Offline and online sales decline

[momon121]

Hi

As the spike of Covid cases rises and the government is constantly displaying their incompetency in this subject matter has anyone else with a storefront or an online business seen a drop of football or sales in the last.

We’ve been busy after lockdown but now our sales have drop on average 40% weekly. Has anyone any ideas to get the footfall or sales back up again

regards and be safe

 

[OMGVape]

We had a huge rise during lockdown and a definite slump this month. I’m putting it down to peoples uncertainty over this second wave.

 

[Mr D]

The slump for us was August. Lowest month since march.
And a mere 55 percent up on August last year. September is looking to be up on August by probably 15 percent plus despite a small decline in international orders.

Not been allowed to do offline sales this year so no idea what that would be.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

doom and glum news fills the papers and TV with redundancies all over the place, is it surprising that people are saving their money and just buying necessities

Normal fallback is more advertising or special offers, if that does not work then trim the business to survival mode and don't wait until it's to late, 60% is better than 0%

 

[momon121]

We specialise in short dated confectionary and we are much cheaper than most supermarkets and discounters even with the delivery fee added onto the orders we are still cheaper than anyone else and even then with offers it’s been really difficult to get them to come into the shop or to order online

 

[Mr D]

We specialise in short dated confectionary and we are much cheaper than most supermarkets and discounters even with the delivery fee added onto the orders we are still cheaper than anyone else and even then with offers it’s been really difficult to get them to come into the shop or to order online

Then your problem is not being too expensive.
May be a dozen other things. But not that.

Have you looked at numbers visiting the site and number of those buying?

 

[momon121]

We have looked into few factors and the only conclusion we can come to as Chris highlighted it’s possibly due to uncertainly and people are being slightly more careful with their finances

 

[Scottishgifts4u]

I think people are coming to terms with the fact that this isn’t going to disappear any time soon and are saving money.

Plus if the online market was buoyant at the beginning of lockdown then it seems only inevitable that there will be a temporary slump as everyone has already stocked up.

 

[momon121]

Many by the looks of it have adjusted to this lockdown from March. Seems like we have to a wear a different hat and be more enterprising for the online customers

 

[Mr D]

Then such reductions will show up for multiple sellers across multiple online product types.

If those sellers are finding different then the cause is called into question.

 

[Punk19]

its like people dont understand how things work. retail sales are driven by consumer confidence which the government have destroyed single handedly (rightly or wrongly) for the second time this year - it will not recover anytime soon. Sales for every business (more or less) in the country is going to be diabolical until positive news is with us. If cases keep going up and up - this could be quite a while.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

its like people dont understand how things work. retail sales are driven by consumer confidence which the government have destroyed single handedly (rightly or wrongly) for the second time this year - it will not recover anytime soon. Sales for every business (more or less) in the country is going to be diabolical until positive news is with us. If cases keep going up and up - this could be quite a while.

Sales for some sectors have never been better. How do you explain this?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Hi

As the spike of Covid cases rises and the government is constantly displaying their incompetency in this subject matter has anyone else with a storefront or an online business seen a drop of football or sales in the last.

Were you looking for advice or did you just want to get that off your chest?

 

[Mr D]

its like people dont understand how things work. retail sales are driven by consumer confidence which the government have destroyed single handedly (rightly or wrongly) for the second time this year - it will not recover anytime soon. Sales for every business (more or less) in the country is going to be diabolical until positive news is with us. If cases keep going up and up - this could be quite a while.

Sales in June were 3 times what they were last December, our highest month of last year. With just 30% of the stock on hand being viable for sale as opposed to the over 90% last December.
Sales in August were almost at December levels with only 2/3rds of the stock on hand being viable for sale.


Consumer confidence is only one factor affecting sales.

 

[momon121]

Were you looking for advice or did you just want to get that off your chest?

More advice or insight how others are coping. I hope others sincerely are doing well

 

[momon121]

Sales in June were 3 times what they were last December, our highest month of last year. With just 30% of the stock on hand being viable for sale as opposed to the over 90% last December.
Sales in August were almost at December levels with only 2/3rds of the stock on hand being viable for sale.


Consumer confidence is only one factor affecting sales.

I agree June sales were out of the roof but we could see slow decline as the moods of people weren’t stabl

 

[Darren_Ssc]

More advice or insight how others are coping. I hope others sincerely are doing well

Your niche is going to be affected by a lot of factors aside from the general mood. What's happened just lately is kids have been going back to school so more parents have been able to go back to work. I'd say this has got to be a factor and not to be so downbeat as a sudden drop in sales doesn't necessarily signify a long-term decline.

