Success Advice
Why You Shouldn’t Discount A Brick And Mortar Store In 2025
We’re constantly told about how stores are closing down and how shoppers prefer online options, but is it worth questioning this theory?
In 2024, you’d be forgiven for thinking that physical shopping is a thing of the past. We’re constantly told about how stores are closing down and how shoppers prefer online options. But is it worth questioning this theory?
Absolutely. Some businesses have seen phenomenal results from committing to physical locations, so let’s take a look at why you shouldn’t discount brick-and-mortar stores despite living in an increasingly digital world.
More Sustainable
Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with how their shopping habits impact the environment. As a result, we’re starting to see older trends reemerge in recent times. For example, buying items from a charity shop or thrift store is common with younger age groups as they look to make more sustainable choices.
This commitment to being more sustainable may have drastic implications for e-commerce as the delivery of their goods often involves pollution to the planet as well as extra packaging.
With that said, consumers may favour walking to their local store to make a purchase in future which could leave brands without a physical presence at a major disadvantage.
Customer service as a USP
While having an online order delivered to your front door can be super convenient, it eliminates the need for a physical interaction between the seller and the receiver. In years gone by, this has been an area where brands have competed.
In some industries, it still is a factor. Consider your favourite restaurant, you likely rate the service as well as the food.
With more and more businesses operating solely online, having a physical brick-and-mortar store that offers excellent physical service to everyone who walks through the door could be a unique selling point for the company.
While online companies can compete on pricing and product, having a physical relationship with customers is something they can’t offer which paves the way for your company to win the business of those customers who value physical service.
This is something you should certainly consider if you’re selling to older customers who are less likely to be online.
Integrate your business with the local community
Becoming ingrained in your local community is a great way to drive loyal, returning customers. This is a great strategy for smaller brands in particular. Think of businesses like newsagents, off-licences, and convenience stores that aren’t going to attract customers from outside of their area.
It can be harder for online businesses to carve out this connection with locals as there’s no physical interaction. Having a physical brick-and-mortar store can build trust with local people and even become part of their daily routine as they travel to or from work.
In addition, go further than just delivering great customer service in your store. Consider how you can sponsor local athletes, work with local schools and participate in local markets to increase your presence in the area.
More than a shopping experience
Pop-up events have become increasingly common in recent years and perfectly demonstrate how a physical event can be more powerful than an online one.
They’re particularly common with fashion brands that operate predominantly online as a way to remove the digital barrier between the brand and the consumer.
The beauty of pop-up events is that they allow brands to move out of their niche. A great example is how Manchester-based streetwear brand, Represent has interacted with their customers by organising run clubs in various locations.
It’s probable that the brand worked with a digital marketing agency in Manchester to promote the event, and if you have the budget, this is definitely something you should consider if you’re looking to promote a one-off, offline event.
It’s also becoming increasingly common for e-commerce brands to open flagship stores and use these locations for far more than transactions. Gymshark’s Regent Street store is also a place for visitors to work out, receive nutrition advice and much more.
Final Thoughts
As with most business decisions, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Every business will need to consider whether their company is best suited to online, offline or a combination of both.
Even for businesses that operate solely online, consider how you can have a temporary offline presence in the form of pop-up shops or events.
Often, these types of physical stores perform best as they are only available for a limited time, helping to drive FOMO amongst your community.
For those businesses that are already operating offline, consider how you can go beyond offering a traditional shopping experience that customers can now get online without leaving the comfort of their own homes.
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How to Alter Your Business Approach With Technological Advancements
Keeping up with technological trends has become a challenge for almost every business owner.
Technology’s evolution has impacted everything, and business is no exception. Keeping up with technological trends has become a challenge for almost every business owner. Entrepreneurs unable to do so are being wiped out of the market.
There is no doubt that AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) have taken over the business world. These technological advancements are impacting decision-making, success percentages, and other entrepreneurial aspects.
Adapting to these developments is integral to business success. Let’s explore how you can accomplish these milestones.
Embed the strength of AI and ML.
AI has modified business operations in major ways. For instance, companies have employed bots for customer support. These bots go through an effective learning process via Machine Learning before being able to answer like humans.
According to CyberGhost (CG) bots can also perform detailed data analytics and make business moves with high success percentages.
