13 ways to improve your consignment shop cash wrap
February 3, 2016
Checkout. Cashier’s Stand. Register. Consignment Shop Cash Wrap.
There are many ways to name that location in your shop where customers come to make their purchase and you eagerly take their money. Remember, how you design it can make a big difference in your total sales numbers. Don’t neglect this vital part of the shopping process and by all means, constantly keep in mind “it’s all about the ease and comfort of your customer!” Here are 13 ways that you can improve the overall appearance and function of your consignment shop cash wrap.
1.) Add impulse buys
For whatever reason, women cannot resist adding a little something to their purchase. The items have to be small not only to save space on the counter, but to make the impulse buy easier. Ideally, the merchandise should be priced under a couple of dollars and no more than $10 if possible.
2.) Move the location
In North American shops everyone enters your shop and immediately moves to the right. That means the best possible location for your check out station is on the left wall or at least to the left of your front door.
3.) Change the size
Believe it or not, the size of your cash wrap matters in the minds of your customers. For some, a smaller counter can psychologically make the buyer feel they are buying something larger and therefore more expensive. (That’s according to Paco Underhill in “Why We Buy.”) However, a spacious area can make the shopper feel as though they haven’t bought enough and should perhaps keep looking. The size of the cash wrap is determined by the size of your store, the type of merchandise you sell and at what price point.
4.) It should always be EAST
This doesn’t mean on the east wall of your shop. It means it should always be Efficient, Accessible, Simple and Tidy. Anything else is just clutter to distract the customer. If possible, the only thing that should be on the actual counter is the customer’s purchase and her purse.
5.) Add a “Consignment Shop Cash Wrap Specialist”
Either hire or appoint someone to be your cash wrap specialist or supervisor. This person needs to be prolific in understanding your POS system as well as your hardware. They’re responsible for merchandising the cash wrap; keeping the area clean and greeting customers when they come through the door. Consider elevating the position with special perks or a higher salary.
6.) Upgrade the wall behind
The wall directly behind your cash wrap is prime real estate. Everyone who stands waiting to check out sees that wall. Use it wisely. Consider painting it a bold color and featuring your name and logo or brand new items. You could even paint seasonal backdrops that can be interchangeable throughout the year.
7.) Change the lighting
Lighting needs to be bright enough for the customer to retrieve something out of her purse or fill out a check, but don’t make it glaring. Set the area off with attractive pendant lights or soft ambient lights that sit close to the counter.
8.) Banish handwritten signs
If you have any signs by your register that are handwritten, throw them away immediately! Not only does it look untidy, it speaks volumes about your shop.
9.) Don’t use the word “No”
In addition to no handwritten signs, don’t have any negative signage either. If you must list policies at the register, find a positive way to state them.
10.) Improve speed
Today’s shoppers are very different from even a decade ago. They have little tolerance for long lines and waiting to check out. Now may be the time to upgrade your current POS system or adding one if you are still doing things by hand. I suppose this is a perfect opportunity to tell you to sign up for a 15-day free trial with SimpleConsign.
11.) Open it up
If your cash wrap closes the sales associate in, you may want to find a way to open it up. A more open check out system makes the shopper feel welcomed and comfortable.
12.) Cash wrap training
Train your sales associates to keep the cash wrap area clean and clear. Have a place below the counter for items like staplers, pens and pencils, safety pins, etc. When a sales associate finishes a sale, teach them to quickly put items away before they take care of the next customer. Eventually, it will become a quick and easy habit. Set a rule immediately that no food, beverages or electronic devices are to be kept by the register either. Instruct your sales team not to loiter around the register, but to come out from behind it and interact with customers.
13.) Have fun
In many instances, this is the last area your shoppers will visit before leaving your shop. Fun signs thanking them for coming in (or saying “hello” as in this cash wrap made out of buttons), special treats like a Hershey’s kiss or printed signs filled with the photos and quotes of satisfied customers offer a last chance to make a good impression. Remember again, it’s all about the ease and comfort of the customer…no one else.
