How to Increase Foot Traffic in a Retail Store

If your retail store has felt quiet lately, you're sadly not alone, but the good news is, there are proven strategies to increase footfall in a retail store and get more eyes on your products without slashing prices or relying on big ad budgets.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 7 tried-and-tested tactics that independent retailers across the UK are using right now to bring in more customers, boost visibility, and grow revenue all without selling your soul to the algorithm.

Want a tailored plan for your store?
Book your free discovery call today and let’s map out your fastest route to more customers and higher sales.

1. Use Local SEO to Show Up in Nearby Searches

If someone nearby types “gift shop near me” or “independent clothing store Manchester,” will your shop appear?

Local SEO is one of the fastest ways to increase retail store visibility.
Make sure:

• Your Google Business Profile is complete, verified, and updated

• You have keywords like ‘[your category] in [your town]’ on your website

• You’re listed on directories like Bing Places, Yell, and Bark

Keyword Tip: Optimise for “retail store near [location]” and “where to shop in [city]”.

 Related Content: How to Rank Your Retail Store #1 on Google

2. Partner with Local Businesses for Cross-Promotion

Your next 10 customers could already be shopping across the street.

Team up with local coffee shops, hair salons, fitness studios, or cafes to:

• Share flyers or mini samples

• Create exclusive bundles (e.g. “Coffee + Candle”)

• Host in-store pop-ups or shared events

This builds local foot traffic and strengthens community ties.

Just target the stores that already have your ideal customer walking through their doors. 

Related Content: 6 Highly Effective Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses

3. Use ‘Footfall Drivers’ Like In-Store Events or Limited-Time Offers

People love a reason to visit a store... and for them to come and queue around the block you need to create an experience that they want, need or desire. 
So, talk to your customer base about what they are looking for from your store.

Try:

• Launch nights for new products

• Seasonal styling events

• Live demos

• Cross-promotion events with other small businesses

• “This Week Only” featured products

Scarcity + novelty = urgency.

Don't just guess what your customers want... run polls on your socials, ask in your Emails, ask in store... This will also show just how much you care about their opinion too!

 Related Content: How to Promote Your Store Without Discounts

4. Make Your Window Display Work Harder

Your shop window is your 24/7 billboard that is the most expensive part of your store and yet so many retailers are under utilising this space. 

Ensure it:

• Tells a story

• Highlights your bestsellers or hero pieces

• Shows off what makes you different

• Has a way of engaging your future customers

Ask yourself: Would I stop to look at this if I walked by with my phone in hand?

So, forget about the boring mannequins and consider how you can create a real theme for your window that attracts customers. 

5. Build a Consistent Social Presence, But Make it Real

You don’t need to dance or point on Reels to build a customer base that actually buys. 

Instead:

• Show your face and answer customers top questions (authenticity builds trust)

• Share behind-the-scenes of getting your store ready

• Highlight customer purchases and their reviews

• Use local hashtags (e.g., #ManchesterMakers)

Social media is all about engagement... You can't just post and disappear, you need to build a community and allow time in your day to send comments, reply to DMs and create a community that cares. 

Related Content: How to be Better at Retail Sales

6. Create a Local Loyalty Scheme or VIP Perks

Long gone are the days where you can take payment for a product, say good-bye with a smile and hope they'd return to buy again. You need to encourage customers to return to you... and give them a very good reason to do so.

You can encourage repeat visits with:

• Stamp cards

• Referral bonuses

• ‘Locals Only’ perks

• Event invitations
• Consider what your customers want and find a way how you can give it to them.

Loyalty = retention = higher footfall over time.

 Related Content: How to Build a Customer Loyalty Program

7. Ask Customers to Bring a Friend

Don’t be afraid to ask. Your ideal customers are likely to spend their time with more of your ideal customers and word of mouth still works... When you give them a good enough reason to talk about your store. 

Try:

• ‘Bring a friend’ promotions

• Group experiences

• Provide consistent above and beyond customer service that is share-worthy... so many retail stores tell me they provide exceptional customer service but there are usually many holes in this. 

When you truly understand the needs of your shopper and go all in to provide the experience they want from you, they will talk about you! 

Next Steps, Turn Footfall into Sales

Foot traffic is step one.

If you want to turn browsers into buyers, your in-store experience, sales strategy, and product mix matter just as much.

That’s what I help retailers do inside the Retail Store Breakthrough Program a personalised, in-store growth audit that helps you grow sales without relying on gimmicks or discounts.

 Related Content: How to Increase Foot Traffic in a Retail Store

Ready to Increase Footfall and Sales in Your Store?

You don’t need more followers.
You don’t need a bigger range of products.
You need focused strategies that get results, and consistency in how you show up.

If you’re ready to apply this in your own store (and stop guessing), let’s talk.

🎯 Book a free discovery call with me here

Let’s get your retail or ecommerce business performing like it should. 

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Why Choose Samuel Chapman Retail Coach?

With over a decade of hands-on experience growing small businesses, I’ve helped shop owners go from overlooked and underpaid to profitable, confident, and in control.

Whether you run a boutique, lifestyle store, gift shop or something in between, I know what it’s like to feel stuck despite working hard.

My methods are built around strategy, not guesswork and I’ve worked with over 100 retail business owners to:

✔️ Attract more footfall without relying on discounts
✔️ Increase return customers and average order value
✔️ Clarify their store’s message and improve customer experience
✔️ Feel proud of the business they’ve built again

If you’re ready to transform the way your store performs, it starts with a conversation.

How Samuel Can Help You