Brick and mortar stores are essential in any neighborhood, town, or city. Whether it’s clothing or books, nothing beats seeing the product up close and personal. But it’s also important to adapt and adjust as the world changes. Otherwise, your business might risk getting overlooked in favor of competitors.
If you’re still on the fence, here are 6 other reasons why you should make the switch from physical to an online store:
It’s Easy
You don’t have to learn how to code or do complex commands. From Shopify web development to SEO services, there are companies that can do the work for you. All you need to do is to have a clear and thought-out idea of what you want. Think of your website as an additional store in a new location. It’s even more crucial because anyone in the world can see it.
As part of preparations, you can do some research. Take a look at how your competitors’ sites look. See what they’re doing right and brainstorm ideas how you can set your site apart. You should also picture yourself in the customer’s shoes. Think of what you like about your favorite online stores and incorporate it into your site.
It’s Accessible
The best part about the internet is its accessibility. Having an online store instantly broadens your market. For brick and mortar stores, your exposure is limited to your area. The customers are likely limited to the locals and the occasional tourists. On the other hand, a website makes your business visible to anyone in the world with an internet connection. With the right marketing, you can build a loyal client base even from outside the country. But this will only matter if you have different shipping and payment options. The more choices you offer, the more customers you can attract. The great news is that online transactions have become easier and cheaper over the years.
It’s Proven to Be Effective
There’s a reason why everyone, from small businesses to multinational corporations, have online stores: it’s effective. To prove it, all you need to do is to look at the evidence. The world’s richest man became successful for running an online store that sells a variety of products. Of course, it took years before Amazon became the e-commerce giant that it is today. But you don’t need to wait years to become successful online. In a span of 3 months, a man earned a million dollars selling pants and toothpaste online. Online businesses also prove that age really is just a number. Teens have been earning thousands by selling clothes.
It Offers More Flexibility
For customers, brick and mortar stores are great because you can go at any time within operating hours and immediately get what you want. But for the shop owner and the employees, it can be a pain. It means that there should always be someone manning the store for around 10 hours. Since someone has to open and close the shop, the work hours can exceed more than 12 hours. This is the best part about online stores. Because a lot of operations are already automated, it doesn’t need to be supervised all the time. You don’t even have to work in an office. If you want, you can work from home, at a coffee shop, or even at Barbados.
It’s Cheaper to Run
Operating brick and mortar stores can be pretty pricey. You have to pay rent, utility bills, and security systems. If business slows down, there might not be enough money to cover expenses and lead to debt. For online stores, you instantly lower your regular expenses. You can use the savings to expand your business. It could be a new product, an ad campaign or a new hire to help you out.
It’s Stable
Rain or shine, online businesses can operate when even physical stores can’t. Even the pandemic hasn’t stopped the success of online stores. Projections show that sales from online transactions will reach almost $710 billion by the end of the year. This is even higher than the figures from last year which amounted to $601 billion. In a way, starting an online store is a way of future-proofing your business.
Physical stores are irreplaceable. Online businesses have tried to compete by using AR technology and 3-D graphics. But nothing compares to trying out the products firsthand. Customers can personally try out how the clothes or shoes fit. They can also test the products so there won’t be any returns or refunds needed.
At the same time, online shops offer several things that brick and mortar stores don’t. They’re open 24/7 and accessible to anywhere in the world.
