Even if your pricing is competitive, you may be losing customers to the competition because they’re doing these things right.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about one of the most dynamic new trends in e-commerce: cross-channel sales. This is the trend toward consumers selecting and buying their items online and picking them up at a physical location, be it a retail store or distribution center.

The business of retail sales is changing fast. Study after study documents the meteoric rise of e-commerce, a sales phenomenon that is growing roughly four times faster than retail sales overall. By the end of this year, retail sales through online channels are expected to grow to $1.9 trillion worldwide, a 23% increase over last year’s figures.

It's the holiday sales season, and, for retail e-commerce sellers, that means the two most lucrative months of business are here.

E-commerce has been on the rise for years. And now, for the first time ever, research shows that shoppers prefer to purchase online rather than in stores.

But that hasn’t eliminated businesses’ need for a physical location entirely. In fact, along with the popularity of online shopping, another trend has emerged that is forcing companies to rethink their supply chain and inventory strategies: the cross-channel shopper.

Are you delivering when it comes to customer service? And not just as compared to your direct competitors. A recent Accenture study found that customers compare and contrast their digital shopping experiences — even those that offer totally different products or services.

That means the bar has been set by e-commerce giants like Amazon and Zappos, who are known for their customer service. These companies have grown customer expectations. Customers now expect, above all, two things:

Think about any direct-selling business and a digital-first approach is probably not what comes to mind. But, young entrepreneurs launching direct-sales endeavors are changing how today’s businesses operate.

Consumers today expect speed and convenience when it comes to getting their products in hand. To meet that demand, many e-commerce retailers and direct-sales businesses are choosing automated locker systems as a last-mile delivery solution. For example, online giants like Amazon have placed locker systems in convenient, easily accessible, and safe locations, like 7-11 and Staples office supply stores.

If your business accepts credit cards, you know that fees are a part of doing business. In fact, merchants say the fees they pay to accept credit cards are rising and have become increasingly unpredictable. You may incur a laundry list of charges, including:

Eliminate the threat of package theft and wasted time waiting on deliveries by opening a customer convenience center.

Purchasing online should save the consumer time and effort, right? For some, not always. Millions of people live in high-density markets where buying online actually causes a dilemma, not a solution.