Why shoppers choose to buy from small businesses at Christmas
Shoppers have revealed a list of key qualities they look for in a small business before they decide whether to shop with them or not at Christmas[1]. Most important to more than half of all potential buyers are positive online reviews, followed by an easy-to-use online payment process, good online customer service such as via email and instant messaging, and a professional website. A social media presence with regular content mattered to only 10% of people who took part in research for Vodafone.
More than half of those questioned said they would buy from a small business because supporting one makes them feel good, while 48% thought the festive season was the perfect time to do so and 38% felt they would get a better service from a small business if they had to return a gift. The biggest turn-offs for customers were bad online reviews, a difficult payment process lack of customer support and not having a website. Last year Vodafone Business extended business.connected[2], its partnership with small business community platform Enterprise Nation.
Aimed at start-ups and small firms, the programme offers free online training courses, mentoring and workshops to help SMEs maximise business opportunities online, adopt new technology, mitigate cyber-attacks and meet with other like-minded individuals.
Working with partners including The Trussell Trust and Good Things Foundation, Vodafone has pledged to help four million people and businesses cross the digital divide by the end of 2025.
Vodafone has announced it has helped two million digitally excluded people and businesses cross the digital divide as part of its everyone.connected initiative.
References
- ^ Christmas (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ business.connected (go.skimresources.com)