The technological world moves at such an alarming rate it can be hard to keep up! One minute you’re using a software package that everyone’s talking about, and the next minute another one has come along, and everyone is raving about that instead! Keeping up with advances in technology isn’t easy, but it’s vital for a business that wants to grow and become even more successful than it already is.
If you’re a company which provides goods or services then you have two main options in terms of how you make sales - either using online methods, or sticking to offline. Of course, you could do a combination of the two, to really catch all potential customers coming your way! To highlight the importance of the online world in particular, Statista states that the UK had the third largest e-commerce market on the planet in 2015 - that’s a lot of sales!
It really depends on the type of business and how large it is. Sticking with an online business does take some of the personal touch, e.g. you’re not going to have as many visitors coming through your doors, and most of your interaction is going to be via email or via a telephone conversation at a call centre desk. Despite that, online sales really do allow you to reach far more people than ever before.
Let’s define the two before we continue.
• Online sales – Items sold online via a website or online store, such as Shopify/eBay, etc
• Offline sales – Items sold via a bricks and mortar store or via a telephone call to the office
Businesses which don’t offer an online version really is missing out on a huge amount of potential revenue, but perhaps the old fashioned way of selling is still important too! Let’s check out the pros and cons of each.
Online Sales – The PROs And CONs
The most obvious advantage of online sales is that you can reach far more people, and you have potential for serious growth. The downside is that you need to train your staff in online sales and you need to have the technology to do the job. This isn’t just about providing desks for offices and the goods or services to sell, it’s about having the methods in place to record sales made online and then ship out the items (if applicable), or arrange the service. This can actually take more time in some ways, and there is the possibility of a sale being missed.
Online sales do make marketing far easier however, with social media allowing you to send huge adverts out to countless more people than you would have access to otherwise. Having regular staff catch ups and coming up with new marketing ideas is a good idea. This means having a quality collaborative space and the furniture to go with it, such as reconfigurable boardroom tables, as a flexible option.
Offline Sales – The PROs And CONs
The pros of online sales doesn’t mean that offline sales are cast aside for good! There are many local people who much prefer going into an office or place of business and purchasing something in person, or over the telephone. Not everyone likes buying things online, especially the older generations. In this case, if you offer both online and offline sales, you’re catching all demographics.
The advantages of offline sales is that you maintain the personal touch, allowing you to create working relationships with your customers, and building a bond of trust. Of course, you need to ensure that your business is equipped with the right equipment and decor to welcome new guests, with corporate furniture which fits the bill. Office screens and booths are also a good idea, for customers to feel that nobody else is hearing what they’re saying to you, whilst you’re making a sale!
Your reception area also needs to be high quality and offer the right type of feel and entertainment.
The downside is that you’re really only opening your business to the people in the local area. Whilst that might be enough for you, you are potentially missing out on a huge amount of profit. Some members of staff may feel threatened by moving everyone online, and in that case, keeping a little bit of both may be the right choice.
Opting for the right types of technology and furniture to ensure that your business is able to function correctly on both sides is vital. If you want to keep your customers happy, both online and offline, you need to carefully think about what you need. If you can do that and draw a happy medium line, you’ll be on the fast track towards business success, both now and in the future.