Brick and mortar refers to our everyday grocery stores, nail salons, and banks. All of these places offer products and services through face-to-face connections. It is hard to imagine buying groceries without speaking directly with the deli, meat department, pharmacist, and cashier, but these types of interactions are quickly becoming out-of-date.
Amazon and other digital giants are making it easier to buy products from the comfort of your home rather than going to the brick and mortar storefronts. Most of these e-commerce sites can save money through lower operating costs and have greater flexibility than an in-person business.
In order to compete with the digital giants, lots of brick and motor shops have created digital websites to expand their platform for purchase. Contrary to opening a website, some digital marketplaces have opened traditional storefronts due to realizing the advantages of in-person retail.
Some advantages of Brick and Mortar storefronts are that they are crucial to customers in which consumers can ask questions to sales associates, pay with currency besides a credit card, and see/test out products, which allows for trust between the retailer and the consumer to form.
While the world seems to be moving towards a more digital marketplace, it's important to note that traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts offer a consumer experience that is crucial to creating loyal customers and brand awareness.
What are the advantages of Brick and Mortar?
The advantages of Brick and Mortar include increased visibility, better customer service, easier access to products, and more opportunities for marketing.
What are the disadvantages of Brick and Mortar?
The disadvantages of Brick and Mortar include higher overhead costs, limited geographic reach, difficulty adapting to changing trends, and lack of scalability.
Fun Fact:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, retail sales from brick-and-mortar stores accounted for 90% of total retail sales in 2018 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).