With the budding trends and changing customer expectations over the last few years, you may have questions about how these factors can (and should) be relevant to your business strategy. Even if you know you’re ready to “change with the times,” you might not know where to begin.
Right now, one of the most critical trends to implement is an omnichannel strategy. As the online ecommerce furniture market grows, omnichannel ecommerce strategies become increasingly crucial for successful businesses.
Below, we’ll discuss what an omnichannel retail strategy is and why your business should implement it sooner rather than later.
What Is an Omnichannel Strategy?
An omnichannel business is one that allows customers to choose how they want to shop by providing multiple, synchronized shopping options. For example, an ecommerce furniture retailer might have shopping options available both on their website and within their brick-and-mortar furniture store.
This allows customers to begin and end their shopping journeys in the best ways for them. While some customers may want to begin their shopping experience online and finish the transaction in-store, others may want the opposite or to shop exclusively online. By providing options to your customers, you can meet their unique needs and provide them with a convenient shopping experience.
Why Should I Implement an Omnichannel Furniture Ecommerce Strategy?
As HubSpot explains, “They can also reach target buyers at the right time, increasing the chances of converting them into a lead.” You can meet their demands by providing the best possible experience to each customer through multiple channel options.
Here are three segments of your audience you can target with an omnichannel experience:
1. To meet the demand of shoppers who want to utilize mobile and online shopping.
While mobile and online shopping was already increasing in popularity for the furniture industry, the COVID-19 pandemic skyrocketed its prevalence and we think the shift to ecommerce is here to stay.
When stores were forced to close in 2020 due to the pandemic, ecommerce became the primary channel for customers to furniture shop. While we can now provide in-store options once again, many customers are sticking with remote furniture shopping for several reasons, including convenience and safety.
By providing online shopping options to your customers, you can be sure to capture customers who might not be ready to come back into the store quite yet — or who find it more convenient to purchase their furniture online.
Related: Top Merchandising Considerations for Your Furniture Ecommerce Business
2. To meet the demand of furniture shoppers who still enjoy shopping in stores.
Furniture is unique among retail segments because of the value of the store experience. Since many ecommerce platforms were not created for large-ticket items, furniture retailers had difficulty expanding into a digital business.
Even though these options are now available, many customers still enjoy shopping for their furniture in the store. Whether they enjoy the experience they’ve been used to for most of their lives or simply want to experience the furniture in person before making a decision, this segment of your audience is critical.
However, it’s important to note that their buying behaviors have changed over time. For example, many furniture shoppers will now shop on their mobile phones while in stores. In fact, PYMNTS reported that 34% of shoppers used their phones to help them shop in stores in 2021, up from just 28% in 2020.
This finding solidifies furniture businesses need to create an omnichannel strategy. This experience allows customers to find the furniture they want, get the details they need, and quickly check out, all while saving time for themselves and your salespeople.
3. To make the furniture shopping experience more convenient for your customers.
The key benefit of omnichannel shopping is the convenience it provides to your customers. To ensure they have an incredible experience, you’ll want to follow a few best practices. These include:
- Making sure your website is responsive and mobile-friendly.
- Providing seamless online and in-store merchandising experiences.
- Using the right tools to create a synchronized omnichannel experience.
Since omnichannel strategies deliver a more consistent brand experience, implementing this strategy can also benefit your marketing efforts.
An Omnichannel Strategy Can Set Your Furniture Business Up for Success
Furniture businesses that implement and maintain customer demands will be most successful. Now — and in the future — one key demand is a flexible shopping journey that meets your customers where they are, such as an omnichannel experience.
Though you might know you want to implement an omnichannel strategy, you may not know where to begin — but we’re here to help by providing the information you need to find the right tools for your business.
Explore A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Right Furniture Ecommerce Software today to see how you can set your business up for success!
