To get the most out of your mall kiosk (also referred to as a retail or shopping kiosk), and maximise these benefits, you need to be smart about how you proceed. Which is why we have created this two-part guide for you, full of pointers and tips to help you launch successfully. So, let’s get started with Part 1…
Where to begin?
Presumably you already have a product or service you wish to sell, as well as a business plan for how you are going to do it. After all, the more research and planning you do, the better your chances of making a success of your business.
The good news is that retail kiosks are suitable for most types of services and merchandise, says Melfred Malander, an Account Executive (AE) at the Johannesburg branch of Scan Retail. “Perfume, cell phone covers, toys, beauty products and small electronics do well in retail kiosks,” he says. You can also sell food and beverages (think a coffee, smoothie or a cake shop) or services (such as an express nail bar).
Location, location, location…
Next you need to decide on your location. Drawing on your business plan and research, you should know the profile of the customers to whom you want to sell. This will help you figure out where to place your shopping kiosk.
Melfred points out that retail kiosks are not limited to mall properties, but can also work well in train stations, airports, sports venues or at exhibitions. You need to identify where most of your customers will be when deciding where to go. For example, coffee could work well in a train station with many commuters who need their early morning caffeine-fix, while high-end jewellery could be more suited to an upmarket mall which attracts high LSM shoppers. Don’t forget to research which existing retailers are at your preferred location. You probably don’t want to be selling toys next to existing and established toy stores.
Equally, consider the exact location where you want to be, within your preferred location. You want a high foot-traffic area that is highly visible to as many customers as possible, and not somewhere that is tucked away and hard to find.
How to approach it
There are a number of ways to get the retail kiosk location you want. Some retail environments have existing kiosks you can apply to lease. Alternatively, you could approach the property manager at the mall (or other venue) to discuss bringing in your own kiosk or ask our friendly team at Scan Retail to help you find your ideal placement.
Chantel de Lange, a Scan Retail Johannesburg AE, says, “We sell our retail kiosks to malls who then hire them out, but are also able to assist retailers with placement in the malls of some property owners with which we have an existing relationship.”
Next decision… what type of kiosk?
Once you have secured your space at your desired location, it is time for the most exciting part – to choose your retail kiosk. You have a few options here. You can either select an existing design from Scan Retail’s catalogue (a hassle-free option that gives you great results, quickly and easily), or have one of our designers create your own unique design (a more involved process, but which ensures you get exactly what you want, having the ability to custom-design every aspect of your retail unit).
Melfred adds that the whole process, from design and manufacture to installation, can be as quick as five weeks. Of course, this hinges greatly on the decision-making process, and you shouldn’t want to rush this.
Click here to continue reading Part 2 of ‘How to launch your retail business from a mall kiosk’.
