PENNSAUKEN, N.J.—As part of its continuing series on how retailers can deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams Trading Co has decided to share some quick and helpful tips to convert a retailer's business to curbside pick-up as states begin to allow retailers to reopen.
While some states or counties might not allow stores to reopen fully, some are allowing stores to reopen based on a curbside pick-up model. Adult retail brick and mortar businesses can easily adopt this model for their own use.
First, one of the easiest ways to convert to curbside is if the business already has a website where customers can order and pay. If possible, the store should assign time slots for pick-up, and designate an area where orders are held within the store. When the customer arrives to pick up their order, they can either call the store phone, or text their arrival to a designated number. Retailers are advised to make sure employees ask for the color, make, and model of the customer's vehicle, just in case there is more than one pick-up at a time.
The best practice for both consumer and store employee safety is to ask that the consumer have their back window or door open so the employee, masked and gloved, can simply place the order in the backseat and avoid contact entirely.
Tips for converting to curbside pick-up:
- Those retailers who don’t currently have a website can build one quickly and inexpensively. While there are many platforms available, Shopify offers a free 90-day trial, and pricing is as low as $29/month. The Shopify app, once integrated with Inventory Source, is fully compatible with Williams Inventory updates.
- A retailer can link its Shopify site with Inventory Source and load the store inventory onto its Shopify site. The process is quick, easy, and depending on the plan chosen, can be relatively inexpensive. This will make offering customers curbside pickup much easier. (Retailers are also advised to check with their distributor; they may offer a discount coupon for Inventory Source.)
- Shopify offers a special app called Store Pickup and Collect. Store Pickup provides customers with a seamless pick-up option that integrates with the store's existing shipping and styling. It has a 14-day free trial, and costs $11/month.
- Setting up a separate number for store pick-up is easy: Simply set up a new Google Voice number. To sign up for Google Voice, click here.
This is the latest in Williams Trading Co’s COVID-19-related educational releases. Each week, new content will be posted across Williams Trading Co’s various media platforms.
