5 Examples of Omnichannel Retailing Done Right

The term “omnichannel” has undoubtedly reached buzzword status in the world of retail, with some experts even urging people to stop using the term altogether. 

But regardless of how you feel about it, the concept sticks; and for many, the term omnichannel adequately describes a tightly integrated retail system that enables companies to be present on multiple channels (e.g., in-person, online, mobile, etc.) while letting customers move and transact seamlessly from one channel or platform to another. 

Being omnichannel used to be a good feature or best practice to have. Today, though, omnichannel capabilities are table stakes. 

Industry data shows that 73% of consumers use multiple channels in their shopping journeys. This is even more pronounced among millennials (i.e., the largest consumer group today). Research shows that 60% of millennials “expect a consistent experience from brands whether they interact online, in-store or via phone.”

If you’re looking to beef up your omnichannel game, below are a handful of examples to inspire and inform your efforts. 

Spoilt’s connected retail platform lets it sell on all its customers’ favorite channels

Spoilt, an Australian gift and homeware store, does an excellent job at being where its customers are. In addition to its brick and mortar stores and ecommerce site, Spoilt uses Instagram’s shop capabilities to showcase its products and enable customers to view and buy items without having to navigate out of the Instagram app. 

The best part? Whenever someone buys an item, Spoilt’s sales and inventory data are automatically synced. This means that Spoilt never has to worry about overselling products or inaccurate data. 

“The main add-on we use is Shopify. That is where we are running our online store. That was the main reason for us to move to Vend. We did like our old system as it had some great reporting features but it was not moving with the times when it came to being an omni-channel platform,” explains Laura Semple, Marketing & Business Development Coordinator at Spoilt.

“We wanted the ability to have our products feature on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google Shop, and more to make it easier for customers to buy from us no matter what platform they were on. Shopify has really allowed us to do this quite well and while there are always some hurdles it has definitely given us more control to do it in-house with both Vend and Shopify.”

Smack Bang’s loyalty program rewards customers no matter where or how they’re shopping

Next up, we have Smack Bang, a New Zealand-based retailer that sells pet accessories and treats.

Like many retailers, Smack Bang has a multi-channel presence and sells both online and offline. What we love about this retailer though is its loyalty program which functions seamlessly across all channels. 

This means that members of Smack Bang’s loyalty program can earn and redeem rewards no matter where or how they’re shopping. Smack Bang has a beautiful loyalty widget that incorporates that themes and colors of its store and website, giving customers an amazing brand experience.

Smack Bang implements it loyalty program using Marsello, a retention marketing platform that combines email, SMS, and loyalty programs in one solution. Thanks to Marsello’s integration with Vend, Smack Bang is able to run its omnichannel loyalty initiatives with ease. 

“Marsello’s seamless Vend and Shopify loyalty integrations are a key part of our customer retention plan for both our physical and online stores and has proven to keep customers coming back to earn points and redeem rewards,” says Amelia Lingonis, Director at Smack Bang. Being able to customise the widget online to reflect our branding is really important to us, allowing us to create an online shopping experience as close to the physical store as possible.”

Sephora makes product reordering quick and easy

Sephora has been an omnichannel retail for a while now, letting customers shop on physical and digital channels. One of the many impressive things that Sephora is doing is it gives customers more visibility on their purchase history. 

Sephora has a large catalog, so to make it easy for customers to reorder products, the retailer has a Purchase History page, which lists all the items that the shopper bought previously, along with the date of purchase, and where the transaction took place (i.e. online or in a specific store).

There’s even an “Add to Basket” beside each item, so customers can add it to their shopping cart quickly. 

Nordstrom’s returns process is smooth and flexible

A great omnichannel experience isn’t just about letting people buy across different channels. A big part of cultivating a great customer experience lies in how well you handle returns. Nothing disappoints customers more than letting jump through too many hoops to return an item. 

While it’s important to verify the purchase details before accepting a return, you should also find a way to make the experience more pleasant. And in the age of omnichannel retailing, one of the best ways to do this is letting them return their items through the platform or channel that is most convenient for them. 

Nordstrom does this really well. The department store has a smooth process that lets customers return products in any store (in some cases, even curbside). And if shoppers prefer to mail the items back, they can do so as well, simply by starting a returns process online. 

Consider implementing something similar in your business. Ensure that your online and offline platforms are connected and enable you to accept returns from any store — even if the purchase was made online or at a different shop. 

Grain & Vine sells and fulfills orders on multiple channels

Grain & Vine, a New York-based wine and spirits shop is doing an amazing job with omnichannel sales and fulfillment.

In addition to letting shoppers buy online and in-store, Grain & Vine, offers several fulfillment options, including in-store pickup and same-day delivery. 

It’s a great initiative particular at a time when consumers are mandated to stay home. Grain & Vine’s convenient fulfillment options certainly set it apart from other retailers. 

Ready to level up your omnichannel retailing game?

Hopefully, these examples of omnichannel retailing have inspired you to uplevel your retail platforms and experiences. Remember going omnichannel isn’t optional these days — it’s a must.

So, get your retail ducks (channels) in a row, and start delighting your customers.