Are your sales slow? Do you wonder how to increase sales volume or how to increase sales when business is slow at your store? Many U.S. business owners – in liquor shops, gas stations, smoke/vape shops, and cafés – face quiet periods and tough competition. Long idle hours mean less revenue and frustrated staff. This guide shows how installing legal, skill-based entertainment terminals (arcade-style games and prize machines) can transform idle time into cash. These amusement-only kiosks attract customers, increase dwell time, and boost impulse purchases.
Common Sales Challenges
- Low Traffic & Idle Time: Quiet weekdays or off-season lulls leave your store empty. Staff have little to do, and prime floor space sits unused. Without an in-store attraction, customers grab a few essentials and leave, limiting overall sales.
- High Competition: Nearby stores, online options, and larger chains vie for customers. It’s hard to stand out in a crowded market without something unique.
- Limited Marketing ROI: Coupons or ads may bring people in temporarily, but often at the cost of margin. When foot traffic dries up, even marketing has limits, and sales dip further.
- Seasonal Slumps: After the holidays or during midweek afternoons, business naturally slows. You may wonder, “How can I increase sales even when business is slow?” The secret is giving customers a reason to stay and spend.
Leveraging Entertainment Terminals: Your Secret Weapon for Sales Volume
Entertainment terminals are casino-themed, skill-based game kiosks that comply with U.S. sweepstakes laws. They’re non-gambling arcade machines and redemption games – imagine mini-casinos or claw/prize games inside your store.
How Casino-Style Terminals Drive Sales
These terminals open new revenue streams while drawing customers inside. Players must insert cash or credits to play, directly adding to your sales. More importantly, the games pull in foot traffic: businesses with arcade machines typically see about a 20% increase in customers. That means 20% more people who might pick up other items during their visit.
While people play, they often buy. As one report notes, players may enter “with the sole intention of playing a few quick games and end up browsing and potentially purchasing items from the store”. In practice, a customer who stops to play might grab a soda or snack nearby. More dwell time equals more opportunities to upsell.
Proven Results: Case studies confirm big boosts. One liquor store owner grew from 10 to 40 kiosks in a year, expanding into multiple states. A vape & smoke shop franchise added 5 terminals and increased total revenue by +$20K per month. These real-world successes highlight the revenue power of gaming terminals.
Arcade terminals also tap into impulse spending. The excitement of winning brings both new and repeat customers back. In fact, businesses report that players become regular shoppers, “adding to [the store’s] overall sales”. Industry analyses back this up: a single skill-game terminal can add roughly $5,000 in extra monthly revenue. In summary, these games don’t just make money on their own – they make your store more profitable overall.
Why They Work When Business is Slow
Terminals shine during quiet hours. They give customers a reason to stop by when they might otherwise skip your store. Imagine a slow afternoon: a family passing your shop spots the arcade machine and decides to play. You just created a sale where none would have happened.
In essence, terminals answer the question “how to increase sales when business is slow.” They convert downtime into profit. Players pay to play, and once inside, they buy your products. For example, a venue that ran a boxing arcade tournament saw up to a 30% jump in revenue during the event, thanks to the extra foot traffic and longer visits. Even normal play builds a steady supplemental income on lean days.
Think of a terminal as an automated, 24/7 salesperson. When other sources of traffic fade, your gaming machine keeps customers coming. It’s a smart slow-season strategy: even in off-peak times, people seeking entertainment will find and use the terminal, filling otherwise empty minutes with revenue.
Boosting Sales Productivity Effortlessly
Installing these games is practically a “set it and forget it” productivity tip. They require very little upkeep or staff time. As one industry analyst explains, they are “excellent sources of passive revenue” because of their minimal maintenance demands. You simply ensure they have power, change paper or prize tokens as needed, and that’s it.
