At the beginning of the pandemic, many people thought the end of shopping for products in a physical store was here. A large percentage of small shops were closing down, and many people began shopping online in an attempt to keep their families safe.
However, stores with a hybrid model in which they sold items in-person and online did quite well. Plus, now that the pandemic has died down, there has been a massive influx of people rushing back to brick-and-mortar locations. So, does that mean it’s a good idea to open a new physical store in 2022 and beyond? Well, that depends.
Why People Are Going Back
On some level, people returning to in-person shopping is a way to return to normalcy. It gets them out of the house and gives them a sense of freedom that they might have been lacking in recent years.
Obviously, that feeling won’t last forever, but there are other reasons why people still want to shop at brick-and-mortar locations. Many products, such as clothes and furniture, are difficult to buy online. You can’t try them out until you’ve purchased them. Sure, some companies let you return items you don’t like, but that’s a hassle and can sometimes cost extra. Buying these items in-store is much easier.
Plus, shipping is a hassle. Not only does it cost extra, but you have to wait for the product to arrive through the mail, which might be a problem, depending on the shopper’s urgency to get it. It’s much easier to drive to your local store and pick it up right away.
How You Can Benefit From This
All of this means that it’s definitely worth opening up your own brick-and-mortar store this year if that’s been a dream of yours. You just have to make the most of it. Start by offering your products in-store and online. People like to have options. They might even order online and pick it up at your shop, giving them (and you) the best of both worlds.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the benefits of a physical location. Be personable with your customers—don’t be afraid to upsell them, and do what you can to build that loyalty while they’re in front of you. Also, make sure you take the opportunity to advertise to them. Deciding between indoor and outdoor banners can be a challenge, but no matter which you choose, there’s no real-life ad block that people can use to avoid them.
What To Do To Plan for the Future
No matter what choices you make for your physical location, you need to ensure that you plan for the future. In-person shopping may be popular again, but anything can happen that could change that.
You need to be mindful of trends and make sure that you can fall back on your online sales if people decide that brick-and-mortar locations aren’t worth their time again. Owning your own business can sometimes be a struggle, but if you play it safe, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about.
