How to Embrace an Omnichannel Retail Strategy This Holiday Season

As we enter the holiday shopping season, retailers are planning for all scenarios.

Stores may close temporarily or have reduced capacity, while in-store pickup and delivery are likely to become even more popular. eCommerce websites are going to play a bigger role than they have in seasons past, and social media platforms will become a key place to connect with customers.

So why is omnichannel important? While shoppers may not ask for it by name, omnichannel retail is what they want. 80 percent of customers expect a consistent experience across all of a retailer’s channels, according to research from Salesforce. And businesses that do it well retain on average 89 percent of their customers, reports Forbes.

So, how do you pull off successful omnichannel retail marketing?

Your online and in-person stores should be complementary

Online shopping was already popular before COVID-19. In fact, Gen Z and Baby Boomers in the UK are the least likely to shop in stores (at 13.25 percent and 16.87 percent respectively), according to BigCommerce. The same study showed that Millennials and Gen Z have an impact on what the older generations buy, so appealing to the younger generations can help you appeal to the older ones as well. This holiday season, that number is only going to grow.

Use SEO

Part of your omnichannel strategy means optimising your website for search engines so shoppers can find your business and products. If you have a physical store location, SEO can help here, too.

• Make sure your address and store name appear correctly across search results.
• Claim and verify your business listings on Google, Bing Places, FourSquare, and Yelp.
• Double-check that your holiday business hours are correct, and that you indicate when you’re open for all the ways to sell, like delivery and pickup.

If a shopper finds you online and wants to visit your store, up-to-date information will make it easier.

Diversify sales channels

Part of creating a good omnichannel marketing strategy is using all the tools at your disposal. You can increase sales by using eCommerce tools on your social media platforms. These channels are not only a great way for customers to find your business, but they can also help people discover your unique products.

About 50 percent of consumers have made purchases through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, according to OT Retail Team. These channels are also a great way to test your holiday marketing ideas, as it’s the quickest way to capitalise on seasonal trends. Each platform offers tools to direct traffic to your retail website or product pages, or to complete the purchase directly on your social media page.

Stay consistent

Tie in your brand messaging

Whether your customers are shopping on Instagram or visiting your brick-and-mortar store, your brand messaging should stay the same. For example, your in-store holiday retail promotional ideas should match up with how you talk about those same promotions on your social media platforms.

You can also extend your brand messaging through your interactions with online customers. Chat and video tools can bridge the divide that social distancing creates, helping you develop a relationship with your customer base that makes sense for your brand. Make it easy for customers to reach out online or schedule a video conference if you sell items that require more guidance.

Sync your inventory

By offering omnichannel retail options, shoppers have more than one way to buy a product from you. That means your  inventory needs to be in sync everywhere you sell, so buyers aren’t disappointed. Smart inventory management helps you keep track of sales across channels, no matter how they’re fulfilled.

Sellers offering buy now pay later (BNPL), where consumers can purchase a product immediately and pay in installments over a set timeframe, should also be conscious of a potential pre-season spike in purchases and plan their inventory accordingly. Understanding how buy now pay later works and its impact on inventory is essential for successful sales management in the omnichannel retail landscape.

With customers often stressed or short on time during this shopping season, one brilliant holiday marketing idea is to keep them well-informed of your current inventory. This way, they don’t arrive at your store disappointed. Share how much product you have, along with details explaining how shoppers can reserve or buy an item online before they head to the store to pick it up. Providing a variety of options will help customers choose the delivery or pickup method that’s most convenient for them.

Keep your prices the same

Some eCommerce websites take advantage of dynamic pricing, which can adjust the amount of an item based on various factors. With omnichannel retail selling, however, your customers want consistency. Be sure your offers and promotions are the same, no matter where a customer discovers your products.

Twenty-eight per cent of consumers use their smartphones while shopping in-store, comparing prices and looking up product information, according to Deloitte. And more than three-quarters of consumers (76 percent) are likely to choose a retailer offering pricing and promotions that are the same across channels.

While you can offer personalised promotions, your catalogue should have consistent pricing to prevent shoppers from having buyer’s remorse.

Omnichannel retail and the future

An omnichannel retail strategy can help you address the challenges of today’s world. Whether your business is online-only, brick-and-mortar, or click-and-mortar, your customers crave consistency. And it’s your job to deliver that everywhere you sell.

As we adapt to the unknowns of this year’s holiday shopping season, providing customers with a connected and familiar experience can become a welcome constant in a time of uncertainty.