a brief guide to eCommerce
Online retail has boomed in recent years thanks to the many benefits it offers the general public.
In fact, in 2017, e-commerce accounted for 15% of the British economy.
So what is the key to its success and how can your business take advantage of this prosperous opportunity?
Why is E-commerce So Popular?
It is no secret that online retail is now a dominant force with brands such as Amazon and John Lewis leading the way. The shopping experience that these websites offer is extremely convenient, meaning the public has taken to purchasing online like a duck to water.
Purchasing your desired products can now be done from the comfort of your own living room with a glass of wine in hand.
There are also savings to be made as products are often cheaper online than in high-street shops.
What Are The Advantages of E-commerce to Retailers?
There are wide array of advantages to retailers considering e-commerce although for the purpose of this brief guide we will focus on the three most important advantages…
- Firstly, e-commerce offers a potentially global audience for a retailer. The ability to reach a target audience in their own home should not be underestimated.
- The cost of running an e-commerce business is very low when compared with running a physical store. There is no rent to pay on expensive premises, business processes are simplified and less man-hours are required to run it smoothly.
- Another advantage is how accessible it is for customers. Customers are able to buy from you anytime and anywhere, which makes it incredibly convenient for them. This in turn will benefit you, as you’ll be able to sell more stock.
How to Start Your E-commerce Venture
There are now many options available to retailers looking to set up an e-commerce store, which can be a little daunting if you’ve never had experience in e-commerce before.
The first option is to use an “off-the-shelf” e-commerce package such as WooCommerce, Shopify or Magento. These open-source packages offer a very reasonably priced way to set up an e-commerce store and include all the standard e-commerce features that the public has come to expect. This includes secure checkout with PayPal, search function, featured products, discount codes, customer login and many more.
If your needs are a little more bespoke, then it may be worth looking into having a bespoke system developed. Whilst this will almost certainly cost more, it does offer a higher level of control over the features and functionality of the website.
Struggling to Decide?
If you’re unsure of what to go for, consider your needs and what you require. The right option depends on your:
- Circumstances
- Budget
- Plans for promotion
It’s important to do as much research as you can into the options available before coming to a decision.
We know this can be challenging at first, so if you’re struggling to decide, Gromedia can offer advice. We offer a free consultation for all customers!
Do You Need an eCommerce Website?
Our experienced team can help you design and launch a website that provides a seamless shopping experience.
When we’ve done that, we’ll work with you to continuously optimise your site, adding extras as you need them.
Contact Us
- Call Us On: 01935 420780
- Email: info@gromedia.com.
We offer free, no obligation consultations to all new customers!
