eCommerce vs. Brick & Mortar

E-Commerce

• A good testing ground to learn about consumer loyalty and perceptions
• Back-end data allows you to see who your target market is
• Shipping prices are automated
• Ability to test pop-up shops to determine need for retail location

Brick & Mortar

• Customers can touch and feel products before purchasing
• Sales team can speak directly to the customer and figure out what products best meet their needs
• Ability to gain new customers walking in off the street

• Shipping prices might be inaccurate depending on the customers location
• If shipping is too high, customers will shop elsewhere
• Payment processing may be improperly setup
• Prices may not account for different countries’ regulations

• Product inventory might be out of stock
• Long lines and crowded shopping might occur for your customers
• You cannot reach global consumers unless they happen to be traveling
• It is harder to track data about where your customers from or how they found out about you

• Your ecommerce platform should adjust for various shipping rates since they are based on the delivery location
• If your ecommerce business is run from your home, shipping can become difficult as orders increase
• Return policies are simpler for the customer

• More and more retailers are offering online orders with in-store pickup
• If the product is only available at certain locations, then expanding globally will take more time
• Return processes might not be clearly stated in-store