Thinking of launching your own business? Or maybe you’re already selling and you’re wondering how to really get it flying? Here’s a thought: going both online and in-person could be the smartest move you make, especially for young entrepreneurs here in South Africa. In today’s fast-paced digital world, just focusing on one way to sell might mean you’re missing out on some huge opportunities. But mastering both the vast reach of digital channels and the genuine buzz of in-person interactions? That’s proper strategic thinking – it’s what we call unified commerce.
Let’s dive into five reasons why this dual approach can help you pull in those customers.
Strategic advantages: Why two channels offer more
You’re probably weighing up the extra hustle involved. I understand that. But the smart money says the benefits of doing both online and in-person more than make up for it. This combo can be a game-changer for your business.
1. Get seen by more people: Expanding your reach
An online storefront means your products are available 24/7. Anyone with an internet connection, anywhere – from Jo’burg to Algoa Bay and further – can find you. That kind of reach is pretty powerful.
Compare this with the vibe of a weekend market or a cool pop-up shop in a busy street. People discover your brand organically, touch your products and actually chat with you. That’s an experience a purely online transaction just can’t replicate.
Here’s what this means for your customer reach:
- Online: Your shop is always open, anywhere.
- In-person: You get face-to-face time. You’re making immediate connections, answering questions right there and creating that memorable shopping vibe.
- Dual power: Why limit your potential? It’s about being everywhere your customers are.
2. Boost your earnings: More ways to sell
This one might seem a bit obvious, but the impact is bigger than you think. When you’ve got two different ways to sell, you basically double your chances to make a sale.
- Online: Your customers can chill and browse whenever, wherever. It’s all about that pure convenience.
- In-person: This is where the magic happens for those spur-of-the-moment purchases. Someone sees your product and grabs it right then. You get to chat, show them how it works and build an immediate connection.
Here’s the clever bit: If one channel hits a slow patch, the other can often pick up the slack. Think festive season: online sales go wild, but your market stall is also buzzing. This dual approach gives you a safety net. It’s like having multiple income streams, a good asset for any smart entrepreneur.
3. Keeping things simple: For you and your customers
Everyone wants things easy these days. Some people are chilling at home, clicking ‘buy’. Others want to feel a product before they commit. By offering both options, you’re making it much simpler for your customers to actually do business with you.
This convenience extends to you as well. Think about juggling payments from different places. For online sales, a secure payment gateway is non-negotiable. For those in-person moments a quick, reliable card machine is essential. A unified commerce system cuts down on all of that admin and operational fuss.
Here’s how offering both really helps:
- For buyers: They get to choose how they shop – couch potatoes rejoice and tactile shoppers get the in-person vibe.
- For sellers (that’s you!):
- No more juggling separate payment systems or manual reconciliation.
- It simplifies your whole payment process, leaving you free to focus on what you do best – making more sales.
4. Own your stock: Optimised inventory
Managing stock for both online and in-person can look tricky at first. But getting your systems properly dialled in makes it far simpler and gives you much better control.
With an integrated system, your stock levels update in real-time, no matter where it’s sold.
This gives you some pretty key benefits:
- Less chance of overselling.
- Better insights into sales across all channels.
- Smarter reordering calls.
You get one clear picture of all your inventory. This saves time, avoids awkward “sorry, out of stock!” moments and empowers you to buy smarter. That’s a massive win.
5. Stay ready, stay flexible: Build a strong business
Running a business is rarely a straight line. Markets shift, customer preferences change and new opportunities pop up all the time. But if your business can handle both online and offline you’ve got serious flexibility.
Here’s why having both channels is a game-changer:
- When the economy gets shaky, or people buy differently, one channel might perform better. With an omni-channel setup, you’re always better prepared.
- You can pilot new products online with a smaller audience first, before you commit to a bigger physical launch. Like a test run.
- Your physical presence can drive traffic to your online store and vice versa. Someone seeing your product at a market can easily check your website later.
Basically, this unified commerce strategy makes your business tough. You’re not relying on just one thing, so you can easily pivot and grow, even when single-channel businesses might struggle.
Simplifying your integrated strategy: Your payment partner
How do you pull off this whole dual-channel thing without a mountain of headaches? You get the right tools. Payfast by Network is built just for that.
We’ve got solutions that link your online shop and your in-person sales seamlessly. That means you can take payments easily and reliably, all through one user-friendly platform. It’s about taking what seems complicated and making it simple, even for your first big venture. It’s designed to simplify your entrepreneurial journey.
Ready to level up your business?
Going both online and in-person isn’t just a passing fad. For any young entrepreneur here in South Africa it’s a smart, strategic move to really expand your reach, bring in more cash and build a solid business.
Now that you get why this approach is so powerful, ready to see how easy it is to actually do? Learn more about Payfast for your new venture.
About the author: Leila Davies, our Digital Marketing Manager, has over two decades of experience in the digital industry and they’re here to share their advice on why young entrepreneurs should be looking at both online and in-person selling and how this approach helps you secure those loyal customers.
