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Advice on how to capture email addresses at a grocery store

by lax
13 replies
Hey,

OK so here's the deal.

My name is John, and no not John as in John Doe, its my actual name

I work at a small grocery store, and atm I'm working on a new plan to bring in more customers / getting more out of the customers we already have.

From reading a lot about this and that on the WF over the years, I came to the conclusion that I should start collecting email addresses from the people that buy from or visit my store on a daily basis. Plus new customers ofc.

Now I know the technical parts on how to set it up and all that, but I'm short of ideas on how to actually implement it.

I came up with some ideas:

1. "customer exclusive offers", to customers only that join my mailing list. Basic stuff not sure how to go about it in this specific case yet though.

2. Weekly or Monthly recipes that I send out to my list, and compile a "grocery list" for this particular dish.

3. We sometimes have these lotteries, that you can enter if you buy for X amount at one time. We've had many people sign up for these special occasion lotteries, and that's great. So I thought that giving people free entry in all the lotteries we will have for the next year or so could be a nice *free offer* when asking for their name and email address.

OK so that's three ways off the top of my head. So what do you think?

Now I would really appreciate if someone have done this successfully. And if so could share some tips and tricks on how to start collecting names and email addresses from your customers when you own/work at a small offline store.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
John Lax
#addresses #advice #capture #email #grocery #store
  • Profile picture of the author calculon
    Try printing your website address on all receipts, along with a message to sign up for exclusive customer deals as per your point number one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Does the store have a weekly ad? If so you could put that in emails.

    A lot of your ideas sounded good. The key is to take ideas that have worked in the "real world" and give them a digital twist.

    Also consider SMS lists as well depending on your customer demographics. You could send sms messages about daily special, while they last, and even exclusive deals like 5% off(show your phone).

    I think you are heading in the right direction. Here is what I would do on the email marketing.

    1. Weekly newletter with link to the pdf version of the weekly ad.
    2. Rotating articles and recipies in the newsletter with online archive.
    3. Subscriber exclusive coupons

    Then you build upon what works. Depending on you customers and your competition it may or may not see a ROI but I believe it is the kind of engagement you need to have. Also tie it into your facebook page and even use it to promote reviews on google places.

    EDIT:
    As for sign ups I would do the following.
    1. Mention it on the bottom of all receipts. List the website address and have a button at the top of the webpage to go to the sign up form.
    2. Table by the front door and exit door with sign up forms and a box to deposit them.

    Finally makes sure the cashiers are promoting it by mentioning it when they hand the receipt and tell them the two ways to sign up.
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    Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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    • Profile picture of the author lax
      Thanks both of you,

      Things like that I hadn't really thought about yet, great.

      We do have a facebook page so I definitely should look more into how to improve it.

      Adding a additional message to the receipt would be another great way to get the message out without spending any extra cost.

      Thanks a lot, and really quick response
      John
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  • Profile picture of the author Eddie Spangler
    And if so could share some tips and tricks on how to start collecting names and email addresses from your customers when you own/work at a small offline store.

    In America many stores use a discount card concept where you sign up with basic info and they give you a card that you can keep on keychain and get discounts and special pricing on certain items, it ties in with the barcode system.
    Thats one way to get the info.

    But if that is too technical or cost prohibitive for you the EASIEST way to get info is simply to ask each person.
    Would you like to get a x percent discount coupon to use on your next purchase, they say yes, you say give me email address and tell them you will send a confirmation email within 24 hours, they confirm, you have autoresponder send coupon and go from there.

    You can use any type of offer you want whether its lottery or whatever BUT the point is not to overthink the part about getting them to sign up. You will get a very high rate simply by having your cashiers ASK for it at checkout.

    You can even make it a game with incentives to make sure the cashiers are giving full effort.
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    • Profile picture of the author lax
      Great advice thanks to all of you, I do have a habit of over thinking too much

      "I would love to get a text or email in real time telling me to come ASAP for 50% of pork roasts, ny steak, and chicken thigh's !!!"

      That is a really good idea, never thought of using the "going out of date" products as a marketing trick hehe.
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      • Profile picture of the author svsets10
        Originally Posted by lax View Post

        Great advice thanks to all of you, I do have a habit of over thinking too much

        "I would love to get a text or email in real time telling me to come ASAP for 50% of pork roasts, ny steak, and chicken thigh's !!!"

        That is a really good idea, never thought of using the "going out of date" products as a marketing trick hehe.
        This is a fantastic idea, I think a lot of people would love a quick text about specials
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        • Profile picture of the author kirbymarketingconcierge
          Originally Posted by svsets10 View Post

          This is a fantastic idea, I think a lot of people would love a quick text about specials
          think about the times we live in and the high cost of food.
          to have a store provide information and reduced prices, or how to "lower food bill" content via text or email, recipes, specials coming up, etc.., maybe this is a good way to raise revenue by keeping loyal customers coming back more, and more often.
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  • Profile picture of the author northernstar
    Start a local contest that is related to the use of the products you sell. For example, a recipe contest about how to create a Sunday lunch for the family under 50 dollars. You could schedule these contests to national holidays like 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc. The winner of the contest would receive a gift voucher that they could use when they buy in your store. And of course, everyone who enters the competition would have to give their email address. Don't forget to promote this contest in your neighbourhood to get as many 'prospects' as possible.
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    • Profile picture of the author kirbymarketingconcierge
      capture their email with an incentive
      capture their cell phone for Mobile Marketing with an even greater incentive.

      incentives, contest, lotteries, etc..,

      the money is in the list.


      don't think about it, do it. create a win/win

      you will be empowered!!!

      P.S. - I go to the local safeway and they have their "going out of date" meats

      I would love to get a text or email in real time telling me to come ASAP for 50% of pork roasts, ny steak, and chicken thigh's !!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Eddie Spangler
    Yeah I like that one a lot, The half price hotline!
    Get this email and text list started and you are going to be
    the busiest little grocer in the city.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizadpros
    Hi, just about all customers to grocery stores have a smart phone with them while shopping.

    In today's economy, everyone is just about looking for the best way to save money.

    Use the smart phones to your advantage by setting up a simple or robust SMS marketing system.

    Also, make sure you have an optimized mobile website with special deals on it.

    And finally, use QR codes in the store that these smart phone customers can scan to get special offers (just link your special offers to your website and an list builder like Aweber, etc.)
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  • Profile picture of the author NickSway
    I'm not sure if this was already pointed out, but didn't you say that you are just an employee of the grocery store? I must have missed the part where it was your job to drive more customers to someone else's grocery store.

    Anyway, if you want email addresses just ask every customer at checkout. Every Best Buy cashier simply says "phone number" to every customer and 95% of the time the customer gives it not knowing it's an option. You never have to give a store any information about yourself.

    That being said, and email is a little harder to justify. I would go for the old "rewards program". I would even start a rewards program. Tell the customer they will get a 10% off coupon to use at their next visit.
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  • Profile picture of the author nishasharma2012
    You can use lots of methods like QR codes, instant messaging, mass mailing and when your customer's just purchased something and they’re waiting for you to package their order. Signing up for your email list gives them something to do while they’re waiting.
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