With Halloween coming up next week, it’s a good time to discuss fun and engaging ways to bring customers into your store, particularly millennials. Here are three ways to provide customer experiences that do just that, using modern “tricks” of technology.

1. Use your social media presence to host a trivia contest. Contests draw attention. You might ask questions about the origins of Halloween, or talk about Day
   

   Although retailers are expecting a large surge of shoppers over the next few months as the holiday season gets underway, many businesses are now taking advantage of Halloween and using the spooky theme to increase their sales.

   of the Dead or even delve into something like horror movie trivia. Offer participants or winners coupons for your goods or services;  research has found that millennials, in particular, are drawn to those types of posts. And contests are a good idea not just for Halloween but for anytime.

2. Deck the halls with Halloween decorations. For a brick-and-mortars, this is an opportunity to throw  a party for your customers. Consider making it a “private” affair for your best customers. Exclusive events boost loyalty. Many retailers find their customers like to be with other customers. This is particularly true for small niche businesses.Promoting it on social networks popular with your customers will help ensure a good turnout. Remember to focus the event and provide direction for customers: Will be a costume party? Will there be prizes and giveaways? You want attendees to be part of the retail experience and be able to shop while they are there. Expand your cashiering capabilities by increasing (or adding) mobile POS.
3. Think completely outside of the box. How can your business tie into Halloween profitably? Not just recognizing the holiday, but offering products and services that make sense within the context of the celebration. Halloween can be tons of fun for small children, but it can also be very stressful for the adult responsible for the dressing them up. Think how your business can accommodate parents very busy schedules. Can you offer in-home services the weekend before Halloween? Even businesses that aren’t food, craft or pumpkin-based can get in on the action. For example, a dry cleaner might offer free or discounted pick-up or drop-off services on the 31st. Other parents may be concerned with the safety of trick-or-treating itself. Get together with neighboring retailers and offer store-to-store trick or treating. Restaurants, delis, and convenience stores can offer coupons for anyone coming in costume.

By creating customer experiences, your retail brand becomes increasingly “authentic” to customers. The engagement encourages your clientele to return, and, hopefully, become loyal evangelists for you. A that’s how retail “tricks” can be real treats.