencing a post-Christmas slump in trade as customers rein in their budgets after the excesses of the festive season. Activity should soon start to rebound as Valentine’s Day is looming on the horizon, and consumers will be looking for gifts, cards, and dining experiences to woo that special someone.
Here’s a look at how LED screens can help to get your customers in the mood for love, romance, shopping and dining!
In stores and shopping centres
Highlight in-store products and promotions
LED screens can be used to draw your customers’ attention to Valentine’s themed products such as flowers, chocolates and perfumes. Use the digital content to highlight any promotions, such as discounts or limited edition items.
Displays can also be strategically placed to encourage customers to linger near to your most expensive products. Use the content to showcase luxury items, for example by suggesting styling ideas for designer clothes, watches, or jewellery.
Incorporate interactive shopping experiences
In larger stores, touch-screen displays can be used to allow customers to browse through goods, and they can instantly see if items are available to buy in store or if they can be ordered to arrive by the relevant date. The displays can also be used to let customers create bespoke gift boxes or to order personalised items.
Digital decorations
Creating the right atmosphere in your store is important to heighten awareness of the event and subtly nudge your customers into browsing longer and buying gifts. The longer the dwell time in your store, the more likely customers are to make a purchase, so LED screens can be used as visual reminders of the upcoming occasion rather than just a direct sales tool.
Keep it fun and light to show the human side of your brand: Valentine’s imagery can sometimes be rather cliched and cringy, so take care to stay on the right side of tasteful. Digital screens have the advantage over static signage or physical decorations in this regard, because the content can be regularly rotated to keep it fresh and appealing.
Spend some time researching contemporary digital decorations and images that will be compatible with the event, rather than just reaching for pictures of hearts, arrows, and fluffy bunnies. Incorporate animations into the display to keep viewers engaged, as moving images catch the eye. You can also use audio for appropriate ambient music.
In hospitality venues
Promote Valentine’s Day events
Bars
Hospitality venues such as bars, restaurants and nightclubs can use digital screens outside the venue to build up anticipation for Valentine’s Day special events. For example, a bar might promote a special Valentine’s deal such as Happy Hour, or two-for-one cocktails.
Nightclubs
Nightclubs can promote special events such as themed parties for singles looking for love. LED screens can be used to create an immersive atmosphere, with appropriate visuals or light effects to complement the music and capture the right mood for your venue.
Interactive features such as customised love messages or song dedications can help to engage your clientele and create a memorable experience. You can also link the screens to a photo booth and upload real time images. Encourage customers to tag the images on their social media accounts.
Restaurants
Restaurants can use digital menus to highlight special meals for two, with all-inclusive prices or deals such as a free bottle of wine. The screens can also be used for setting the romantic mood with images that capture the ambience of your venue, whether that’s contemporary and upbeat, or cosy and intimate.
So, there you have it: Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for retailers and hospitality venues to pick up the slack after the post-Christmas slump, so make sure that you are ready to make the most of the romantic vibes.
Plan well ahead so you can schedule content that is a good fit for your brand, is relevant and well-targeted for your customer base, and adds that extra personal and meaningful touch.