Best Outward Appearance

Emphasize bricks & mortar?

[RossWal]

Let's say I have a small-med brink&mortar retail storefront & half of it is dedicated to selling gifty-like items. And say I want to start an ecommerce venture selling the same type of stuff, but eventually building to a broader inventory than what's in the B&M store.

Should I show the relationship to the smaller B&M size shop on the ecommerce web site (essentially marry the two sites)? Would that be credability gaining asset, or a limiting liability? I'd like to consider highlighting the relationship for now, then divorcing the two when the ecommerce side is established. The promblem is the branding issue. Do I brand the emcommerce venture to match the storefront or not. I don't want to switch that mid-stream.

Comments oh wise ones?

Ross

[Corey Bryant]

When you say show a relationship - how big is this store? Is it known nationally? If so - then yes you should brand your website so that others will know it is branded with that brick & mortar store. If not, it really does not matter that much. Remember - the WWW is everywhere & your store is possibly in one town?

I actually did something similiar like this for a client. She had pretty much a five & dime store. She wanted an internet presence. So I recommended that she create two websites: one for her e-commerce & then one for ther brick & mortar store. This way, she can push people over to the e-commerce website when they land on her brick & mortar business site.

Corey

[RossWal]

The store in question is a single store. Known only locally. So of course there is about zero value to the brand on a national or global level, but my question is whether there is value in the credibility of haaving a physical presence.

The ecommerce site could feature pictures of the store, products as displayed in the store, etc. This might tend to instill conficence in buyers, at the same time that same approach would forever prevent us from projecting the image of being a megaplex (whatever that is, sounds cool though) with scores of employees.

So that's the trade-off I'm trying to balance. I think the correct compromise it to co-brand it for now, such that the two can be decoupled at a later time.

Comments still appreciated.

Ross

[Corey Bryant]

Sounds like possibly two web sites - one for your brick & mortar & then an online store.

This helps in a few different ways. Your brick & mortar store might get hist for a particular item that you can then tell them to guy here. For example, if you try to purchase something from www.attwireless.com - you are re-directed to www.buywirelessnow.com - same concept. You give your brick & mortar store a place on the web & create an internet store. Then on the internet store, you can always point back to your brick & mortar store site & say that if you are ever in Bonham, Texas, feel free to find us at 123 Main Street.

-Corey