Smart retailers should not fear the increased popularity of online shopping, but rather embrace the growing phenomenon and tap into this growing market where online sales reached record levels over Christmas, says the Retail Traders’ Association of WA.
Perth and WA consumers have clearly shown a greater propensity to adopt online selling over other states, which means that WA retailers are missing out on desperately needed sales at a time when some sectors of the retail sector are struggling.
The RTA – which is planning a series of course to help retailers understand how to compete with or join in the online boom – says Perth consumers have joined the online revolution, in a large part because they are being starved of opportunities to visit retail shops because of Perth’s currently restrictive retail trading hour’s regulations.
For approximately 70 per cent of Perth households, both partners are working, leaving little opportunity for consumers to have the time to shop at their leisure within normal shopping hours.
The WA regions accounted for nearly 60 per cent of total online sales for WA in 2009-10. Again access and distance were raised as issues, the RTA says.
However, retailers continue to fear online competition when they should be working hard to implement strategies that either master their defence against online retailers, or turn the ‘Enemy into a Friend’ and learn how to add online sales to their ‘bricks and mortar’ presence.
In the US, seven of the top 10 online retailers are ‘bricks & mortar’ based.
The RTA says it has spent considerable time and effort in developing a series of seminars and workshops that present:
- The facts about the online world, removing the irrelevancies that has confused many.
- Prudent advice for managing profitable strategies for the adoption of their web and social media.
- The considerations and steps necessary to create an online business.
- How to create a website that works and functions profitably.
- How to utilise the web to boost your local sales and marketing.
- If you already have an online business, how to take your business to the next level.
- How to defend against your online competition.
The following seminars and workshops are open to all retailers and associates:
February 22 & July 31: Mastering Your Defence against Online Retailers.
March 20: The Social Media Phenomenon – How to Harness the Opportunities to Benefit Your Sales & Marketing to Gain Business Growth.
April 4 & August 8: Can you become a successful Online Retailer?
May 30 & August 28: How you can use Smarter Web Strategies to boost your Local Sales & Marketing.
June 6 & October 3: How to Take Your Online Retail Business to the Next Level of Success.
June 27 & November 7: How to get Massive Results and Amazing ROI from your next Website.
July 24: Going Online, e-Commerce, Social Media – How Best to Evaluate and Participate.
Further details:tel: (08) 9365 7695, email: rta@retailconnectwa.com or visit www.retailconnectwa.com
