Here at Shopify, our goal is to make commerce better for everyone.
This mission will only stand strong if we speak to the needs of entrepreneurs who want to sell everywhere — whether it’s online, at an event, or a brick and mortar storefront.
Entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in one-on-one sales. Even today, more retailers and market merchants sell their wares from booths at craft shows, on tables nestled in rows at farmer’s markets, or in a physical shop on Main Street.
More online retail darlings are even making the transition from clicks to bricks, including the likes of Pintrill, Warby Parker, ShoeMe/Shoes.com, and even Amazon, opening their own storefronts to get in on the in-person selling opportunity. And they’re seeing the sales and foot traffic to justify the jump.
Consumers still crave face-to-face interactions, and want to buy from an expert — someone who can offer a solution to a problem or access to a lifestyle rather than simply selling a product. The US Total Retail 2016 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals that 41% of the surveyed shoppers value sales associates with deep knowledge of the products as one of top factors that enhance their shopping experience.
So, what’s the bottom line here? At the end of the day, a sale is simply one person buying from another. People buy from people.
That’s why we decided it was time to create a dedicated channel of useful content and ideas for market merchants and retailers. In-person sellers face a unique set of challenges distinct from online-only merchants, and we’re aiming to help you overcome those obstacles to build a thriving business.
From here on out, the Shopify retail blog will provide you with practical advice, analysis of trends, foresight into shifts in the industry, and a little old-fashioned storytelling to inspire you.
Here are a few of the specific things you can expect on this blog as we ramp up:
- Actionable advice: We know it isn’t helpful to read information for the sake of it. We’re creating and curating content that’s useful for busy, stretched-thin merchants who are hustling to build a successful, long-term business. We’ll serve up practical insights, from building the perfect market booth to upping your customer service game to emulate Nordstrom, to time-tested strategies to shore up foot traffic, all to help you run your business.
- Free content and guides: Rather than cluttering your feeds and email, we’re dedicated to offering resources you can use. We’ll address current trends like multi-channel engagement and the threat of webrooming, analyze industry news, and serve up great giveaways — all delivered directly to your inbox.
- Real insights from real retailers: The Shopify retail blog will share the success secrets of ambitious entrepreneurs to help both beginners and veterans alike. We’ll bring you inspirational and aspirational stories of business owners who have hustled hard, made it, and are happy to share their hard-earned learnings with merchants at different places in their journey.
Free Guide: How to Hire and Retain the Right Retail Staff
To help you source the right staff, we’ve compiled this easy-to-follow framework to serve as a reference on hiring, training, and retaining high-quality retail employees.
These are just a handful of the resources we’ll present here to guide you through whatever challenge you may encounter.
But above all, we want this new resource to be a go-to destination to help you build a business and ensure it thrives.
Have any specific questions, concerns, or problems you’d like to see addressed here? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Stay tuned, and we’ll work hard to help your business grow. Subscribe today to get our updates delivered directly to your inbox.
About The Author
Lindsey Peacock is a writer, editor, and American expat invading the Great White North. When she isn’t helping entrepreneurs build their businesses, you’ll find her at the nearest dog park with Charlie, her ginger husky pup. Follow her on Twitter .
