retail TECHNOLOGY
Covid-19 and eCommerce – Keeping Retail Going Image source pexels.com
Here at Intelligent Retail we are lucky to work with hundreds of dedicated, hard-working independent retailers who utilise our Multichannel EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) and eCommerce systems to trade across many different channels, both online and offline.
David Fairhurst
Head of Creative Online Marketing - Intelligent Retail
David Fairhurst Head of eCommerce, Intelligent Retail, www.intelligentretail.co.uk
David has been involved with Search Engine Optimisation and web development since 1999 and has spoken at many different retail and SEO conferences including Spring Fair and SES London
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rior to the Covid-19 outbreak, it was quite clear that eCommerce sales via multiple online selling channels had been increasing for many of our retailers as more and more people wake up to the convenience, speed and increased choice afforded by shopping online. eCommerce is now more important than ever in these troubling times if retailers are to survive. Following the announcement by the Prime Minister, specific advice on eCommerce has been posted by the Government which can be read here https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/furtherbusinesses-and-premises-to-close/ further-businesses-and-premises-toclose-guidance
From the text, the Government states:
“Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.” It’s easy to see why our Government have taken this stance. If all retail were to cease for a protracted period
then the country as a whole would be affected by an almost total loss of income, there would be no money to fund essential services like the NHS and people would be forced to ignore the social distancing mandates being issued. eCommerce has social distancing ‘built in’, so it’s the perfect way to ensure the population adheres to the current ‘work from home’ rules whilst still receiving the goods they need. I have contacted the BBC to hopefully highlight this strategy, the word needs to spread that eCommerce in the UK is still thriving and is a vital part of retail strategy at this difficult period in our nation’s history.
Covering the drop-off in ‘Bricks and Mortar’
There can be no doubt that independent retailers are facing difficulties presently, especially those in the ‘non-essential’ category. With the ordered closure of ‘bricks and mortar’ stores, retailers must rely on eCommerce to keep sales and
revenue going. This is almost business as usual for those retailers who have embraced eCommerce and online trading, but what about those who have traditionally focussed on high street footfall for lion’s share of business revenue? It’s here where immediate online marketing methods come in. The Government has stated that eCommerce is encouraged, so if your business has stock, you are able to access that stock and you are able to continually support both a supply and delivery chain then now is the time to ramp up your eCommerce efforts to fill the hole left by enforced ‘self isolation’ and drops in footfall.
eCommerce – A Separate Business Strategy For some retailers, eCommerce is traditionally seen as perhaps a bit of ‘salt and pepper’ to the real meat of retail, physical store footfall. In reality, eCommerce requires its own business strategy, budget and thought processes to be successful. Part of these is utilising a solid long-term marketing strategy (Search