The Delta Gypsy in Helena, Arkansas is located in a recovering Main Street district in the heart of Blues country in this Arkansas Delta city adjacent to the Mississippi River. I was in town to speak to Arkansas Main Street executives about how to use New Media and Social Media for community and business development, fundraising, etc. It only took one spin through downtown before my session, and I was irresistibly drawn into this business because of the signage and curb appeal.
After speaking for four hours, I ran back by this store before heading out of town. The store was a perfect eclectic collection of old and new – a Vera Bradley line combined with antique painted metal yard furniture, plants, and whimsical birthday gifts made the experience delightful to explore. The innovative use of lighting both inside and out, creative displays, personal attention, storytelling by the staff, the fresh scent and blues music left an indelible memory.
What marketing lessons can we learn from The Delta Gypsy?
1. Your curb appeal is your most valuable marketing. It’s the least expensive way to get people to stop in their tracks and come into your retail business. The Delta Gypsy does an outstanding job of combining fantastic, bright and eye-catching signage (probably created on a dime!) with live plants, whimsical displays and HUMAN interaction on the sidewalk outside of their store. Being greeted by the owner OUTSIDE the business was definitely a smart move!
2. Your experience matters. It sells, it upsells and it repeat sells. If the experience is consistent and memorable, folks will fall and love with it – and long for it. You have an experience whether you know it or not – are you controlling all five senses in YOUR store’s experience?
What marketing lessons does your business have to offer others?
Wow, how absolutely true! Curb appeal is a great chunk of marketing. And it is free or low cost and works 27/7. I am going to take another look at my curb appeal after reading this! Thanks for the information and the motivation!
Funny that I just read back through some comments and saw this – we are working with a client now to remake their curb appeal to make them more noticeable in their “just off the main drag” location. It can have a huge impact – keep us posted on the changes that you make and how it works for you!