It's crucial for brands to focus on improving their customers' journey if they want to offer their clients the best experience. We can't stress enough that one of the best ways to achieve this is to implement a service offering by appointment. Retailers who have been doing it over the past years saw firsthand how successful it was.  

Appointment scheduling is a versatile tool that can be used for a wide range of services and industries. From beauty services to retail, it can be tailored to meet the unique needs of any business. Overall, appointment scheduling is a valuable solution that can be used to streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and increase revenue for any type of brand.

So let's take a look back at the most popular types of appointment-based services among our clients.

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1. Personal Shopper

Personal shopper sessions are a great way to bring customers and brands closer together, they have become one of the most effective solutions used in the luxury world. With personal shopping, brands can provide each customer a personalized experience during each visit to the store, which helps build trust and give clients the motivation to purchase. Personal shoppers strive to understand each customer's individual needs and desires in order to help them make their selections. While guiding their customers through various products, personal shoppers offer advice, tips and support so that customers can feel like they are shopping with a companion rather than a salesperson. This human connection makes for an extraordinary experience for all involved as it leads to increased loyalty between brand and customer. Utilizing personal shoppers provides the chance for skilled associates to use their knowledge, connect with clients on a personal level and make shopping much more enjoyable.

Even if personal shopping is majoritarily used by luxury brands, any type of retailer can benefit from it. Personal shoppers work with clients to understand their preferences, needs, and budget, and then use that information to curate a selection of products that best suit their needs - this can be adapted for any industry.

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2. Consultations (in-person or online)

Appointment-based consultations are a great way to get in-depth expertise on any product. Whether the consultation takes place virtually or in person, it allows Clients to access personalized information and gain certain knowledge on the product or services, always with that human touch. Moreover, since this service can be done online, customers who don't have the time to visit a store can benefit from relevant and professional advice from their home. Having an expert offer advice will give your customers the trust and confidence needed to make the right purchase, and keep them loyal to your brand.

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3. Paid or free services (one-to-one)

Suitable for any retailer, it is mostly used by cosmetic or beauty brands providing their customers with a quality in-store experience: facials, massages, make-up for a special event, eyebrow waxing, etc. Providing an optimal personalized experience to each customer will allow you to increase their loyalty as well as attract qualified traffic. In addition, a service appointment very often ends with additional purchases.

Service appointments can be useful for any type of company and are a great opportunity to be original and to differentiate from the competition. Our client Mondou, a Canadian pet store, uses appointment scheduling in an ingenious and clever way. They offer their clients the possibility to get their pets washed in-store. This free service that must be reserved in advance is a huge success as it provides real value to the customers, drives qualified traffic to stores and leads to a lift in daily sales.

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4. Live shopping

Live shopping is becoming an increasingly popular option for several retail brands. This highly customizable service requires a bit of preparation in advance, but the rewards can be well worth the effort! It generally involves presenting products through a video conference platform; either by having an associate show each item on camera, or by hosting a virtual fashion show with models. These events also allow viewers to interact with the host and ask questions in real-time, while product descriptions appear live on their screens so they can directly add items to their cart.

Live shopping offers many benefits but it's particularly effective for luxury brands due to the more detailed view it allows of items. As such, it's no surprise why this service has become so popular - it conveys the perfect balance between professionalism and passion that makes customers feel special!

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5. ROPIS (Reserve Online, Pick-up In Store)

Click & Collect is a versatile solution that helps bring your customers into your stores and increase brand loyalty. It is a great way to optimize operations and planning. Thanks to the personalized experience you offer, clients more used to buying online will be encouraged to visit your store. Your staff will be able to assist and guide them if they need additional information or advice or if they want to make another purchase.

Click & Collect is often turned into Click & Fit for fashion stores. Very appreciated by the customers, this service allows them to make an appointment in a store to come and try on a piece they have noticed online. The customer generally has a fitting room reserved for them so that they can try on the different items. If they do not fit, a staff member will provide them with other sizes, colours or models if they wish. This allows the customer to avoid making unnecessary purchases while still receiving appropriate support.

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If your company is not already doing so, now is the perfect time to implement one of these services and offer your customers an exceptional experience. If you don't know where to start, Booxi is here to help! Contact one of our experts now to get a personalized demo, tailored to your needs.