The outbreak of the new Corona virus has imposed new marketing paradigms that most consumers have turned to, and retailers need to adapt to these developments if they want to sell their products and avoid the specter of bankruptcy.
The American Business Insider website said that small businesses that usually rely on selling their products and goods in stores should consider switching to selling online, or adopting a shopping strategy through appointments, and rethinking their marketing strategies through social media. With the aim of increasing sales and keeping pace with the needs and aspirations of consumers.
Retailers should also keep abreast of new ways to deliver orders to consumers and facilitate online payments.
According to the site, the Covid-19 pandemic represents a pivotal moment in the history of retail, and it will forever change the way products and goods are sold, and how they are promoted and delivered to consumers.
A recent study of shopping patterns, conducted during the pandemic period, revealed that 64% of consumers replaced weekly shopping visits in stores with online shopping, and this forced retailers to focus on selling their products online and scheduling dates for customers to learn about their products.
According to the SMB Group, a third of small and medium-sized business owners say their shift to using digital platforms to promote and sell their products has helped them reduce their losses from the pandemic.
Business Insider is reviewing some tips that will help small business owners cope with the rapid developments in the retail sector.
Virtual shopping tours
Staying in touch with customers has become crucial for any company that has had to limit its direct interaction, and as a result many companies have devised unique strategies that enable them to build and maintain customer relationships on social media.
Instagram and Facebook are the most prominent social platforms that allow merchants to display their products and increase sales.
Among the most important strategies adopted to promote products through these platforms is to provide advice, offer videos to customers who praise products and services, and to intensify advertisements about offers and discounts.
A striking example is what Duo South did in Colorado, when it suggested to its customers via Facebook virtual shopping tours and videos directly on the best ways to decorate homes.
Expand options
Companies that face declining sales, or that are still bound by the closing procedures, should expand options for customers in order to satisfy them and encourage them to shop and purchase products.
Among the purchasing models that have been widely consumed by consumers since the outbreak of the new Coruna virus; Online purchase and delivery in the store, and a recent study showed that 62% of consumers chose this method of shopping for fear of exposure to infection.
In light of current developments, it is necessary to provide many options for customers to receive their orders, such as delivering orders in stores, or delivering them to homes, as quickly as possible.
Appointments ahead
Some retail companies previously used the appointment deadline service to give customers a unique experience, but now many stores - which have been reopened - are adopting this service within the framework of applying social spacing rules.
This model helps stores control customer numbers upon delivery of orders, reduce the number of people who have to wait in line, and also enable them to stay in constant communication with customers after visits to the store.
Avoid contact
The Corona pandemic changed people's perception of cash, in light of fears that the virus would be transmitted to them, and a recent MasterCard study found that more than half of American consumers expressed the anxiety they felt when submitting their signatures during purchases, as half of consumers say They have chosen non-contact payment processes since the outbreak.
According to the site, retailers and stores are becoming increasingly required to offer remote payment options to protect their customers and employees, and to reduce contact as much as possible.
Some procedures can also be applied inside the store to avoid touching payment screens, such as using electronic cards to tap the screen instead of using fingers.
The site concluded that small and medium-sized companies are required, with the start of easing the procedures for closing and reopening the economy, to work to keep pace with developments as soon as possible, and to apply new marketing models to ensure the safety of their customers and employees and to continue their business successfully.