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2018 Digital
Strategies for
Home & Hardware
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In the home and hardware industry, sales grew 19.3% from 2016 to 2017, with web transactions equivalent to 7.7% of total retail sales.
95% of professionals say they purchase or research building products online and half of these consumers make at least one online home improvement purchase for their jobs monthly.
In the 3rd quarter of 2017, Lowe’s doubled its profits growth, attributing this success to attracting and retaining professional customers.
The real potential of ecommerce resides within the home and hardware B2B industry. Professional contractors, suppliers, and interior designers are always on the move, rarely sitting at their desks. As a result, it’s easy to see the appeal of shopping online for materials, tools, and equipment which offers them the convenience of being able to order exactly what they need for their projects from any location. The home and hardware sector is one of the least penetrated by ecommerce, but it’s quickly adapting to the changing needs of its ‘pro’ customers and has grown significantly in recent years.
The real potential of ecommerce, a pervasive part of the B2C retail experience, resides within the B2B world, particularly in the home improvement and hardware industry. The home improvement and hardware sector, one of the least penetrated by ecommerce, is quickly adapting to the changing needs of professional contractors and buyers.
Home and hardware retailers that are both B2B and B2C must understand the difference between their two types of customers: professionals and DIY consumers. For large chains, professionals only make up a small percentage of total shoppers, but a large portion of revenue. For example, professional contractors and buyers from government agencies only make up 3% of Home Depot’s customers, but they generate 40% of the retailer’s revenue.
This site covers the major areas of focus and investment for Home and Hardware companies, including Pricing, Negotiating, and Promotional Discounts, Optimal Checkout Process, Inventory Transparency and Delivery Options, Account Management, Product Pages, Content, and finally In-Store Technology.
Blue Acorn is a digital agency and systems integrator dedicated to maximizing client satisfaction and online revenue for leading B2C and B2B brands. For all your ecommerce needs, an integrated team of designers, developers and strategists work together to deliver engaging shopping experiences for your customers and efficient processes for you. Whether you’re looking for fundamental or incremental change, the team at Blue Acorn will adopt your ecommerce KPIs as our own, and deliver the results that matter most to your organization. Our services include replatforming, ecommerce design, systems integration, A/B testing, ongoing support, new feature development, analytics, and personalization.