How do I stop my small business from losing sales to internet?
My company (we sale unique furniture) is losing sales to online dealers. They come in find what they want and order it online. Is there any way to prevent this?
No, the only thing you can do is start your own on-line store to complement your retail outlet.
You can also emphasis exceptional service that you provide at the retail store which can’t be duplicated online, get your suppliers to provide you with exclusive merchandise not available on-line, but if you can’t beat them, join them and sell on-line too.
3 Comments »
TresBelleMichelle said :
September 17, 2009 at 11:27 am
Brilliant question. Unfortunately, I haven’t the best answer. This is a huge problem in my industry as well (I own a large bridal salon). The customers think nothing of wasting our time, playing in our merchandise, and then they run off to the internet to save a dime. It’s very low class and very aggravating.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do to convince people that this kind of behavior is trashy and will likely net them a counterfeit item (if any item at all!). I’ve lost count of the number of customers I’ve had in my store in tears because the dress they tried on in a store but purchased online never came in, or was a fake.
The best thing you can do is buy into lines that are not sold on the internet. Ones that truely protect your territory. In my industry we’ve noticed that the more the manufacturers are confronted with a lower order volume, the more proactive they are at getting rid of the internet scum. When we refuse to buy from them because they sell to online dealers, it doesn’t take much for them to figure out that they are losing sales. Customers simply will NOT buy a dress (or a piece of furniture) that they cannot see in person first. Once the stores refuse to buy samples, the customers don’t have anywhere to play in the merchandise- that equals less sales for the internet pondscum.
Just a note on "joining the internet sellers"- MANY manufacturers make stores sign a contract that they will not sell online. If the manufacturer finds out, they will close your account. Most of the online sellers are "trans-shippers", meaning that they have a friend in the business that is ordering the merchandise for them. The manufacturer can’t identify who this person is, so they have trouble closing the offenders account. When they do finally figure out who is supplying the internet seller, EVERY customer who has purchased from either of them will not receive their merchandise. I definitely wouldn’t chance it. Besides, why spin your wheels for a few bucks profit? That same customer will still use and abuse you in your retail store. I, for one, do not want them mucking up the merchandise in my store, only to order online even if it was from a website that *I* owned. You have then just sold yourself short- you still had to service this person, you just shot yourself in the foot by accepting less than your time and effort is worth. Not a chance!
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Huh? said :
September 17, 2009 at 11:40 am
No, the only thing you can do is start your own on-line store to complement your retail outlet.
You can also emphasis exceptional service that you provide at the retail store which can’t be duplicated online, get your suppliers to provide you with exclusive merchandise not available on-line, but if you can’t beat them, join them and sell on-line too.
References :
Dr Good Tunes said :
September 17, 2009 at 12:14 pm
In order to survive in today’s business world you have to adapt to the changing marketplace.
The internet is the new marketplace and those who are unable to adjust to it are going to be out in the cold.
Bring me a better mousetrap and I will beat a path to your door.
You must market your product on the internet and offer superior service to me. I want it faster and cheaper and of a higher quality than Joe Schmuck’s Furniture Sales and Pet Grooming Emporium is offering it to me for on his website.
Learn to compete on the internet as well as in your town. This is now a global marketplace. Make it easy for me to do business with you and make it pleasant. I don’t want to call your place and have a machine answer my call. I don’t want to be put on hold. How I am treated by Customer Service and how they handle my call is now a major factor in my deciding to do business with a company.
You can do it. You didn’t get where you are now by being stupid. It takes money to make money. Start spending some now to insure your future in the marketplace tomorrow. There is help out there. Seek and ye shall find.
Best Wishes
.
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