Discover how retail AV systems enhance the customer shopping experience in Southern Ontario.
In the fast-paced Ontario retail world, you know every detail matters when crafting a memorable shopping experience. Suitable AV systems can help your space transform how customers experience and interact with your brand. From the moment they step into your store to the final purchase, AV technology plays a crucial role in shaping their journey.
In this article, we dive into how modern retail AV systems can elevate your store’s appeal, boost sales, and help ensure every customer leaves with a lasting positive impression.
Understanding Retail AV Systems
Retail AV systems is a pretty vague term that doesn’t specify what equipment we’re talking about here, so let’s add some context.
Audio Visual Systems for Retail
Audio visual systems found in a retail environment will generally fall into one of the following equipment categories.
- Security cameras, recorders, and monitors
- Digital signage and displays
- Interactive displays
- Audio public address and audio playback systems
The audio and video presentation within a space can, like lighting, set the mood. However, suppose you want the system to also provide a means of team member interaction (such as a store’s public address system). In that case, you need to ensure that the systems are integrated appropriately.
The Role of Retail AV in Enhancing Customer Engagement
Audio-visual equipment, such as cameras and security recording equipment, can not only protect your business but also enhance your customer experience. Intelligent audio-visual systems improve customer experience and thus inspire customer engagement. When you craft an intelligent system, you create incredible results.
According to a survey reported last December, 75% of shoppers noticed in-store audio ads. Furthermore, the same poll found that “48% regularly consider purchasing brands they hear advertised over retail audio”. What’s also interesting is that they also found that accompanying video ads on monitors or digital displays show similar results. (1)
Boosting Sales with Interactive AV Displays
Studies have shown that a rich presentation of products and those accompanied by product presentation videos both had a positive impact on purchase intent. (1)
Interactive displays with clever programming can greatly enhance client purchasing. Interactive displays that enable clients to review products and pricing can suggest items that could be a good accessory purchase for the customer. Similarly, interactive displays as simple as those that help customers scan item barcodes to find the price of an item help enhance the customer experience, making it easier for them to make those consequential purchasing decisions.
Another point of interest is the data that these interactive tools can provide. If a company tracks the product price check feature, for example, and compares the data to product purchases, discrepancies in buyer-expected product value are available to the retailer. All this while simultaneously making the client’s experience more empowered.
Recommended Reading: Using AV Technology for Improved Retail Experiences
Digital Signage: A Game Changer in Retail Marketing
Digital signage that shows people enjoying the use of a product can increase product sales rates if we trust the research mentioned earlier. Furthermore, digital signage, when appropriately implemented, can create more than just a mood; it can help stimulate potential customers to take action and become paying customers.
Digital signage has been around for a while, so there’s some compelling evidence to use it. For example, a 2019 industry report noted that 94% of retailers polled use or have used digital signage. Of those 94%, 80% felt that digital signage was either important or essential to influencing their customer’s experience in-store. (3)
Recommended Reading: Enhancing the Customer Experience With Interactive Digital Signage
Enhancing Store Layouts with AV Technology
When a digital marketer builds an e-commerce website, they ensure that there are the right kinds of automatically suggested related purchase products or services that complement a user’s purchase and influence their purchase decision-making. In marketing (and retail), it’s referred to as upselling or cross-selling.
By cleverly using and placing AV equipment in your retail environment, you can fully take advantage of upselling and cross-selling. Just like putting candy by the cash register, you can convey all sorts of engaging videos to give shoppers new ideas and help them want to make more purchases.
Consider the image above and the placement of the display right by the cash register. It is a prime example of using the upsell or cross-sell position with AV equipment.
Security and Surveillance: Protecting Your Investment
According to Vogel, Inwald, and Sloot’s randomized trial, CCTV cameras are significantly effective in reducing retail theft. Their systematic review and meta-analysis found that CCTV cameras led to a 36% reduction in retail theft incidents. (4)
Many stores use electromagnetic sensors to alert staff to a product leaving the premises. Incorporating a similar system into your store audio, for example, can help alert all store personnel in the case of theft. That’s one of the reasons it’s crucial to work with a professional like the team at Century AV – to ensure that all of your AV systems work together correctly in a fully integrated environment.
The Long-Term Value of Reliable AV Support
One of the best ways to ensure that your customers receive the full intent of your AV equipment program is to ensure that AV equipment maintenance is up to date.
We’re not just talking about firmware and software updates; we’re talking about physically checking the equipment, cleaning it (some equipment gets hot and needs dust removal for best performance), calibrating or re-calibrating to other equipment, or changing retail environments.
The number one thing we hear from new customers is how their previous audio-visual provider turned out to be more of an equipment sales team and less of the post-sales support you need to ensure long-term value and reliable AV solutions. That’s where Century AV excels – We’re the AV specialists you will wish you always had in your corner – just look at what our customers are saying: Read and watch our client case studies here.
Elevating the Future of Retail with AV Innovation
The retail landscape is rapidly evolving, and those who stay ahead of the game will likely thrive. Future trends in retail AV systems are poised to redefine how customers interact with brands, offering even more immersive and personalized experiences. Innovations such as AI-driven digital signage, augmented reality displays, and advanced data analytics will soon become standard in creating dynamic shopping environments that cater to individual customer preferences in real time.
Adopting these cutting-edge technologies early on can give your store a significant competitive advantage. Imagine AI-powered displays that adapt their content based on customer demographics or AR experiences that allow customers to visualize wearing products or placing them in their homes before making a purchase. These advancements enhance the shopping experience while providing valuable insights into your customer’s shopping behavior, enabling you to refine your in-store strategies.
Century AV is at the forefront of these innovations and is committed to helping you integrate the latest AV technologies seamlessly into your retail space. Our team of experts stays on top of emerging trends, ensuring that your business is equipped with the tools needed to captivate customers and keep them coming back. Partner with us, and let’s explore the future of retail together—starting today.
Partner with Century AV for Unmatched Retail AV Solutions
Century AV stands ready to elevate your experience when it comes to transforming your retail space into an engaging, customer-centric environment. With a commitment to innovation and long-term support, we’re more than just a service provider—we’re your trusted partner in creating a shopping experience that resonates with customers and drives sales. Don’t settle for less; choose Century AV for reliable, cutting-edge AV solutions that keep your business ahead of the curve. Reach out today, and let’s craft the perfect AV strategy for your store.
Article Sources
- PayTunes Digital Audio Advertising, “Cutting Through the Noise: How to Use Retail Audio Advertising to Reach Your Audience”, December 19, 2023. Linkedin.com. 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cutting-through-noise-how-use-retail-audio-advertising-reach-a7euf/.
- Erdem, Aytac, and Emrah Sıtkı Yılmaz. 2022. “Effect of Product Presentation Videos on Purchase Intention: The YouTube Example.” ResearchGate. Unknown. October 30, 2022. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364915882_Effect_of_product_presentation_videos_on_purchase_intention_The_YouTube_example.
- “The Customer-Facing Digital Signage Market in Retail through 2021.” 2021. Future Stores 2025. 2021. https://futurestores.wbresearch.com/blog/customer-facing-digital-signage-market-in-retail-through-2021.
- Mckee, Adam. n.d. “SECURITY CAMERAS and RETAIL THEFTS 1 Security Cameras and Retail Thefts: A Review of the Literature.” https://www.docmckee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sample-Stand-Alone-Literature-Review.pdf.
