Grocery Marketing Best Practices: 7 Tactics To Implement Now

Everyone needs groceries — so there’s no reason to advertise your grocery store, right?

Unfortunately, this mindset can significantly limit your small business’ potential, causing you to miss out on the chance to make more sales and grow your customer base

In this blog, we’ll explore why grocery marketing is a vital ingredient for success and give you seven ideas to try out for your business.

Why Grocery Marketing Matters

Take a moment to think about all the grocery stores in your neighborhood. Chances are, your customers have a few options to choose from when it’s time to restock their refrigerators and pantries. 

With all these options, why should they choose your grocery store over the competition? 

The answer is a solid grocery marketing strategy. Grocery marketing highlights what’s special about your business, allowing you to attract new customers and turn one-time shoppers into loyal ambassadors for your brand. 

An effective grocery marketing plan will ensure a steady flow of customers through your door, entice your customers to fill their carts with your bestselling grocery items, and give your bottom line a major boost. 

 

Our Favorite Grocery Marketing Ideas

Now that we’ve covered why grocery marketing is a critical piece of the puzzle for small business success, let’s dive into the how

Keep in mind that the right strategies for your grocery store will depend on two key factors: your target market and your marketing goals. Spend some time considering your ideal customer and setting achievable goals for your marketing efforts, then decide which grocery marketing method will work best for you. 

Let’s take a look at seven grocery marketing strategies you might consider implementing. 

1. Make Sure Customers Can Find Your Store

One of the simplest but most effective ways to expand your reach is to ensure potential customers can find your grocery store. 

Since today’s customers generally use platforms like Google Maps to find small businesses nearby, create or claim your store’s page, and update it with essential information like your address, operating hours, and contact information. Consider adding a few photos as well to spotlight your product offerings! 

2. Offer Strategic Promotions

Another foundational grocery marketing strategy is to plan enticing sales. The opportunity to save big can bring more customers through your door and fill up their shopping carts. 

Here are some grocery store promotion ideas to try out the next time you’re planning to run a sale: 

  • Bundle Deals: Bundle commonly purchased items together and offer a special price when your customers buy them all. For example, consider offering a deal on tortillas, salsa, and shredded cheese as a “Taco Tuesday” promotion. 
  • Flash Sales: Create urgency with a limited-time offer on your most popular items. For instance, for one day only, you could offer 25 percent off all meats. 
  • Early Bird Specials: Give a special deal to customers who visit your store first thing in the morning. This recurring promotion will help you build your loyal customer base. 

To make this marketing strategy as easy as possible, use your point of sale (POS) system to schedule promotions and automatically apply discounts at checkout. 

3. Stay Connected With Your Customers

While planning an exciting promotion is a great step in the right direction, it’s only effective if your shoppers know about it. 

That’s why you need a way to reliably communicate with your customers and let them know about your upcoming sales and your newest arrivals. 

Consider sending text updates or a regular email newsletter to keep your shoppers in the loop about everything happening in your grocery store. The easiest way to start sending these messages is to find SMS and email marketing services that integrate seamlessly with your POS system. 

IT Retail guide to POS hardware

4. Leverage the Power of Social Media

If you’re hoping to attract more customers, then you need to nurture a social media presence for your small business. 

Including social media in your grocery marketing plan gives you the chance to stay at the forefront of your customers’ minds and to bring new shoppers through your door. 

Here are a few post ideas to get you started on your social media journey: 

  • Share your small business story. Give your customers a compelling reason to shop small and support your grocery store. 
  • Introduce your team. Show some employee appreciation and highlight the friendly faces your customers will see if they stop by your store. 
  • Spotlight your sales. Make timely posts about your grocery store’s best deals. 
  • Show off new arrivals. When new seasonal goods arrive in-store, share a post encouraging shoppers to check them out. 

5. Launch a Customer Loyalty Program

Building a strong relationship with your existing customers is just as important as attracting new ones, so be sure to include a retention strategy in your grocery marketing plan. 

The best way to keep your customers engaged and motivated to shop with you is to launch a loyalty program

Your loyalty program should allow shoppers to unlock exclusive discounts and perks when they spend more at your grocery store. It’s truly a win-win for you and your customers! 

The easiest way to set up a customer loyalty program is through your grocery POS system. Your solution should make it easy to customize your loyalty program structure and benefits, sign up new members, and keep track of the program’s growth over time. 

6. Expand Your Reach With Online Grocery Options

Online grocery is on the rise, and many shoppers now prefer to browse your store’s aisles from the comfort of home. If you aren’t catering to these customers, you could be missing out on big sales. 

Offering online grocery services like pickup and delivery can give your business a major boost, increasing your overall sales and helping you build a relationship with a whole new set of shoppers. 

To take advantage of this grocery marketing play, use your POS system’s integrations to start offering delivery and pickup. 

7. Plan Engaging Events

One unique way to set your grocery store apart from the big-box stores is to connect with your community. As part of your grocery marketing strategy, consider planning fun, in-person events to engage with your shoppers and make shopping with you a delightful experience. 

To keep the momentum going, make sure to offer special deals to attendees to increase your sales during these events! 

Let’s explore a few creative events to make a splash in your neighborhood: 

  • Invite a local chef to give a community cooking lesson, and bundle the ingredients together to make it easy for attendees to make the special dish at home. 
  • Around the holidays, plan a seasonal showcase to highlight your new, limited-time arrivals. 
  • Plan a customer appreciation day! Offer an enticing flash sale, tasting stations for your bestselling items, and fun additions like a balloon artist or even live music. 

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Supercharge Your Grocery Marketing Efforts With IT Retail

To launch a successful grocery marketing plan, you need two things: the right tools and the right information. 

Fortunately, your POS system can provide both! Your grocery store POS solution should give you insights into your customers’ shopping habits and preferences, and it should make it a breeze to offer exciting promotions, implement a customer loyalty program, and analyze the success of your marketing efforts. 

If you’re ready to put a powerful POS system to work for your grocery store, then check out IT Retail. See our grocery-specific point of sale solution action by scheduling a live, personalized demo today.