“Marketing without data is like driving with your eyes closed.”
Still throwing money at ads that don’t work? You’re not alone. One of our local hardware store clients was doing just that. They would spend a decent chunk of their marketing budget every year and see very little in return.
That’s where we come in! We managed to implement 3 simple and budget-friendly marketing fixes and boosted their in-store foot traffic by 30% in just a few months. And you can do the same! (yeah, you!)
Keep reading to learn how marketing can increase foot traffic to a hardware store – and stick around until the end for your recap infographic!
Table of Contents
Hardware Marketing Tactic #1
Hardware Marketing Tactic #2
Hardware Marketing Tactic #3
Hardware Marketing Infographic
Hardware Marketing Tactic #1: Reallocating Budget from Low-ROI Ads to High-Impact Digital Ads
When it comes to marketing, where you put your dollars matters. Here’s what we discovered and how we made data-driven decisions.
Problem
This hardware store had been spending more than $20,000 a year on traditional print advertising. Think newspaper ads, mailers, and local event flyers. Sometimes it does work, don’t get us wrong! But they had no way of knowing what was actually working.
No tracking. No data.
Just a lot of money out the door and not much to show for it.
Worst part? Their customers weren’t even noticing the ads.
Insights
To figure out what was really going on, we surveyed a portion of their customers – and less than 1% remembered seeing any of the print ads. That’s when we dug into the store’s digital data and saw that new customers were actually finding them online – via Google searches and social media.
According to a 2023 Local Consumer Review Survey by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers used Google to evaluate local businesses that year.
Solution
We reallocated part of that underperforming print budget and reallocated to digital channels. That included Google Ads and Meta Ads targeting people searching for local hardware solutions.
We also ran seasonal promotions and tracked what worked best.
And finally, we fully optimized their Google Business Profile, helping them appear in more relevant searches, more often (pretty nice, right?)
Results
Search traffic jumped by 55%! And the uptick in foot traffic was almost immediate.
Within three months, the difference was undeniable – real people, walking through the door, thanks to smarter, data-driven marketing decisions.
Are you a hardware store wanting to know your market and compete against big-box stores better? Get your FREE 2025 Hardware Marketing Analysis now!
Hardware Marketing Tactic #2: Capturing Lost Leads with Email & SMS Retargeting
When hardware stores have a website, they tend to have more website traffic than they realize. The trick? Turning those visits into real-world customers!
Problem
The store had a steady flow of website visitors – but no way to stay in touch with them. No newsletter sign-ups, no follow-up messages, and no retargeting.
What a waste!
Hundreds of potential customers were coming and going every month, and the store had no idea who they were or how to get them back in the door!
Solution
We added a pop-up to their website, offering 10% off their next purchase in exchange for an email or phone number.
Then we set up automated emails for anyone who hadn’t purchased in 60+ days and launched exclusive, limited-time SMS promos to drive urgency.
According to a study by SMS Comparison, text message marketing has an average open rate of 98% compared to email’s 20%! Another interesting fact: 60% of consumers read texts within 5 minutes!
Results
Their email list more than doubled – growing by 120% in just a few months.
Their SMS messages drove a 38% conversion rate. And customers who received a follow-up text were twice as likely to return to the store.
That’s the power of having a simple but strategic follow-up system!
Know, Grow, Compete!
Discover data-driven insights about your store, your customers, and your competitors – all designed to help your store thrive in a competitive market.
Hardware Marketing Tactic #3: Turning the Website into a Sales & Traffic Magnet
Unlike some hardware stores, they did have a website. But a functional, user-friendly website? That’s what actually drives traffic and makes sales. And theirs was not.
Problem
Sure, the website looked fine on the surface – but it wasn’t really working for them.
The layout was outdated, promotions weren’t visible, and there were no clear next steps for visitors.
On top of that, it wasn’t optimized for search engines. Without key features like online ordering, maps, and mobile-friendly tools, it was more like a digital brochure than a true sales tool.
Solution
We gave the website a quick but powerful refresh. We added a “Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store” option to help capture online shoppers.
The homepage was updated with current promotions to match what was happening in-store.
And there’s more! We also placed a Google Maps widget and “Get Directions” button on every single page – so people could easily find their way to the store. A real game-changer!
Results
“Get Directions” clicks increased by 27%, and Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store orders went up by 20%.
Plus, the store started appearing more often in local search results – ranking higher than some of the big box competitors.
These great results happened because their website was finally working with them, not against them.
Ready to Increase Your Hardware Store Foot Traffic? Start Here!
These three changes – smarter budget allocation, targeted retargeting, and a website built for traffic – worked together to help this hardware store get more customers through the door without spending more money.
The best part? You can do the same.
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