ClickCease

How to Attract Customers to Your Store in 2021

How to Attract Customers to Your Store in 2021

8
Sep 2021
12
May 2026

The world has moved into a brand new era of retail. COVID-19 has forced many businesses to move their operations online or risk bankruptcy. Such a drastic change in the global world of retail begs the question, do customers really want to visit retail stores in 2021? Well, let us be the first to tell you, yes they do. Online shopping might be convenient, but it can never offer the same experience as a retail store. So, with COVID-19 becoming more manageable in certain parts of the world, businesses have once again opened the physical doors for their customers and begun selling in stores. If you need to refresh your memory on how to attract customers to your stores in 2021, here are a few tips to help you out.

Cut Down on Customer Waiting Times

The number of COVID-19 patients may be decreasing, but the pandemic is far from over. People are still taking some precautionary measures, and the general public doesn't want to hang around your store waiting for their turn at the cashier. You should optimize the customer experience to make sure that individuals can come in, buy something, and leave within the span of a few minutes. This might not bring in new customers, but it will keep older ones returning.

Offer Incentives to Customers

E-commerce might not have the same feel. But, it's still superior when it comes to convenience. You need to give the shoppers an incentive to drive out to your store and actually spend time indoors. The world has gotten accustomed to shopping online, and you have to drag them out of their houses by offering incentives. This can be a coupon, a discount code, a buy one gets one free deal, etc. An example of this would be the Costco hotdogs. The store has been selling its hotdogs with a price tag of $1.50 since 1984. The company is honest about the fact that they're losing money annually because of the hotdogs, but it does give an incentive to individuals to visit the store and eventually buy products while they're there.

Curb Appeal

If you haven't opened your store in the past year or so, there's probably some cleaning to do. That's not all. You should definitely consider doing some renovating to offer customers a welcome sight. Also, keep your store clean and hygienic and make sure that your customers know that. Your visitors will always appreciate you abiding by COVID-19 SOPs even while the pandemic is declining.

Conclusion

Regardless of what strategies you employ to attract customers, it’s going to cost you and your business money. If you’re trying to get back up on your feet and regain some financial stability, 2M7 Financial Solutions can help you out. 2M7 offers merchant cash advances that can help businesses bounce back post-shutdown. We can provide your business with a merchant cash advance when you need it. Contact us today to learn more.

Related articles

November 18, 2019
May 12, 2026

How to Get a Business Line of Credit?

What is a business line of credit?

A business line of credit (LOC) is designed to meet the short-term financing needs of businesses. Basically, it is a revolving sum of money lent to a business owner. The borrower pays interest on the borrowed amount while the interest rate may be at a fixed or variable rate, depending on the borrower’s financial state. LOC is a type of debt financing, which is offered by traditional financial institutions in Canada. A business line of credit is often referred to as a “corporate line of credit”. As a debt instrument, they are both the same.LOC is very much like a credit card for your business. The business owner will be given a pre-approved credit amount from which he can draw capital as needed. Once the funds are used, the borrower will need to repay the amount including the interest over the repayment term as agreed. A business line of credit is one of the many options to fund your business or to get funds for a new business. It gives access to affordable credit if the borrower qualifies. The LOC provides ready cash flow, that could help solve the liquidity problems that small businesses tend to suffer the most.

What is a small business line of credit?

Lending providers offer a small business line of credits to small-sized businesses with different combinations of rates and qualifications. These may include the following:  

  • An unsecured line of credit (up to $50,000)
  • Secured credit (up to $1,250,000)
  • Floating interest rates
  • Business insurance
  • Shorter approval/processing times
  • Low monthly fees

A small line of credit under $300,000 can be approved online. For small business owners, a line of credit is one of the easiest ways to secure cash flow for their business operations. The application for a small business line of credit is typically short, and approval can be granted within one business day.

How to get a line of credit for your business?

Banks in Canada have a variety of LOC products for small and mid-sized businesses. You should consider applying for a business line of credit at a bank you’re already registered to. Make sure to apply for a line of credit ahead of time as, unlike loans, it can take up to a month to get approved. In order to apply for a line of credit, you should open a business bank account. Below is a list of documents that you would need to provide for your LOC application:

  • Two pieces of government-issued IDs
  • Proof of income
  • Business financial statements, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities
  • Other personal- and business-specific information such as an address, license number (if applicable), and how long you’ve been in business

How to get approved for a business line of credit?

Whether or not your line of credit is approved depends on your credit score and your business qualifications. The higher your credit score and the more stable your business income, the more likely it is that you will be approved for a line of credit, and the larger it will be. It is very important to have a good credit score and to keep your business financial documents in order. If a bank is unable to adequately assess your business potential, it will lower the chance of receiving a line of credit. With a private lender, things are a bit easier as the lender may adopt different criteria and qualifications to advance the line of credit. Also, private lenders are more open to lending to businesses with lower credit scores. Remember, when looking for a small business loan line of credit, make sure to evaluate several options. The majority of small businesses prefer to choose private lenders as they are able to receive more flexible offers. Check out how merchant cash advance works to see if your business qualifies.

Why is a business line of credit better than a loan?

A business loan is typically obtained and disbursed only for a specific purpose. It is meant to provide access to capital for a one-time, major financial expenditure. Therefore, to manage your operating cash flow, you will have to apply for multiple business loans – each of which will negatively affect your credit score.However, a business line of credit allows you to improve your credit score. You only borrow the money you need and pay interest based on that amount. A business LOC allows for greater financial planning and resolves cash flow problems that small businesses often experience.

