BRICKSANDMORTAR

bricks-and-mortar: translation

adj.

Describes a site that has a physical presence in the real world (as opposed to a virtual presence in the online world).

"No single company has been able to succeed thus far as an on-line threat to brick-and-mortar shopping malls anchored by giants such as Wal-Mart, Target or Sears. If Amazon does — and analysts say the chances are good — it could be a booster rocket for electronic commerce in the consumer market."

— Steve Rosenbush, "Amazon will be a Net mall," USA Today, September 30, 1999

I'm a little late on this one since this phrase has been around for many years.In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary traces this phrase back to 1863(!):

"The plant must be sold, the brick and mortar walls demoloshed."

— P. Barry, Dockyard Economics, 1863

We've seen a resurgence in its use of late, however, presumably because it provides a nice (and these days necessary) contrast with online or virtual. — Paul

BAM

big-box store

clicks-and-mortar

dead tree edition

demall

e-business

e-commerce

face-to-face sales

meatspace

multi-channel shopping

real reality

showroom

stores with doors

tri-channel

wet signature

Retail

bricks-and-mortar: translation

Bricks-and-mortar is used with these nouns: ↑retailer