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The ability to shop anywhere anytime helped online retail to become increasingly popular. In 2019, nearly 2 billion consumers made online purchases spending over USD 2.8 trillion. However, only 10 percent of the total retail sales were found to be from online retail
FREMONT, CA: Over two decades ago, Amazon and eBay broke on to the scene of the online shopping segment. Since then, the e-Commerce sector has gone on to become a significant shareholder in the retail industry. Besides, the rapid worldwide adoption of mobile devices made e-Commerce retail even more accessible to customers. The ability to shop anywhere anytime helped online retail to become increasingly popular. In 2019, nearly 2 billion consumers made online purchases spending over USD 2.8 trillion. However, only 10 percent of the total retail sales were found to be from online retail. This is indicative of the fact that consumers still prefer to buy it the old fashioned way.
The Never-Ending Love for an In-Store Experience
Without doubt, online shopping has disrupted the fundamentals of the retail sector, but the fact remains that people still love shopping the old way. Under such circumstances, retailers need to put in some extra efforts to deliver the best consumer experience, every time a customer interacts with the brand. A genuinely disruptive retail strategy is cohesive and consistent across all channels. Online shopping experiences are yet to replicate what a customer feels when they physically enter a shop and take a look at the products firsthand. The visual appeal, the sound, fragrance, and services that customers experience in-store are unique when compared to the online medium. Investing in creating a suitable environment will always pay off as studies show that customers tend to spend more when they walk into a store, than when they purchase online.
Blurring the Line between the Digital and Physical World
Customers today make use of the online shopping portals to check the prices and compare products on different retailer websites. It is a fine line between digital and physical retail activities, and retailers should try hard to overcome this barrier. In-store customer encounters and interactions provide an excellent opportunity to gather contact information from customers and get permissions to maintain contact using mobile, SMS, and social media. Loyalty programs are a great way to establish contact with a customer. Whenever there is a discount involved, customers tend to be more willing to participate in the same. The key is to build a positive relationship with the customer. A good customer-retailer relationship must begin with trust.
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