There’s no denying – retail stores are closing, store sales are in freefall so where are all the customers? People haven’t stopped spending they are just spending online. And it’s across all industries. The top categories for online sales in 2014 were:
• Media, sporting goods and hobby goods such as toys;
• Electronics and appliances;
• Furniture and home furnishings;
• Clothing and accessories;
• Health and personal care;
• Food and beverages.
So if you are involved in retail sales and you have not evolved to offer online sales, the time to make the change is now.
‘We’re in the midst of a profound structural shift from physical to digital retail…it’s happening faster than I could have imagined.’ – Jeff Jordan, Andreessen Horowitz, January 2014
eCommerce is leading nearly all retail growth with one in every twenty retail dollars already being spent online.
Top tips for selling online:
• Offer a safe, reliable, user-friendly eCommerce website for customers
• Mobile sales are gaining faster than desktop sales so ensure your website is mobile responsive
• Make the shopping, checkout, payment processes as simple and straightforward as possible
• Ensure that you have up-to-date product information, images and prices on your website at all times
• Respond to all queries regarding online sales in a timely manner, just as you would if the phone rang or you had a customer standing in front of you
• Consider engaging a digital marketing team (such as Website Design Centre) to handle eCommerce site updates, customer service, content and social media marketing to drive your digital presence and online sales
• Consider other online selling vehicles, such as Ebay and Social Media platforms. Visually dominate platforms, Pinterest and Instagram can drive interest to your website for conversion into sales. Facebook will soon be adding sales button options (such as Order Now and Buy Now) directly to business pages.
Don’t get left behind in the abandonment of traditional shopping, contact the Website Design Centre team today and discuss your options for selling online, where the customers are.
