Tag: ecommerce business

What You Need To Start An Online Store

Scott Asai1 Comment

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One of the big advantages of starting an eCommerce business is the relative ease compared to opening a brick-and-mortar store. The lower costs and easier launch are a big part of the reason that online stores are becoming much more popular (alongside the fact that more people are shopping at them, too.) However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need some prep work in there. Here are a few steps that you need to complete before your online store is ready to go.

The plan to succeed

The very first thing that you need is a decent idea of what your store is, and what it’s going to sell. You may already have an idea in mind but consider to yourself if there is a niche that you could potentially hit based on location and products. Of course, this idea needs to be supported by a target audience that is likely to support it. Do your research with services like those found here, and start putting together a business plan. Calculate the costs of setting up your business and consider how much you’re going to have to earn to keep it profitable, and see if the existing target market can sustain it.

The website itself

Naturally, you’re going to need the website that you conduct your business through. There are various website builders that can help you quickly launch a basic site. You need pages to help users navigate, as well as pages for each of the products. The details of each of these pages matter, such as features that users can use to narrow down the products that they are browsing through, as well as high-quality product images and concise but detailed descriptions to help sell relevant products to each customer. The branding and visuals of the website are going to play a huge role in how effective it is, as well. While you can build websites relatively easily after learning how to use the various builders out there, it is usually worth investing a little extra in the visual elements to give it a unique look.

The logistics behind it

The first question about how you’re actually going to get products to those you sell to is how you’re going to get the products in the first place. You may be manufacturing your own products, but if not, then you need to find suppliers that are willing to sell them to you at a reduced cost (and often in bulk.) Some of these suppliers may be willing to keep those items in storage so that you can sell them, but otherwise, you also need to consider how you’re going to store them and deliver them. Fulfillment services can help take care of these needs for you at the start, but most stores may want to eventually expand to the point that they can take care of these processes internally.

Getting ready to take payments

Before you start selling anything, you need to make sure that you are ready and able to take payments. It might not be crucial but it’s widely recommended that you get a business bank account for your store, rather than sending money directly to your personal bank account. This can make it easier to keep organized books and file your taxes properly. Otherwise, you may want to sign up here for a merchant account, as well as looking at payment platforms such as PayPal. If you don’t set up payment methods ahead of the launch, there will be very few ways you can actually sell your products.

Start spreading the word

One of the few downsides of starting a store online, compared to in the physical world, is that you don’t have that visual front of the store to attract customers who are walking past. A business that isn’t marketed well online may as well be invisible. Setting up an advertising budget is one, but advertising is not always enough. You need to work to spread the message of your store, setting it up on social media and taking advantage of relevant trends. Most importantly, you need to work to keep your existing customers happy so that they are more likely to spread word of mouth about your store, convincing others to come and try it out, as well.

With the steps above, you should be ready to get your online store going. There are different models that might have somewhat different set-ups, such as drop shipping which doesn’t require you to purchase any of the goods that you sell at all, so it’s worth looking in more detail at what kind of store you want to run.

5 Reasons to Outsource Fulfillment for Your eCommerce

Scott Asai3 Comments

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If you run an eCommerce business, optimizing warehouse and fulfillment are essential in order to provide the best service to your customers. Managing your own inventory is one of the biggest challenges in eCommerce, however, especially if you want to scale your business. Outsourcing your fulfillment to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) has many advantages. You will have access to more resources, reduce costs, and be able to improve efficiency. Leave storage, packaging, and shipping in the hands of the experts while you focus on growing your business. Here are five reasons to outsource fulfillment for your eCommerce.

Scale your business

Outsourcing fulfillment will allow you to cope with the rise in demand. If you’re receiving an increase in orders, you’ll need more space for your inventory and more hands on deck to manage it. Logistics companies will have the space and equipment you need, with large warehouses equipped with customized shelving from reputable brands such as Biltindustries.com. They will provide you with a secure place to store more products, and take care of fulfillment as your business grows.

