Clickatell’s latest Chat Commerce Trends Report: Retail Edition has revealed new insight about how today’s consumers prefer to communicate and make purchases with retail companies through mobile and chat messaging conversations. The report, which fielded responses from over 1,000 participants, found that 95% of customers now make retail purchases on their smartphones and 78% of consumers want to use mobile messaging with retail companies for convenience.

To better understand how consumers communicate with retail brands, Clickatell’s new research found considerable interest in personalised and convenient commerce experiences through mobile messaging conversations. As global retailers head into the holiday season and shift strategies to handle changing consumer shopping habits, brands are examining how rich, mobile-first commerce experiences can help attract customer loyalty.

The Chat Commerce Trends Report: Retail Edition found that:

• 69% of participants want to receive order updates via mobile message
• 52% would like to use mobile messaging to track loyalty benefits or inquire about loyalty programmes, and,
• 47% would like to use mobile messaging to connect with a customer service agent.
• Younger generations have the highest interest in using mobile messaging with a retail brand, specifically 92% of Gen Z and 95% of millennials.

The report also highlights a distinct opportunity to offer personalised deals and promotions through mobile channels, as consumers continue to grow cautious of high costs during this upcoming holiday season. In fact, 51% of consumers want access to special offers via mobile messaging and 81% of consumers are more likely to purchase an item that is promoted through an SMS link than through an email. Brands have the opportunity to allow consumers to browse, shop, access personalised deals and track orders all on their mobile devices through a value-rich, mobile-first commerce experience.

Additional key findings include:

Younger generations are mobile-first:

• 77% of millennials and Gen Z want to be able to track a delivery through personalised mobile messaging
• 86% of consumers are interested in a personalised experience with a retail company, especially millennials (92%) and Gen Z (90%)

Consumers are eager to track packages and orders:

• 48% of consumers want to receive shipping and order updates via mobile messaging, which is higher than the desire to receive personalised promotions (13%), information about a product (10%) or connect with a live agent (10%).
• Three-quarters (75%) of consumers want to track a delivery through a personalised mobile messaging link and 69% of consumers would like to receive order updates via mobile messaging channels.

High demand for loyalty programs and deals via mobile:

• 51% of consumers want access to special offers via personalised mobile messaging and 46% of consumers want to receive personalised promotions for things like last-minute deals or alerts when new offerings or products become available
• 52% of consumers would like the ability to track and redeem loyalty benefits or ask about loyalty programmes through mobile channels

Mobile payment options are on the rise:

• Consumers are most likely to enter credit card details (61%) or use PayPal (57%) to make a retail purchase on their smartphone. Apple Pay is also increasingly popular (23% prefer this method)
• The majority of consumers (95%) make retail purchases on their smartphone
• 27% would make a payment via a secure payments link

“The results indicate an opportunity for retail companies to engage with consumers this holiday season through their preferred messaging channels, considering a majority of consumers want to communicate with brands across the entire shopping lifecycle,” said Pieter de Villiers, CEO and co-founder of Clickatell. “For retail brands, the next wave of commerce is building relationships with consumers in the same way they communicate with friends or family every day: on their mobile phones.”

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/394/233506.html

If you rely on revenue from a few months to sustain your business all year, forecasting your revenue and expenses isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a must.

And yes, “forecasting revenue and expenses” sounds exactly like a line from that small-business accounting and finance course you didn’t take (or didn’t like) in school, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. After all, forecasting is just a fancy word for planning.

Even if you work with financial pros, like an accountant or a bookkeeper, you’re still the expert on your product and your industry, because it’s what you focus on most of the time. That insider knowledge is one of the most powerful tools you could ask for when it comes to forecasting, so you’re more than prepared to tackle this.

Plus, a basic forecast will help you make important strategic decisions, like whether you should upgrade your equipment, or when you should place your wholesale orders. Those are the kind of calls you want to be able to make for yourself, and a forecast is one of the best ways to do it.

What is seasonality in forecasting?

Seasonality is typically defined as monthly, quarterly, or annual seasonal patterns that recur consistently over time. Many businesses experience some form of seasonality in their sales or production cycles. Because of this, seasonality is often taken into account when forecasting future demand.

How to do seasonal forecasts for your online store 

There are two main elements you’ll need to calculate future sales for your business: a sales forecast, and an expense forecast. 