 

[momon121]

Your niche is going to be affected by a lot of factors aside from the general mood. What's happened just lately is kids have been going back to school so more parents have been able to go back to work. I'd say this has got to be a factor and not to be so downbeat as a sudden drop in sales doesn't necessarily signify a long-term decline.

the above is correct - however i would say most of our customers that come to were unemployed and on benefits and them are the ones we are missing. School and working patterns is chaotic so I can understand not all parents can make it to me or order online

 

[Mr D]

I agree June sales were out of the roof but we could see slow decline as the moods of people weren’t stabl

The moods may never be stable. But they may still spend.

Look around for competitors - they can have an influence on your business by sucking up new customers that would otherwise find you.

 

[momon121]

The moods may never be stable. But they may still spend.

Look around for competitors - they can have an influence on your business by sucking up new customers that would otherwise find you.

My only competitors are the likes of heron foods home bargains etc whilst they are scattered across the town my only reach is social media and offering door step delivery

 

[Mr D]

My only competitors are the likes of heron foods home bargains etc whilst they are scattered across the town my only reach is social media and offering door step delivery

So look at what your competitors are doing.

Your competitors also include other places selling confectionary?

 

[momon121]

To be honest we wouldn’t say they are our competitors as we specialise in short date we are always the cheapest in town in confectionery. Even they are struggling and sales have plummeted all time low.

it’s scary to think how long this will last

 

[Mr D]

To be honest we wouldn’t say they are our competitors as we specialise in short date we are always the cheapest in town in confectionery. Even they are struggling and sales have plummeted all time low.

it’s scary to think how long this will last

Sorry, do not look at it from your perspective. Look from your customers perspective.
You sell confectionery and other businesses sell confectionery. The customer buys from whom they want.
Are those other confectionery sellers proving better able to get the customer attention?

Look at all your competitors not just the ones most like you.


You will of course also compete with sellers of other types of stuff too but have to limit competitor research somehow or else you include the entire businesses of the planet.

 

[momon121]

Oh yes that makes sense thanks for that Mr D

 

[Darren_Ssc]

My only competitors are the likes of heron foods home bargains etc whilst they are scattered across the town my only reach is social media and offering door step delivery

Have you considered going up market, going for higher margins rather than racing everyone else down to the bottom? There are still plenty of people about with high levels of disposable income who are less sensitive to current events and actually spending more than normal.

 

[AllUpHere]

As at any other time, those with sound marketing strategy will thrive, those without will have to hope for the best. Obviously there are a few exceptions, but generally the last 6 months have provided the best opportunity I've seen in my lifetime.

In your line of business,the current situation is probably the biggest and best opportunity you are ever going to get. Don't sit around wondering why sales have dropped, that's madness.

As Mr D has pointed out, you are profiling your competitors in the wrong way. Your competition isn't others selling cheap, it's all the places from which customers can buy confectionery. People aren't shopping on price, they are shopping for convenience.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

In your line of business,the current situation is probably the biggest and best opportunity you are ever going to get.

Worth emphasising.

 

[momon121]

As at any other time, those with sound marketing strategy will thrive, those without will have to hope for the best. Obviously there are a few exceptions, but generally the last 6 months have provided the best opportunity I've seen in my lifetime.

In your line of business,the current situation is probably the biggest and best opportunity you are ever going to get. Don't sit around wondering why sales have dropped, that's madness.

As Mr D has pointed out, you are profiling your competitors in the wrong way. Your competition isn't others selling cheap, it's all the places from which customers can buy confectionery. People aren't shopping on price, they are shopping for convenience.

You are correct that it has presenting me with a great opportunity but I’m struggling to put the message out there that we are the cheapest without being too blunt. We provide a very affordable delivery service and we daily remind people on Facebook.

 

[AllUpHere]

You are correct that it has presenting me with a great opportunity but I’m struggling to put the message out there that we are the cheapest without being too blunt. We provide a very affordable delivery service and we daily remind people on Facebook.

Putting stuff on Facebook is a waste of time. Why are you trying to avoid being blunt? Blunt is good.

 

[Mr D]

You are correct that it has presenting me with a great opportunity but I’m struggling to put the message out there that we are the cheapest without being too blunt. We provide a very affordable delivery service and we daily remind people on Facebook.

