Okay, let’s begin with a few things that you should already know. Canadians simply love shopping online. It’s convenient. It’s quick. And it’s easy. Who wouldn’t prefer to have their purchases shipped to them directly? Who wouldn’t prefer to lie on the couch with a laptop instead of standing in a long line up to make a purchase? Who wouldn’t prefer staying in their pyjamas instead of driving to the mall to buy something?
Convenience is a big deal. But what are the other main reasons people love shopping online? Here are three:
1. Customer reviews help shoppers to make smarter purchases. Of course, the internet is used for a whole lot more than just online shopping. Various businesses are rated online by customers who have had experiences with them. This goes a long way for today’s shopper. Customer reviews are seen as genuine accounts and not paid advertisements. Online shoppers will often do their research. If your store has good online reviews, you’re bound to get more customers.
“According to Internet Retailer, 62% of consumers look for online reviews on a product or service before purchasing it,” explains Vanhishikha Bhargava on ExitBee.com, “This number only reinforces the importance of social proof for ecommerce websites. In physical stores, it is impossible for a shopper to know what other customers are saying about the products – especially with the sales people ensuring they hear nothing but the good. And that’s another reason, why they prefer shopping online.”
2. Online stores tend to offer better prices. Today’s consumers are savvy bargain hunters. Not only do they research customer reviews, but they utilize the convenience provided by the internet to jump from one company website to the next with ease. That way, they’re able to browse and compare prices. Furthermore, online prices tend to differ from those offered inside actual physical stores.
Naturally, this encourages people to do their shopping online instead of heading to brick-and-mortar locations. Who wouldn’t prefer to save money where they can? “I get cheap deals and better prices from online stores because products come to you directly from the manufacturer or seller without middlemen involved,” explains Gilon Miller on The Retail Intelligence Blog, “Many online shops offer discount coupons and rebates.”
3. It’s a major time saver. Let’s be honest. This probably belongs at the top of the list. At least, for those of us who truly feel like there is never enough time in the day, the time-saving qualities of online shopping make it the perfect solution! For many consumers, the ability to spend a few minutes – not hours – shopping is a dream come true. Keep in mind that not everyone loves to shop. The ability to finish any required shopping quickly is a big benefit to many – especially during the always-busy holiday season.
“Traveling to stores that aren’t close by just because you want to purchase from a certain brand, can be a put off,” says Bhargava, “That is the reason why most customers seek to online stores instead. The ability to browse through the products and purchase what they want, from wherever they are, saves them a lot of time.”
Are you providing your customers with the benefits of online shopping? Are you ready to benefit from the love that your customers have for online shopping? At Canadian POS Corporation, we proudly offer a secure e-commerce solution that enables you to easily and securely accept and process all credit cards from your website. Take advantage of it today!
For more information, call Canadian POS Corporation at 1-877-748-2884 or email us at info@localhost.