With the Internet came the ability to shop without setting foot into a retail store. Now with high-speed internet, customers can shop on-the-go using their smartphones and tablets, and this is choking sales for brick and mortar retail stores. The last few years have witnessed the stubborn stagnation of retail sales while e-commerce sales are soaring. This phenomenon is a testament to the inevitable demise of traditional retail stores which you can avoid by creating an online presence now.
Why customers prefer to buy online
The Internet is more than likely to outlast any of us but if you choose to wave off the writing on the wall as a temporary side effect of the dotcom bubble, here are some of the reasons why customers prefer to buy online:
- Convenience. This is the biggest incentive for e-commerce processing. Buying online is free of the hustle of long queues and rushing to beat rush-hour traffic saving customers’ valuable time. As if that is not enough, online stores don’t close early or open late which grants customers a 24-hour shopping experience, especially for downloadable informational items.
- Variety. Unlike in physical retail stores, the shopping experience online is not limited by shelf or floor space. This offers customers a greater selection of brands, colors, and sizes than what is available at their local retail chain, not to mention the gains of online reviews and price comparisons.
- Gifting family and friends. With e-commerce, sending gifts requires neither a talent for gift wrapping nor a Master’s degree in arts and crafts. Once a customer finds the item they want to gift, they can customise and then send it in a matter of clicks. Distance is not an excuse.
Conclusion
Online retail sales are gathering momentum at an intensifying pace and e-commerce will surge past regular retail in a matter of years. Contact our experts to stay ahead of the revolution.