Have you ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of your online shopping habits? While we often focus on the convenience and variety offered by e-commerce giants like Amazon, there’s a lesser-known aspect of this industry that deserves attention.
Meet the “click-to-brick” trend – a strategic move by online retailers to establish physical stores in addition to their digital presence. This may seem counterintuitive in an increasingly digital world, but the numbers don’t lie. According to a report by McKinsey, online brands that open brick-and-mortar stores see an average sales increase of 22%.
But why the shift from virtual to physical? It turns out that consumers still crave tangible shopping experiences. Research from Ipsos found that 61% of online shoppers prefer to make purchases in-store to see, touch, or try products before buying.
This trend has caught the attention of industry experts like Sarah Jones, retail analyst at Trendalytics, who notes, “Brands are realizing the value of creating immersive, multi-sensory experiences that can’t be replicated online.”
Beyond boosting sales, click-to-brick stores also offer a sustainability advantage by reducing the carbon footprint of same-day delivery services. By encouraging in-person shopping, retailers can help mitigate the environmental impact of fast-paced online shopping habits.
In a world grappling with climate change, every little bit helps – even if it means clicking your mouse a little less and hitting the streets to shop.
