This year has been so hard having the expense of a store, I really believe in having a physical space for the business but feel like commercial lease is so unattainable. Do I go online and digital only? I’m worried I will then be so reliant on the digital and will struggle to keep connections with my community.
You talk about ‘your community’ . Are they loyal to you , or will they buy off an online retailer , especially if that retailer is cheaper for the same or similar products ? Are you mainly just local ?
How much space do you need for stock ? How many customers a day walk in ? Can you do a hybrid version ? For example , buy a van that is about the same $$ value as your annual lease – deliver to existing customers and show potential customers , without needing to sit in a warehouse 10 hours a day ?
Some businesses only need a website and can operate nationwide or even worldwide ; others customers want to physically touch a product or have a connection with the seller .