Article by Jody Edgar
The eCommerce industry is booming. In 2011, eCommerce sales accounted for $225 billion in the United States alone. Forrester Research has reported that eCommerce sales will account for over $370 billion in 2016, which represents an increase of over 50% since 2010. The eCommerce boom is not limited to the United States either. In fact, Asia Pacific is projected to have the most rapidly growing eCommerce industry globally. By 2025, this region will be responsible for over $90 billion in online retail sales per year, steadily increasing after that.
Indeed, eCommerce businesses have come a long way since it was first introduced. Many people are now venturing out to start an online store because they think they can earn big bucks. But what exactly is an eCommerce business?
How does it work? What is its benefit? Let’s find out in this article.
What Is An eCommerce Business?
An eCommerce business is a business that depends on the internet for its sales of products and/or services. The internet provides the medium over which customers can reach the company, browse its products and services, select what they want, and make payments. eCommerce businesses provide their product information on their website (which is usually the primary marketing tool for selling) and also try to get their product information on third-party websites where their potential customers might look for such details.
To succeed in this business venture, you need to understand how it works. Many people want to join this industry, but they don’t know what it entails. To be thriving in this business venture, you must know how it works and how you can be successful as well.
What is Shopify?
Did you know that a successful ecommerce business can be set-up in as little as 24-hours? Shopify is a cloud-based, multichannel commerce platform that supports mobile commerce, social media storefronts, drop shipping fulfillment, and more.
No matter what you are selling, Shopify has the tools to help you get started. It does not matter if you’re a small business owner or a freelancer looking to make a few extra bucks, Shopify can help your business stand out and succeed.
So, what can Shopify do for your store? A lot! From easy-to-use tools like our point-of-sale system, to mobile checkout options that let customers buy products on the go. And with themes designed specifically for ecommerce businesses and professional support staff ready to assist, we’ll make sure your business is always running smoothly.
Your eCommerce Business and Shopify
If you are looking for a suitable platform to start your eCommerce store, you must consider Shopify. This platform comes with many features and benefits, making it a better choice for business owners to build eCommerce websites.
Shopify has over 600+ apps available today, with more added each month. This gives you access to valuable features such as customer loyalty programs and Shopify gift cards integration.
Since an eCommerce business is basically an online store where you sell products or services on the internet. Unlike physical stores, you do not need a lot of space to set up shop, and you do not need a lot of money to put up your own online store. There are many platforms you can use for your online store, one of which is Shopify. You can easily start with Shopify for as low as $29 per month. You will also require a domain name and hosting for your website, which should cost about $5-$10 per month. There are also other costs, such as design and development costs. Still, these will be minimal if you have a good web designer or developer at hand. The most significant advantage of running an eCommerce business is that it can reach more customers worldwide.
Advantage of an eCommerce Store
There are several advantages of eCommerce, which make online shopping more attractive than conventional shopping. Some of them are:
Overcome Geographical Limitations
If you have a business with a physical store, geographical factors will limit it. You won’t be able to reach out to others. If you want to expand your business, you need to reinvest money in putting up another branch. If you use eCommerce, you don’t have to worry about the building. You just have to promote your products online, and you’ll gain customers from all over the world.
Interactive Environment
When people shop using eCommerce, they can view product details on their own time and pace and ask questions if they are unsure about something they want to buy.
Cost-Effective
Ecommerce businesses are usually cost-effective to run. This is because you don’t have to pay for expensive real estate to store your products, and you don’t need a large workforce to run the business. You can save lots of money when buying and selling products online as most of the other expenses like marketing, inventory management, etc., are taken care of by the eCommerce platform itself.
Reach More Customers
When you sell your products online, you will reach out to more customers. You can promote your products simply by using the internet. You will help your customers find your products even if they are searching for some other product.
It is not just about reaching customers but also about giving them an easier way of shopping online. They can quickly look for products that they need. They don’t need to go out of their houses to buy what they are looking for. In fact, many companies are running their own websites and selling their products online. When you choose eCommerce, you will find it easy to market your product because people will see it through search engines. Through search engine optimization, people will be able to see your product when they type in the word or words related to your product.
You can easily monitor your sales
With the use of an eCommerce platform, you can easily monitor how many sales you have had since the start of the day, week, and month. This way, you can know how well your business is doing in terms of sales. Moreover, you will also know what items are selling most and which should be taken off the website so that it does not take up unnecessary space in your inventory.
Takeaway
Building a successful eCommerce business takes time, money, and effort. But the payoff is worth it, as eCommerce can be a reliable source of revenue and income with low overhead. Trying to do it by yourself can be both overwhelming and costly. Let Sunbowl Shopify Experts help you develop a solution that’s tailored to your needs.
About the Author Jody Edgar
Jody Edgar – THE SHOPIFY EXPERT Entrepreneur, Educator & Creator Born on the Pacific West Coast of Canada, Shopify Systems Sunbowl is a network of individuals who believe that building an e-commerce business should be energizing, challenging, and fun. Shopify Systems Sunbowl takes on projects the same way they live their lives, with purposeful balance. Shopify Systems Sunbowl is composed of a team that gets it done and gets it done right.