Why you may be denied a line of credit?

There are a number of reasons why you may be denied a business LOC. Most likely, your bad credit score will lead to a refusal, but that is not the only reason. The line of credit may be refused for a number of reasons, including:

  • Purpose of LOC does not meet the required criteria
  • Your industry is too risky
  • The commercial bureau reports negative performance
  • Business revenues indicate insufficient ability to handle monthly payments

Having a low credit score doesn't mean you can't take any type of loan. Check out some ways to get a business loan with a bad credit score.

Approaching a private lender for a small line of credit

If you require a moderate-sized line of credit, it is worth approaching a private lender. A small lender will not require as many documents as the bank, and the approval process will be faster as well. Also, private lenders accept applications for LOCs online and you can get request a quote online. Private lenders will help you understand why your line of credit has been denied by the bank and can provide the necessary funding in a shorter time with less hassle and stress and treated as bad credit debt help. If you are interested in an alternative solution made for small businesses, talk to one of our experts today for the best business cash advance loans.

Read more
February 22, 2022
May 12, 2026

2M7 Featured as a Leading Merchant Cash Advance Provider in the 2022 Canada FinTech Lending Study

2M7 Financial Solutions is honoured to be featured as a leading merchant cash advance provider in the 2022 Canada FinTech Lending Study, organized by Smarter Loans, which offers insights into the state of the industry and emerging trends. According to the study, the primary concerns for borrowers were interest rates and loan terms, with 40% ranking these as their top priorities. This indicates that financing needs are rapidly evolving – which is particularly true for Canadian businesses.

However, a shift in the financial landscape has created unique challenges for small and medium businesses in getting approved for loans, and the digital credit score algorithms used by traditional lending sources such as banks have made it increasingly more difficult to secure small business financing. Therefore, 2M7 has been stepping up to support Canadian businesses with a lending alternative – providing faster and easier access to the working capital they need, and offering flexible repayment terms to help maintain a positive cashflow during these challenging times.“

We are directly supporting the economic recovery and are working tirelessly to help Canadian companies prosper during these times,” said Avi Bernstein, CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions. “Right now, more than ever, small and medium businesses need more accessible funding options to grow their businesses, and 2M7 is eager to be a part of the journey alongside them. We love to see our clients succeed and are committed to supporting their growth, just as any good partner should.”

With a 97% approval rate, 2M7 Financial Solutions is delivering on its mission to fund every Canadian business that needs financing. Using a proprietary algorithm to evaluate risk and determine credit worthiness, 2M7 is able to fund businesses that might not otherwise qualify for a traditional loan. Furthermore, the innovative assessment process gets businesses approved faster, with funds deposited directly into their bank accounts within 24-48 hours – delivering a solution to the simplified application process and rapid access to funds that were rated among the priorities for borrowers in the 2022 FinTech study.

About 2M7 Financial Solutions

2M7 strives to provide a unique financing solution that is in line with the demands of today’s emerging industry trends in order to create a seamless funding and repayment experience. As the industry continues to evolve, 2M7 remains at the forefront of the innovative technologies and processes that are transforming the Canadian financial industry, providing solutions that better meet the needs of Canadian businesses.

Read more
April 26, 2021
May 12, 2026

How to Stay Motivated and Reach Your Goals?

If you have set some big goals in your life, then you may wonder how to keep yourself motivated. The good news is that there are a number of proven ways to keep yourself focused and energized to reach the goals that matter the most to you. Here’s a look at five proven ways to keep yourself motivated and reach your goals.

1) Clearly define your goals

The first thing that you need to do is clearly define your goals. Saying, “I want a successful business,” or “I want to be rich.” is not motivating enough. You need to give your mind specific goals that can give it focus. For instance, if you want to have a successful business, define the business (Ex. I want to generate $1 million in annual sales with my cupcake business). If you want to become wealthy, set a specific dollar amount at a specific date (ex. I want to have $3 million in my bank account by January 1, 2030). This will allow you to have the focus and direction that you need to stay motivated and on track to your goal.

2) Choose goals that motivate you

On the path to reaching your goal, you will encounter roadblocks that will challenge your will to continue. The one thing that will get you passed those roadblocks are goals that matter to you. Therefore, you need to choose goals that will motivate you during hard times. What matters to you? Is losing weight really important or reaching a certain financial goal? Choose goals that you are willing to suffer and endure to accomplish.

3) Plot your progress

The most worthwhile goals will be long-term goals. Therefore, you need some motivation to keep you going. A great way to keep you on the road to your goal is to track your progress. For instance, if you are looking to lose weight, then keep track of the weight that you have already lost. This will give you the energy and the drive to keep going.

4) Set up checkpoints for your goal

Instead of having one big goal, create mini-goals that give you a sense of accomplishment more often. For instance, if your goal is for your business to have $1 million in annual sales, then set up goals to reach $100,000 in sales every 35 days. This will allow you to have a short-term focus that can motivate you to keep going.

5) Visualize your goals

Finally, you will want to visualize how your world will look when you finally accomplish your goal. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to visualize your life after completing your goal. Create that feeling of happiness and content that you intend to feel. That positive energy will give you the drive to keep going.

Helping You Get to Your Goals

Reaching your goals can become a challenge. When your business needs a little edge, contact 2M7 Financial Solutions. We can provide your business with a merchant cash advance when you need it. Contact us today to learn more.

Read more