The way people shop is changing. Especially when it comes to serious investments like good furniture for homes and offices. There was a time when it was common practice to visit the local furniture store, tour each set, compare the look and feel, and decide on a set for the home. But today, the shopping experience always starts online.
It takes seconds to look up popular furniture styles, compare prices from eCommerce store listings, and order pieces for delivery. Even people who want more than a flat pack are more likely to come to the furniture store to order a formal set after they have done the research online. And if your store offers automated truck delivery and setup for online orders, all the better. Therefore, if your furniture store doesn’t have an eCommerce website, now is the time.
2025: The Era of eCommerce
eCommerce has taken the world by storm. A trend that began with Amazon has spread to every major retailer and many minor retailers across the country. Walmart and Target joined the movement. Popular furniture sources like IKEA are now a strong presence in the furniture eCommerce scene. There are even furniture sources that operate profitable businesses with online sales alone, like Wayfair.
Why does it work? Because people have adapted to eCommerce as the go-to way to shop. No matter how enjoyable it might be to tour the local furniture store, consumers today prefer to shop online even when they buy in person.
eCommerce sales have come to represent 63% of consumer spending. Here are a few good reasons why modern consumers prefer to shop online over shopping in person:
Saving Time and Effort
The first and most obvious reason is that it’s easier to browse products online, have them delivered to your door, and set them up at home. High-end retail like good furniture often comes with optional set-up services for that luxury feel without ever leaving the house.
This process saves customers the time and effort of making time for errands, driving to the furniture store, and walking the sales floor to find the products they want.
Research and Buyer Confidence
eCommerce also inspires greater customer confidence through research. It is much easier to compare features, styles, prices, and availability in a page of online listings compared to checking the tag on a dozen tables at the furniture store.
Customers can be confident that they didn’t miss a great deal “at the back of the store” when they use search filters online, and they can compare finer details that are often available in person. They can research brands, compare features, and check stock numbers all in one place.
Self-Service
Customers also enjoy the self-service aspect of eCommerce. Not everyone likes to spend a few hours with a salesperson asking about features, being shown models, and resisting pressure to buy specific sets. The relaxed and self-directed style of shopping online is welcoming to introverts and highly polite people who are uncomfortable asking for another person’s time to help them shop.
The Transformative Power of eCommerce for Furniture Retail
If you run a furniture store, the market is perfect for your eCommerce expansion. Most retail brands already have a website, as it helps with visibility for locals looking for your store. You have a place to share your hours, announce special events, and accept online requests for information or service. Adding an eCommerce store is the natural expansion of that, welcoming customers to browse your products online before they make a purchase.
The Market is Ready
Many customers today prefer eCommerce shopping. They expect it with larger brands and are pleasantly surprised when local stores also have an eCommerce option on their website. Customers who started researching your brand after a quick Google search will be delighted to browse your inventory online, whether they choose to make their purchase in person or through the website.
Your customers are ready for eCommerce. As soon as the option is available, you can expect a surge in online activity and on-site time per session as customers transition from checking your hours and sales announcements directly to shopping for the furniture they want.
Opportunity to Up-Sell and Cross-Sell
eCommerce stores are designed to inspire customers to buy more. The ability to browse suggested/related products added to every product page guide customers through a sales funnel that shows them more furniture they might like. The impulse to browse can often inspire customers to buy more than they would have if visiting the store. It’s easy to add an item to their cart and arrange for delivery, and they can build a set with just a few clicks.
Capitalize On Your Delivery Service
If your furniture store already provides delivery and/or setup services. as many do, then you are perfectly positioned to capitalize on an eCommerce expansion. Offer local buyers delivery for online orders and they can purchase without a second thought knowing their furniture will arrive at a specific time in the hands of trusted professionals.
In fact, a local furniture retailer can often offer a higher quality experience than online depots with the option to buy substantial furniture that is nicer than flat-pack kits and professional assembly services.
Unlocking Your Furniture eCommerce Potential with Tailbase
Tailbase is a comprehensive platform that can quickly expand your furniture retail website into a fully functional eCommerce store. You can easily list your products, integrate your entire inventory system (or add-on Tailbase’s catalog service with over 400 brands), and provide high-quality service for your customers through a new and convenient online venue. Tailbase makes it easy to ensure your eCommerce website is an extension of your store’s existing functionality, aligning inventory, prices, and order management from top to bottom.
The expert Tailbase team is ready to help you take your furniture retail sales to the next level. Make your products available to customers throughout your service area by introducing a smooth and streamlined eCommerce integration. Contact us today to increase your sales through online purchases, upselling opportunities, and streamlined order management with Tailbase. Book a demo today.