Once you have both of those done, you’ll be able to get a high-level view of your business’ money matters for the next year—and make some key decisions based on that information.

Sales forecasting

If anything sounds intimidating, it’s “sales forecasting.”

Before your mind is filled with visions of advanced spreadsheets and mathematical models, don’t worry: for the most part, forecasting is just educated guessing. 

Your job with a sales forecast is to make a reasonable prediction, not to nail the exact numbers you’ll be selling in a year from now.

So how do you do that? There are a few ways to predict future demand. You can look at:

• Industry statistics. Is there a consistent growth rate in your industry, or have analysts predicted a specific growth rate for the next few years?
• Industry peers. Talk to other business owners. When do they typically see the most sales? How much do they sell in a year, roughly?
• Your own sales history. If you’ve been in business for a while, how much do your sales grow every year? How much did they grow last year, and how much did you sell last year?
• Signed deals. If you’ve got wholesale contracts already in place for next year, you know you’ll sell that much already, so it goes in the forecast.

If you’re a new online business, or if you plan on launching new products this year that have no historical data, use what you know about your business and your customer base to make a best guess. You’re the expert on what you do, after all.

Now it’s time to get into the numbers.

Let’s talk products. Specifically, how many do you have? If you’re rocking fewer than five or 10 signature products, you can give them each their own, separate forecast. Once your products hit that double-digit mark, you’ll want to group them into product lines for a more manageable forecast.

Set up each product or product line as a row in your spreadsheet, under “Product Unit Sales.” This is where you’re going to input your forecast of how many units you’ll sell of each product this coming year, and which month you’re going to sell them.

Next, add in the prices you plan to sell those products at each month. Maybe you plan on raising your prices mid-year, or you offer so many sales in November that you know your average sale price is lower. Add in those monthly prices now for each product line.

Scroll down a bit, and boom: you have a sales forecast.

Expense forecasting

Now that you’ve got a good idea of what your sales look like over the next year, it’s time to tackle your expenses.

There are two main types of expenses you’ll want to look at when it comes to your forecast: fixed expenses, and variable expenses.

Fixed expenses

We’ll start with fixed expenses, because to be honest, they’re easier.

A fixed expense is something that you pay every month, which could include rent for office space, software subscription costs, or the salary you pay yourself out of your business. 

Pop open your business bank account and take a look at the past few months of transactions. Anything that comes out of your account every month is a fixed expense.

To add it to your forecast, give it its own line in the Expenses tab of your spreadsheet, and fill in your monthly cost.

Variable Expenses

For a seasonal ecommerce business, your variable costs might not be 100% correlated with your sales—even when it comes to cost of goods sold.

Most forecasts will assume that your cost of goods sold (the money you spend to create your products) happens in the same month as your sales, but that’s not always the case for seasonal businesses. Most of the time, if you didn’t stock up before your busy season, you’d be in for a rough time, and probably lose some sales.

That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead. If most of your expenses happen before your sales, you’ll need to have a plan for how you’re going to cover those expenses when they hit.

FURTHER READING: Forecasting is great for predicting how your revenue and expenses line up annually, but if you want a bit more detail, find out how to plan your business’s cash flow on a more tactical week-by-week level.

You’ve got your estimates of how much you’ll sell for each product or product line, so let’s work from there. How much does each product cost you to produce? Head to the Cost of Products tab in the spreadsheet to enter the unit cost of each product.

This tab of the spreadsheet will calculate the total cost of your products over the year, which you can find at the bottom right-hand side of the sheet.

Take those numbers, and your knowledge of the ordering process, and allocate those costs in the months you plan to spend the money. 

Maybe the total cost of ordering a product is broken up into a few different parts, or you can order smaller production runs—only you know your business well enough to map out those costs.

Once you do know when you’re going to spend that money, add it in as a variable expense in the Expense Forecasting tab of your spreadsheet.

Lastly, add in any other variable expenses you have planned for next year. Are you attending an industry conference, or do you hire seasonal help? Make sure you estimate costs for anything that isn’t a monthly expense, and give them their own rows.

Seasonal forecasting best practices 

Know your seasonal sales trends

First and foremost, the best way to forecast your sales is to know your historical sales, and what your peak season sales are usually like year over year. So, if you’ve been tracking your sales with a system like QuickBooks Online, do a few reports to get a sense of your sales trends.

Compare your sales year over year, and note if there are any outliers—the spike or dip in sales unrelated to anything else. 

