What Is Conversion In Retail?

In this article, we’ll discuss what conversion in retail is and how to increase it. Read on to find out more on the topic of conversion rates in marketing.

By Mick Essex & Gaukhar Murzagaliyeva
Aug 10, 2022
What Is Conversion In Retail?

Retail stores rely on elaborate metrics to understand their target audience’s preferences. If they can get to the root of that, they can boost sales.

Updated 2/12/2026

In retail, conversion is often one of the most crucial metrics for store owners to measure. It can help them develop better strategies to improve their store’s success.

In this article, we’ll discuss what retail conversion is and how to calculate and improve it. To find out more on the topic of conversion rates in marketing, click here.

If you’re looking to build your own website or improve your current one to target getting better conversions, check out our free contact form templates here.

Conversions In Retail

In the retail industry, a conversion is the process of turning store visitors into customers.

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Often, retail stores measure their conversions as rates that compare these two groups. It is a vital metric to track and tell retail owners and managers how successful their strategies are.

If you have more questions about conversion strategies, check out our latest article on steps for creating a conversion path.

What Is A Conversion Rate?

A conversion rate is the percentage of store visitors to a retail establishment who make purchases.

Typically, the retail conversion rate shows the number of customers out of all prospective customers who buy your products--and it’s this act of purchasing that “converts” them into paying customers.

Let’s assume you’re a retail manager at a brick-and-mortar store.

To determine the conversion rate for a specific period, divide the number of transactions by the number of prospective shoppers who entered your store. Then, multiply the total by 100 to get your percentage.

So, if 50 customers purchased your product out of 400 customers who visited your store, your conversion rate would be:

50/ 400 x 100 = 12.5%

And that means it’s time to take measures to improve your conversion rate.

Why Does Conversion Rate Matter In Retail?

Determining the rate at which store visitors make purchases can offer valuable insights into your marketing strategies and customer base. Retail managers often analyze sales data to assess performance over a given period.

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Knowing your conversion rate can help you put your sales numbers into context by showing you the number of potential sales you could make.

This information can help you identify inefficiencies in your store and address them through improved store layout, stronger marketing, and better stock levels.

Additionally, it may provide insights into whether your inventory appeals to prospective customers.

Also, conversion rates can help you determine whether your marketing strategies and store layout effectively encourage your store visitors to purchase your products.

Conversion data is also vital for stores that want to understand their customers well enough to determine whether they’re maximizing their resources.

It is crucial to decide whether to run the right sales campaign or offer discounts at the right time, or to optimize their floor space by diversifying their products.

Final Thoughts

When you’re analyzing the success of your brick-and-mortar store, conversion should be high on your list of priorities. But first, it’ll help you determine how many customers who visited your store actually purchased your products.

If you aren’t happy with your conversion rate, test strategies to improve it.

For example, improving your store layout, inventory management, and discount offerings can help you convert more potential customers into paying customers.