There’s no point in denying the inexorable rise in influence of the internet when it comes to shopping. The web might be relatively new when it comes to commerce, but it’s now a leading force in the industry. Consumers love the convenience it affords, as well as the increase in choice and the great value they can benefit from.

Like a lot of retailers with physical stores, you might feel threatened by these developments. After all, if consumers can simply click a few buttons to get what they want, why would be they bother heading to your store to choose and buy products? However, if you’re savvy, you may be able to harness the power of the web and use it to your advantage.

Retail design is key

One of the most important issues to bear in mind is your retail design. If you’re not careful, your shop might turn into a browsing centre for people who want to physically see and touch your products, before they buy them from other companies over the internet.

Writing for VMSD, Steve Kaufman called this “showrooming” and noted that by taking pictures on their smartphones or scanning the barcodes of items and then searching online, consumers can buy the goods elsewhere via cyberspace. However, he pointed out that some companies are taking steps against this.

Examples

For instance, Best Buy has replaced standard barcodes on big ticket items with special Best Buy-only codes so that they cannot be scanned or used online for ordering, except from Best Buy itself.

Meanwhile, Walmart is allowing shoppers to order online and pay cash when they enter its stores to complete the transaction. This can be ideal for consumers who don’t have credit cards or who don’t feel comfortable releasing their financial details online.

An integrated approach

In general, the message for retailers at present seems to be integration. By ignoring web trends and failing to provide consumers with the technology-based shopping solutions they crave, enterprises can do themselves out of lots of business and risk becoming redundant on the high street. In contrast, by combining traditional shopping experiences with ecommerce techniques, firms stand to satisfy their customers and keep their tills ringing.

Expert help

Knowing exactly how to engage in multi channel retailing effectively isn’t always easy. This is a complex and ever-changing field. However, by approaching experts like us here at Green Room, you should be able to achieve your goals.

We’re specialists when it comes to multichannel retail and can help you create shopping experiences that lure customers into your stores and encourage them to part with their cash for your goods or services, rather than heading elsewhere instead.

Find out more

To find out more about what we have to offer and to see whether we can help you, just take a look around our website or get in touch with our friendly and professional team. With us on your side, you should find it easier to ride the digital wave in style.