The pandemic forced business owners to rethink how they operate. Hybrid selling is a way for businesses to adapt to the rapidly growing online market. This allows you to sell products online and in-store. This has been a wake-up call to some British businesses, as the UK is five years behind China in e-commerce. Chinese e-commerce achieves 80% of its sales online.
This article will discuss the benefits of hybrid selling. We will also discuss the ways you can offer your customers a blended retail experience. This article will show you how hybrid selling can help you, whether you are an owner of a brick-and mortar shop looking to expand online, or an ecommerce store thinking about opening a pop up shop.
Create an online shop
Online retail is becoming more important than ever. Online retail sales have steadily increased in value over the past decade, rising from PS52.25billion in 2015 to PS76.04billion in 2019. However, this value soared to PS99.31billion in 2020 during the pandemic. This shows that there is a direct correlation between economic stagnation and online retail sales.
However, online shopping continues to grow in the wake of the pandemic. A July survey found that 70% of shoppers prefer to shop online or via their mobile phones to purchase goods, compared with less than 50% prior to the pandemic.
If you are a business owner and don’t have an online shop, it might be a good idea to start one in the post-pandemic era. Your e-commerce store could be hosted on Etsy or Amazon. You can even create your own ecommerce site with a content management system like Shopify, depending on your budget. This will allow your customers to have a mixed retail experience that meets the growing demand for online shopping.
Invest in digital marketing
It is crucial to get the most out digital marketing. This applies whether you are looking to open an online shop, or if you already have an e-commerce site. Digital marketing can boost your online presence and attract customers to your business.
Digital marketing is essential to the commercial success and growth of online businesses. This will allow you to establish lasting relationships with customers and showcase your products or services. These products and services will then be available to the most relevant audience. This marketing can take the form of search engine optimization (SEO), pay per click advertising (PPC), and social media marketing.
Digital marketing is more than just creating online ads. Professional marketers can help your business to use data and develop customer engagement plans. One study found that 67% of marketers who use customer engagement platforms enjoy it. These platforms can be used by your business to communicate with customers in a unique, personalised manner.
Create a pop-up store for your online shop
Online businesses may be able to open brick-and-mortar stores, even if they are temporary. There are still a lot of people who prefer to purchase goods and services in person. Online shopping is a great way for your business to reach the growing online marketplace, but it’s still important to have a street presence.
Research shows that there is a direct correlation in-person shopping and your age. Younger generations are more likely than older generations to shop online. In 2020, 99% of 25-34-year-olds and 65% of over-65s made online purchases. This is due to the availability of technology and mobility issues. However, customers can still enjoy a blended retail experience.
This balance can be achieved by opening a pop-up container shop. This will allow your products and services to be displayed for a limited time.
Hybrid selling: How to offer a blended retail experience for your customers
