There are some industries that were born for the internet, such as the many business niches associated with social media. But then there are others that many of us thought would be swallowed whole by the digital age. Thankfully that’s not the case. These five traditionally bricks and mortar industries have not only adapted well to the online space, but have also flourished.
Bookselling
People will say that Amazon has a lot to answer for, but the world of bookselling was always going to go online with or without the incredible talents of Jeff Bezos. And online book sales have certainly flourished, and then some. While on-street bookstores are reporting a drop of in-store visits, online sales are going through the roof.
Despite the emergence of ebooks and the popularity of Kindle e-readers, people still want the feel of a genuine book in their hands. And while Amazon and other major online retailers can offer good deals, with strict pricing guidelines from publishers, local bookstores can still remain quite competitive with their online sales.
Gaming
By gaming we’re talking about the old favorites such as bingo and slot machines. These are the games that people have played here in the UK for generations. The very idea that the old bingo hall from the village would go online was laughable at first, but with practically the entire nation now having internet access, it’s not quite a stretch as we once thought.
Now, you might think that the online space is just for video slots and bingo, but there’s much more to the industry than that. In fact, there’s a myriad of casino games available online that include pretty much everything you encounter in a real-world casino. We’re talking poker, blackjack, and roulette. Anything that you can play in a live casino, you can now play online.
And people are playing online. The UK’s online gaming industry is reported to worth around £5.3 billion per year. That’s an incredible third of the entire gaming market value tied into online gaming. “Impressive” isn’t even the word.
Travel
Think about it. When was the last time that you walked into a travel agency and booked a holiday package deal? Okay, perhaps it wasn’t all that long ago, especially since we have an award-winning agency on our doorstep. However, the fact still remains that the vast majority of holiday-goers now book everything from flights to accommodation online.
The travel industry was one of the first industries to embrace the power of the internet with open arms and, as a result, we’re now spoiled for choice when it comes to booking a trip. This is the industry where comparison sites made their mark helping would-be tourists find the best deals on flights, hotel accommodation, and even tickets for local attractions.
We’d even go so far as to say that the internet and its associated technology has been something of a revelation for the travel industry. Travel agents can now answer queries in a matter of minutes, and customers have endless opportunities and the chance to save big on their travels.
Film
Okay, so it’s not a huge stretch to see the film industry adapting to the digital age, but it’s still quite impressive nonetheless. Who would have thought that one day we would have a company solely devoted to the online space that not only produces multimillion-dollar epics but also streams them directly into our homes.
It sounds like the imaginings of an 80s sci-fi author, but you know as well as we do that this is our new reality. The film industry will always want to support the cinemas, but the industry is moving more towards a streaming approach. This is particularly true now that Disney have jumped on board the streaming wagon alongside Netflix.
Groceries
Retail has always been big on the internet. We buy clothes, shoes, DIY products, and even medicine from online stores. However, the fresh food and groceries market is a relatively new, albeit late addition to the online space. For many years, supermarkets resisted the temptation to adopt an online model, particularly for its fresh produce, preferring to have customers in stores instead. But that has all changed.
Online grocery sales in the UK hit £13.6 billion for 2019 and that figure is expected to rise to over £19.8 billion by 2023. Better logistical management through new technology has allowed major supermarkets to deliver fresh produce on time and in great condition, and the British public have been quick to take advantage. We don’t expect to see any supermarkets close down, but they will become much quieter in years to come.
These are just some of the industries that have weathered the storm and flourished, despite their perceived unsuitability to all things digital. And that means that if they can do it, then so too can your business, no matter how big or small.