If possible, generate a report that segments by customer type and looks at the sales and growth from each customer over the last year or few years. There’s a good chance you’ll have a couple of more profitable—or more reliable—customers than others, and you can focus on keeping those relationships running smoothly.

Start forecasting early 

The earlier you start working on your forecasts, the more time you’ll have to plan for your best-guess forecast. 

Use the templates above to predict your inventory needs and maximize your cash flow, so you’re prepared for every forecasting scenario you can dream up.

Keep stock reserves on hand

Seasonal businesses are more likely than others to experience inventory issues. That’s because inventory management is tough when your sales vary so much between seasons.

You can avoid this problem entirely by making sure you keep a little bit of inventory on hand in between seasons, to tide you over until you can place your next order. Try to keep your minimum inventory at about 70% of your maximum inventory level for your busy season.

Get an inventory management software

Speaking of inventory planning and management, you’ll want to get an inventory management software to help automate forecasting. 

These tools can not only track inventory levels for all the items you carry, they can also be integrated with other tools like QuickBooks Online or your ecommerce platform, so your inventory levels are updated automatically and you can see if you’re about to run out of a product.

Why should ecommerce businesses forecast seasonal demand?

As a seasonal business, there are some months when it feels like you’re swimming in money—and others where your bank account feels more like a desert with a lone tumbleweed blowing through it.

That’s because in most seasonal businesses, your revenue and your expenses don’t line up. A few months of the year fund your business for the others, and you probably spend your “off” months investing back into your business.

That’s why forecasting your retail sales and your expenses is even more important for you.

Cover all of your expenses

Business is never easy, let’s get that straight—but it is easier to wing it with your business finances if you earn $5,000 every month and have $1,500 a month in expenses.

But if you earn $50,000 two months of the year, and your monthly expenses aren’t very stable, forecasting is critical. It’s one more thing that will help you resist those treat-yourself moments in high revenue months, and help cover any shortfalls during the offseason.

It’s one more thing that will help you resist those treat-yourself moments in high revenue months, and help cover any shortfalls during the offseason.

Invest in your business

If you could really use a new laptop or some upgraded equipment, a forecast can help you figure out when you’ll be able to make those big purchases—and if you have the money to do it.

If not, but you really do need the upgrades, a forecast could help you decide whether taking business financing to fund the purchase would be a good move.

Get the capital you need without the complications

Through Shopify Capital, you get the money you need to grow your business with just a few clicks. There is no lengthy application process and no paper forms to fill out.

Prepare for the busy season

Stocking up ahead of the busy season is critical, which is why we recommend doing things like making sure you have enough shipping supplies ahead of a busy sales season, such as Black Friday Cyber Monday. The importance of preparing for busy time periods is magnified when the busy season is your only season, so you’ll need to invest in inventory, supplies, and more before you need them.

The importance of preparing for busy times is magnified when the busy season is your only season.

Your forecast can help you map out and manage the expenses of stocking up before the sales start rolling in.

Make strategic decisions

Maybe this is the year you finally decide to spring for seasonal help, or take additional business financing. Making those decisions is much easier when you have an idea of what your year looks like, what you’re committed to spending already, and how much you think you’re going to sell.

Those are decisions that shouldn’t be entirely outsourced to someone else, which is why working through a forecast is so useful.

Forecasting seasonal demand for your store

Your forecast isn’t set in stone, and one of the most useful things you can do is adjust the numbers as you get more information.

Right off the bat, you might realize that some of your variable expenses aren’t hitting at the right time, and you might want to move them around.

Later on, as sales and orders start to come in, you might realize you need to adjust your sales forecast, and your corresponding costs to fulfill those orders.

You might even realize that yes, you do need to secure some business financing, and you’ll have a good idea of how you’re going to use the money, since you’ve already set a budget.

And that’s all OK.

In fact, it’s great, and it’s the best part of having an annual forecast in place for your seasonal business. Being able to adjust your plan, instead of hoping for the best when things change, will help you feel on top of your business finances all year round.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/forecasting-for-seasonal-businesses

One of the biggest challenges aspiring entrepreneurs face is finding profitable trending products that will sell, whether it’s a single product or a full product line that occupies a niche in a market.

Coming up with product ideas is admittedly a little tricky, and the importance of selling a product people want can leave even the most motivated people stuck in analysis paralysis. It often feels like everything you could possibly sell is already being sold—not to mention the reality that there will be plenty of competition in the most popular product categories.

