Winning Local Business With Local E-Commerce

By | 2 September 2020
3 Minute Read

Winning Local Business With Local E-Commerce

Analysis from Deloitte Digital in Great Britain has shown that since lockdown 3 in 5 consumers have chosen to shop more at local shops than previously. The same report also showed that 57% of consumers say they will be more likely to shop locally once lockdown ends. While excellent news for retailers that already have a local e-commerce presence, those that don’t have some catching up to do.

The Benefits of Local E-Commerce for your business

Boosted by lockdown, there is a growing trend for people wishing to shop locally if they can find the products they’re looking for close to their home or workplace and at a reasonable price. The benefits to you as a business are numerous, but some of the key reasons to grow your local e-commerce presence include:

  • Competing with the multi-nationals. Amazon may have Prime delivery, but if a consumer can pick up an item within 24 hours locally, then you could well find they shop with you.
  • Building your customer base through word of mouth. 92% of consumers trust recommendations made by their friends. Capitalise on this by getting locals talking about you.
  • Reducing your overheads. It takes time to print packing labels, book parcels into your delivery system or take them to the local post office. By encouraging users to pick up their orders, you can save time and money.

Why Customers Choose To Shop Local

Today’s modern consumer is much more ethically focussed than in the past, so choosing to shop local allows them to feel that they are making a difference. Apart from helping the local economy and high street, consumers are also more environmentally aware; this makes local shopping the ideal choice for those wishing to ensure a better world for future generations.

Some of the top reasons for shopping locally include:

  • Supporting the local economy
  • Saving jobs
  • A safer way to shop
  • Helping the environment
  • Preserving the local community

If you can help tick these boxes for your customers, then you won’t be far away from making a sale. Don’t be afraid to reveal your human side as a business, showing that you support the environment and or local charities goes a long way in building trust with potential customers.

62% of users will more likely spend money at a shop that takes extra steps to ensure the safety and well-being of staff.

If you already deliver locally to some of your customers, consider adding this as an additional service giving website users a wide choice of delivery options when shopping with you. The flexibility of knowing an order can be delivered quickly if need be is another great way to tip the scales in your favour.

What to Look For in a Local E-Commerce Website

When it comes to choosing the right e-commerce software for your business, you may find yourself struggling to compare one system to another. On the surface, most e-commerce software packages are created equally, it’s only when you drill down to the specifics that you find significant differences starting to appear.

Essential to a local e-commerce site are the following features:

  • In-Store Pick Up or Local Delivery Options
  • Multiple Payment Methods
  • Great Customer Experience
  • Mobile-Friendly Design
  • Reviews & User Generated Content (UGC)
  • Strong Localised SEO

Whilst we work with several e-commerce platforms here at Actuate Digital, one platform that is currently adapting to the trend of local e-commerce is Magento, more specifically, Magento 2.4. With new features including enhanced in-store pickup, multiple speed enhancements and workflow tools, it’s a great contender for your next local e-commerce site.

In today’s digital world, it pays to offer a digital version of your storefront to visitors who for one reason or another may visit your website before your physical store. With window shopping often occurring online, don’t lose a sale just because you’ve never needed a website in the past. As lockdown proved, businesses with the ability and foresight to adapt were able to make significant gains and those who didn’t unfortunately lost out. Prepare for the changing habits of your customers now and enjoy the success of selling locally.