With the retail industry facing so many challenges today, shopowners need to do whatever it takes to make an impression. They may need to look carefully at their online sales in relation to their "bricks and mortar" operations, and sometimes, they will need to combine both as part of their strategy. How could this work and what should you do to modify your high street location accordingly?
Online and Off-Line
There's no doubt that consumers have latched onto the idea of ordering their goods online. This has certainly lead to an increase in Internet sales and home deliveries, but a significant number of buyers will still want to take delivery of those goods right now. These consumers may love the convenience of surfing a retail website at home. They may like the idea that they can browse and then buy their goods without any perceived pressure, but they may still decide to pick up the order at your downtown facility.
Click and Collect
In this case, you may want to modify part of your store so that you can include a dedicated collections area. Those people who have bought goods from your company online could then decide to come to your store, and pick up their orders on the same day. In this way, they needn't wait for a courier to deliver to their home at some stage in the future and may consider this to be the best of all worlds.
Impulse Buying
This opportunity could be significant for you if you handle it properly. Take time to re-design your store so that the collections area is well placed, welcoming and functional. Ensure that you place key items near to the waiting area and put signage in place that may encourage those people to venture further into your shop. Then, when people arrive to collect their goods and have to wait while their order is processed, you may encourage an impulse buy or other activity as well.
Careful Preparation
Remember, your goal is to secure a customer and to raise revenues for your organisation. It doesn't matter if this comes from an online sale, an in-store purchase or a combination of both.
You need to ensure that you design this carefully so that the customer experience is always good. So if you want to maximise this opportunity, you will need to work with retail fitout experts, as they'll have experience in this area and can help you to achieve your goals.
For more tips, reach out to a local retail fitout company.