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Five ways large retailers can stand out in the competitive kitchen products market

For retailers, the kitchen products market is more competitive than ever. Big retailers, for all their advantages of scale and reach, face challenges from multiple sides. They need to distinguish themselves from both smaller, specialized retailers, emerging online brands, and peers that are eager to take market share. For a large retailer serving the kitchen market, growing their business requires playing to their strengths – such as offering a wide product selection – while also streamlined processes, delivering more engaging consumer experiences, and embracing innovative solutions that reduce costs while improving service.

As we’ve been preparing for the recent launch of Spaces Flex, our most intuitive and magical kitchen design product ever, I’ve been meeting with leading kitchen market retailers across North America and Europe. Listening to their experiences, goals and challenges, I’ve identified five ways big retailers can thrive. These approaches involve adopting technologies and strategies that foster innovation, consumer engagement, and operational efficiency, without significantly increasing their operating costs.

1. Create engaging and seamless consumer experiences

   Providing an immersive, seamless consumer experience is critical for building consumer loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases. The journey from web to store is particularly important because more than 60% of consumers start their shopping experience online. To make the most of their website as a sales channel, retailers can engage consumers through captivating product visuals, intuitive design interfaces, and clear calls to action that guide them through the purchasing process.

   Once in store, kitchen retailers can engage customers with integrated design tools that allow them to start a project on their own, or collaborate with a sales representative for a more personalized experience. From self-service kiosks to guided design sessions, consumers are more likely to continue down the buyer’s journey when they can choose from multiple options to explore products, get inspired by dream kitchens, and make decisions that suit their style and budget. An end-to-end connection between the web and physical stores helps retailers maintain a consistent and frictionless experience for their consumers, helping them get to “yes” much faster.

2. Reduce costs without compromising quality

   For big retailers serving the kitchen market, controlling costs while delivering high-quality service is a top priority. A great way to achieve this is to choose cloud-based software solutions that reduce IT costs. By migrating to a full web-based infrastructure, retailers can eliminate the need for costly on-premises systems and ensure they receive access to the latest technology.

   I’ve seen many instances where Cyncly’s solutions drive cost efficiency while improving service quality. Our intuitive design and sales products allow retailers to quickly train staff to deliver specialist-level consumer experiences—whether they are helping a consumer design a kitchen or navigate complex product options. Intuitive software, delivered on the cloud, means efficiency in training, lower IT overhead and better overall store performance.

3. Boost sales through smarter sales tactics

   Like I mentioned earlier, big kitchen retailers find themselves navigating a crowded market filled with specialist upstarts and online retailers. Driving revenue growth depends on smarter sales tactics, boosting qualified leads, speeding up the sales cycle, and maximizing upsell opportunities.

   By driving more web traffic and converting it into leads, Cyncly’s solutions help retailers to build a strong online presence that fuels in-store sales. Additionally, our platform helps retailers reduce sales cycles. When you can sell a kitchen on a customer’s first visit instead of their third or fourth design consultation, you’ll see deals closing faster and quicker revenue realization.

   The integration of new AI-enabled capabilities into the sales process helps expand project scopes by identifying cross-sell opportunities, ultimately increasing average project prices. By aligning sales methods across all stores, retailers can ensure consistency in performance, resulting in higher overall sales and improved consumer retention rates.

4. Establish a unique value proposition

   In a highly competitive market, retailers need to clearly define their value proposition to stand out. Establishing credibility as a trusted kitchen renovation expert is key to gaining market share, especially when facing competitors from all sides. Cyncly’s solutions allow big-box retailers to build on their strengths – generally, large product selection, competitive prices and existing customer relationships – while gaining the capability to deliver specialist-level service and expertise.

   By offering consumers professional design consultations and personalized service, big retailers can build a reputation for quality and reliability. Cyncly’s project management tools, integrated sales process and tech-driven feedback loops ensure that all stores operate with consistent performance, enhancing your credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of consumers.

5. Leverage AI and innovation for efficiency

   Innovation is one of the most effective ways for retailers to stand out. Cyncly is investing in AI solutions for the industry, combining our unmatched industry data with our deep industry knowledge of how retailers can best lead customers through the inspire, design and sales journey.

   Cyncly’s AI-powered solutions provide kitchen retailers with key advantages. AI can be used to streamline the entire design and sales process, allowing retailers to offer personalized and faster service. With tools that tap into a vast library of 3D products and provide real-time project feedback, retailers can empower both their consumers and sales teams to explore design possibilities with unparalleled speed and precision.

   Additionally, AI-driven insights help retailers reduce errors and improve quality control, making the consumer journey smoother from start to finish. By integrating these AI tools into in-store and online environments, retailers can quickly validate projects, close sales faster, and boost cross-sell opportunities—ultimately increasing revenue and enhancing the overall consumer experience.

Conclusion

The kitchen products market is fiercely competitive, and big retailers must go beyond traditional sales strategies to differentiate themselves. By leveraging AI-powered innovation, streamlining operations, and delivering immersive, personalized consumer experiences, retailers can position themselves as leaders in the space—without significantly increasing costs.

Cyncly offers powerful tools that can help retailers in the kitchen market meet these goals. We leverage over 15 years of expertise in consumer-focused solutions and 30+ years of data insights. Every time I meet with a big kitchen retailer, I’m excited to show them how Cyncly can help them efficiently manage operations, engage consumers, and drive revenue growth. By focusing on these key strategies, big retailers can not only survive but thrive in the competitive kitchen products market, building long-term relationships with consumers and creating a strong, credible brand.