Fortunately, there are still golden opportunities out there, proof of this being that new products successfully launch all the time. To help you get started, we’ve put together a shortlist of practical ways to find products to sell in your online store and build a recognizable and memorable brand.

1. Solve a customer pain point

Solving a customer pain point will always be an effective way of developing a product people want. Tylenol wouldn’t be in business if literal headaches didn’t hurt. Abstract customer pain points, meanwhile, are usually about addressing poor or frustrating experiences with the current selection of available products.

Take hiccups, for example. They are something virtually everyone has faced, which is what led to the founder of HiccAway to create a drinking straw that helps get rid of hiccups quickly.

While having hiccups isn’t necessarily painful, it is a huge pain point, for children and adults across the board.

According to HiccAway’s founder, “how to stop hiccups” is one of the most common medical searches on Google. One of the biggest reasons he decided to create a solution was it was so overlooked.

It’s worth paying close attention whenever you notice common frustrations with an existing line of products. Being keenly aware of the pain points and small annoyances you come across in your own life could be just what you need to come up with your next profitable product idea for your ecommerce brand.

2. Appeal to enthusiastic hobbyists

When consumers are passionate about a particular trade or hobby, they’re usually more inclined to invest money to get the exact product they want. This willingness to pay can be an important qualifier when evaluating the potential opportunity of any product, or line of products.

For example, golfers are well-known for investing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to lower their score by a few strokes. This is why knowing your target market is key. Commoditized and niche products can often be the best route to go when choosing products to sell online.

Additional benefits can include higher levels of engagement and loyalty with your brand, as enthusiastic customers are generally more involved in the industry and get more value out of the products they purchase. Let’s look at a few examples from online stores.

Impact Mouthguards

Impact Mouthguards sell dentist-level quality mouthguards that come in wild designs that capture the competitive spirit of their customers.

3. Go with your personal passion

While there are inherent risks in choosing a niche based on your own interests, it certainly doesn’t have to be a recipe for disaster. Using your know-how to create and position a unique product can be extremely profitable.

Founder/market fit matters, because building an ecommerce store is a lot of hard work, and you’ll be better equipped to stay motivated and overcome the hurdles if you are deeply invested in what you are selling.
Eric Bandholz started Beardbrand as a blog discussing business and sales strategy. Slowly, his passion for beards crept into the blog. Over time, he turned his passion for the bearded lifestyle into a separate and successful ecommerce business selling beard grooming products.

4. Consider your professional experience

Has working in a particular industry helped you learn the ins and outs? Maybe you have a skill or a particular set of experiences that makes you more knowledgeable than the average person on a particular topic. Turning your expertise into your own online business is a smart way to enter the market with a leg up that isn’t easy for others to duplicate or copy.

Retro Supply is an online shop that sells digital assets for graphic designers and illustrators inspired by history. Founder Dustin Lee, a designer by trade, pivoted from running a freelance web design shop to generating more passive revenue through Retro Supply’s selection of digital products.

5. Capitalize on trends early

Recognizing a trend early enough can be a significant win for a new business. It allows you to carve out a place in the market and establish yourself as a leader before others have a chance to. And thanks to the nature of digital marketing, your paid spend will probably be lower and opportunities to build long-term SEO traffic may be more abundant.

The key is to not confuse a “fad” with a genuine “trend.” A fad is something that has surged into the limelight based purely on novelty or a gimmick., While fads can present great marketing opportunities, remember that if you build your business on a fad, the demand will eventually fizzle out. A trend, meanwhile, is something that fulfills an existing need in a new way, which is why their demand holds for much longer than a fad.

Knoxlabs was early to market with its cardboard VR headsets. Founder Taron Lizagub tested the initial idea with a scrappy splash page, and to his surprise, he was able to quickly pre-sell around 500 headsets. The business later went on to make nearly $3 million in sales.

Here are a few ways to keep an eye on what’s trending so you can act quickly on potential opportunities:

• Social listening: This can be as basic as looking at the trending hashtags on Twitter or topics on Facebook, or as advanced as using social listening tools to identify and monitor trends over time.
• Google Trends: Look at the popularity of topics over time, and see what’s hitting a spike in interest.
• Trend Hunter: The “world’s largest, most popular trend community” uses data, artificial intelligence, and real humans to identify consumer insights and new opportunities.
• Reddit: “The front page of the internet” showcases forums about pretty much every topic under the sun. Visit the Popular page to see what people are buzzing about.

