Palmer Retail Solutions Blog

Become a Retail Entrepreneur with a Mall Kiosk

Posted by Kathy Heil on Jul 3, 2014 6:53:44 AM

A mall kiosk could be the solution for you.

Dreaming of becoming a retail entrepreneur? Think mall kiosk. It’s a great way to get started, for several reasons:

  • Low start-up costs compared to a traditional store.
  • Flexible, shorter lease commitment.
  • Easier to test new merchandise.Palmer Mall Kiosk
  • Smaller inventory needs.
  • Superb visibility to build brand recognition quickly.
  • Built-in supply of shoppers.

The type of mall kiosk that’s right for you will depend on your goals, your experience and your budget. What should you look for?

The Right Location

Your kiosk could be located in a shopping mall, but you might also consider the airport or some other high-traffic shopping location. Within the mall, you may want to be near a food court or a store that sells complementary merchandise.

The Right Products

The top three mall kiosk merchandise categories are apparel, cell phone accessories and personal care/health products, but your options are virtually unlimited. Choose a product that’s unique – certainly among other kiosks within your mall, but preferably different from what’s available in the mall’s traditional stores as well.

Be sure to include a variety of products at different price points, but keep everything within the same “family” or at least aligned with your kiosk’s theme, so shoppers can quickly and easily identify what you have to offer.

Physical Appearance That Creates an Irresistible First Impression

The fixtures you choose and how you configure them, the way you display your merchandise, the way you use lighting to augment the mall’s overhead lights, the size and placement of your signage work together to make an instant visual impression on your prospective customers. Should they approach, or walk on by?

Think about customer access, too. Your kiosk has a 360-degree footprint, which gives you multiple display “windows” compared to a traditional store’s one or two out-facing windows. That’s more ways to attract customers.

You may want to arrange your kiosk so it actually enables customers to enter, with aisles like a tiny enclosed “store.” But keep displays low enough so they don’t block your customer’s view of other merchandise or your ability to keep an eye on things.

Profitability

Your mall kiosk is a business, so you’ll need to make a profit. And while your space may be “open air,” you still have overhead:

  • Inventory.
  • Staff, unless you will be able to man your kiosk the entire time.
  • Mall fees.
  • Other business expenses, including insurance, permits, etc. if the mall doesn’t include those.

Should You Own Your Kiosk, or Lease it From the Mall?

One important advantage to owning your kiosk instead of leasing it is that you can create your kiosk from scratch to exactly match your needs. Either way, though, ask about security arrangements for after-hours. Security covers may be a solution, but if not, you’ll need to consider how to protect your merchandise and the kiosk itself when you aren’t around.

Augment Your Kiosk with a Website

You’ll give customers 24/7 access to information about your products, and you can reach a broader audience of online searchers. Include a downloadable coupon they can redeem at your kiosk. And include interactive components within your kiosk, so customers can watch promotional or “how to” videos. People love the self-serve concept, and it gives you an additional “salesperson.”

With the right mall kiosk, you’ll be able to gain valuable experience. Then you can expand on your way to becoming that retail mogul of your dreams, whether you someday own a string of many kiosks or you “graduate” to brick and mortar locations.

Download the  Mall Kiosk eBook

If you have additional questions about retail solutions, connect with us on our website at www.palmerretailsolutions.com. Keep current with industry discussions and product information on Twitter: @PalmerPRS. Palmer derives great satisfaction from designing unique interactive kiosks that incorporate maximum functionality, ergonomics and offer long-lasting service. Click here to receive a USB FLASH DRIVE containing great examples of retail store design, display fixtures and mall kiosks.

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.

Topics: Kiosks

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