We started Locally 10+ years ago to give local stores presence in a world of increasingly-connected shoppers who do most of their product research online.

The goal was never to disrupt DTC efforts that brands had just started to undertake. We had always seen brand-direct and local wholesale as complimentary; understanding that optimizing one was the best opportunity to optimize the other.

Locally, the premier platform linking online shoppers with in-stock products at nearby retailers today announced a powerful new partnership with ENDVR, the top digital incentives and training platform designed to engage, motivate, and educate frontline store employees directly. This strategic integration empowers brands and retailers to accelerate growth by equipping store teams with advanced digital tools and in-depth product knowledge, enhancing the in-store experience and driving higher customer satisfaction.

July 2024 is the tenth year of Locally. This post covers where we came from and where we’re going over the next ten years.

This week in Reno, the Grassroots Outdoor Show celebrated excellence in the outdoor industry, recognizing brands that have significantly contributed to the field. Among the winners, Patagonia stood out by clinching the prestigious Vendor of the Year award. The event also saw Nemo Equipment receive the award for Excellence in Hardgoods, while Mountain Hardwear took home the award for Excellence in Apparel. These accolades underscore the commitment of these brands to their wholesale dealer network.

The Paper Store, a leading family-owned specialty gift retailer, has partnered with Locally to accept inbound referrals from their largest suppliers.

Store owners once viewed e-commerce as a mounting threat to their survival. Now, more bricks-and-mortar stores are thriving after integrating their properties with the online shopping experience.

Shoppers browse in person to see, touch or try on items before ordering them online. They are picking up or returning purchases in stores. And retailers are increasingly relying on their shops as fulfillment hubs, shipping items ordered online from store stockrooms in addition to warehouses.

Overall, nearly 42% of e-commerce orders last year involved stores, up from about 27% in 2015, according to research firm GlobalData.

Nike CEO “we must lean in with our wholesale partners to elevate our brand and grow the total marketplace,” Donahoe detailed, saying what the market has noted for some time.

Texas Star Grill Shop Partners with Locally to Showcase Inventory on Big Green Egg Website

“We’ve done a lot of research, and what we saw was that pivoting to DTC does not result in better margins,” said BMO’s Simeon Siegel in March. “DTC is just a channel and the product is always going to be more important than where you sell it.”

Smart-tech companies kill two birds with one stone – order fulfilment and marketing.

In this article from Forbes, the author discusses how online-to-offline (o2o) shopping is going to change the perception consumers have about ecommerce.

Locally client, Oofos, sees 82% year-over-year sales growth and swells to 79% of recovery footwear market share.

In 2022, Tractor Supply Co.'s conversion for buy online, pickup in store and curbside orders was 60% greater than home delivery.

What is unified commerce?