6. Read customer reviews on existing products

Whether you already sell products online or not, customer reviews can be your secret to generating product ideas without having to invest a dime.

If you already have an established online store with a bit of traction, you can see what customers are saying about your existing products. Are there any trends or interesting bits of feedback you can use as inspiration to develop your next product? Pay special attention to shortcomings and complaints being shared.

If you don’t currently have a store, have a look at customer reviews for other brands and products in the industry you want to explore. What “wishlist” feedback is being shared about potential improvements to already successful products? What add-ons or additional products do customers consistently bring up?

If you’re not sure of the industry or product category to explore, consider a specific demographic and focus on brands and products that those individuals gravitate toward.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference:  https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/389/233418.html

These may be tough times, but South Africans are set to dig deep and plan for a happy and festive holiday season, even though their approaches to festivities and gift giving may be very different this year. Most remain motivated by the desire to feel a sense of connection and community and aren’t prepared to compromise on this because budgets are tight.

The recent KLA survey (data reported below) found that financial stress is a reality for many South Africans, a fact confirmed in the Momentum Unisa Consumer Financial Vulnerability Index Q3 report. The latter found that the overall state of South African consumer finances improved slightly in Q3 2022, but people remain under pressure.

This is further supported by a recent McKinsey Report (March 2022) that unpacks the tangible financial pressures with 87% of South African consumers describing their personal financial situation as ‘stretched’; 70% reporting substituting branded products with cheaper alternatives; and 42% saying that cheaper alternatives are good enough for everyday use.

It is within this context that the findings from KLA’s recent research into how South Africans are thinking about and planning for their Christmas spend are read.

Mindful gifting will bridge the desire to give and will enable consumer to stay within the reality of their budgets.

‘The thought that counts’ mantra will hold more truth this year than ever. Christmas gifting remains important with the majority (72%) saying they will be buying gifts, but 18% have decided to forgo gifts entirely despite having bought gifts in previous years.

Spending will be curbed for some. Relative to last year, the indicated spread of spend is:

42% plan to spend more

32% will spend similar amounts

22% will spend less

5% don’t celebrate Christmas

There are clear reasons why spend will be carefully considered and three main reasons are not surprising:

• 63%: inflation (rising cost of living)
• 51%: pressure on disposable income (money left once expenses are paid)
• 51%: transportation

In addition, monthly expenses are demanding – 31% indicate restraint as a result of too much debt, 29% cite housing costs, 27% say school fees, and the cost of healthcare is a challenge for 22% of respondents. Only 7% of respondents have no financial concerns and have no need for restraint.

When it comes to the choice of gift this year, consumers are mainly opting for clothing and shoes (83%), toys (53%), food/drinks/consumables (52%), vouchers (52%) and beauty or personal care products (49%).

The survey results indicate the following gifting categories:

In the context of financial and gift-giving caution, consumers are set to apply equal care when it comes to paying for gifts.

Survey results suggest reticence to endure more debt during this time and consumers are looking for the comfort and control that comes with paying with cash; 74% plan to pay cash, while 59% plan to use a debit card, which equates to cash.

Efforts to accumulate points and rewards are realised for 41% of respondents who will use these to pay for gifts and 39% will use gift cards/vouchers. However, credit will be used by some: 25% will use a credit card and 11% will use a Buy Now, Pay Later platform.

Retailers should connect with consumers to create anticipation and build the excitement of Christmas.

Consumers want festive cheer and fun after a rough and complex year, so this is the perfect opportunity for retailers to create experiences that do just that – bring cheer and build a sense of celebration.

Given that discretionary income is limited, retailers could leverage festive feelings and support consumers through this time. Consumers seek Christmas sparkle as they wander through stores, be they physical or digital. Create experiences that deliver the cheer and draws on all our senses building feelings of joy and celebration.

Consumers will be in stores and online, ready for festive experiences – 34% of respondents are likely to shop in-store, 46% will combine online and in-store shopping and 20% will shop online only.

Creativity in gifting and celebrating Christmas might just be the most important ingredients for consumers and retailers to have the most magical time this year.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/168/233633.html

Amazon plans to launch its e-commerce store in South Africa in 2023. As a businessman in South Africa , are you ready to prepare for its competition? How about expanding your current business to the Amazon online store to seize the market? Here’s a guide for you to start an online store on Amazon.

