Recent figures from the Progressive Housewares Retail Barometer show that retailers voted staff and social media as the most positive influences on their businesses.
Joint first place for the most positive influences on retailers’ businesses in 2024 were social media and staff.
Last year, the top place was websites, but it seems with the slight shift to in-store sales, staff and their customer service and knowledge are growing in importance. 54% of retailers surveyed placed staff in their top three most positive influences. Similarly 54% placed social media in their top three too, showing the importance of engaging online with customers too.
Joint third place, each with 46% of retailers including them in their top three, were new housewares products and the shop local trend.
In joint fifth place, with 38% placing it in their top three positives, was enhanced window displays, showing again the importance being placed on in-store sales. New customers were also in fifth place, highlighting the significance of attracting a wider customer base, especially with average spend being lower.
Diversification outside housewares also got into the top three for 38% of retailers, while promotional activity was also in joint fifth.
