After nearly two years of upheaval from COVID, it’s no surprise that the retail marketplace seems unrecognisable. Consumers have changed the way they shop, especially from larger retailers, and companies have had to adapt to this ever-changing landscape.
The pandemic has created a highly educated customer base. Factoring more than simply convenience and cost, consumers look for enticing in-store experiences, to support local businesses and consider their impact on the environment.
These circumstances influence consumer buying behaviour more than ever – and whether they choose to shop in-store or online.
Adapting in Times of Change
With memories of complete lockdowns still relatively fresh in the minds of retailers and an unclear future as winter arrives, it is critical retailers plan to mitigate any issues that could arise – including any returning social restrictions.
Irrespective of what happens next, as the industry moves forward into its busiest period, retailers can take one of two approaches: either find a solution to adapt and overcome any issues that could occur or wait and hope for it all to blow over.
ShipStation launched its Ship from Store model during the pandemic, and it is one option that can see you through such circumstances.
Industry-leader Matalan and charity shop organisation Mind embraced a ’Ship from Store’ mentality amidst the pandemic and have proven what is achievable with an omni-channel approach.
What is Ship from Store, and how can it help my business?
Put simply, Ship from Store provides retailers with the ability to better utilise the stock they have in store by harnessing the power of ecommerce and through fulfilling orders in local areas from local shops.
As usual, customers place their orders online, the order is sent to the store and a manifest is created with a local courier. Instead of originating in a central warehouse, store employees pick and pack the orders, print the provided shipping label and hand it to the courier. It’s that easy!
For retailers of all shapes and sizes, Ship from Store is a winning sales strategy.
Ship from Store Benefits
Using Ship from Store with ShipStation, retailers can enjoy a whole host of short and long-term benefits, including:
- Higher product sales
- Expedient online sales process and delivery
- Lower site overheads and maximised brick and mortar stores
- A greater focus on customer satisfaction with more effective stock controls
- A step towards more sustainable delivery with local order fulfilment
- Streamlined online retailing
Proof in action
Don’t just take our word for it. ShipStation customer, Matalan who partner with SHIFT Commerce, had the following to say about its experience using the Ship from Store fulfilment model:
“About 40 – 50% of Matalan’s online orders are coming through ShipStation to stores right now. It’s phenomenal. It’s really helped Matalan ramp up its online capacity.”
To date, Matalan has shipped more than 1 million orders through ShipStation’s Ship from Store approach. Considering Matalan introduced this whilst lockdowns gripped the country during the pandemic, it’s extraordinary. Ship from Store eased the burden of overhead costs during lockdown closures and made use of stock sitting in stores throughout the country.
With more than 65% of consumers stating they prefer to shop online; Ship from Store is more important now than ever. Compatible with many existing ecommerce channels and easy to use, Ship from Store can help futureproof your sales strategy for years to come.
Discover how Ship from Store can help take your retail business to the next level.
