After hearing about how many brick and mortar stores have surpassed their target revenues just by expanding online, we honestly don’t know how any business owner can still fear taking this step.
As the benefits should outweigh the fear, let’s delve further into why bringing your store online can help you grow your business (even beyond revenue talks).
From selling on social media to building your ecommerce shop, you have many options to get the ball rolling.
5 reasons to bring your brick and mortar store online
1. Expanded market reach radius and less dependency on foot traffic
With a physical store, your customers would only be limited to those within the vicinity. Think of it as a circle with your business in the middle, those who reside or have business within the radius will be your regulars.
Sure, there will be new customers now and then but it will only become consistent if you increase your radius further. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go online.
You can reach more of your target market without spending so much on putting up another physical store.
2. Increased brand awareness and more marketing opportunities
More visibility = more customers. Make people aware of your existence through social media where as a brand, you connect with customers and build a network.
You can also create content that will tap not only a singular demographic but strategically service more people from different walks of life. Aiming to be a top of the mind brand will pay off in the long run.
3. 24/7 availability and convenience
You can’t have your shop up and running 24/7 because this will cost you so much overhead. But this is possible with an ecommerce shop where customers can shop whenever they like, wherever they are.
So many processes are already automated for ecommerce so you can easily streamline your operations and fulfillment.
#NinjaTip: Your online business needs the right courier partner sa simula pa lang. Partner with Ninja Van for end-to-end and customized solutions from express delivery to fulfillment, supply chain, and logistics management. Ship with Ninja Van today!
4. Better customer journey + engagement
Having an ecommerce website that provides a seamless customer journey creates better engagement, so you don’t have to worry about not connecting with them.
If they have questions, you can have a chatbot ready to assist them and ensure that all inquiries are handled. Also build an easy self-checkout process, with automatic payment options and delivery service to increase chances for conversion.
Also read: How to Reduce Cart Abandonment and Increase Your Sales
5. Flexibility and easy scalability
Setting up a digital store, in most ways, is like putting up a brand new store but less investment. You get to enjoy a lot of perks such as an increased market reach, a new set of target audiences and more revenue stream while reducing your overhead. You can even keep a lean but efficient team.
By going beyond your physical store, you’re opening yourself up to many opportunities to scale up.
How to transition from brick and mortar to online
1. Choose the platform
One of the important decisions you need to make is deciding on which platform you’d like to start. It’s smart to focus on one or two platforms and strengthen your presence there.
You can have a full-blown website or join marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee. If you want to start even smaller, selling on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok shops is also good as many Filipinos love to shop on social media.
Ninja Van published a white paper on Social Commerce in the Philippines that can give you a lot of insights and tips.
2. Create an online inventory
Set up your products online with an amazing photo catalog that highlights each product’s best qualities. Create a summary of your products complete with descriptions and variations to make uploading easier.
3. Manage product content
This is literally the counterpart of putting items on display online. Use the inventory sheet you initially prepared and accomplish forms when uploading products. These forms are usually set up and you can just allocate quantity, indicate details and upload photos for each of your product offerings.
4. Have a marketing strategy
Once your shop is ready, you can now proceed with maximizing digital traffic. You can start with social media marketing, offering special platform vouchers, free deliveries and more.
The general idea is to be more visible and attract more customers to purchase.
5. Find a fulfillment and shipping partner
It’s a smart move to outsource your inventory management, fulfillment and shipping, as you may become overwhelmed when orders surge. Handling this in-house entails costs and prone to errors, and would take so much of your time. Instead, we recommend:
- If you’re keeping a huge inventory, Ninja Van Fulfillment will streamline your processes for efficient inventory management and faster deliveries. We’ll take care of your logistics so you can focus more on growing your business.
- If you’re doing social commerce and marketplaces, becoming a Ninja Van VIP Shipper gives you perks and exclusive offers that will help cut your costs like: special shipping rates, monthly rewards and rebates, fast COD remittances and no RTS fees.
Ready to take the next step?
Uncertainties are scary, but that doesn’t mean we should stick with what worked for us and disregard the opportunities that come our way.
The most successful brands proved how far adaptability can take you. Bringing your brick and mortar store online is a great way to expand and bring your business to a whole new level.
Just remember to do it right, automate your processes and partner with Ninja Van for all your logistics needs.
Discover how Ninja Van can optimize your ecommerce for growth!
More helpful ecommerce tips for you:
6 Signs You Need to Outsource Your Order Fulfillment
Discovery Commerce: Let Your Customers Find You
Who are the Pinoy E-Shopaholics and How to Win Them Over
