How to increase sales with in-store discounts

Young consumers may be digitally proficient, but they’re tired by the digital world. 

You heard us right. Classic Gen Z juxtaposition. 

Surrounded by social media, marketing emails, and advertisements, the information fatigue for this young generation is real.

On the flip side, shopping in-person allows for an emotional connection between customers and retailers. In fact, 64% of Gen Z prefer shopping in-person. 

The in-store world is the perfect place for brands to connect with customers and increase sales…we all know the power of the impulse buy at a checkout. But to compete with the convenience of digital stores, getting it right is vital. 

In this blog, we’ll be sharing how brands can leverage in-store discounts as a way to drive footfall and increase sales, as well as sharing some top tips on how Pion can help. 

Why should brands offer in-store student discounts? 

The world of discounts can be pretty tricky to navigate. 

From a brand’s perspective, it can sometimes feel difficult to find the balance between offering customers a sweet deal whilst boosting ROI. 

But here’s the thing: the two go hand in hand. 

With students already tight on cash plus high inflation, discounts will really lock in their spending. 

“I go to Subway two to three times a week”, Gen Z student Miriam shares with us, “if they put the prices up I wouldn’t go anymore. You have to be conscious with your shopping now and price does play a part in that.” Proof that even the most brand loyal shoppers are prepared to ge elsewhere if the price ain’t right. 

Meanwhile, student Rebecca says: “I’d definitely like to see a discount at Marshalls… the prices are really great, so to see even more of a discount would make me even more likely to shop there.” 

And that isn’t all: with competition high, brands offering discounts really stand out from the crowd. Deals and offers boost brand awareness, bringing in customers who have never tried your products or services before. 

And what does this lead to? Increased sales, boosted brand affinity and customer loyalty. 

Tick, tick, and tick. 

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How to find new customers and increase sales in store

So, the all-important question that we know is on your mind: How can I get more customers in my store? 

Well, worry not: here are four key ways retail stores can use in-store discounts to attract customers, drive repeat business, and improve the customer experience. 

1. Exclusive discounts for first time customers 

There’s no better way to catch a new customer’s attention and move them through the sales funnel than with a nice, juicy discount. 

Crucially, discounts play a key role in the discovery stage for students. “When I’m looking for a new place [to eat]”, says Miriam, “I always look at how local they are to me and if they offer discounts.” 

2. Introduce a customer loyalty program

Customer loyalty programs in retail are a great way of rewarding loyal customers, particularly birthday discounts (who doesn’t love a birthday freebie?!). “I go to Ulta probably once a month”, student Scout says, “I love how big it is. If they offered [a student discount] I would definitely use it”. 

And when it comes to customer loyalty programs in retail, there’s no better deal than free food for students. “I’ve heard a lot about TGI Fridays… but if they advertised more towards students I’d be more likely to go”, says Miriam. “[For a deal], maybe if we went four times and the fifth time was discounted?”. 

So, Gen Zers want to be loyal - they just want a little treat too.

3. Offer personalized discounts 

Gen Z loves personlization, and there’s no better way to increase sales in store than with exclusive discounts.

By gathering data based on previous spending habits, brands that offer discounts based on products that shoppers are primed to secure students’ loyal spending. 

4. Create seasonal discounts to increase urgency 

In many senses, the world of in store and online discounts aren’t that different. After all, Black Friday and the festive season aren’t going anywhere anytime soon… 

Offering seasonal discounts in store creates a sense of urgency amongst shoppers, encouraging them to buy and put their money where their mouth is. 

And what better time to catch students’ attention than the back to school season? “I would definitely like to see a discount at IKEA for back to school season”, shares student Rebeca. “That’s when everyone is doing their furniture and appliance shopping, especially college students.”

How can Pion help brick and mortar stores reach your target audience, drive repeat purchases and boost sales?

So, you’ve got this far: ready to learn more? 

You’ve come to the right place.

At Pion, we can help, thanks to our verification technology, Beans iD. 

Verification is the process of checking the status or eligibility of a customers - for example, a student or healthcare worker - to ensure they meet the criteria of your gated offer. Our verification, Beans iD, can help overcome those pesky pain points, increase conversions, and reduce shopping cart abandonment. 

By working with Pion, we can help you amplify and legitimize your brand through our discount marketplace Student Beans, a name that’s recognized by students across the world. 

So, here’s how we can help you increase retail sales for new and existing customers: 

Know what you’re discounting, set goals and objectives 

With the help of our expert team, we can help! Our teams work with you to understand your goals and objectives and [create a plan that works for you]. 

And whilst we’re here, we might as well mention that Gen Z don’t want in-store shopping to be purely transactional; after all, if they’re out the house, they might as well do it in style. 

In 2023, we reported that 43% of Gen Z want to have an experience every time they shop, meaning brands need to leverage the idea of experience to convert Gen Z shoppers in store. And guess what, we can help with that too…

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Boost engagement and increase your reach

“I don’t think Wagamamas offer a discount for students, which is kind of a letdown as we’re always out to eat. If they offered [a discount] I’d be more likely to go with friends and family”, one Gen Zer shared with us. 

In other words, discounts matter. They’re the difference between a student choosing to shop in your store, and not. 

With Beans iD, get listed on our Student Beans marketplace and increase your reach to [four million] already engaged students. 

And, bonus: our brands see five times the number of student customers with a discount. 

Think of all those sales… 

Gated offers 

Offer leakage: every marketer’s worst nightmare. It keeps us up at night. 

But with Pion verification, you can sleep easy. 

Avoid discount fraud and protect your margins by having only verified students accessing and using your offers. 

Ready to increase sales and target your customer base with in-store discounts with Beans iD? Get in touch to learn more about Pion’s verification.