6 Brand Benefits to Selling Direct-to-Consumer Now

Top Six Benefits to Brands Selling Direct-to-Consumer with Ecommerce

In recent years, the world of shopping has drastically changed from the majority of purchases made at brick-and-mortar stores to brands moving direct-to-consumer with ecommerce. This widespread and rapid shift was initially driven by technological advances, and escalated by need among swift economic disruption, a global pandemic and consumer behavior.

More than ever, brands are adapting to consumer purchase habits by shifting to direct-to-consumer selling models with an elevated user experiences. Consumers begin their buyer’s journey by making more purchase decisions online, often researching product reviews and comparing brands and prices. As a result, the consumer expectation of brands and retailers is higher. Shoppers want and are willing to pay for, quality, security, and service while enjoying the convenience of online shopping.

The brands we work with on Salesforce Commerce Cloud are better equipped to anticipate and adjust buying patterns, see trends in real-time, engage and create loyalty with their customers, and be flexible by shifting to new business models, including Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS).

1. Expand Your Brand Reach

Prior to the internet, brands largely relied on resellers to reach customers. Rarely did a manufacturer or wholesaler sell directly to consumers. However, today with everyone carrying around a smartphone, brands can reach their customer anytime, anywhere. No physical store needed. Website translation and localization software, as well as software solutions for customs, taxes, duties, and payments, allow brands to easily broaden their market to the whole planet.

2. Rely Less On Retailers

Brick and mortar retailers continue to feel the pinch of online giants like Amazon and big box stores like Walmart. Declining in-store sales are forcing retailers to consolidate physical locations. Your brand’s opportunity for consumers to find your products in-store could be affected by the loss of physical shelf space. Forbes predicted 10,000 store closings by the end of 2022. With locations harder to maintain, more retailers are investing in ecommerce to sustain their market segments.

3. Control Your Brand Story

Online market places can be helpful for brands looking to make their products more accessible, but there can be pitfalls. More companies are opting out of online market places like Amazon, entirely, and relying on their own ecommerce solutions. It is difficult for brands to police sellers and companies from price-cutting counterfeit and inferior goods via online resellers. Selling direct-to-consumer ensures the quality of your product, packaging, and pricing is up to your standards.

Selling directly to your customers from your website also allows you to manage firsthand the messaging and image of your brand. Retailers and market places can shadow and dilute your branding. Your message is likely to be far less effective when alongside competing brands within reseller stores and websites.

4. Understand Your Consumer Demographics Better

Direct-to-consumer means you have an open line of communication with your customers. You have the power to educate your customers, interact with them, and learn more about their wants and needs to better align your products.

The more insight into your consumers’ buying habits, shopping trends, and overall experience interacting with your brand, the better your brand can align your products based on needs and interests. Direct-to-consumer eliminates relying on reseller data to see trends. Get interest reports and trending stats in real-time with your direct-to-consumer ecommerce platform.

5. Improve Customer Engagement

Shoppers love it when brands interact directly with them. Whether it’s an email after purchase or a swift response to a customer support inquiry, experiencing a positive, personal connection with a brand makes shoppers more likely to buy. Customers enjoy working with product experts and knowing that they are connecting with someone who knows the products inside and out.

Selling direct-to-consumer expands your brand’s opportunities to delight customers with every interaction they have with your brand. Happy customers are more likely to recommend your brand and turn into brand evangelists, the ultimate inbound marketing asset.

6. Offer Broader Product Assortment

To stay competitive with larger stores, retailers carry limited quantities of multiple brands to cover consumer interests. Carrying limited quantities of your product means consumers are seeing only a fraction of your offerings and can lead to frustration when retailers’ stock is limited.

Selling direct-to-consumer as the brand enables you to offer your entire inventory online. Every style, size, and color option is more likely to be available on your brand site than most retailer stores or sites. Shoppers also know that brands get out of stock items sooner, so if inventory is out, they are more likely to get the in-stock notice faster from your brand directly.

With a shifting sales paradigm being led by consumers, brands are finding success by adapting with direct-to-consumer ecommerce solutions.

Ready to sell direct or upgrade your current platform? Let’s chat.