What makes your wholesale buyer or seller site feel safe? Are we spending too much time looking at the transaction, and not the system that supports it? Sometimes we do spend a lot of time and resources on setting up the sale… but not necessarily creating a feeling of security. It’s always a good idea to look at the shopping experience you offer your customers with a fresh set of eyes, so you can tailor it to meet the demands of today.

We’re hearing a lot of talk about the economy swinging upward, the improving health of the GDP, and a rebuilding of the country’s assets… we’re also hearing a lot of noise regarding the ’softness’ of the economy, and the second bubble bursting once those printing presses cool off after creating truckloads of fresh cash. Who’s right? Who knows what the answers are to the world’s ills? Who cares. As a wholesaler or retailer, you should hope for the best and prepare for the worst, in an effort to provide your customers with the highest level of security and value for their money. Those who protect their clientele will be rewarded later, as they are the ones who will be remembered for displaying a trustworthy and realistic mindset during these turbulent times.

“This is going to be a very competitive online shopping season,

so retailers should take immediate steps to bolster their

customer retention strategies in order to ensure repeat purchases.”

- Forrester Research Principal Analyst Sucharita Mulpuru.

The truth is that a lot of today’s shoppers don’t have the money they had a couple of years ago. However, they are still in need of goods, and they probably have added incentives - maybe even a little extra time - to shop around and look for the best deals. It’s a pretty simple scenario, and if you adjust your own selling methods to take this into account, you will be able to deliver the goods time after time. You will also keep your loyal customers coming back for more. Online sales will be grabbing a share of about $44 billion this year, as shoppers increasingly turn to the Internet for their purchases. The chart above comes from Forrester Research Inc., and it shows a mixed bag of factors that drive consumer spending. Some of it is predictable, while other factors like shipping prices and returns could be the make-or-break detail for your company, as you target your market and make the move to create a feeling of safety and comfort on your site. Time is of the essence, as well… since reports are showing that shoppers will start their holiday shopping early this year, and as many as 40% will begin buying right after Halloween. So much for Black Friday, the traditionally-cited benchmark for setting KPI’s and goals for the year-end!

“The good news is that those shoppers who

you thought were disappearing may not be gone,

they may just be delaying.”

- McAfee Research Analyst Shane Keats

On a more recent note, McAfee - the Internet security giant – has issued reports showing some of their findings regarding the security-based issues that underscore consumer spending patterns and buying decisions. According to McAfee, key reasons for consumers to delay their purchases fall under the following five points:

• Brand Recognition

• Demographics, and level of Experience

• Competitors

• Novelty

• Price

Some of this comes as no surprise, while the bullet showing “Competitors” should be setting off alarms. Competition will be ferocious this year, and all indicators are pointing to an escalating battle ahead… for all of us. We’re gearing up for the challenge, and you can always get more information by following the link to the various industry-oriented knowledge bases like Manufacturer.com site, for example.