We continually hear about how do Bricks & Mortar furniture shops survive difficult times. More people are shopping online and we read about shops closings. But how are these current times really affecting the kind of stores we love and the unique, independent, and inspiring Bricks & Mortar furniture shops to discover and visit?
Rarely a week goes by without news of a household high street name shutting up shop or closing stores. The rise of online shopping, or e-commerce, is widely blamed for the demise of traditional. Yet people are spending more money than ever just not on the high street.
Bricks & Mortar Furniture Shops Survive Onslaught Of Ecommerce
In many ways, the offering provided by the traditional bricks and mortar store such as the latest brand to report hard times, traditional local wooden furniture will always be in demand remains unchanged since its inception more than a century ago. They have been slow to respond to the changing social and technological landscape. And today’s customer expects something more.
The digital age has caused a shift in how consumers engage with their favourite brands they can now purchase online with the convenience and confidence once the reserve of physical interactions. You can purchase almost anything you might desire online, have it delivered to your door within 24 hours, often with the offer of a free return and refund.
But the place for physical retail is far from over. As humans, we still crave a sense of community, which remains relevant to how they shop. Physical stores can become spaces where people engage with each other and a space where the brand has a unique advantage to engage with potential customers.
Bricks & Mortar Furniture Success In 2022
Digital transformation is here to stay but it doesn’t mean physical experiences are leaving. Acquiring customers relies on a physical retailer’s ability to merge the two together effectively. In 2019, competing online to rank top in Sydney using SEO success in the traditional retail environment rested on three values and despite the pandemic, it hasn’t changed:
- Accessibility through technology: Using conversational messaging creates personal and informative two-way conversations between employees and customers to answer a wide range of questions on the go, anytime, anywhere.
- Educating and building awareness: The pandemic has touched every aspect of life, and everyone has a story to tell. Brands who understand their audience and explain how their products bring in a human value can beat a competitor’s price and location.
- Interactive moments: Experiential furniture can be successful without a person ever buying a product. If consumers walk away with positive memories, they will be likely to recommend or share the experience with others.
Successful bricks & mortar furniture understands the need to provide relevant and impactful experiences into their everyday interactions, through technology, people, or both.
Conclusion
Ecommerce lives on digital channels and traditional. Online spending accounted for nearly 20 percent of all bricks and mortar furniture sales in 2020, amidst a total of $791.70 billion spent online. Digital is an attractive option for customers on the go, at home, and everywhere in-between. But the ease of online shopping has also made it easier to switch brand loyalties. Ecommerce brands are constantly competing in a competitive landscape where the next best deal is only a click away.