Then instead put the message out there about - here I am and this is what I sell.


You are not selling your prices you are selling your products. You can also tell people too much - tell my wife daily and she will not notice the message / advert. Tell her once a week or less and she may notice.
Familiarity can force your message into the background noise.

My favourite advertiser on Facebook who I buy from regularly advertises there once a month.

 

[Alison Moore]

Most people are prioritising necessity purchases over non-necessities, with such an uncertain future, plus with less people (grandchildren) visiting they won't be needing their confectionery jars as much. Not forgetting that a lot of people will have put on weight during lockdown, so will be looking to cut back from a health point of view too.

 

[momon121]

Putting stuff on Facebook is a waste of time. Why are you trying to avoid being blunt? Blunt is good.

I feel shy to be honest. Sometimes I want to be blunt but the lack of confidence holds me back and that’s when I come here and try reading everyone’s responses and find ways to overcome my shortcomings and it helps me.

I know Facebook can be anti climax but with such low footfall in the town I can’t think any other way of pumping out our messages ? I can do leaflet but I’m not overly confident in them

 

[momon121]

Then instead put the message out there about - here I am and this is what I sell.


You are not selling your prices you are selling your products. You can also tell people too much - tell my wife daily and she will not notice the message / advert. Tell her once a week or less and she may notice.
Familiarity can force your message into the background noise.

My favourite advertiser on Facebook who I buy from regularly advertises there once a month.

I might do that actually - you may have a point with monotonous daily messages

 

[AllUpHere]

I feel shy to be honest. Sometimes I want to be blunt but the lack of confidence holds me back and that’s when I come here and try reading everyone’s responses and find ways to overcome my shortcomings and it helps me.

I know Facebook can be anti climax but with such low footfall in the town I can’t think any other way of pumping out our messages ? I can do leaflet but I’m not overly confident in them

I say this with the very best of intentions, and hope you take it in the spirit it is written, but you need to grow a pair. Being shy is no reason to fail, quite the opposite in fact. You are leaving hundreds of thousands of pounds on the table and using being shy as an excuse.

It sounds like you've got a decent business model and a good point of differentiation. If there are people in your area who are short of money but in need of confectionary you are doing them a favour by marketing to them.

If you fancy a chat (foc), I'd be happy to bounce around a few ideas with you.

 

[MOIC]

1. Diversify your product categories and ranges.

2. Emphasise next day (or same day) 'doorstep' deliveries.

For your business, buying is key.

You don't have to be cheap, you have to offer a good product and good service.

Offer 'discount coupons' for subsequent orders in order to keep customers ordering from you.

 

[momon121]

Most people are prioritising necessity purchases over non-necessities, with such an uncertain future, plus with less people (grandchildren) visiting they won't be needing their confectionery jars as much. Not forgetting that a lot of people will have put on weight during lockdown, so will be looking to cut back from a health point of view too.

Might consider looking for healthier options and would you believe I completely forget that social distancing is preventing families visiting. Something there for me to review

 

[momon121]

I say this with the very best of intentions, and hope you take it in the spirit it is written, but you need to grow a pair. Being shy is no reason to fail, quite the opposite in fact. You are leaving hundreds of thousands of pounds on the table and using being shy as an excuse.

It sounds like you've got a decent business model and a good point of differentiation. If there are people in your area who are short of money but in need of confectionary you are doing them a favour by marketing to them.

If you fancy a chat (foc), I'd be happy to bounce around a few ideas with you.

Thank you so much I’d love to have a chat and tha n you so much. Hey I’ve got a pair maybe I need to visit Oz for a new pair lol

 

[momon121]

1. Diversify your product categories and ranges.

2. Emphasise next day (or same day) 'doorstep' deliveries.

For your business, buying is key.

You don't have to be cheap, you have to offer a good product and good service.

Offer 'discount coupons' for subsequent orders in order to keep customers ordering from you.

Hi Ron

how you’re well, thank you so much again for the advice. Always assisting and thank you so much to everyone

 

[Guy Incognito]

August was slow, our second lowest % increase of the year (Feb was the lowest). But still up over 200% from last year.

September was good and October has started well.

 

[Mr D]

Online has seen a boost. Offline has seen a major decline - relies heavily on export market and in our main market people keep being ill or dying...
Which does not look likely to reverse before January.