The battle of e-commerce and in-store beauty retail is on – and It’s going great with 'try and buy' winning.
For decades, the beauty industry has been the fastest-growing retail business in the world, and if we talk about its trends, of course, it has dramatic shifts. From in-store to online shopping, and now to trying before buying products, shoppers have become more focused than ever. As their expectations are growing, the beauty & personal care stores are striving to give ease of access for greater customer satisfaction, product discovery and innovation.
Looking back at the trends of the beauty industry for decades, it is evident that offline sales and customer experience are still ruling over the online beauty market. You wouldn’t believe that more than 60% of women like to spend on new brands if they were offering vegan and chemical-free products. (Source: harpersbazaar.com)
Surprising? Try and buy was always just a marketing strategy till it came into effect. And now taking a shape of strategy in the retail world. Well, it has stood out to be the best plan of action to gain the customers’ trust and loyalty.
It’s a win-win for both! Don't you think so? For shoppers, no more huge spending before knowing whether the product is right for you, no side effects, and of course, it rocks the beauty battle(And if they are natural beauty products, it's like a cherry on the cake).
According to Retail Drive’s Survey, more than 55% of consumers prefer visiting the store, touching the product, and then ordering online. It basically emphasizes the fact that omnichannel experiences still have a major place in the modern beauty industry.
Despite many of the online beauty brands out there, many still want to 'hit the stores' to shop for what they can touch and feel. This shows that the trends shaping the future of the beauty business are still in line with omnichannel and in-store shopping experiences.
What's better than enticing the customers by letting them try before they make a purchase? This not only lures the new shoppers but also builds customer loyalty.
When shoppers buy beauty products by trying in brick-and-mortar locations, they get to socialize before choosing to buy. Hassle-free trying cuts away much of the negative judgment by new consumers when trying brands or products they may not be known to. Plus, there’s still nothing more compelling than a bit of personal advice from a friend about a particular brand. Word of mouth can also prove to be beneficial for the brands. Knowing they can try different products that work best for their needs keeps them loyal to your brand and ultimately widens the possibilities of them being totally convinced.
Well, this trend is worth it. From women to men, everyone can start to try and buy makeup & cosmetics and look out for what’s best for them.
Here’s the point about online shopping — as advantageous as it is, there's a problem. Neither the shopper is able to touch and feel the product nor they can be sure that it will suit them well. Nevertheless, everyone knows when they enter a showroom, the first thing they like is trying it, checking it in the mirror, and being sure.
As eCommerce is becoming more popular, an ordinary online shopper knows this well! That’s why it’s so troublesome to get them to get their hands on something new. Every review is different and will make you more confused. And the hassle returns are the biggest nuisance.
Beauty industry trends say that making the users try it before they buy it is the best idea to get through those annoyances.
Maybe the only way!