For some people, owning an online shop is a dream come true. In fact, we know some entrepreneurs who started a small online store from their bedroom. Now, they’re running million dollar companies! It’s easier than ever to get started, and anyone can have success. It could be your ticket to financial freedom, and escaping the boring day-job! Work hard, and you can take that small business to the next level. First-things-first, we need to set you up online and get things running. Good news: we have plenty of experience, and we’re happy to show you the ropes. Here’s what you need.
Products. It might seem like simple and obvious advice, but you need to define your products. Perhaps you’re the crafty type, and you’ve already got lots of homemade gifts and designs at home. That’s a great place to start, and there’s a big market for unique hand-made items. There are other options though. A popular choice is contacting wholesale suppliers and purchasing stock to sell on yourself. Lots of fashion store owners do this, for example.
What platform? There are lots of places out there to sell your products. The trick is choosing the right one for you. You’re probably already familiar with eBay, and it’s a popular first choice. You can set up a small market stall on eBay, and start selling immediately. You can also do the same thing through Etsy, who specialise in hand-made crafts and gifts. Hunt down the best platform for your niche and products. Alternatively, you could set up your own website.
Your own website. If you’re planning a long-term business strategy, we highly suggest setting up a website. The other platforms are great, but you’ll ultimately outgrow them and want more control. There are two main options we advise when setting up your own store. First is building a simple website through WordPress (it’s very easy). Then use the WooCommerce plugin to manage your stock and create all the payment mechanisms. Alternatively, you can use ‘Shopify’ which does everything at once for you.
Marketing. Now that you’re all set up, you need some customers! Finding those first few customers is tricky, but we find social media very influential here. The likes of Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are great for building a community. Share pictures of your products, interact with customers, and offer exclusive discounts. Over time, your community will grow and expand.
Shipping. The last thing to consider is your shipping and deliveries. You’ll need an effective packaging solution to make sure the products arrive safely. You’ll also need some shipping scales to weigh your packages and determine the shipping cost. You’ll find plenty over at www.1800scales.com, and they suit all sorts of sizes. We also suggest using a shipping or delivery service that lets you track the products. That means you can keep customers informed, and keep track of deliveries. Eventually, you’ll want to upgrade to a professional logistics company, and even hire a warehouse.
If it sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. Once you dive in and get started, it all starts to make sense.
Photo by Olu Eletu
Mia Guerra
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