Connecting with Customers: The Key to Omnichannel Success

The retail landscape is shifting, but your outdoor brand’s success can continue. Embracing change and seizing new opportunities is more critical than ever. At ENDVR, we’re committed to helping your brand thrive in this dynamic market. Here are three powerful marketing strategies to propel your brand forward in DTC, Wholesale, and Omnichannel channels in 2024.

Tell Your Brand Story: Captivate and Convert

Your brand’s story is your secret advantage to connect with customers, but is it reaching your audience effectively? Are you spending all your marketing efforts on eCommerce, seeing an increase in clicks and visits, but higher returns than sales? Consider allocating a portion of your marketing budget to drive consumers to retail doors where your products are shelved.

In a true omnichannel strategy, your online and offline efforts should work seamlessly together. For instance, consumers often start their research online (DTC) but make their final purchase in-store (Wholesale). What happens when the consumer gets to the store and doesn’t see your product well positioned? Do in-store sales associates know everything about your brand, ready to answer common questions on pricing details, quality, and tech specs? What if the sales team on the store floor is new? Are they equipped to sell your product confidently?

Knowing that 60% of consumers enter a store without knowing which brand to buy but with a clear idea of the product they want, what is your strategy to educate that consumer already in the store? Do you have a plan to ensure they leave with your product in hand?

With ENDVR, you can craft a compelling narrative about your brand and connect directly with in-store sales associates via our app. This ensures critical questions are answered on the fly, and sales associates are educated through engaging content like images, videos, and modules. ENDVR’s platform offers a dynamic way to train your sales team, transforming them into brand ambassadors who can share your story effectively.

Empower Your Sales Force: Become Product Experts

Informed sales teams are your brand champions. Equip your frontline staff with the product knowledge to promote your products confidently across all channels. Through gamified campaigns and accessible product knowledge, your sales associates become experts on your brand story, features, and benefits. Companies that prioritize employee training see a 218% higher income per employee and a 24% higher profit margin.

For example, a sales associate completes a learning campaign showcasing your new line of lightweight, waterproof, touchscreen-compatible gloves perfect for winter adventures. With ENDVR, this knowledge stays top-of-mind, enabling them to confidently answer customer questions, address pain points, and drive sales through informed recommendations. This is especially critical in an omnichannel environment where consistent knowledge across online and offline channels enhances the customer experience.

As you can see from these stats, consumers don’t differentiate between online and in-store shopping experiences, or between retailers and brands. They use all mediums to make their purchases, expecting a seamless, integrated experience. Therefore, it’s crucial for brands and retailers to find better ways to work together.

Build Community: IRL and Online

Customers crave connection. ENDVR helps you foster a thriving community around your brand. With a strong brand presence on the store floor, customers can see and hear about your brand values, creating a deep connection. Educated staff can effectively communicate your brand’s story—74% of consumers identify word-of-mouth as a key influencer in purchasing decisions.

84% of consumers believe retailers should be doing more to integrate their online and offline channels. With 97.2 million Americans regularly using “buy online, pickup in-store” (BOPIS) in 2024, representing 34.2% of U.S. consumers, the opportunity to enhance both in-store and online experiences is immense. In fact, 85% of U.S. BOPIS shoppers have made an additional purchase when they went to the store to collect an order.

Take it to the next level: Gamify the experience! ENDVR lets you create engaging campaigns and challenges that boost sales associate engagement, both online and in-store.

The retail landscape may be shifting, but with ENDVR, you can stay ahead of the curve. By crafting compelling narratives, empowering your sales force, and fostering a vibrant community, you’ll conquer any challenge and connect with your audience in a whole new way.