E-commerce

Posts Tagged: E-commerce

Online Retail

Brick and Mortar vs. Online Retail

December 2013 was retail’s biggest month of the year, for obvious holiday-related reasons. Brick and mortar stores saw a surge in sales compared to November, with shopper traffic increasing by 35%. However, in comparison to December 2012, sales took a serious hit, with traffic dropping nearly 18%.

Some of this decline can be blamed on the shortened holiday season and Hanukkah’s early arrival. Worth mentioning is the inclement weather and convenience that drove customers to shop online.

 

While online retail grows at an increasing rate every year, it still accounts for a very small percentage of all retail sales. Sales from online shopping have grown 300 percent since the beginning of 2004, yet these sales are only some 6% of all retail.

 

A recent Pew Research Center poll found that, although the vast majority of teens shop online, over 75% prefer to do their shopping in-store. Teen trends are seen as a sign of things to come, so what can we learn about the future of retail?

 

Online retail’s continued growth depends on bringing the in-store experience to the digital frontier. People continue flocking to physical stores despite the convenience of online shopping for the human interaction and personalized experience. How can one create this environment in the impersonal space of online retail?

 

BestMatch, the digital salesperson, provides an answer. By listening to customer input, combined with product expertise, BestMatch’s sales applications provide a personalized and interactive experience. Customers get the best of both worlds, the convenience of shopping from home, with the personal touch of shopping at a brick and mortar store.