Not Just Candle Talk
Welcome to Not Just Candle Talk , A podcast geared towards being an entrepreneur and operating a small candles business, join us as we discuss how we handle having a small candle business. We will also bring on guest to discuss their ups and downs of having a small business.
Not Just Candle Talk
The Future of Retail: Balancing Brick-and-Mortar with E-Commerce Innovation
In the latter part of this insightful episode, we open the floor to small business owners to share their real-world experiences, whether they thrive online or in physical locations. We delve into the exhilarating opportunities and daunting challenges they encounter in today's fast-changing market. Wrapping up with a motivational call to action, we encourage our listeners to keep pushing boundaries and innovating in their ventures. Plus, don’t miss our reflections on the resurgence of small, local shops and how our own e-commerce candle business fits into this dynamic landscape. Tune in for inspiration, practical insights, and a forward-looking perspective on the future of retail!
Welcome back to Not Just Candle Talk, where we explore the ins and outs of today's dynamic business landscapes, today's business. Today we're going to dive into a hot topic brick and mortar versus e-commerce. Let's start with the brick and mortar businesses. These are your traditional storefronts, shops, cafes and other physical locations where customers can walk in, browse, make a purchase. Brick and mortars have been around for centuries. Right, create a tangible shopping experience that e-commerce often struggle to reciprocate, experience that e-commerce often struggle to reciprocate. Brick and mortars offer that personal touch. Right, customers can physically interact with products, get immediate assistance and enjoy the overall experience of a store. Okay, it's a sensory experience that's hard to beat. It really is. These businesses often serve as community hubs. Think about your favorite coffee shop or your local bookstore. They provide a sense of place and belonging that a website just can't match. And, let's not forget, they contribute to the local economy by providing jobs and also supporting other local businesses throughout partnerships and purchases. Now let's talk about e-commerce.
Speaker 1:In recent years, online shopping has exploded in popularity. Okay, with the convenience of browsing and buying from anywhere in the world, e-commerce has, uh, revolutionized, uh, how we shop. E-commerce offers unmatched convenience. Uh, you can shop 24, 7 could compare prices easily easily and have products delivered right to your doorstep, right. It's a game changer for busy people and those living in remote areas, and, with the advancements in technology, e-commerce platforms can now offer personalized shipping experiences. Recommendations based on browser history, targeted ads and easy-to-navigate interfaces have made online shopping more intuitive and even enjoyable. Plus, the overhead costs are generally lower for e-commerce business, right, there's no need for any physical storefront. Any inventory can often be managed more efficiently and effectively.
Speaker 1:But it's not all smooth sailing for either model. Brick and mortar face challenges, just like high rent maintenance costs, the impact of economic downfalls, and also e-commerce, on the other hand, has to deal with cyber security issues, shipping logistics and the lack of physical interaction. For brick and mortar stores, creating an online presence can help mitigate some of these challenges. Offering online ordering or a strong social media presence can attract more customers and, for the e-commerce business, pop-up shops showcases can provide that physical interaction that customers crave. It's about blending the best of both worlds. Innovation is key, right, whether it's through unique in-store experience or cutting-edge technology. Online businesses need to adapt and evolve to stay competitive. Either way right.
Speaker 1:Looking ahead, I think we'll see more integrations between the two Omnichannel strategies that provide seamless shopping experiences across both physical and digital platforms are becoming increasingly popular. Technology will continue to drive change. Augmented reality, for example, can enhance both online and in-store shoppingping experience by allowing customers To visualize products In their own space. That's awesome, and sustainability will be a major focus, major focus, let me say that again. Sustainability will be a major focus. Consumers are becoming more conscious of their environment impact, pushing businesses to adapt greener practices. We can attest to that, glow candles can attest to that. It's an exciting time for both brick and mortar and e-commerce businesses.
Speaker 1:I just want to touch on this real quick because you know, at this time, right now 2024, you see a change. You see a change. Everybody sees the change In how Shopping Is done, how it affects us mentally. You know the hassle of like, say, like Black Friday, going into a store. Now you don't even have to deal with that, right, you can just sit at home and order All your Christmas shopping and holiday shopping right online. So I want to touch on that just to start a conversation about the differences and the things that are alike in those two business platforms. And I wanted to include our candle business as one of those e-commerce businesses because we don't have a storefront. We rely strictly on our online presence for specific reasons.
Speaker 1:But I can see now that a lot of brick and mortar stores, especially for small businesses, they're coming back. They're coming back right. Some of the big name brands they're closing a lot of stores and the small businesses With little shops. I think they're here. I think they're on the rise. I've always thought that For the last five years or so and you know, I don't know where we're going to go yet we haven't touched on exactly how we're going to navigate the next five, ten years. But as a small business owner, I would say, keeping our mind focused on how brick and mortars or small businesses navigate through this is going to be at the forefront for us in the next five years, of course.
Speaker 1:So I just wanted to touch on that real quick and if anybody out there any small business owners, e-commerce, brick and mortar would like to come on to the show and discuss this more and tell us about their experience, feel free to get in touch with us and come on enjoying the podcast and we could discuss it more about your experience podcast and we could discuss it more about your experience. It's an exciting time for both right Right now. I just want to say thank you for listening, for tuning in to Business Unblock. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Until next time, keep exploring and innovating. We're out. Bye, thank you, thank you.