Are You Customers Showrooming?

Showrooming has become an increasingly troubling trend. Customers come to your brick and mortar retail store to see a product, but then buy it online.
Retail Information Systems (RIS) just published some very troubling trends.

• Showrooming drives 50% of online sales.
• 20% of consumers who see a product in a store eventually buy it from an online only retailer
• 15% of consumers eventually purchase the product from a competitor as a result of their research.
• Top 5 Retailers at risk of Showrooming: Bed Bath and Beyond, Petsmart, Toys R Us, Best Buy and Sears.

What does a retailer do to combat this? RIS suggests that retailers design strategies to engage showroomers. For example, price match, provide more delivery options, sell exclusive products, publish their inventory online, and partner with price comparison apps.
Are your customer showrooming your business?
By Barry Moltz