Music For Retail Stores: How to Improve Your In-Store Experience

The perception of retail has changed over the last few years. Customers prefer a hybrid model of engaging with stores. Shopping online and visiting the same stores to have a more holistic experience has been key after the pandemic. Therefore, when visiting a store, they look for more than just the products. The ambience including the music for retail stores becomes key in giving them this holistic experience.

With increased sales being the primary goal, every retail store in the world is always looking for new ways to attract and serve customers. While the assortment of their products and interior design is important, one of the less explored means for retail stores to create a more coherent brand identity for themselves involves playing the right music for their audience.

Whether it’s faster, peppier beats or slower, more melodic tunes, having the right background music can make a big difference to the customers’ overall shopping experience.

Music for retail stores – who is listening?

To create the right vibe in the store, you must understand your audience. While some stores serve a particular cross-section of the population, others have a huge variety of products that serve a much wider clientele. Depending on the products that you sell and the demographic of the clientele you entertain, the music in retail stores will vary greatly.

For instance, in an organic grocery store, older customers might like to take their time browsing through products as they build routines that bring them back to the store again. Younger visitors, on the other hand, might move through the store quickly, picking up their go-to products and moving on to their next task. 

By understanding each set of audiences, you can investigate what kind of music would appeal best to each of them. Using a service such as Soundsuit, you can then create the right environment for every individual that visits your store.

Guiding customers through their shopping journey with music

The idea of the ‘right’ environment differs from store to store based on the products and services they provide. Retail outlets can use the power of music to influence their customers in very specific ways. The same kind of music can even produce different reactions among different target groups. For example, the right music in a retail store can help older audiences relax and enjoy their time while motivating their younger employees to work more efficiently. 

The primary purpose of music, however, is to attract and engage with customers while they are in the store. Studies show that customers 35% spend longer periods of time in the store if they enjoy and engage with the music being played. They also show that 14% more customers buy more products at the same time when they like the music.

By matching their brand identity to the music they play, stores can increase recall by as much as 96%. Not only this, playing the right music for retail stores helps keep customers patient while they wait in line. Therefore, music for retail stores plays an important part in the customer experience they want to provide.

Bring the best out of every employee

But customers aren’t the only ones who contribute to creating the best in-store experience. Employees too are an important part of the shopping experience and can benefit from having the right music in retail stores. In the past decade, music has become an integral part of all workplaces across sectors, and for good reason too. Studies show that playing music in the background alters the mood of those working in the store or in offices and makes them feel happier. This in turn leads to greater motivation levels and ultimately, more productivity.

The effects of music don’t just stop at the emotional level, though. Research has shown that 9 out of 10 workers perform better while listening to music. By improving their memory and organisational skills, music for retail stores helps employees provide great service to customers.

Defining the vibe with the right music for retail stores

The perception of the store and the products and services it offers can be completely defined by the in-store music. So to ensure better footfall and sales, different retail stores need to find what kind of music works best for their target audience.

Departmental stores

As the most frequently visited retail outlets, departmental stores do not have to work too hard to attract customers. Music, therefore, creates an ambience for customers here that makes their visit relaxing and fruitful. 

A mix of light and instrumental music can calm customers and encourage them to keep moving through the store. This music should ideally be played in the background as customers wish to take their time in the store and find the right products for themselves.

Luxury stores

Luxury stores have a very niche clientele. They tend to appeal to customers in a financially-privileged demographic. Their products and services are generally high-end and of superior quality. Thus, the in-store music needs to reflect these qualities. 

Western classical music gives this exact impression of premiumness to customers. Many older shoppers have reported that they perceive products to be of a higher quality when classical music is played in the background. The issue that younger generations, born after 1970 is not receptive to classical music, even in this precise context of luxury stores. A smart workaround is then to play elegant movie soundtrack mixed with some instrumental nu-jazz or downtempo masterpieces like Kid Loco – “A grand love theme”.

Fashion retailers and stores

Fashion retail stores have a wide range of clientele – across ages and genders. To keep up with the in-season assortment of apparel, the music needs to be on-trend. Therefore, chart toppers and the latest hits – from the Billboards to Tiktok – are the best fit for fashion retail stores.

Typically, customers respond well to fast and upbeat tunes that give the stores a fun and dynamic vibe. A mix of regional and English music for retail stores works like a dream.

Organic stores

Given their connection to nature, organic stores give off a very down-to-earth yet premium vibe. To match this, the music should generate a calming and natural atmosphere. Eastern classical music, especially with flutes and string instruments, can be a perfect fit. 

Their target customers are attracted to the unprocessed, natural nature of the products. Classical music, thus, enhances this perception. Additionally, slow-tempo music encourages customers to take their time in the store, increasing opportunities for higher sales.

Small independent stores

Independent and concept stores, which usually sell niche products, are visited mostly by younger, millennial and Gen-Z shoppers. The products they stock can range from handcrafted stationery, gifts, art prints and decor, fan merchandise and more, usually made by one or more artists. 

Based on their merchandise, they can choose music that fits their products. A 90s nostalgia store can play NSYNC and Pussycat Dolls. A futuristic art deco store can make their visitors explore their collection while listening to Daft Punk. This category of stores need highly customized playlists that can be easily created through a service like Soundsuit.

Boosting in-store experiences with the right music for retail stores

As the retail space continues to grow, consumers who are looking to shop now have more options to choose from. In such a competitive space, stores have the opportunity to provide better in-store experiences. Music for retail stores is the best way to gain the right advantage and supercharge customer satisfaction by creating a holistic shopping experience.

When you choose the right tempo and genre of music and play it at the right volume across the store, you can make the shopping experience better for both customers and employees. All you need is a curated playlist that is both familiar and enjoyable to all audiences.

Choose Soundsuit

This is where Soundsuit comes in. By analysing your business requirements, Soundsuit’s digital music assistant creates playlists that work best with the target audience selected. The platform’s services help you automate the selection process well in advance. You can then plan the atmosphere for your customers at any time during the day. With a single dashboard, Soundsuit allows you to control the music being played on multiple devices and helps you set the right tone with every audience. The platform also offers a wide range of services to choose from based on your business needs, thus giving you personalised solutions at all times.

So whether you’re a high-end retail store like Puma or a small design store, make a choice to elevate customer experiences with the help of Soundsuit’s curated playlists.