After setup, the terminals do their job without supervision. Your employees continue serving customers and managing daily operations, while the machines quietly bring in sales. Each game play translates directly into profit, all without draining staff resources. Even better, these systems often offer remote management. With only a few square feet used, a terminal offers high profit per area. In effect, an entertainment terminal is like an extra staff member who works every day. Since it occupies minimal space, your profit per square foot skyrockets. This is one of the best sales productivity tips for a busy store: add automated revenue generators that run themselves, and watch overall productivity (sales per employee) climb.
Actionable Tips to Maximize Terminal Success
- Placement: Put the machine where it will be noticed. Near the entrance, checkout, or popular aisles is ideal. For example, placing it near a convenience store register or gas station lounge ensures both pump customers and passersby see it. In short: high visibility = high play counts.
- Pricing: Use small, attractive play prices. Aim for frequent usage rather than high bets. For instance, charge 50¢–$1 per play or offer 2-for-1 deals during slow times. Bundling can work too (e.g. “Buy a coffee, get a free game token”). Clear pricing builds trust and repeat play, boosting revenue volume.
- Promotion: Market your new feature. Announce the terminal with in-store signs and social media. Highlight it on your signage (“New Games! Prizes to Win!”). Consider events: mini-tournaments or leaderboard contests encourage visits. One retailer’s weekly boxing-game contest drew crowds and increased sales by about 30% each time. Even simple incentives (like bonus play credits on certain days) keep customers coming back.
- Maintenance: Keep it clean and updated. A well-lit, tidy machine attracts more players than a dusty or glitchy one. Check it daily for jams, update game software regularly (many systems add new games monthly), and restock prize or ticket supplies. Customers notice upkeep – a polished machine suggests a quality business.
- Compliance: Ensure you’re following local rules. If skill games require a license in your state (like Class B COAM in some states), get it before turning on the machine. Display any required notices. Riverslot’s cloud-based system, for example, can be fully installed in under an hour, so you’ll be up and running quickly and legally.
Complementary Sales Volume Strategies
Entertainment machines should be your centerpiece, but other strategies amplify sales:
- Loyalty Programs: Keep customers coming back with rewards. Loyalty systems can increase return visits by up to 5–20%. Offer points per purchase or per game played. For example, give a free play token after $20 in store purchases. A well-designed loyalty program strengthens customer relationships and increases lifetime value.
- Upselling: Train staff to suggest extras. Upsells might include add-ons (snacks, drinks) or higher-margin items (premium brands). Simple offers like “Would you like a soda while you play?” can raise the average ticket. Bundle deals (“Sandwich + drink + game token for $5.99”) also increase cart size, directly boosting sales volume.
- Local Marketing: Be visible in your area. Use Google Business to note that you have arcade games, and run geo-targeted social ads for local customers. Partner with nearby events or schools to spread the word. Even posting customer wins on social media (“Congrats to our latest game champion!”) generates buzz. These efforts increase foot traffic, many of whom will try the games and shop.
- Customer Experience: Create a fun atmosphere. Play upbeat music near the terminals, cheer winners, and use colorful signage. A positive vibe keeps customers in-store longer. Happy gamers tend to spend more and become promoters of your venue.
When you combine these tactics with entertainment terminals, the effects multiply. More loyal shoppers and higher average purchases complement the new traffic driven by gaming. Ultimately, this synergy leads to bigger sales volume and a healthier bottom line.
Conclusion
Facing a sales slump? The solution is to add excitement. Legal, skill-based game terminals turn your store into a destination. They bring in extra revenue from players and encourage additional product sales, lifting total sales volume even in slow times. Owners consistently report happier customers and increased profits after installing our kiosks.
Best of all, these systems are low-risk. Riverslot’s terminals need almost no investment and can be installed in under an hour. They sit ready, working 24/7, and quickly pay for themselves.
Ready to install your revenue-boosting terminals? Explore models like the River Stand Up Cyber Cafe Kiosk or the River Redemption Kiosk and start turning idle time into profit. Partner with Riverslot.net today!