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Online business channels are used more, but not all increase in sales
Posted On 06 Apr 2020
The obligation to quarantine and stay home to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has caused many companies to temporarily close their physical spaces, however, their virtual businesses are still active and showing unprecedented exponential growth in visits and in some sales cases , through its online channels, especially those that sell food.
Online business channels are used more, but not all increase in sales
In the case of Economic Credits, according to its commercial vice president, Carlos Salame , it has had a growth in visits to its website, but not in sales.
“Since we cannot make deliveries during the emergency, many customers have preferred to wait to buy after the situation has normalized,” explains the manager, who reiterates that the 65 stores of Economic Credits and Motozone are closed.
He adds that the impact has been “very important” due to the loss of sales and because customers cannot physically go to cancel their credits. For this reason they enabled a payment option through their website , as well as to make bank transfers and deposits by Western Union.
Talía Calderón, head of e-commerce for the Pycca Group , assures that regardless of the emergency, the company’s online channel already showed transactional increases this year; However, it highlights that last March they grew 80% in sales compared to that month of 2019 and 135% when comparing the first quarter of this year with the same period last year.
However, he explains that because many of its marketing lines do not correspond to medicines or food, most of its transactions are advance purchases that they will deliver when the state of emergency ends.
Except for its new line of pet food that is sold exclusively online with the logistical support of its supplier, who makes the deliveries.
“The impact has been strong, however we have not stopped serving our customers through our digital media and especially our online store ,” he adds.
The construction sector has not stopped promoting their projects even if it is virtual, so some real estate agencies offer virtual tours and visits, as in the case of La Joya.
Joan Proaño, manager of the promoter Proaño-Proaño and spokesperson for Constructores Positives , an organization that brings together around 600 construction representatives, confirms that despite being paralyzed in works, they are still active on the websites.
He explains that they apply three actions: the marketing with which they advertise and position their brands, within the marketing they include the institutional that directs them to provide messages and advice to citizens, and finally the sales marketing with which they continue to promote homes.
However, Proaño recognizes that although more information is provided, construction is not like other products that are seen on the internet and are ordered. “Although visits to our social networks and web pages maintain the same standards, the information requirements have been reduced by 80%,” he says.
Food sales businesses experience a different situation. For example, Almacenes Tía reported a 1500% growth in orders in its online channel compared to the usual demand, and an income level of 500% more , said Noralva Rengifo, its Marketing director.
“Due to the state of emergency, our consumption in the online channel changed, having a high demand for groceries, beverages, personal hygiene and cleaning articles,” said the directive, adding that its home delivery channel also experienced a growth of 150 %.
Other routes
Tía has TíaTv on Facebook and YouTube, including Deportía (sports), Nutritía (healthy eating), Aprendiendo con Tía (psychology topics) and the cooking program Todo bueno todo bien, in addition to the miniseries Tía Amada. Pycca has PyccaTV, where they post news, openings, brand launches, tips and more; and they added 5k new users during this quarantine.
