percent of all mobile orders this holiday season , it may also be one of the most effective to boost revenue .
The Convenience Factor Occupancy limits and sanitation concerns have understandably changed the way that retail sales happen inside spas , but that doesn ’ t mean that a spa ’ s physical location can ’ t contribute heavily to this holiday season ’ s retail performance . In fact , Salesforce estimates that sites offering store pickup , whether curbside , inside or drive-through , will increase digital sales by 90 percent ( yes , that ’ s nine-zero ) compared to the prior holiday shopping season .
It may seem like a huge leap , but even before the pandemic , consumers were growing more comfortable buying online and picking up in store ( BOPIS ). The pandemic accelerated that trend , and now a third of U . S . consumers have reported that , this year , they are more interested in using BOPIS as a shopping method than last year .
The added convenience for shoppers may be obvious , but spas with a strong connection to their local markets can also benefit by encouraging customers to use BOPIS rather than traditional shipping methods , saving time as
well as labor and shipping costs . Of course , offering BOPIS isn ’ t enough ; spas need to actively promote their retail pickup options and clearly communicate the steps of the process for interested shoppers .
Timing is Everything Despite the many ways in which this holiday shopping season promises to look different , one thing hasn ’ t changed : it ’ s still a good idea to get your shopping ( and selling ) done early . Increases in online shopping and physical distancing in distribution centers are likely to increase shipping times and put packages at risk of not being delivered on time , so any spas relying on traditional delivery providers should encourage buyers to avoid the last-minute rush .
Spas that can adapt to take advantage of the trends surrounding online retail and order fulfillment are likely to see an improvement in retail sales ( and , potentially , profit margins ) this holiday season . But the trends highlighted by Salesforce ’ s consumer data won ’ t stop in their tracks once the calendar turns to 2021 , giving spas much to think about as they plan their retail strategies for next year and beyond . n