Anyone on this site run a real ESTORE?
- Thread starter jtos32
- Start date
Isolated
Junior Member
- Mar 31, 2011
- 151
- 38
I run a successful one. Anything I can help you with?
llewopsnimajneb
Regular Member
- Jan 10, 2011
- 242
- 140
Same, I run an estore for a client. More than happy to offer advice or lessons learned.
May I ask what products or niche you are in? Also, are these business dropshipping or ordering wholesale and reselling?
Also, how much are you or your client making per month?
I just want to see whether or not I should pursue this area heavily or not?
Also, how much are you or your client making per month?
I just want to see whether or not I should pursue this area heavily or not?
llewopsnimajneb
Regular Member
- Jan 10, 2011
- 242
- 140
Client does novelty gifts (which are a dime a dozen) and more interesting stuff like woden sunglasses, wooden watches and that sort of thing.
My recommendation, is find a product that you cant get everywhere, rarity creates demand.
also, unless you can compete on price for the gadget's and iphone crud, you're going to have a hard time.
also, find a product line and stick to that eg: sunglasses or watches or whatever, build a large line of one theme of product and it will be a lot easier.
good luck.
My recommendation, is find a product that you cant get everywhere, rarity creates demand.
also, unless you can compete on price for the gadget's and iphone crud, you're going to have a hard time.
also, find a product line and stick to that eg: sunglasses or watches or whatever, build a large line of one theme of product and it will be a lot easier.
good luck.
I am developing my own e-store for stuff I actually manufacture in house. However, R&D costs and making stuff in America is busting my balls financially, so I am looking to build other revenue streams to float me while I get my core business off the ground and to a point where I have buying power to lower my costs dramatically.
Narrator
Power Member
- Oct 5, 2010
- 507
- 398
I have two online stores right now, and will be launching another by the end of this summer.
I dropship all the products for my stores. I hope to open a warehouse soon, but right now the sales won't cover the overhead and inventory.
The hardest part is finding suppliers that are willing to dropship. I usually have to send out between 50-75 emails to different distributors before I find one that offers it.
I dropship all the products for my stores. I hope to open a warehouse soon, but right now the sales won't cover the overhead and inventory.
The hardest part is finding suppliers that are willing to dropship. I usually have to send out between 50-75 emails to different distributors before I find one that offers it.
llewopsnimajneb
Regular Member
- Jan 10, 2011
- 242
- 140
I have found that it's not just drop shipping that is the hardest part to it all, it's finding a product that isn't everywhere and cheaper than you can get it.
research, investigation into suppliers and product is the key.
I have turned a boring run of the mill e-store around from a 2K per week loss to a 4k per week profit, in just changing the emphasis of the product (and a few other little tweaks here and there)
Tips to remember when building an E-store:
1) The product that the client is looking at is the only product you should be trying to sell on that page.
2) Unique descriptions and personality will sell the product more than price
3) Good user experience and navigation will keep a user shopping for longer and browsing deeper
4) Unique product will sell more and for more $ than volumes of everyday items that are price compared
5) The only way to avoid being price compared is be the only one with that product.
6) Too much choice is not always a good thing.
7) 7000 varied products is not always better 200 themed ones
8) A secure looking checkout will convert more than a non secure one (I mean looking - locks, chains and key images will give the user the impression of safety. Make the area around the credit card details darker and more prominent than the rest of the checkout and you will give the impression of security)
even going to a new page that states 'You are being redirected to our secure payment sever' will reduce cart abandonment rate.
9) Options to payment is essential - Credit Card, Bank Transfer Paypal.. never have just credit card.
10) Receipts and after sales service will = return purchase
11) If you can get people to give date of birth you can send Happy birthday discounts and that will convert insanely well..
research, investigation into suppliers and product is the key.
I have turned a boring run of the mill e-store around from a 2K per week loss to a 4k per week profit, in just changing the emphasis of the product (and a few other little tweaks here and there)
Tips to remember when building an E-store:
1) The product that the client is looking at is the only product you should be trying to sell on that page.
2) Unique descriptions and personality will sell the product more than price
3) Good user experience and navigation will keep a user shopping for longer and browsing deeper
4) Unique product will sell more and for more $ than volumes of everyday items that are price compared
5) The only way to avoid being price compared is be the only one with that product.
6) Too much choice is not always a good thing.
7) 7000 varied products is not always better 200 themed ones
8) A secure looking checkout will convert more than a non secure one (I mean looking - locks, chains and key images will give the user the impression of safety. Make the area around the credit card details darker and more prominent than the rest of the checkout and you will give the impression of security)
even going to a new page that states 'You are being redirected to our secure payment sever' will reduce cart abandonment rate.
9) Options to payment is essential - Credit Card, Bank Transfer Paypal.. never have just credit card.
10) Receipts and after sales service will = return purchase
11) If you can get people to give date of birth you can send Happy birthday discounts and that will convert insanely well..
Narrator
Power Member
- Oct 5, 2010
- 507
- 398
llewopsnimajneb is right, trust is big in the ecommerce game, putting verified and secured logos on your site increase conversion rates exponentially. Even if you are #1 on google people will have little trust in your site, unless someone they know has done business with you.
Although a lot of merchants hate paypal. You have to accept accept it. At least 80% of my sales are paid with paypal. People trust paypal, so if you accept it they will feel safe ordering with you.
Cheers!
Although a lot of merchants hate paypal. You have to accept accept it. At least 80% of my sales are paid with paypal. People trust paypal, so if you accept it they will feel safe ordering with you.
Cheers!
llewopsnimajneb
Regular Member
- Jan 10, 2011
- 242
- 140
^ totally...
I had paypal down for a while and could only take credit card and sales dropped.
Got it back on and instantly up again. However, it's not well displayed that it's taken (not as well as before) and they are not up as far as they should be...
I would put $ on the fact that when I do, it will rise again I am talking a (current) .6 - 1% conversion back to the 2% that was usual...
I had paypal down for a while and could only take credit card and sales dropped.
Got it back on and instantly up again. However, it's not well displayed that it's taken (not as well as before) and they are not up as far as they should be...
I would put $ on the fact that when I do, it will rise again I am talking a (current) .6 - 1% conversion back to the 2% that was usual...
i can get wooden puzzles / toys , replicated clothing, and real cigarettes, it is coming to xmas, so im looking to do something, but , " paypal. how can i accept payments on replicated goods off my store?? " thx.