Amazon is a popular platform for both sellers and shoppers. To cope with the rising demands of the sellers, it has rolled out its FBA service. This service allows sellers to leverage the platform’s powerful distribution network and customer base to make their business dream come true. For retailers, it’s the most popular choice of platform.

FBA stands for “Fulfillment by Amazon” which means Amazon will store your products in the Amazon inventory, fulfill your orders, and offer customer service. If you want to use the Amazon FBA service, you have to create an Amazon seller account and add FBA to your account. It’s important that you set your business up in compliance with the guidelines on the website.

Create your product listings and inventory or integrate your inventory data into the Amazon platform. Prepare the products to be delivered, and send your products into Amazon warehouse. When the customer places orders, Amazon FBA will fulfill the orders and send all necessary shipping and tracking info to the customers. 24/7 customer service is available for both sellers and customers.

As a seller, you will be free from the processes attached to inventory, packing and shipping orders. This system means it’s quite easy for you to get started. Amazon’s robust FBA model supports and allows you to scale your business globally too. Besides, if you are an Amazon FBA seller, you are qualified for free shipping on orders over $25 (books) and $49(all other items).

Plus you qualify for the Amazon Prime program, and that will give customers unlimited free two-day shipping or free one-day shipping service. The Amazon FBA fee is rather cost-effective compared to other order fulfillment centers. What’s more, you are allowed to sell on different channels with the Amazon FBA program. You can sell on eBay, your ecommerce store, and other market places besides Amazon.

How much money do you need to start selling on Amazon? This depends on a lot of different factors but even if you have a small amount of money (less than $500), you can source some products and start an Amazon FBA business. Start with an individual account and then upgrade to a Pro account when your sales start to grow. Finding profitable products is the key and then reinvesting your profits.

How can you start an Amazon FBA business? This article elaborates on this in detail and walks through all vital steps to become a successful Amazon FBA seller. If you are starting your business, you are in the right place to find out more about an Amazon FBA business. Let’s get started.

1. Create a Business Plan

To start an Amazon FBA business, you have to have a plan in place to ensure everything on the right track. A business plan should include your business mission, market analysis, products and services, marketing and sales, and financial plan, etc.

There are a lot of things you need to know. You have to research the market, check the trends, get to know your competitors, and figure out what kind of products you want to sell, how much you want to spend on the product sourcing, marketing, and promotion. Try to create a rough plan for your business schedule, and relevant business activities.

2. Find Your Niche

To sell on Amazon FBA, you need to find a profitable niche as it matters your success. To have a profitable business, you need to do market research and find relevant trendy and competitive products that align with your passion and interests.

Get to know the product trend, and study its emotional impact, practical value, visibility, and recognition. Try to find the selling point or create a new trendy selling point to make it viral on the market. We strongly suggest you do not involve seasonal and fragile products.

3. Start Market Research

Once you determine your niche, you have to verify it on the market with market research. Keep track of competitor sales over a period of time. Tracking your competitors will give you a more realistic view of the market, niche, or segment.

Another idea is to communicate with several suppliers or customers to get to know their sentiments for the products; you could use a survey.

If you confirm that the sales numbers are consistent in the market, you can take your plan to the next step. In a stable market, you can move forward based on your plan.

4. Identify Product Suppliers

Once you determine your niche, you have to find your product supplier. There are several ways to find supplier info. You can find suppliers on Shopshipshake and other good B2B platforms. You’ll probably find a few potential suppliers. Get their contact info and other background info if possible.

You could also search on Google or get contacts with suppliers at trade shows. Trade shows are a great way for you to have a brief communication with the supplier and get to know their products. You can also visit suppliers to find the supplier based on the industry distribution.

You have to contact these suppliers to find the best one for you. Send emails, make phone calls, and visit the suppliers. Try to avoid scammers and identify the best one.

Get to know the sample products, the price, and the minimum order quantity (MOQ), the order limit, product quality, shipping charges, and their capacity, etc.

Try to figure out the payment options and the payment terms for your quote. Find the best one for you; narrow down your options based on your requirements.

Remember to order samples so you can see the product quality. Check the product by yourself or use professional quality inspectors before you choose your supplier.

5. Place Orders

Once you have chosen your supplier, you need to place an order.

