I don’t know where you are, but my local Ace Hardware/TrueValue/etc., independent stores have learned to survive with order-online, pickup-in-store as an option.
Things such stores need to survive in this era:
1. Great customer service and product knowledge.
2. Significant marketing campaigns and targeted online advertising. A lot of people don’t know these stores exist as they really only know to look for HD and Lowes.
3. Knowledge to leverage tech at every point they can.
4. Doesn’t hurt to offer weird stuff that the big boys don’t bother with but somehow a lot of people end up needing.
5. Constant reassessment and re-evaluation of all the above.
There are several such stores in Dallas that *should* be dead but have survived the online onslaught through the above. Also, it doesn’t have to be delivered, it just has to be available online for order 24 hours a day, and accommodating hours for pickup at the store the next day.
They had all 5 plus 2 ‘Vet only’ parking at front entrance, Vet discount, did a lot of community service year round, think the local blood bank had a bus there, recommended places to go if they didn’t have it or couldn’t find it, owners were ‘hands on’, cashiers very friendly, floor people very knowledgeable, ‘community’ fairly small but..
Shopping center they are in has a Food Lion, Restaurant, Dollar General (which may ‘hurt’ the Hardware & Grocery), free standing McDs, 4 gas stations in ‘throwing distance’, and several other businesses.
Good people and am sorry to see them go....
IF
PRO gress is moving forward,
How do you describe
CON gress?