A new study by Ryder indicates that online shoppers are still nostalgic about in-store shopping. This creates more complexity around what customers want and how businesses should adapt to meet their evolving needs.
E-commerce remains strong; there is no doubt about it, but in-store shopping is also proving to gain more attraction. Could this mean business owners should step up their omnichannel strategies to be able to compete with their next-door retailers?
Why are customers still demanding in-store shopping?
It’s all about experience. You use all your senses when you walk into a store. How it smells and how it looks, you often can’t even help yourself pick up items from the shelves and feel the texture.
According to the Ryder study, 61% of shoppers enjoy the in-store experience. They want to try on clothes and compare the products.
Why is this significant? It represents a 21% increase compared to the previous year.
What does this mean for retailers?
Even if your business has a strong e-commerce presence, you cannot turn a blind eye to the physical shopping experience. It remains critical to some customers.
Alternative ideas to having a physical store presence
It’s extremely expensive to have a physical store, staff, pay rent, maintenance. It all adds up.
But there are other creative ways to solve this. Let’s brainstorm together.
Pop-up stores
A pop-up store offers a temporary physical presence without the long-term commitment or costs of a full retail space.
Partner with local retailers
Form partnerships with local stores or boutiques that complement your brand. You can offer them a small section to display your product. It creates almost a mini store within a store.
Mobile showroom or truck
Convert a van or truck into a mobile showroom where customers can experience your products firsthand. This option gives you the flexibility to travel to different locations.
Pop-up kiosks in malls
Instead of renting an entire store, which can be extremely expensive, rent a small kiosk in a mall or place with many feet, like a transit hub, park, or gym. You can showcase best-sellers or new collections and drive traffic to your online store by offering discount codes or promotions.
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