Normally, the first order should not be large. You can place a small order and use it to test the market and get relevant feedback from customers. Testing like this is a great way to know the market with your products.

Remember to stay in regular contact with your supplier to avoid misunderstandings and get product manufacturing updates. Try to keep the key specifications in black and white and be timely with any revisions.

Product quality inspection should be in place when you place an order. Try to inspect the raw material, processes in the production line, and the finished products before shipping.

6. Register an Amazon Account

If you don’t have an Amazon seller account, you have to register as an Amazon seller account first. There are two types of account available – individual seller or pro seller. The former cost $0 per month but you will be charged about $1 for each item you sell on Amazon. The Pro seller includes more features and charges $39.99 per month. You can choose the account type based on your business budget.

7. Create Product Listing

You have to create product listings to add your items on to the platform. There are many parts to creating your listing. You have to include clear and high-resolution images. Make sure your products are “Prime eligible” and enjoy the free shipping options for prime members. If you do not have many items, you can list them manually. If you have many items, you can upload a spreadsheet that contains each of your items. Try to provide enough info about your products and make your product listing appealing.

8. Manage Your Inventory

Amazon FBA sellers have to pay special attention to their inventory. Inventory levels are extremely important. Try to manage and replenish your inventory properly. It is imperative for you to ensure you have enough to sell and keep your product inventory level available for your market and sales.

Your inventory level will decrease automatically on Amazon as orders are placed. Ensure your inventory level will be updated regularly to show the availability of the item on your product listing page. You can use a sophisticated system to integrate your sales and inventory data.

If you see that the item is going to run out of stock, try to change your marketing plan and place orders from suppliers to replenish your inventory level.

9. Follow up Customer Reviews

As we know, customers are likely to refer to the feedback left by other buyers who have bought the item before. Amazon customer reviews are important for your business. It is the credibility that you’ve built among your target customers.

These testimonials are social proof for your business and products. As a result, you need to follow up on the shopping experience of the buyer so that they leave their feedback.

There are many ways for you to do this. You can write emails to the customers to get to know their comments about your products and services.

You can build your social media account and try to get customer feedback on the social media platform.

Try to get more positive feedback to increase your sales and conversions.

10. Optimize Product Listings

Try to monitor your sales performance and get to know your business within the market. Optimize your product listings to increase website traffic and boost sales.

Optimization should be a continuous process for Amazon sellers.

Start with the keyword. Research and find relevant keywords and insert them into your product titles, features, descriptions, etc. Try to leverage the Amazon algorithm and make it work for your business.

The relevancy of the keywords of your products matters to your product visibility and sales. You can use Google Keyword Planner to help you identify the keywords of your products.

Images are important too. You are allowed to use 5-7 images of the product from different angles and contexts and to display the size, feature, and designs of your products. Try to make it clear and appealing to customers.

When it comes to the product features, always display the most important info that the customers want to know. Put yourself into the shoes of the shoppers, show the value of your products, and include the warranty and guarantees of your offerings.

For the description part, try to use compelling language to tell your story. Keep the sentence short and simple, and make sure it can be easily understood. If possible, use Call-to-Action words or phrases to boost sales and increase conversions.

For Amazon FBA beginners, it’s a tough job to start your own business. However, the above tips will help you figure out the whole process of the business. If you are stuck in your sales, you can incorporate some of them to grow your ecommerce business. Now, it’s time for you to go ahead.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.repricerexpress.com/how-to-sell-on-amazon/

In this post, we’ll look at some call-to-action examples that stores use effectively. Then, you can take their CTA techniques and apply them to your own store so your potential customers convert into sales.

Your online storefront looks great. You’ve spent a lot of time tweaking the aesthetics and making sure the customer journey flows properly. That is, if there were customers. Why aren’t visitors adding products to their carts? Your small business is getting traffic, so why isn’t it converting?Build a future on your own terms.

It could be something simple, like your visitors are having a hard time navigating your store. That could be because there isn’t a clear call-to-action (CTA) button, so they don’t know where to click to get what they want.

What is a call to action?

Your call to action tells visitors what to do, where they should click, and what they should buy. It’s what lights a path to your checkout and turns a visitor into a customer as quickly as possible.

The most obvious example of a call to action is a Buy Now or Shop Now button on your storefront. There’s no definitive answer on which button, phrase, styling, or size works best, so a bit of trial and error is normal.

