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Lars Trodson last month was named executive director of the 300-member Block Island Chamber of Commerce. He’s a former editor of The Block Island Times who also served as publisher, managing editor and editor of several other New England publications. / COURTESY BLOCK ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE[/caption]
Lars Trodson | Block Island Chamber of Commerce executive director
The most significant change in business this past year has been the exponential growth in online buying.
Hundreds and hundreds of packages began arriving on Block Island every day throughout the shutdown, notably representing purchases that people had made online that otherwise would have been made in person.
Online buying is not something that is going away, even after the pandemic does.
The challenge we face is that Block Island, like any other tourism destination, is not a virtual experience. People want to be here, put their toes in the sand, visit our shops, eat at our restaurants and stay at an inn or hotel.
Why I think it’s important for a business of any size to have a strong digital presence is not necessarily to only provide a way to shop online. It’s to offer any potential customers an opportunity to take a virtual tour of your store or shop in order to see what your product line is.
It’ll be an enticement to hurry up and get here.
This is the way we look for hotel rooms and resorts. And I think we can orient shoppers to do much the same thing when looking for that perfect Block Island gift or product.
A strong online presence will allow people anywhere in the world to visit your business long before they get here.