Retailers today have a new paradigm. The power of ecommerce to their business. But if you peel back the proverbial onion, digital engagement with consumers has never changed – it is just now imperative!

If you look at any current stat such as DC360 – Home goods retailers expected to grow ecommerce 16.7% in 2022, DC360 projects

James Risley | Nov 15, 2021

But hidden in all the ecommerce excitement and noise is the pure fact – Nothing is more important than proximity to the customer – stores matter! Stores turn out to be valuable ecommerce assets. Proximity!

In fact, if you take Amazon out of the list, retail chains grew the fastest among the four types of merchants in the Top 1000 retailers, the need to move offline grows. While digitally native brands, by definition, launched online, many are seeing value in brick and mortar.

Smaller online retailers are more than holding their own!

There is still room for small and mid-tier retailers to command a niche and grow online. If you’re a retailer, you need more online success. Whether that be lead generation for store follow-up or eCommerce sales.

In this first of 3 blogs – I am covering 3 tips to help you boost your online success. No matter what – it is about engagement. To be engaging. Getting the customer to do something desirable. To do this, retailers must think like a consumer.

It is about making the consumer engaging and fruitful.

So let’s talk “Discoverable”!

What Consumers Are Really Looking For?

• Does your site make it easy?
• Does it feel intimidating? Clunky? Intuitive?
• Familiar (think how consumers find things elsewhere. Amazon, Wayfair, Target)

What Consumers Are Really Looking For?

• Think about a (your) Retail Store.
• You do ALL YOU CAN to make it easy.
• Showroom. Merchandising. Aisles. Lighting. Groupings. Marketing Messaging. Tags. More.

Discoverable Tip 1!

Tip 1 – Personalized Recommendations

87.6% of shoppers say they are faced with an overwhelming amount of product choices. * Number one reason they leave a site without purchasing is because they are unable to find the product(s) they are interested in.

*Coveo Qubit survey

Retailers must help consumers find the products that are relevant to them once they’ve landed there (QUICKLY). Retailers must help find products that are relevant to them once they’ve landed there.

• Shoppers expect product recommendations.
• Consumers are looking for “safe” choices.

Retailers must help find products that are relevant to them once they’ve landed there.

• Best Sellers
• Clearance
• Proper Categories
• Clean Design (UX)

Think about how you look for items on websites – does your site do that? Retailers must help find products that are relevant to them once they’ve landed there.

• Shop by Price
• Shop by Room
• Shop by Style

Retailers must help find products that are relevant to them once they’ve landed there. Target is one of many retailers that do a decent job getting customer’s there quick; whatever they are looking for. They (Target) hits all the points above. They make it feel tailored and personal!

 

Make sure you catch Tip 2 coming soon!

Retail on!