11/07/2012 -
Retailers that are nervous about what mobile technology means for their market share can learn from the businesses that are effectively beating showrooming.Hhgregg, a recent emergent on the consumer electronics scene, has thrived when well-established competitors such as Best Buy have had to shutter their shops, according to Daily Finance. The company is beating out the online marketplace because it simply sells products that are too large to sell online and ship to consumers' doors, such as washers and dryers or mattresses.
Target has also managed to remain competitive when faced with challengers such as Amazon and eBay, the source notes. By continually offering exclusive brands that can only be purchased in stores, the discount retailer has brought in a steady stream of customers to its point-of-sale terminals.
If businesses don't sell large merchandise or have access to exclusive product lines, they might find a niche online to complement their brick-and-mortar location. Mashable recently reported that 81 percent of smartphone owners use the devices to search the web, and nearly 60 percent engage in online searches when they are forced to wait.
Retailers that have an effective digital presence complete with shopping cart and virtual credit card processing might be able to convert some of those mobile users into customers.
