The impact of COVID-19 is widespread. Irrespective of whether you operate a barbershop, spa, salon or wellness business, you’re definitely experiencing a slowdown in your sales and business growth.
Considering how service-based businesses are seeing the preferences of their clients change, the whole conversation comes down to one question…
Is there a way you can still generate revenue for your brick and mortar business?
One way to do this by selling your inventory online! Yes, the stuff that on a regular day sits in your retail display can fetch you money while your business is under lockdown.
That’s where an online store comes into play!
In this article, we’re sharing why setting up an online store is a great business opportunity and how to set up and sell products online without any stress.
People are turning to eCommerce in the light of COVID-19 anxiety—there’s no debating it. No one wants to take the risk of stepping out even for basic necessities if given an option.
According to data from Adobe, most businesses are seeing a surge in their traffic and purchases being made online. Another report by WWD states that beauty product sales has started to trend upwards of 47%.
There’s too much happening around us. The chances of your business getting lost in the chaos are now more than ever!
With the footfall into brick and mortar stores decreasing, businesses are trying to make the most out of their digital presence. The competition gets worse with more and more brands taking their products and services online.
You can no longer have a face-to-face conversation with your clients. An online store is like a digital representation of your retail display that clients see at your salon, barbershop, or wellness business, which improves your brand’s recall. So when you step out of the lockdown, your clients will be more likely to remember you.
You were able to recommend products or services to those who stepped into your brick and mortar store. But you can no longer do that. Nor can you offer them on-the-spot discounts to make their experience with your business remarkable!
With an online store, you can do all of it without physically being present next to your clients.
You can educate them about your products and services, make recommendations based on their preferences and previous purchases, offer on-the-spot discounts, and more.
Simply put, an online store simplifies staying in touch with your customers and clients. But more importantly, it still gives you an opportunity to showcase your products and services without being too pushy.
And the good thing is, that setting up an online store isn’t so difficult with platforms like Shopify.
With platforms available for businesses to set up their virtual storefront, it’s easier to sell online these days. Shopify is an eCommerce platform that is built with all the features, themes, and plug-ins you need to set up and grow your online store.
Here are the 6 steps you need to take to set up your business online and start selling during this time:
With these 6 steps, you’ll be well-prepared to get your business up online and start selling. To power your store, you can also set up Shopify apps that will help you solve specific requirements you have like collecting reviews, sending emails, building loyalty programs, etc.
For a more detailed guide on how to set up a Shopify store, read here.
Surviving in the times of COVID-19 is going to take more than just setting a shop online. You need to let your customers and clients know about your move and how you’re adapting what you offer to the current times.
Here are a few strategies you need to put in place once your online store is up and running:
Your customers and clients are used to seeing you offline and booking your services through your website. Once your store is set up, you need to let them know about it.
The first thing you need to do is update all your social media profiles. Add a link to your store and make sure that you share a few posts to announce the launch of your new site. Use these posts to tell your customers and clients how they can continue interacting with your brand even now.
The next on your list should be notifying your existing customers about your online store. You already have this data at hand from your in-store interactions!
Another effective way to promote your online store is to set up ads on social media targeting people who are already following you. Since this is an audience that knows about your brand and what you offer, the cost of driving them to your online store and nudging to make a purchase or book an appointment is way lesser.
To get more out of the ad spend you’re comfortable with, make sure you highlight any offers/ deals you want to run during this period.
Just like you, your clients are also wanting to save on the resources available to them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_LoDqoHvdN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
If you’ve never run ads before to promote your products or services, or need help setting them up so that you don’t overspend on campaigns, you can reach out to RevTap. The Shopify marketing experts are offering FREE ad consultation along with their app.
As more stores are going online, you need to be able to make customers choose your business over others. What’s more, you need to be able to get your customers to come back for a repeat purchase. One way to effectively keep your customers engaged with your store is with a loyalty program.
In fact, 36% of customers that are loyal to a brand spend more on that brand and 59% refer the brand to their friends and family.
With a loyalty program, shoppers who land on your store will be enticed to shop from you, seeing that you are providing rewards that can be redeemed on another order. They will then come back for a second purchase, using the rewards they received in their first order. They will continue to choose your store because of the benefits you provide them.
Shopify apps like Flits set up a delightful loyalty experience for your shoppers. With Flits, you can set up a customer account page where shoppers can track their rewards. You can customize the reward tiers and send automated messages to your shoppers to bring them back to earn more rewards and use their rewards.
Get started with a 60 day free trial with Flits right now and set up a loyalty program that turns your shoppers into repeat customers.
The COVID-19 crisis has been an eye-opener for everyone.
It will and is changing the online habits of clients.
The only way to sustain through these trying times is to invest in taking your business online and offering a consistent online experience to clients—whether it is the ability to book a service or purchase a product online.
The right nudge at the right time can help you get them to purchase your products in the coming time.
But the trick here is to not stop at simply taking your brand online. Stay up-to-date with how the needs of your clients are changing and tailor your offerings accordingly. Using data that is explicitly available to you, make sure you have their interest hooked at all times.
Because it’s not just you who’s going to take their business online!
Not sure if setting up an online store is good for your business or need help taking your small business online? Reach out to us and we’ll introduce you to experts who can guide you through this transition.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Vanhishikha Bhargava— Founder of Contensify, a Shopify growth agency that works with app partners to enable retailers and online merchants to grow their business. Connect with her on LinkedIn