In today's consumer market, the rise of e-commerce has brought a huge impact to physical stores. As a brick-and-mortar store practitioner, I am confused and worried about this phenomenon. Although the margins of some goods are already very low, e-commerce can still sell at a lower price than the ex-factory price, which may seem like a good thing for consumers, but it is not a sustainable development model in the long run.
E-commerce is able to sell goods at such low prices, on the one hand, because its operating costs are relatively low, and there is no need to bear high store rent and labor costs. On the other hand, some e-commerce companies may achieve lower procurement costs through scale effects and supply chain optimization. However, this price competition is extremely unfair for brick-and-mortar stores, and many brick-and-mortar stores struggle to survive the competition.
While consumers enjoy the benefits of low prices in the short term, the sustainability of this model is questionable. Over time, a series of problems can arise. For example, over-reliance on e-commerce can lead to the loss of jobs, which can have a negative impact on the local economy. In addition, low-price competition may force some companies to reduce the quality of their products, ultimately harming the interests of consumers.
We can't ignore the importance of brick-and-mortar stores in society and the economy. Not only do brick-and-mortar stores provide employment opportunities, but they are also an important part of the community. They provide people with an authentic shopping experience and facilitate communication and interaction between people. Therefore, we need to think about how to find a balance between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores. The government and relevant authorities can introduce policies to promote fair competition between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores. At the same time, brick-and-mortar stores also need to continue to innovate and improve their competitiveness. For example, by providing unique products and services, improving the shopping environment, and enhancing interaction with consumers, etc., to attract more customers.
Blocking all brick-and-mortar stores isn't the best way to solve the problem. We should work together to build a healthier and fairer consumer market, where e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores can coexist and prosper, and provide consumers with better shopping choices and experiences. Let's wait and see what the future holds, and each of us can play an active role in this process.