ML is used more for the analysis of data chunks and generating successful predictions. This simply means that business owners do not have to worry about large-scale financial losses.
In terms of deployment and usage, a reputed company like Netflix employs machine learning for decision-making.
Blockchain is increasing the count of business opportunities
Tampering of financial transactions is quite common and causes severe monetary damage to customers. With the rise of digital payments, this risk has increased.
Blockchain is used to elevate your experience for monetary transfers. It combats penetrating events to extract confidential customer information.
Most business sectors are using block chain but finance and supply chain management sections have a higher count. These two corporate sections have several monetary deposits and withdrawals taking place.
In terms of percentage, approximately 72% and 5% of finance and supply chain firms have implemented block chain successfully.
Dedicate Yourself to Continuous Learning and Individual Development
You invest in learning some of the very important skills, including digital marketing, financial management, and how to gain customers as an entrepreneur.
You need to set up your knowledge base about doing business on Coursera and Udemy with the basics that are necessary for the business, building further by networking with experts through webinars.
Besides, Agile methodology will introduce elasticity to your company: this review and feedback system with further correction regularly will allow for enhancing efficiency and promptly reacting to the market.
Developing key skills to achieve goals
Running a business successfully is not only about having niche/domain knowledge. Business owners need to have communication / soft skills as well in addition to niche information.
Here are some key technical/domain-related areas that business owners should have a strong grip on.
Data Storage on Cloud: These days, companies do not store their data on physical servers. Therefore business owners should know how data is stored/edited/removed/updated via AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other platforms.
Data Analysis/Interpretation Qualities: These days, data is as precious as gold. Business owners with data analysis abilities make correct predictions. As a result, their ventures grow in volume.
Development/Coding Knowledge
Programming knowledge gives business owners an edge whether the application is developed in-house or outsourced. It assists in getting updates deployed and handling application underperformance without getting professional support every time.
Hacking proof framework
There is no benefit of having an advanced automated system if can be penetrated. Successful business owners have above-average knowledge of cyber security and hacking attempts. They are able to choose top-notch anti-hacking software without much of an ambiguity.
Communication Abilities/Soft Skills
Here are some key communication qualities that business owners should have:
Communication/Conversation: Business owners should use to-the-point sentences in both written and oral communication.
Issue Resolution Abilities: Business owners should be able to drill down to problems and solve them. This is done successfully only if an entrepreneur has in-depth business domain knowledge.
Agile Implementations
It is mandatory for business owners to have knowledge of iterative/agile models. With such a competitive environment, it is impossible for business owners to succeed without adopting an agile framework.
Create a productive well-crafted Business Strategy
A productive business venture starts with a clear vision. The first factor making a business successful is the idea behind it. It helps with endless growth and combating competition successfully. Katherine Philips once mentioned that business goals are inevitable if goals are set concretely.
- Goals should be based on smart achievements instead of complexity. Focus on the value that each one of them adds.
- Business objectives should not be vague. Key indicators should be constructed to measure the success/failure of each milestone.
- Be realistic when setting goals. Do not aim at impossible milestones since they can be demotivating.
- Milestones/goals need to be time-bound. Set a completion deadline for each one of them.
- Business goals should not be alien. Owners can think out of the box but not be obsolete / unrelated.
Create a productive well-crafted Business Strategy
Business owners cannot succeed without having a network. Some tips help in this case. Attend conferences and professional gatherings to connect with other entrepreneurs.
Here are some other related points business owners should pay attention to.
- Attend meetings and conferences to stay updated with trends and meet business owners who already have well-set ventures. This helps in enhancing the learning curve of new / growing entrepreneurs.
- Being a part of business communities/groups is very productive. When one shares opinions and discusses decision-making tactics, it helps in preventing errors and enhancing success rate.
- Even the most experienced business owners have mentors as learning never stops. Take part in mentorship programs so there is an assurance that you are following the correct roadmap.
Conclusion
There is absolutely no doubt that business dimensions have evolved with technological advancements. Successful entrepreneurs have grabbed these changes in due course of time and continue to evolve. On the other hand, people following old paths and conventional steps fade out of competition. In a nutshell, keep an eye on the processes and practices you follow as these factors decide success rate.
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