E-commerce has a lot of advantages, but what about brick-and-mortar stores?
The advantages of e-commerce stores over brick-and-mortar ones are wildly proclaimed throughout the Internet land. However, what about the benefits of brick-and-mortar over e-commerce? There are plenty.
Ability to Test Out Products
One of the most convenient factors of a brick-and-mortar store is that a customer can interact with the product in a far more tangible way than he or she could through a digital screen. Whether it is clothing, computers, or any other product, a consumer can make a better buy when testing or trying on a physical good.
Build Trust in the Brand
Physical stores also have the advantage of building trust in their brand faster. The customer sees how employees interact with them, tests out the products, and sees that it is safe to shop with them. He will likely come back if it was a satisfactory experience. Supposedly, people also feel more comfortable paying with a credit card at a physical store than at an online one.
Face-to-Face Interaction
Similarly, brick-and-mortar stores have the powerful benefit of face-to-face interaction with customers. A business can make a stronger bond with its audience when it is built on human relationships. If a customer is unhappy with a product, he and the owner or employee can talk it out in person. It is much easier to work out a problem in person than online.
Limited Forum
Meanwhile, brick-and-mortar also has the benefit of a local customer base. This limited audience makes it easier to market one’s services or products. It also means that a business’s competition is limited only to the surrounding companies working in the same field. E-commerce opens itself to a much larger audience, for sure, but it also has the challenge of narrowing down.
Instant Gratification
At brick-and-mortar stores, one will likely never have to worry about shipping. Shipping takes time, and when a product takes a week or more to get to the customer, frustration can ensue. At a store, the customer has the item instantly. Plus, is no shipping cost on top of the original price. While e-commerce can include shipping in the total cost or offer free shipping, the time it takes for the package to arrive can be stressful. With brick-and-mortar, there’s never a wait.
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