News

Online retailers increasingly moving into the real world

July 12, 2013

Among online-only retailers, opening brick and mortar locations is an emerging trend, according to a report in the Seattle Times.

From individuals selling on Etsy to boutique and specialty e-tailers, many are finding that opening a physical location becomes a differentiator, as well as a new source of revenue.

"People really want to touch something and see exactly how big it is and talk to someone. You can’t underestimate that," said Katie Miller, of Scarlett Garnet Jewelry, a seven-year-old business that opened a storefront last year in St. Louis. "You can do great work with photos and video online, but there’s no real way you can have the immediacy of seeing it, buying it and taking it home right away."

Elizabeth Hahn, who added a holiday pop-up store to her online business, said that many people walk in and tell her she has created a "real live Etsy."

Read more about multichannel retailing.