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Shoppers Need a Reason to Go to Your Store — Other Than Buying Stuff

Harvard Business Review

retail market at less than 10% as of the first quarter of 2017, online sales are growing at almost 10% per year. One retailer I know saw a 35% bump in sales when it gave customers the option of picking up merchandise in its stores that they had bought online.). All members (men and women) receive a 10% discount on merchandise.

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How Customers Come to Think of a Product as an Extension of Themselves

Harvard Business Review

REI—an outdoor supplies company—sells inexpensive co-op memberships , and members enjoy members-only sales, free classes, even in-store “garage sales” of returned merchandise. Or someone who waits in line for hours for the next iPhone because they want to get it first.

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Big-Box Retailers Have Two Options If They Want to Survive

Harvard Business Review

Customers no longer want anything that is mass-marketed. Outdoor retailer REI goes even further by holding events, classes, and service projects to engage with the local communities around its stores. They offer the “thrill of the hunt” for shoppers who enjoy discovering trending products at prices well below market.

Retail 9
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Make Customers Want to Buy Offline

Harvard Business Review

Showrooming , once a worry primarily for consumer electronics retailers, is expanding into markets we might have thought exempt. A better look at the merchandise, and the benefits of touch and feel – but even more, for expertise that could guide their choice. It’s an unusual model, but a great design solution in a saturated market.

Retail 8
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7 Steps to Deliver Better Customer Experiences

Harvard Business Review

And the merchandising vice president had difficulty understanding why “product” was one of the categories we were discussing. Each of these executives offered plenty of ideas when the discussion turned to promotions, social media tactics, and marketing messages. I was stunned.

Brand 8
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The Rise of Virtual Brick-and-Mortars

Harvard Business Review

By contrast, Miele, which makes and markets everything from kitchen equipment to household wares, runs 10 "Centers" in the United States. By contrast, the UK-based retailer, Tesco, has launched an array of "virtual" stores designed to sell products with no merchandise. Homeplus is now the market share leader in South Korea.

Retail 8