As the back-to-school season rapidly approaches, e-commerce retailers must prepare for an influx of consumers starting their shopping early – as soon as July. At WISMOlabs, we provide key insights to enhance your post-purchase experience and seize these critical opportunities. In this guide, we’ll focus on understanding customer behaviors, capitalizing on cross-sell and upsell opportunities, and engaging the digital-native Generation Alpha.
Early Bird Shopping Habits and Opportunities
According to our research, over half (54%) of consumers start their back-to-school shopping in July, before they even receive official school supply lists. This trend suggests the need for retailers to be prepared early, ensuring seamless and robust post-purchase experiences from the beginning of the shopping season.
Mid-July sales events were increasingly popular amongst retailers using WISMOlabs platform, as eight in ten consumers made the most of these opportunities for their back-to-school shopping. As an e-commerce retailer, this period was an ideal time to capitalize on upselling and cross-selling strategies. While providing efficient package tracking and communication, consider recommending additional relevant items or upgraded products to your customers. These strategies not only maximize sales but can also enhance the overall customer experience and improve brand loyalty.
Engaging Generation Alpha: The Digital Pioneers
The influence of Generation Alpha, the tech-savvy cohort born after 2010, can’t be overlooked. With a majority of parents turning to their Alpha children for purchasing advice, retailers must ensure their post-purchase experiences are designed to engage these young consumers. From intuitive UX design to interactive package tracking, each element should foster a positive interaction with your brand.
Moreover, Generation Alpha is highly influenced by YouTube personalities and gaming platforms. 56% of children aged 6 to 16 want to buy items promoted by their favorite YouTube influencers, and gaming platforms like Roblox have seen a surge in brand interactions. These trends present an opportunity to extend your post-purchase communication strategies into these platforms, creating a unified and seamless experience across digital touchpoints.
Navigating Economic Challenges: Inflation and Customer Loyalty
Inflation remains a critical factor in consumer behavior. With school supplies and clothing experiencing significant price hikes in 2022 and 2023, consumers are eager to stretch their budget as much as possible. Many are willing to switch brands if prices are high. In this environment, providing an exceptional post-purchase experience can help retain customers and improve brand loyalty.
Providing timely and accurate order updates can enhance customers’ trust in your brand. More importantly, cross-selling and upselling strategies can be particularly effective here. By notifying customers of relevant deals, discounts, and bundles during the post-purchase phase, you can encourage additional purchases while offering value to your customers.
The Balance Between Brick-and-Mortar and Online Shopping
Despite the growth of e-commerce, physical stores still play a significant role, accounting for about two thirds of total retail sales. This insight underscores the need to offer a seamless omnichannel experience. Regardless of where your customer chooses to shop, they should have access to an excellent post-purchase experience that includes tracking, communication, and upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
At WISMOlabs, we help you integrate online and offline channels, ensuring real-time order tracking, whether customers choose buy online, pick up in-store, or opt for home delivery.
Wrapping Up
Back-to-school season in 2023 is set to be a diverse mix of traditional and new shopping trends. E-commerce retailers who understand these patterns and focus on delivering an exceptional post-purchase experience will be well-positioned to succeed. By implementing upselling and cross-selling strategies, engaging with the influential Generation Alpha, and offering a seamless omnichannel experience, you can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
WISMOlabs is dedicated to helping e-commerce retailers like you navigate these trends and deliver remarkable post-purchase experiences. From real-time package tracking to relevant and timely cross-sell and upsell opportunities, we provide the tools to help your brand shine during the back-to-school season and beyond. Contact us today to explore how our solutions can support your 2023 back-to-school strategy and drive your business growth.
