Ever since the popularity of online shopping intensified in the 1990s, there has been an unheralded matchup: who is better in the battle between an online shopping store and a physical store? Both online stores and retail stores showing strong pros and cons, it’s hard to decide which one is the winner. In fact, marketing experts have done in-depth research. They have come up with some revealing statistics showing the advantages and disadvantages of both, but it is quite difficult to pinpoint which is the best. It started with the simple buying and selling of various products; Now, decades later, it’s all about building relationships and making them as strong as possible. Online gift shopping is gradually becoming a fad among many customers.
For starters, selling products online is completely different from selling in a physical store. Retailers admit to feeling the difference in customer behavior and behavior, as well as experiencing disruptions in markets and visible changes in stores.
They further explain how retail stores differ from online stores. Merchants believe that store location, appearance, and customer services play an important role in making or breaking reputation.
For retail stores, it’s all about locations, locations, and location. If a retail store clerk wants to attract more and more customers, he must take advantage of the physical location of the store. They are easy to locate and easily accessible to many customers at the time of urgent needs. However, in some cases, the lack of competition in the same place often leads to a monopoly of the market. As a result, customers may see an increase in the prices of everyday products. Depending on the location and the purchasing power of the customers who reside there, the prices and quality of the products may vary.
Unlike retail stores, online stores are literally one in a million in that they don’t have a strong presence. One can shop at them anytime and from anywhere, but not when the store is facing technical difficulties. Despite big challenges like a lack of dedicated customers and influential competitors, online stores are thriving. The fact that your presence makes a desirable difference to a customer’s shopping experience is a huge benefit in itself.
The physical structure of a physical store requires a lot of money, before and after construction. Merchants have to file taxes and pay rent to establish a retail store in an appropriate location. Again, it leads to high product prices, which may or may not always be customer friendly at times. Online stores have no hidden costs or extras to keep customers under false impressions. Some online stores may charge shipping and handling costs, however, some have free shipping.
Having a physical space adds to the advantages of retail stores as it helps to display the products in an attractive way so that customers are drawn in just by looking at them. However, what attracts a customer to an online store are reasonable prices and attractive sales, available throughout the year. Also, if the site seems too flashy and complicated, the customer may lose interest in it and go to a competitor’s site to find your product. Also, if every crucial detail is visible on the site, it increases its credibility.
Employees hired for customer service in a retail store have to serve more than one customer at the same time. Giving a customer your undivided attention can take an obscene amount of precious time, without expressing your impatience or disgust to the customer is a challenging task. Unlike retail stores, online stores have many customer service experts serving one customer at a time. These experts go out of their way to help a client find what she is looking for and stick with it to the end.
Last but not least, there may or may not be a convenient exchange or return policy in brick-and-mortar retail. However, whenever you shop for gifts online, rest assured that you have the opportunity to exchange or return a product within a limited period. The debate will continue to baffle customers as long as these two purchasing methods exist. However, be wise to use each of its benefits to your advantage and continue shopping happily.
