How To Attract Bargain Shoppers To Your Website (Jane Dawson)
Jul 14, 2009
Internet market research firm Comscore says that seventy-five percent of shoppers are looking offline for a purchase before making an online purchase.
There is a growing trend of offline shoppers going to bricks and mortar stores to get the look and feel of clothes and other items, then searching for a better price online. Michelle Madhok, online shopping expert and the founder of SheFinds, a Manhattan-focused online shopping service for women, says that she sees women in high end boutiques walking around with Blackberries checking prices online and frequently not buying in the store.
Retailers of high end luxury items note that they believe their customers do not want to be seen in stores spending lots of money and acting extravagant when so many people, including some of their friends, are struggling right now.
Madhok also points out that shoppers are smart and they realise that there are a lot more options online as well as great opportunities to look for sales and bargains. Besides, it makes sense to save the time by shopping online.
Even though online shoppers cannot try on clothes, that still is not a big deterrent. They can either go to a bricks and mortar store to fit the clothes or simply make the purchase and return unwanted items either by mail to the online retailer or by going to the bricks and mortar version of the online retailer.
Madhok suggests to her customers that they sign up for their favorite sites newsletters and email sendouts so they can keep up with sales and other special arrangements.
The messages for retailers are clear; people want to buy online but they intend to be informed, bargain shoppers. This means that price competition is going to continue to be fierce. However, there are still some ways you can attract and retain customers even if you can not offer the lowest possible price on an item.
If you have a robust mailing list and people see your sale, they may follow the link and buy without looking for comparisons.
People need to have a good shopping experience. Make yours terrific and you may retain people who not only want a bargain, but also a hassle-free transaction.
Create a newsletter and an email marketing strategy right now! These two techniques are absolutely essential to capturing today's shopper.
Figure out how to lower your prices. Can you find a new supplier for your product? Can you operate your business more efficiently? Do you need as much of a margin to do well? You may need to do a cost/benefit analysis and see if lowering your prices will inspire enough of a volume increase to more than make up for the loss in margin.
This is likely to be the time to take a risk and try some of these methods. Do it now before the holiday season. You need to have thought through and cemented your strategies so test the market this summer and figure out how you can compete.
About the AuthorSource verified wholesalers, dropshippers, drop shipping & dropship suppliers. Browse wholesale uk dropshippers by country: Wholesale Italy, Wholesale USA & American Wholesalers, German wholesalers..