brick-and-mortar

(noun)

Buildings and property for the conduct of business, particularly in the sale of retail goods to the general public. Used to contrast an internet-based sales operation that lacks customer-oriented store fronts and a "traditional" one for which most capital investment might be in the building infrastructure.

Related Terms

Examples of brick-and-mortar in the following topics:

  • B2C Channels

    • The first is the traditional "brick-and-mortar" store – a physical location for consumers to visit.
    • Shopping malls, grocery stores, and restaurants are all examples of brick-and-mortar stores .
    • Usually, a brick-and-mortar establishment offers consumers the chance to see, touch, and/or try the products.
    • For companies, developing and maintaining a website is easier and less expensive than building and occupying a brick-and-mortar store.
    • The Apple retail store in Chicago, Ill. is an example of a "brick-and-mortar" store.

  • Channel Integration

    • Systems and processes within retail simply facilitate the customer journey to transact and be served.
    • Omni-channel retailing is concentrated more on a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available shopping channels like mobile internet devices, computers, bricks-and-mortar, television, catalog, and so on.
    • The brick-and-mortar stores become an extension of the supply chain in which purchases may be made in the store, but are researched through other channels of communication.
    • A clear and thorough understanding of the customer, or target market, is required to be able to make appropriate decisions about channel integration and usability.
    • Because brick-and-mortar sales influenced by online search are four times higher than total e-commerce sales, omni-channel retailers need to be informative, personable, always connected, and allow channel transparency.

  • Direct Marketing

    • Direct marketing allows businesses and nonprofit organizations to advertise and market directly to customers via a variety of print and electronic mediums.
    • The industry employs approximately 1.4 million people directly and another 8.4 million in related jobs and businesses.
    • Reduced mail cost and the elimination of "brick and mortar" retail stores have helped to decrease the cost of direct marketing campaigns.
    • Social media reaches out to targeted consumer groups and showcases compatible goods and services.
    • It provides valuable and reliable consumer and sales data, as well as clear, quantifiable success metrics for analysis.

  • Value of Retailing

    • Retailing helps to fulfill all types of needs; some essential to economic and personal survival, others recreational and luxury oriented.
    • Retailing helps to fulfill all types of needs; some essential to economic and personal survival, others recreational and luxury oriented.
    • Further mergers and acquisitions within the retail sector impact stock markets and exchanges throughout the globe.
    • For example the $16.5 billion merger between Federated Department Stores and Mays forming Macy's Department Stores and the 2004 merger between Kmart Holding Corp and Sears that was valued at $10.9 billion.
    • Today, retail resides in both a "brick and mortar" setting as well as online through e-commerce sites that continue to grow in number, products and services day by day.