Many people are recognizing the value of shopping locally. In fact, our research shows that 65% of consumers support small businesses. Their top reasons for shopping locally are to strengthen the local economy (57%), help support local job creation (41%) and invest in their community (35%).
Offering in-store pickup at your local retail boutique gives your community more options to satisfy their desire to shop locally.
Will in-store pickup last?
While in-store pickup began as a safety measure to keep staff and customers safe, it is growing in popularity as it makes the shopping experience more convenient for customers. As consumer behavior continues to evolve, customers continue to appreciate the flexibility and ease that in-store pickup services offer.
Zapiet , a Shopify partner app that helps merchants canada phone no offer in-store pickup, believes this order fulfillment option is here to stay, and its steady growth in monthly installs proves it.
From a purely economic standpoint, in-store pickup can save merchants money by eliminating shipping and delivery costs, as well as reducing their returns.
Jonathan Roque, digital marketing and content strategist, Zapiet
“It has quickly become an option that customers expect to see at checkout, thanks to its convenience, environmental benefits and adoption by all major retailers,” says Jonathan.
“From a purely economic standpoint, in-store pickup can save merchants money by eliminating shipping and delivery costs, as well as reducing their returns. Additionally, by allowing customers to schedule pickups in advance, merchants may be able to increase their order volumes without having to increase their retail space or team size.”
Retailers like Whiskeyjack Boutique will continue to offer this service after the pandemic. “We will definitely continue to offer in-store pickup. We love the option it gives our customers to buy online and pick up if they prefer,” says Allison.
There are a handful of Shopify partner apps available to help you offer in-store pickup so you can keep up with consumer demand.
Should you offer in-store pickup at your retail store?
If you're considering setting up in-store pickup order fulfillment options at your retail location, you can start by asking yourself the following questions to decide if it's right for your business:
Do you have the resources to offer in-store pickup? Will your staff manage it or will it be your responsibility?
Is there space in the store or parking lot near your store for customers to wait while you or your staff bring out their orders?
Are you using a POS that provides the right technology to sync your inventory and track omnichannel orders?
If you feel confident that you can accomplish the above and successfully manage in-store pickup services, it’s worth a try. Giving your customers the option to buy online and pick up in-store can help you build strong customer relationships and give your retail business an edge over your competitors.
When you're ready to get started, try Shopify POS to provide a seamless shopping experience for your customers both in-store and online, and you'll be ready to handle in-store pickup for online orders .
Frequently asked questions about in-store pickup
How does in-store pickup work?
The customer orders and pays for their items online or over the phone. Schedules a time for pickup and drives to the store at that time. A retail employee brings the items to the customer's car.
What does in-store pickup mean?
In-store pickup is a service offered by some businesses that allows customers to order and pay for items online or over the phone and then pick them up in-store, outside of the store.
What is the difference between in-store pickup and in-store pickup?
In-store pickup is when you walk into the store and pick up your order yourself. In-store pickup is when an employee brings your order to your car.
What are the advantages of in-store pickup?
There are several advantages to in-store pickup, including convenience, time savings, and avoiding crowds.