Reduce expenses

Managing your own inventory can be costly. You’ll need to invest in warehouse space and the staff to operate it. If you’re looking to cut costs, outsourcing is a better solution. You’ll save money on overheads and will only have to hire fulfillment services when you need them. Most 3PLs offer fixed rates per service so it’s a more cost-effective short-term solution.

Lower shipping rates

By working with a logistics company you’ll be able to reduce shipping costs, as well as operating expenses. Several shipping orders can be combined from different businesses, so this means they are able to offer reduced rates. Third-party warehouses also tend to be conveniently located with more transport options and larger fleets, so the entire shipping process is more efficient.

Trained experts

One of the advantages of outsourcing, in general, is that you won’t have to spend time or more training staff. You’ll have access to experts with industry-specific knowledge that will be able to provide you with the best service. They will also offer professional insights on how to optimize the overall fulfillment process. Running your own warehouse is challenging and it can be difficult to match the quality of service of your competitors. By outsourcing, you’ll have access to skilled professionals to help you gain a competitive edge.

Latest technology

Third-party logistics providers also have access to more resources, especially emerging tech for eCommerce. Technology such as inventory management tools, analytics, and artificial intelligence allows them to streamline the fulfillment process. Delivery services also use integrated systems to communicate with both drivers and customers. Route management software enables drivers to avoid delays. You will then be able to notify your customers of more accurate arrival times. Outsourcing fulfillment for your eCommerce allows you to provide the best service. In order to get ahead in today’s market, it’s necessary to be as quick and efficient as possible, and outsourcing can help you.

How to Build a Successful Ecommerce Business in 2021

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Don’t Rush the Launch 

So you have your e-business website set up and you have a flashy website and social media channels. You’re ready to launch and start taking orders  the sooner the better, right? Not so fast. You only get one shot at launching an e-commerce business so make it count. 

The last thing you want is to launch your new e-business, get loads of interest  but then be unable to deliver on key aspects, such as shipping. This might lead to issues with truck accident lawyers. You can always set up a coming soon website until you have all other aspects of the business in place and ready to go. 

Put the Focus on the User 

Online trading has several advantages over conventional high street shops. With e-trading you can browse a variety of products from your laptop on a break from work or in the evening while watching the nightly news. There’s no need to brave the rain and wind in the city center. 

However, e-shopping has some drawbacks too. Customers can’t see, smell, feel, or try on their new items, this reduces your customer’s shopping experience and increases the chances of returns. You can compensate for this by ensuring they have the best online experience with your brand.

Test Everything 

You want your ecommerce business to be exactly what your customers expect, to do this you need to test everything and make sure you use good analytics software to monitor customer behavior and optimize it regularly. Getting things right is a process of trial and error but you can improve the chances of success.

To build a viable ecommerce business in the short term expect there to be mistakes but be ready to learn from those mistakes quickly. Some of them might even be avoided completely with effective A/B testing. Remember to have a functional user-friendly website and efficient sales funnel. 

Use Social Channels 

Today, around 3.5 billion people globally are linked into social media channels. This means Facebook, Instagram, Tik-tok, and others. They are used for more than just connecting with friends. Users on these networks expect and enjoy adverts for new products. 

Far from being an afterthought for your e-business, the way you use your social channels is key to the initial success of your ecommerce website. Create compelling content and clickable adverts and launch campaigns at the right times to ensure you get the best possible results. 

Use Mobile 

You might think that e-rmtrading only requires a website and some Google ads to get up and running. These days there is a little more involved in launching your e-business and finding success. 3.5 billion people globally now use mobile devices and this can’t be ignored. 

Mobile devices are convenient and are often used for shopping on site like yours. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile you will immediately lose a large portion of your potential market. When you build your website make sure it’s optimized for mobile devices and that your payment system can be easily adapted.

