Disclaimer: The information contained on this site/blog is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included herein without seeking professional advice. The contents of this blog contain general information and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Vagaro disclaims any and all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on content on this blog.
Consumer data for the year overwhelmingly reports that COVID-19 has accelerated the growth of online shopping. That means that your business needs a clear view of how social media-savvy customers will be making purchases in 2021. In this post, you’ll see how some Vagaro businesses are using their online store to diversify their business, earn more money from online sales, and appeal to changing customer preferences.
Your Online Store Is A Safety Net
We’re living in uncertain times, and it’s taught many small business owners – particularly in service-based industries – some hard lessons about diversifying their business model. Before COVID, most service professionals didn’t have a plan for what would happen if they had to shut down unexpectedly. Now, we all know that we need a plan for this possibility. In the event of another shutdown order or natural disaster, your online store is a safety net that secures income when you can’t perform hands-on services. With an online store, you’ll be able to expand your business, offer customers new ways to shop, and weather whatever the future has in store.
Get Creative With Your Online Store
If you’ve got a side hustle or a creative passion that’s not related to your main business, your online store can help you diversify what you offer and turn a profit, too! Online shoppers say that they choose small, local businesses because of the unique items they offer – so this is your chance to try something new.
Looking for some creative inspiration? Here are a few ideas from Vagaro businesses whose online stores stock something outside of the ordinary

Aurora, CO’s FIT+NU™ uses their online store to stock everything from masks and apparel to gift cards, handy meal wheel guides, protein powders, and 21-day cleanse plans.

B Golden Jewelry School in Salt Lake City, UT lets you book classes, purchase gift certificates, and shop for specialized jewelry-making materials all from their Vagaro listing page.

How about a houseplant with your haircut? Lafayette, CA business Fringe and Fern can help you with both! Learn more about how they’ve made their hybrid business model work in their exclusive interview with Vagaro.

Cute Nail Studio in Austin, TX stocks everything from their own custom nail polish colors, jewelry, stickers and other accessories to monthly self-care subscription boxes.
Get Your Time Back by Using Automation For Repeatable Tasks
Expanding your business into the digital world will make things busier! So you’ll need software to help you perform repeatable business admin, like inventory and sales reports! Vagaro helps you fulfill online orders for shipment or curbside pickup and frees up time to fulfill online orders and improve the customer experience!

Your customers are eager to shop online and support your business. But to do that, you need an online store that’s set up and ready to process online purchases! It’s easier than you think to get one up and running – create one with Vagaro when you sign up for VMS, and customers can start shopping as soon as you stock your first item!
Helpful Resources
Need to know more about how opening an online store benefits your business? Take a look at the resources below!
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site/blog is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included herein without seeking professional advice. The contents of this blog contain general information and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Vagaro disclaims any and all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on content on this blog.
Sources
COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerated Shift To E-Commerce By 5 Years, New Report Says, Techcrunch
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