
How Amazon is Affecting the World of Retail and the Ways to Counter it

More and more people are spending their precious time online which can both be a waste and a gain. Waste because we find ourselves surfing the net more frequently, putting off chores and workloads that need our immediate attention. Gain because financial transactions can now be done online and communication is a lot more convenient than before. But aside from these, technology in general and internet in particular, have also made a lot of changes in the way consumers behave. Here’s how.
The Amazon Effect
Amazon comes from humble beginnings just like the rest of the multi-million companies of today’s times. It started out to be an online bookstore that was barely surviving. After major revisions and change of ideas, Amazon was able to build a stronger foundation and now, is the biggest e-commerce website.

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon
The Amazon effect describes how it changed the way of business and commerce. It slowed down traditional brick-and-mortar retail demand and lessened foot traffic in shopping centers. All these things were happening while online shopping was just about becoming popular with the masses of consumers. Now, people spend more time shopping online instead of physical shopping. For them, browsing online and paying for delivery charges are much more convenient than having to fight their way in parking spaces and malls, especially during the holiday season. And since Amazon has practically everything, consumers don’t have to go elsewhere to find what they’re looking for.
The Amazon effect has also been linked to why a lot of retail stores like ‘Toys R Us’ are closing down. As the day goes by, the effect is becoming more felt and huge brands are succumbing to the pressure of coming up with a website where shoppers can buy their goods and services. And because Amazon is being favored more means that all brick-and-mortar retailers have to suffer. Here are some of the things that can help small businesses counter it from crushing them.
Use Physical Stores to Serve the Online Business
Instead of competing with each other, why not make these two work together? Nordstrom Local in particular is converting their physical store to supplement the online orders they receive. It’s where people can pick up, return, or refund their orders made online. One of the advantage of having a business like this, is that people would actually opt to have an online shop where they don’t have to pay for shipping. They can also get the products much faster, provided that the item is available in the store.
Be more mobile and web-friendly

Active accounts in Amazon have reached upto 304 million
Recent survey shows that people appreciate retailers who are accessible online. This means that products and items that they are selling can be viewed on mobile apps and websites. This includes the sizes, colors, and designs that are available in store. This is most helpful for clothing brands since consumers can get very disappointed if the advertised image and what gets delivered to them are vastly different. This way, they can browse the store’s online catalog, saving them time from searching rack to rack.
Reliable Internet
According to recent survey, 90% of the customers are more likely to spend more time in the store if it has a free and reliable internet connection. They use WiFi when searching for other products online, reading reviews, or calling friends to help them arrive at a decision. They won’t also get bored and won’t be out of the loop when they shop in a store where they can connect to the world wide web.
Human Interaction and more
Amazon serves the need of the people for convenience. Anything we can think of buying, already exists in one place and can be delivered to our doorstep. But what these e-commerce businesses lack is human interaction, that people also look for during these transactions. Physical stores also removes people’s doubt and reassures them that the item they’re going to check out can be returned or replaced whenever they want. There are also many reports of broken, lost, and damaged items when they buy products online. That is why, no matter how big Amazon gets, it will not seal the fate of the retailers who have physical stores.
More inShopping
-
Common Parenting Errors Made by Even the Best Mothers and Fathers
Parents of children make a number of promises to themselves even before the birth of their children only to break them...
June 2, 2022 -
Organic and Natural Skin Care Products are on the Rise
Many consumers believe that the best organic and natural skin care products are being manufactured today, replacing the cheap chemical-laden traditional...
June 2, 2022 -
Meet the Top Beauty Influencers of YouTube
There will be some times that we need guidance, and we will turn to YouTube to learn how to do the...
June 2, 2022 -
How Online Purchase Orders Perpetuates Better Workflow
The popularity of online consumer purchasing sites, such as Amazon and eBay, is changing how some companies do their own purchasing....
May 29, 2022 -
Financial Rules Which You Need to Memorize
There are tomes written on how to conduct your personal finance so that you save for the future, maintain a reasonable...
May 29, 2022 -
The Evolution of Business Accounting Throughout History
Accounting Before When we observe the history of accounting, it is apparent to see how closely it is linked to the...
May 29, 2022 -
Consider these Creative Careers in the Fashion Industry
As a multibillion-dollar industry, a career in fashion is a lucrative one. So if you’re looking for a dynamic and enriching...
May 28, 2022 -
Buy Organic for Skin and Hair Care
When it comes to skin and hair care, you do not want to leave anything to chance. And with the many...
May 28, 2022 -
Why You Should Consider A Car Finance Lease
Businesses and other commercial entities are often always in need of vehicles to use in the myriad operational undertakings of their...
May 28, 2022
You must be logged in to post a comment Login