Moving Your Business from One Place to Another

Scott Asai2 Comments

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If you’re operating a business on a brick and mortar basis, you’re going to have to put a whole lot of focus on making sure your business can grow and expand. Increasing competition from the realm of Ecommerce means that you’re going to have to be increasingly savvy with your decision making and sometimes that means having to shift your company from one place to another more lucrative spot that holds more potential for increased sales. This, of course, can be a difficult process. But here are a few areas you might want to focus on, as well as some tips and tricks to make it easier and a greater success!

Consider Location

Location is often the main reason for people moving their small business. When you first start out your journey, you probably have a limited budget and consequently are likely to have your business in a low cost spot that potentially has limited footfall. But by now, you should be well aware that footfall can have a huge impact on your profits. A higher passing footfall means giving your brand greater exposure to the public. The more people who pass by generally means there will be more people passing through your doors, purchasing goods, and generating profit.

Consider Size

Another reason you might be considering a move is because your business is expanding, you’re taking on more staff, and you’re going to need more room to house everyone. Always consider getting somewhere slightly bigger than you need. Your small five-person size property simply isn’t going to cut it after a few months or years. Give yourself room to expand even further, as this will reduce the number of times you have to move.

Making Moving Simple

Have a Cross Over Period 

It’s sensible to have a cross over period for the move. You don’t want to have to move the entire store or office in a single day. Reduce pressure by having a week or even a month when you have your current commercial property, as well as access to your new one. This will allow you to take a gradual and phased approach.

Hire a Van

So many small business owners think they can move their entire business in their own car. But there’s often furniture and pieces of equipment that would have to be stacked in a car in a dangerous way to get it from A to B. So, use van hire that will give you a vehicle big enough for the job.

Consider Employees

Before moving your company, consider how this will impact employees. Some will already be commuting a long distance to get to work and may not be able to travel any further if you happen to move further away from their home. Weigh up the pros and cons of recruitment and decide whether you’d rather maintain the employees you have.

These are just a few areas you should take into consideration when it comes to moving your small business. Take them seriously and everything should go pretty smoothly!

Retail Isn’t the Only Option When It Comes to Starting Your Own Small Business!

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More and more people nowadays are turning their minds towards setting up a small business of their own. This isn’t all too surprising. After all, employment may well be comfortable, but who really wants to build someone else’s dreams rather than their own? Running a small business gives you more control over what you do, what route your career path takes, and who you have to answer to on a daily basis. Now, when it comes to starting up a small business, the majority of people will head into retail. The retail market allows you to design products, manufacture them, and sell them to the consumer market. It’s easier to enter this field than ever – you can set up a website in minutes and enter the realm of Ecommerce on a low budget and low commitment basis. But this isn’t your only choice. There are other options out there. Here are just a few to consider!

Selling Services

Rather than selling products, why not consider selling services? We invest in more services than you’d initially think, so whatever you come up with, there’s more than likely a market out there for it. Selling services can also have a higher profit margin, as you aren’t having to invest in products and manufacturing. Instead, you can become trained up in a particular area, or train staff in a particular area, and then they can use the same equipment time and time again to carry out work or tasks for clients and customers, meaning you have to fork out less on expenses and can rake in more as pure profit.

Setting Up a Venue

Increasing numbers of people seem to be looking to spend their money on experiences and socializing than products. Nightlife is on the rise. So, why not open a venue? Sure, you will be selling products and services here. You will be selling drinks and you could be putting on DJs or live acts to keep the atmosphere buzzing. But altogether, this can help to create a great experience for everyone who walks through your business’ doors. You will have to invest when setting up. From architectural installments like stages to tech installments like sound systems, lighting installments like an led strip light kit, and small details like bar mats and coaster – things are likely to mount up. But once you’re set up and ready to go, you could earn some seriously good money.

Food and Drink

Speaking of experiences, let’s talk about dining away from home. People love the ease and convenience of getting great food that they don’t have to cook and where they don’t have to worry about washing up afterwards. So, why not set up a restaurant or cafe of sorts? Remember that you will need to get relevant serving licenses and food and hygiene certificates – this is extremely important.

As you can see, retail isn’t your only option. There’s a whole lot of potential out there! It’s just up to you to find the right field to best suit your needs and preferences.