Whether you’re a hardware store owner coaching a homeowner through their first DIY project or a boutique owner helping a shopper pick out the perfect dress, building a relationship with your customers is one of the most rewarding parts of running a small business.
But maintaining these connections and growing your customer base requires more than expert product recommendations and a customer-oriented attitude.
You need a way to stay in touch with your shoppers, learn about their wants and needs, and craft a personalized experience for them each time they visit your brick-and-mortar or online store.
That’s where customer relationship management (CRM) software comes in.
This powerful tool gives you insights into customers’ preferences and habits, tracks their contact information, and helps you provide service that goes above and beyond their expectations.
In this blog, we’ll explore what CRM for retail is, what it can do for your store, and a list of the best CRM for retail options on the market.
What Is CRM for Retail?
A CRM system helps you make the most of every interaction with your customers.
It stores and organizes their contact information, turns their purchase history into actionable insights, and gives you opportunities to turn one-time shoppers into loyal fans of your store. Let’s explore a few specific functions of CRM for retail software:
- Engagement: A CRM for retail system makes it easy to stay in touch with your customers through email and SMS.
- Efficiency: Instead of having customers’ contact information scattered across spreadsheets or written down on paper, a CRM for retail organizes their information and links it to their purchase history.
- Reporting: Your CRM for retail should help you get to know your most valuable customers and tailor your store’s offerings to meet their unique preferences.
- Retention: A CRM for retail with a built-in loyalty program lets you offer special perks and discounts to encourage customers to choose your store over and over again.
In short, a CRM is a must-have tool if you want to build a thriving customer base. Let’s explore how you can put it to work for your business.
How To Find a CRM System for Your Store
You’re ready to invest in CRM for retail, but where should you start?
There are two decisions to make before you start your journey.
First, it’s time to set some goals. Whether you’re reorganizing your customer database, launching a new loyalty program, or overhauling your marketing strategies, you need a CRM for retail that can help you meet your objectives.
Next, you’ll need to choose between a software tool designed specifically to manage your customer interactions, or an all-in-one point of sale (POS) system with built-in CRM functionality. We’ll take a closer look at these two options and share the top providers in each category.
All-in-One CRM and POS Solutions
Your first option is to invest in an all-in-one POS solution with CRM functionality baked in. This type of system processes your sales transactions, manages your inventory, and helps you build a relationship with your customers.
We recommend an all-in-one system for a few reasons, including:
- Simplicity: Rather than learning and using two separate systems, you can rely on one software solution for all your retail needs.
- Accuracy: Instead of having to export your POS system’s sales records and feed them to your CRM system, you can trust one software tool to analyze your sales and offer key insights about your shoppers’ behavior.
- Budget: Choosing an all-in-one system is often more affordable than opting for separate software solutions to meet your business’ needs.
For most retailers, a POS system with built-in CRM will offer more than enough features to keep you connected with your customers. Let’s take a look at some providers to check out if this option seems right for you:
- POS Nation: POS Nation is a trusted POS provider for retailers in all industries. They offer a built-in customer loyalty program, sales history tracking, and advanced reporting and analytics. POS Nation is a great option if you’re hoping to scale your business.
- Lightspeed: Lightspeed offers POS software and hardware to retailers, restaurants, and golf courses. Their built-in CRM feature lets you create and edit customer profiles to track your shoppers’ preferences, but keep in mind that it isn’t included in their basic pricing plan.
- Comcash: Comcash is an all-in-one POS provider designed to help small retailers grow. Comcash’s loyalty program, e-commerce integration, and insightful reporting suite are all you need to grow your customer base while keeping your store running smoothly.
Supplemental CRM Software
You can also opt for software specifically built to meet your CRM needs.
These solutions might be a good fit if you’re a retailer selling high-value, low-volume products, have a team of sales representatives, or need to communicate directly with your customers.
For example, if you’re a large appliance retailer, you need a specialized tool to stay in touch with your customers and guide them through their major purchase decisions.
Let’s explore a few CRM solutions you can use in addition to your POS software:
- Salesforce: Salesforce is a popular CRM software that lets you engage with customers, nurture sales opportunities, and manage your marketing campaigns. This provider offers an expansive list of features and integrations, so it’s a good fit if you’re hoping to make major changes to your sales and marketing processes.
- Kommo: Kommo is a CRM solution that lets you chat directly with your customers via WhatsApp. This software is a great option if you enjoy educating your customers about your products and offering support after a purchase.
- Zoho CRM: Zoho CRM can handle standard CRM tasks like managing customer information and tracking their purchase journey, but its most unique feature is its robust marketing suite. You can use Zoho CRM to manage email, SMS, and social media marketing campaigns.
One of these CRM solutions might be the right choice if you’re hoping to transform your store’s marketing strategy and provide exceptional support to your customers.
Get Started With the Best CRM for Retail: An All-in-One System Like Comcash
Ready to reap the rewards of a powerful CRM for retail? Your best bet is an all-in-one system like Comcash.
Comcash is a POS and CRM solution designed specifically to meet the needs of small retailers just like you. Our software helps you keep checkout lines short, earn repeat business through a loyalty program, and expand your customer base through marketing and e-commerce integrations.
See Comcash in action by scheduling your live demo today.