Back button image Home
Primary category not found.

What is curbside pickup? A step-by-step guide for your store

October 21, 2023 | Published by Faire

Twitter Share Icon Facebook Share Icon Linkedin Share Icon
Link copied to clipboard
Link Share Icon
Photo courtesy of Jamie Kelter Davis Photography and Fleur, Inc.

During pandemic lockdowns, curbside pickup became more common due to health and safety concerns. Today, curbside pickup is a very popular purchasing option, and more and more retailers are offering the service for their shoppers.

But what is curbside pickup? Retailers allow customers to place an order, submit payment online, and then pick up their order without leaving their car. Many customers prefer this option because itā€™s so convenient to just grab and go, and they can avoid lines inside stores. Unlike online shopping, customers donā€™t have to wait days for their items to be delivered.

The following guide explains the logistics, gives examples of curbside pickup, and highlights some of the benefits and challenges so you can incorporate this pickup option into your retail business.     

How does curbside pickup work?

Retailers today have plenty of options to get their products into the hands of consumers. While in-store purchasing is still at the top of the list, retailers can also ship directly to customersā€™ homes, offer in-store pickup, and use the highly convenient and increasingly popular option of curbside pickup. But how does a retailer get started? 

  1. First, if you havenā€™t already, implementing online shopping is an important step. You should be able to set up your e-commerce website to include the option to select ā€œcurbside pickupā€ during the checkout process.Ā 
  2. Your e-commerce website should show shoppers which items are eligible and available for curbside pickup. This is why itā€™s so important to have an inventory tracking system that updates online and in-store purchases in real time. Shoppers can browse products on your website and pay for their items online. 
  3. Once you are notified that a customer has placed an order for curbside pickup, it should take precedence over any online orders or other tasks youā€™re working on. After youā€™ve found and packaged the items, you can notify the customer that their order is ready and provide instructions about what they should do when they get to your store.    
  4. Finally, the customer arrives and calls or texts to let you know theyā€™re outside. In many cases, retailers provide a designated pickup area for curbside pickup where customers can wait until someone brings their order directly to them, but as long as thereā€™s ample parking near your store, youā€™ll be just fine. You or a salesperson simply walks to the customerā€™s car, confirms their order, and hands the items to them directly or puts them in the trunk. 

Curbside pickup tips and best practices

While big-box stores might seem to have the upper hand when it comes to curbside and in-store pickup, there are countless examples of local and independent retailers running a seamless order-pickup service. The key is to create a smooth, easily repeatable system for accepting orders, packing purchases, and distributing goods to customers when they arrive. Youā€™ll quickly learn what works and what doesnā€™t, so try to stay agileā€”donā€™t be afraid to iterate on your system.

Talk to other businesses 

Learning from other businesses can provide precious insights into what works and what doesnā€™t when it comes to curbside pickup. Kelly Marie Thompson of Fleur Inc. in Chicago says that she visited another business in her areaā€”a local nurseryā€”to inform her own curbside plan that began during local restrictions related to COVID-19. ā€œI bumped into the owner, and we had a great conversation about the structure and the systems that are being put into place,ā€ she said. It helped her determine what she needed to do in her own shop.Ā 

Consider your online presence

If you have an e-commerce website, it should be easy to add a pickup option with instructions for curbside customers. However, you donā€™t necessarily need to be an e-commerce pro to take orders online.Ā 

Lori Powers of Madison & Co. in Greenville, South Carolina, didnā€™t have much of an online presence before pandemic restrictions required her to rethink those options. Now, Lori takes orders via Facebook Live for in-store pickup. Sheā€™s even found that 75% to 80% of the customers who come pick up their orders end up purchasing additional items in person.Ā 

Use online and physical marketing

Use your online marketing channels to let customers know that youā€™re accepting orders for local pickup, including details on how to order. Also, get out your markers and chalk to create some signs. Homemade signage is not only inexpensive and fun to make but also an authentic and endearing way to grab the attention of passersby who may be inspired to buy from you.Ā 

Curbside and in-store pickup customers may also be motivated to make additional purchases when they come to pick up their items, so make sure your window displays are on point and refresh the shelf space near your in-store pickup area.

Want to get your store set up for curbside or in-store pickup? Shop now on Faire to get new inventory ready for every purchasing option.

Did you find this blog post helpful?

Yes
No
Thank you for your feedback!

New to Faire? Sign up to shop, or apply to sell.

More articles in Order Fulfillment

Ship with Faire: an easier, more cost-effective way to handle wholesale logistics

CTA Image

Read

CTA Hover Image

What average order volume (AOV) means for your businessā€”and simple tips for increasing it

CTA Image

Read

CTA Hover Image

How to make your supply chain more sustainableĀ 

CTA Image

Read

CTA Hover Image

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest from Faire!

What type of business do you have?

I'm a
Learn more about how we use and protect your data at Faire. Privacy at Faire
Enter your information to download the free report
Success! Check your email to
complete your download.

Are you a brand? Sign Up to Sell on Faire

By proceeding, you're agreeing to our Terms and Privacy Policy
Shop wholesale, online
Purchase from over 100,000 unique brands. Sign up for free!
By proceeding, you're agreeing to our Terms
and Privacy Policy
Shop wholesale, online