A click-and-mortar business is a company that conducts business at a physical location as well as online, via the Internet. Prior to the major success of online e-tailer Amazon.com, most retail companies only existed as brick and mortar companies – or stores with physical storefronts. However, since the late 1990s, the Internet has become a major source of revenue for many retailers and small business owners alike.
As a result of this new form of revenue, new jobs have opened up for people in the online and physical storefront. Some of the more common jobs exist in customer service, shipping and receiving, and web design, to name a few. This article discusses the career opportunities for individuals who are interested in pursuing work with a click-and-mortar business and provides strategies on how to obtain these jobs.
One of the primary careers with click-and-mortar businesses is customer service. All companies require customer service to thrive and survive in the very competitive marketplaces in which they exist. In this day and time, the advent of the computer has enabled the consumer to gain an extraordinary upper-hand in identifying the best products to buy, obtain consumer feedback, and do comparison shopping for the best price. One of the main distinguishing factors in purchases is customer service. If someone purchases a product, they want to be sure the product is backed by solid customer support for questions, product returns, and other issues. No matter how streamlined a company’s online storefront may be customer service serves as one of the backbones to a company’s ultimate success.
To get a career in customer service, typically doesn’t require very formal or higher level education, other than a high school diploma or GED. More importantly, it requires a positive, upbeat personality of one who is sincerely committed to working diligently at providing the best representation of a company that one can.
Besides customer service, the next major career that is required for click-and-mortar businesses is the area of marketing. Marketing is crucial to the vitality and sustainability of a corporation. Without adequate marketing, a company may have a superior product but the general population will remain unaware without effective marketing. Jobs in this area typically require a college degree and are best suited for someone who is creative, forward-thinking, and adaptable to the ever-changing and fluid marketplace.
Lastly, web design and content management are other significant areas of click-and-mortar businesses. The primary functions in this area include someone who designs the Internet storefront, produces and edits the content of the site, and developers who write the coding and ensure the project is completed in adherence to the budget and allocated timeframe. For these types of positions, a college degree isn’t entirely necessary – companies primarily want someone with experience and knowledge who can handle and meet their Internet needs.
The best way to find jobs in these areas includes attending career fairs, searching online at various corporate websites, and perusing job boards. If you want to work for a particular company, it is also advantageous to network and begin to interact with others who are currently employed in these fields.
