Online presence has really changed the designer retail industry. Hasn’t it? Spanning for more than over a year, the pandemic has undoubtedly changed the retail designers in terms of business operations and customer relations. Here’s how the industry has really evolved over the months, thanks to digital and social media.
Digital Revolution has come in so fast and at such a scale that certain paradigms have been altered in earlier unimaginable ways. Much like other businesses, it took a while before retail designers got used to the new ways of the market which was no longer just a physical place. An online new world was there to serve as a place for reaching out to people, connecting and networking, influencing and finding potential sales opportunities.
While the online presence has changed the designer retail industry in a number of ways, some transformations are more significant than the other. Apsara Sarees, a designer retailer store shares their view of what is now unlike how it used to be earlier.
Potential customer base has become manifold!
Presence on the internet has allowed a number of retailers to create a global outreach. Their ideas, words, visuals and products no longer remain confined to their own local markets but now they go farther.
Flow of information is now smoother and faster!
The latest fashion trends never reached the customers as quickly as they do now through online platforms. Besides what is in vogue, customers are now almost always free to engage with retail brands and stores. It is even more amazing that the latter are willing to send in quick replies to the customer reviews and comments.
Along with an easy flow of information, online space makes it easier to organize it. Design retailers now put up visually appealing catalogues according to trends, seasons, color palettes and sometimes even the festival calendar.
Online selling certainly helps!
Online presence doesn’t just allow design retailers to connect with their audiences but it also helps them sell their products. It cannot be ignored how during the pandemic which called for a number of lockdowns and curfews, online selling helped retail designers to keep going. Online platforms were the only one which helped them generate sales.
Yet small retailers aren’t having it that easy!
While online presence seems to help the design retailers in general, a certain sect is in a sort of a dilemma. Small retail designers are confused about whether they should enter the internet world or not and moreover they are having a hard time arranging funds when they finally do decide to create an online presence.
While a lot has changed, a lot still seems to be changing. If it is for good or not, only time will tell!
Disclaimer: This article is authored by Apsara Sarees. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not represent those of PEAKLIFE.
