In-Store Shopping Advantages: What the Numbers Reveal in 2025

TL/DR summary

A majority still prefers in-store shopping because it delivers immediacy, confidence, and human help. Safety, friendly staff, and stock depth are the biggest loyalty levers, while grocery, beauty, and apparel remain the strongest in-store categories. Build operations and service around those truths, and the pros of in-store shopping will translate into durable growth.

Key pointers

• Preference holds: 51% prefer in-store, 64% shop in-store weekly.

• Safety first: 81% cite safety as a priority; invest in visible protocols.

• Service wins: 60% will travel for friendly staff; train for personalized service.

• Stock matters: 49% exit after repeated stockouts; fix product availability.

• Category focus: groceries 62%, beauty 50%, apparel 40%, home 28% skewed to physical stores.

Use an integrated plan where digital discovery funnels to physical locations and store teams deliver certainty. Anchor the promise on safety, staffing quality, and on‑hand inventory. That is how the pros of in-store shopping convert browsers into loyal customers in today’s digital age.

Introduction

In a digital age shaped by frictionless checkouts and same‑day couriers, the pros of in‑store shopping are often underestimated. In reality, in-store shopping remains a cornerstone of the retail landscape because physical browsing compresses the shopping journey into one visit, provides direct answers to product questions, and builds trust through human interaction.

A trip to brick-and-mortar stores is not just a channel shift from online shopping. It is a different decision environment where touch, fit, immediacy, and reassurance influence the purchase decision.

For businesses, measuring and operationalizing the in-person experience is now a competitive advantage as store shopping continues to anchor the retail mix.

Summary of key metrics

Credits: X‑hoppers and Sago consumer survey, September 2024; Capital One Shopping US retail totals 2024–2025.

The pros of in‑store shopping, quantified

The pros of in-store shopping begin with scale and frequency. Most consumers worldwide still visit physical stores to buy essentials and to finalize considered purchases. Survey data shows how in-store experiences reduce friction, lift confidence, and shorten time to conversion compared with shopping online.

Below, we translate the findings into practical levers for retailers.

Preference and frequency

A majority preference for in-store shopping persists even as e-commerce grows. In 2024, 51% of US and UK consumers preferred store shopping. Among the 55+ age group, the preference rose to 62%. In 2025, 64% of US shoppers reported weekly in-store shopping visits. These signals show that physical retail still anchors habitual purchasing.

If you are a retail brand, treat brick-and-mortar stores as high‑frequency touchpoints. Build omnichannel retail strategies that route discovery to physical locations for try‑on, fit checks, and quick issue resolution. The pros of in-store shopping are strongest when digital discovery hands off to a well-designed store that closes the loop.

Safety, staff, and service quality

Safety and service drive loyalty. 81% prioritize safety when choosing where to shop. 60% will travel farther for friendly staff. 57% have stopped shopping at stores with unhelpful staff. These in-store experiences rely on knowledgeable staff, personalized assistance, and visible security.

Businesses will benefit if they codify a service strategy. Train associates to offer personalized customer service and expert advice at key decision points. The pros of in-store shopping compound when customers feel heard and guided.

Stock availability and instant take‑home

The ability to touch a product and take it home immediately is a signature advantage. 87% value hands‑on inspection or immediate gratification, and 49% will not return to chronic stockout locations. Product availability is the quiet engine behind the pros of in-store shopping.

Businesses should align demand forecasting and inventory management with the shopping process. Use store‑level signals to prevent shipping delays later in the chain by closing the sale in the store today. Customers also avoid shipping costs and fees when they can buy and pick up the purchase.

Category strengths of physical retail

Not all categories behave the same. In 2025 projections and recent surveys, grocery skews heavily toward physical stores, with 62% providing immediate fulfillment. Beauty and personal care sit at 50% in store preference due to testing and consultation. Apparel and footwear: 40% prefer store try‑ons to validate fit and color. Home goods at 28% reflect the value of hands-on experience for scale, texture, and finish.

Retailers must design interactive displays that engage multiple senses. Use mirrors, lighting, and fixture layout to increase confidence and purchases. Link barcodes to rich product content on online platforms without breaking the in-store flow.

Speed, convenience, and the last mile

For many missions, shopping in-store is faster than shopping online. Same‑trip pickup means instant gratification, fewer failed deliveries, and certainty about fit and function. As online shopping continues to expand, the pros of in-store shopping remain decisive for last-minute purchases and situations where timing is critical.

If you are a retailer, offer same-day pickup promises where feasible. Use multiple channels to broadcast real‑time availability so that many customers can plan a single visit.

The social and emotional layer

The social aspect of in-store shopping matters. Browsing with family, discussing options with associates, and sharing micro‑moments creates a lasting impression that digital screens rarely match. These emotional cues reinforce brand values and produce unique advantages for physical formats.

Stage moments worth sharing. Build zones for discovery and trial. The pros of in-store shopping grow when layout and storytelling deliver a lasting impression that aligns with your brand values.

Visual: Core signals that power the pros

A snapshot of the headlining data points that underpin the pros of in-store shopping. 

Note: Preference, safety, service, and category splits sourced from the x‑hoppers and Sago 2024 consumer survey and Capital One Shopping 2024–2025 retail indicators.

Closing perspective: Bring the store advantage to the fore

The pros of in-store shopping are not nostalgia. They are measurable drivers of conversion and loyalty across a modern retail landscape. When physical retail teams combine visible safety, proactive service, and reliable stock with simple digital helpers, the in-store experiences outperform.

Treat store operations as a product that deserves iteration. Invest in people, inventory accuracy, and interactive displays. Use digital to point traffic to brick-and-mortar touchpoints where personalized assistance closes the loop. Do that consistently, and the in-store shopping offers of immediacy, certainty, and human connection will continue to deliver a lasting impression and sustained sales.