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What is Bricks and Mortar?

Josie Myers
Josie Myers

The term bricks and mortar refers to a business that operates out of a physical building. Bricks and mortar businesses contrast those that operate entirely online, or are transitory and therefore have no official storefront from which to conduct business. These physical companies were once the primary choice for businesses, but were somewhat diminished after the Internet boom of the 1990s.

When the Internet first began its rapid expansion in the 1990s, entrepreneurs saw the new forum as an opportunity to own a small business for a fraction of the traditional cost. Consumers flocked to this new form of business. The number of businesses with an entirely online presence grew astronomically over the decade. By the end of the 1990s, the competition on the Internet was fierce, with low start-up costs and high turnover rates.

A jewelry store that has a physical building to shop within is considered a type of brick and mortar business.
A jewelry store that has a physical building to shop within is considered a type of brick and mortar business.

Businesses that operate out of bricks and mortar sites generally must invest more money in operations than those that are entirely online. Having the money to rent an office space, purchase supplies and fixtures, and purchase other necessary materials means that the owner has put a significant personal investment into opening and running the business. These expenses generally imply that the business is less likely to fold than one with little investment, and therefore may be able to garner some additional level of consumer trust.

Businesses looking to expand from being an online retailer might open a brick and mortar storefront.
Businesses looking to expand from being an online retailer might open a brick and mortar storefront.

Trust between a business and its consumers can make or break any company. In terms of this, a bricks and mortar business has the advantage of visibility. In other words, a building full of goods and employees is generally unable to pick up, move out, and completely disappear overnight. If a consumer has a problem with a product or service, they can take the problem directly to the building and speak with a manager. An online company cannot offer this same assurance. Also, a website can disappear in a day and a company can refuse phone calls or e-mails.

Some businesses such as banks have both an online and bricks and mortar presence.
Some businesses such as banks have both an online and bricks and mortar presence.

A bricks and mortar store does place significant risk on the owner, and requires a great deal of planning and investment. For entrepreneurs with great ideas, excellent customer service, and little capital, an entirely online presence can work to their advantage. The key to surviving in the online world is to gain customers' trust. It can take time and effort for an online company to build customer satisfaction in order to prove itself trustworthy, while a bricks and mortar store may begin with more of this consumer confidence.

Discussion Comments

Buster29

I realize a lot of things are now being handled by online stores, but I still prefer to shop at "bricks and mortar" stores. I want to be able to pick something up and look at it before I buy it. If I can't decide between two computers, I want a real human being who can answer my questions face-to-face. I'm willing to pay a little extra for the privilege, too.

I have occasionally bought some items online and had them shipped to the nearest bricks and mortar store for pick-up. I get the convenience of picking my stuff up when I'm ready, not when the delivery truck decides to arrive at my house.

Phaedrus

I write books as a hobby, and my writer friends are always talking about "bricks and mortar" bookstores versus the Internet. They're usually complaining that a lot of real bookstores are going out of business because they can't compete with online bookstores. I've also heard the same complaint with other industries, like office supplies and music. It's just not worth investing in a real building if customers prefer to do their shopping without even getting dressed.

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    • A jewelry store that has a physical building to shop within is considered a type of brick and mortar business.
      By: orelphoto
      A jewelry store that has a physical building to shop within is considered a type of brick and mortar business.
    • Businesses looking to expand from being an online retailer might open a brick and mortar storefront.
      By: gemphotography
      Businesses looking to expand from being an online retailer might open a brick and mortar storefront.
    • Some businesses such as banks have both an online and bricks and mortar presence.
      By: oneblink1
      Some businesses such as banks have both an online and bricks and mortar presence.