Brick and mortar business

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This article is about the eCommerce concept. For brick and mortar construction see brickwork.

Brick and mortar can simply refer to any company that possesses a building for operations. The phrase can be a misnomer since not all buildings are physically constructed from bricks and mortar.

In the jargon of eCommerce, brick and mortar businesses are companies that have a physical presence (for example, a building made of bricks and mortar) - which offer face-to-face consumer experiences. This term is usually used to contrast with a transitory business or an internet-only presence (see online shop for comparison). An example would be the brick and mortar movie rental shop vis-à-vis the competition from the new online rental services offered by Netflix.

A comparable term in the United Kingdom is High Street shops, although the phrases brick(s) and mortar business are also used.