How to increase footfall in a retail store

Looking for effective ways to drive footfall in your retail store? In today’s competitive retail landscape attracting more customers to your physical location is crucial for boosting sales and building brand loyalty. In this post, we’ll explore data driven ways to boost traffic in retail stores and how to optimise the use technology, layout and marketing strategies to attract more visitors.

Table of contents

• Why footfall is critical for retail success
• Strategies to drive more in-store visits
• Using data and technology to increase footfall
• How MRI retail solutions support footfall growth
• Best practices for sustainable footfall growth
• Tracking results and continuous optimisation
• Conclusion: Take action to grow footfall
• FAQs

Why footfall is critical for retail success

Footfall is more than a simple headcount. It’s the heartbeat of any retail business. High visitor numbers signal brand relevance, product appeal and strong local engagement. For bricks-and-mortar retailers competing in a digital first landscape, driving consistent in-store visits is essential to long-term success.

Footfall directly affects sales performance, staffing needs and marketing efficiency. The more people that walk through the door, the more opportunities there are to increase conversions. According to Deloitte (2024), retailers that combine in-store analytics with digital data see a 20% higher conversion rate compared to those who don’t.

But understanding who visits, when they come and what drives them inside is where true advantage lies. That’s why leading retailers now rely on footfall monitoring software to transform visitor data into strategic business intelligence.

Strategies to drive more in-store visits

Create memorable in-store experiences

Modern consumers crave more than transactions. They seek experiences. Interactive displays, pop-up events and personalised service moments can turn an ordinary visit into a share-worthy memory. Retailers like Nike and Apple have mastered this, turning their stores into destinations where customers experience the brand, not just the product.

Use localised marketing

Targeting your immediate catchment area through local advertising, Google Business profiles and community sponsorships helps build recognition and repeat visits.

Leverage social proof and influencers

Encourage satisfied customers to share experiences online. User-generated content, reviews and influencer collaborations extend visibility to local audiences and can inspire spontaneous visits.

Offer exclusive in-store promotions

Exclusive discounts or events available only in person create urgency and drive physical visits. “In-store only” perks appeal to shoppers who want instant gratification rather than online delivery delays.

Refresh your store layout

The way people move through your store directly impacts sales potential. Understanding retail store traffic patterns helps retailers identify high-traffic zones and optimise product placement for better flow.

Partner with local events and organisations

Collaborating with nearby events or community initiatives brings fresh audiences into your space. Whether sponsoring local sports teams or hosting workshops, these collaborations enhance visibility and align your brand with local culture.

Using data and technology to increase footfall

Retail analytics tools, such as footfall monitoring software offer a real-time view of how many people enter your store, how long they stay and which areas they engage with. By analysing these patterns, you can tailor staffing, adjust store design and measure marketing performance with precision.

For example, if data shows a lunchtime peak retailers can align promotions or optimise staffing schedules accordingly.

Connecting data to decision-making

With data-driven insights you can move from reactive decisions to proactive strategy. Predictive analytics help anticipate customer surges, seasonal demand and the impact of nearby events.

Integrating online and offline data

Omnichannel strategies bridge digital engagement with physical experiences. Connecting online ads, loyalty data and in-store sensors helps retailers understand how digital marketing translates into real-world visits.

Heat mapping and behavioural analytics

Using in-store heat maps reveals how customers interact with displays. These visual insights make it easier to refine store design, place promotions in high-traffic areas and reduce dwell time bottlenecks.

How MRI retail solutions support footfall growth

MRI Software’s retail analytics suite provides the tools needed to measure, understand and act on footfall trends across single or multi-site operations.

Our footfall monitoring software empowers retailers to see exactly when and where customers engage. This data informs decisions about layout design, promotional timing and staffing efficiency.

Client example: Leeds City Centre

At this year’s UKREiiF event, Leeds City Centre footfall soared by 28.4% year on year, a direct result of data-led planning and real-time insights powered by MRI’s OnLocation footfall technology.

During the event, organisers monitored visitor movement and engagement zones to understand how people interacted with the site and surrounding city centre.

• Footfall rose by 9.8% compared to the previous year.
• Wednesday’s attendance saw a 28.4% surge likely driven by flagship activations.
• Post-5pm activity increased by 12.3% proving events boosted the evening economy.

As Nathan Spencer, Managing Director at UKREiiF, shared:

Seeing a 28.4% surge in city centre footfall proves the economic power of events like ours. They don’t just fill conference rooms, they energise the entire city.

MRI’s technology helped connect on-site visitor data with wider city activity, enabling Leeds City Council to quantify event impact and plan for future growth.

This demonstrates the transformative effect of data visibility, empowering retailers, developers and city planners to understand real-world behaviour and drive smarter decision-making.

Best practices for sustainable footfall growth

Keep experiences fresh

Rotate window displays and seasonal decor to maintain curiosity. A store that looks different every few weeks attracts repeat visitors.

Build emotional connection

Consumers who feel emotionally connected to a brand spend 27% more on average (Harvard Business Review, 2023). Create emotional resonance through storytelling, local relevance and authentic service.

Train your team for engagement

Frontline staff play a key role in converting browsers into buyers. Continuous training ensures every interaction builds loyalty and satisfaction.

Personalise the experience

Use CRM and loyalty data to deliver targeted promotions. Shoppers who receive personalised offers are more likely to make repeat visits.

Analyse and adapt

Review footfall measurement data weekly. Look for trends, test new layouts and adapt to customer feedback.

Align store hours with behaviour

If analytics show spikes in evening visits adjust trading hours. Flexibility can capture missed opportunities and align operations with real-world demand.

Tracking results and continuous optimisation

Increasing footfall isn’t a one-time effort. It’s an ongoing cycle of insight, action and improvement.

Step 1: Measure

Start by implementing reliable footfall monitoring software to establish a baseline. This will help you understand typical visitor volumes, peak hours and conversion rates.

Step 2: Test

Experiment with in-store events, layout changes and local partnerships.

Step 3: Evaluate

Compare outcomes using metrics like average dwell time, visit frequency and sales per square foot.

Step 4: Optimise

Leverage data-driven insights to adjust strategies and improve continuously.

Step 5: Repeat

Continuous improvement ensures your store remains relevant, responsive and engaging in a rapidly evolving retail environment.

Conclusion: Take action to grow footfall

Driving consistent footfall requires the right balance of creativity, data and local engagement. While great merchandising and service remain essential, the real differentiator lies in how retailers use data to make informed decisions.

By investing in advanced footfall tracking software, retailers can understand customer behaviour, adapt in real time and confidently plan for growth.

The example of Leeds City Centre proves that data-backed decision-making leads to measurable impact. Whether you’re managing a shopping centre, flagship store or high-street location, understanding your footfall patterns is key to long-term success.

MRI Software empowers retail operators with tools to measure, analyse and act, helping you create spaces that attract, engage and retain customers. To learn more, contact us today on +27 21 686 3145.

FAQs