eCommerce Series Introduction Part I

In a recent Pew Research study, they identified 8 out of 10 shoppers in the United States shop online. 28% of those shop online at least twice per month, 15% buy something online on a weekly basis, and 51% are shopping from their cell phones.

That’s up from just 22% in 2000.

Times are changing, and while many people still enjoy perusing a brick and mortar store they also want the option to shop online. What sways them? Convenience and pricing according to research. Businesses most move to a model that includes online purchasing if they wish to be sustainable. The benefits of e-commerce are innumerable and most importantly give you access to a larger customer base with more buying power than just those within the geographical confines of a brick and mortar location.

Why People Shop Online

Consistently, people state that they shop online for a number of reasons. As previously mentioned convenience and pricing top the list, but that isn’t all. They also appreciate the wider selection, saved expenses (gas, parking, etc), easier to compare prices, avoid crowds, make discreet purchases, and save time. Online shopping has become the rule rather than the exception, and it is important that businesses recognize how to make the transition.

Going E-Commerce

If you already own a brick and mortar business the move to add online sales can be a smart one. While there certainly are costs with online stores, there are also usually more sales. Something to consider right from the start are fees. Online stores are often free to set up, but to use the platform other costs may be required. Some charge per sale plus hosting fees, others charge hosting fees, and even others have different pricing structures. Knowing what you are willing to pay and what you get for that amount is very important.

Coming Soon

Over the next few weeks we will walk you through the various considerations when deciding on an e-commerce platform for your business. There is a significant amount of information to be shared, and we want to make sure that you have everything you need to make a decision on how to move your business into the e-commerce sector.