Photo from Adobe Stock

Originally Posted On: Shopping Online vs in-Store Shopping: Which One Wins? | Balcon217

 

It’s important that your business knows which one is better between shopping online vs in-store shopping. Keep reading to find out.

Are you a small business owner looking to grow your business? It can be difficult to know the best way to sell your products with so many options available to you.

Online shopping is a huge industry, but competition is fierce thanks to globalization. On the other hand, in-store shopping is a far more enjoyable experience for the customer but is perhaps less lucrative.

But which is better? We’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of each to help you decide! We’ll look at it from a consumer perspective for the most part, because you want to know how your customers think!

Online Shopping

You’re a rare breed if you don’t do any of your shopping online. But let’s just imagine for a moment you’re someone who has never shopped online. What are some of the benefits and drawbacks?

Convenience

The biggest and most obvious advantage of online shopping is the fact that you can do it from absolutely anywhere if you have access to the internet. Whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in the bath—you can go shopping!

What’s more, a well-crafted website can make buying your item as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Round-the-Clock Access

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night because you’ve forgotten to buy something—you can pick up your phone, buy it and go right back to sleep. No more queuing outside shops waiting for them to open.

Greater Reach

In terms of growth potential, online shopping, or e-commerce as it’s more officially known, is really the number one way to scale your business.

Drawbacks

E-commerce isn’t all perfect. Here are a few drawbacks to consider;

• From a business perspective, returns culture is a challenge
• From a consumer perspective, you have to trust rather than try a product
• It’s incredibly competitive whether your store is standalone or featured on the likes of Amazon or eBay

In-Store Shopping

For those of us who do most of our shopping online, in-store shopping can feel like somewhat of a novelty. But there’s a lot to like about it. Let’s take a look at what’s good and not-so-good about in-store shopping.

Instant Gratification

When you walk into a store, you see an item you like, pay for it and it’s yours in an instant. No checking emails to see if it’s dispatched, no waiting around at home for the mailman to deliver it. For things you want straight away, you can’t beat going into a store for it.

Try It On, Try It Out

Whether you’re buying a power drill or a floor-length gown, you know exactly what you’re buying when you go into a store for it. There’s no guesswork involved and less likelihood of returning it.

It’s an Experience

You can’t really go on an online shopping trip with your friends to “hit up the internet sales”, at least not to the same degree you can do it in person. This is an advantage that in-store shopping will always have.

Drawbacks

There are, of course, some negatives to in-store shopping;

• Less variety
• It’s more difficult to compare prices
• It’s not particularly convenient

So Which of These Shopping Options Is Better?

The reality is that it really depends on what you want the expression of your business to be and what your vision is for it. There are many factors to consider like who your ideal customers are and how your product or service fits into their lifestyle.

But one thing we will say is that if you don’t even have a website, you’re harming the growth potential of your business, no matter how good your in-store shopping experience is. This is where most customers will find you and get to know you. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.