Don’t be afraid to test new CTAs on your site and take note of which ones work best. Your goal is to place relevant and compelling offers in front of buyers.

For example, if you’re targeting a cold audience on Instagram for your women’s shoe campaign, a Shop Now CTA makes more sense than a Buy Now. It gives the viewer freedom to explore your collection versus feeling forced to buy right away.

Market research shows that a person needs to know you, your reputation, and your product before they’re willing to make a purchase. So if your goal is to create an efficient selling engine generating the most revenue at the least cost, strategic CTAs are critical to its success. 

How to write a call to action

While this nudge toward action can—and should!—be tested, optimized, and modified for years, you need a basic understanding of techniques for an effective call to action. It’s a bit more strategic than just slapping a Buy Now button anywhere on your site.

1. Consider the funnel stage

Funnel stages refer to the customers’ mindset on their path to purchase. It represents the marketing strategy used to turn prospects into paying customers. The goal is to map out the route to conversion and automate sales. Since you don’t have a salesperson on every marketing asset 24/7, CTAs encourage action. 

At a high level, a funnel consists of three parts: 

• Top of the funnel (ToFu): awareness stage where people learn about your product
• Middle of the funnel (MoFu): interest and decision stage where people are looking for solutions
• Bottom of the funnel (BoFu): action stage where people are ready to buy

Your offer varies depending on what stage of the funnel they’re at. First-time blog post readers, for example, will respond differently to a Buy Now CTA than an engaged email subscriber or loyal customer.

Jewelry retailer Pura Vida Bracelets perfects the funnel using a series of calls to action. After you land on the site, a timed pop-up shows an offer for a 20% discount in exchange for your name, email address, and phone number. It’s low commitment and engaging for first-time buyers—because who doesn’t want 20% off of these awesome products?

After completing the form in the pop-up, Pura Vida sends a confirmation email and SMS with the discount code. The SMS message uses a text-based CTA to click the link and use the coupon. The email uses the call to action “Treat yourself” to encourage clicks. 

People are more warmed up here in the decision stage. They are familiar with your brand and its offerings, so a more aggressive call to action is acceptable. 

Pura Vida makes it easy to add products to your cart. You can read about an item on the product page and add it to your shopping cart from there or directly from the category page using an Add to Cart CTA. 

After choosing your desired product(s), you can check out in your shopping cart by clicking the Checkout CTA. 

These targeted CTAs are used to engage visitors with the right call to action based on their intent and where they are in your funnel. When you’re creating a CTA, think about engaging your viewers based on their behaviors and mindset. It can help get your message across and encourage people to act on your offers. 

2. Make early offers low risk

It should be easy for potential customers to engage with your business. People are more likely to click on a button that’s not going to cost them anything or rope them into anything. And you can lead them to a landing page giving you another chance to make a sale.

By offering something of high value (like a free-with-purchase item or a discount) in return for something of relatively low value or effort (like a social follow or email signup), you give your customers the incentive to engage. Who doesn’t want something free just for following an Instagram page, or a 15% discount for signing up for a newsletter?

A great example of a low-risk CTA is Colourpop’s offer of a 15% discount in return for an email address. This is a no-risk offer to the customer—they don’t even have to commit to anything, just give out their email list for a good discount. 

3. Use urgency to increase conversions

When shoppers feel an opportunity is limited, they are more inclined to purchase. It creates a sense of urgency and triggers the FOMO in all of us. A recent CXL study showed that adding a sense of urgency increased conversion rates by 332% for one online seller.

It’s no wonder you see it in retail store displays all the time. Like end-of-season sales that run for a week or products only available seasonally. The same can be applied to your ecommerce store.

For instance, if you highlight a stock level or include wording like “Buy now—only on sale until midnight,” then you’re building on that sense of urgency.

Notice how Pura Vida uses urgency in the example below. At the top of the checkout page, the retailer has the countdown message “Hurry! Your order is reserved for 9:31 minutes!” The brand will only hold your order for 10 minutes, max. 

4. Test different colors

While there’s no definitive button color that converts best, it’s important to make sure you’re using a color that resonates with your visitors—and reflects your brand. The way to figure that out is by using A/B testing. Create a few versions of the same ad using different colors and see which ad generates a higher click-through rate.

Here are a few tips to consider when determining which color to use for your CTA:

• Use white space around your CTA to make it clear where to click
• Select a color different enough from the background so it stands out
• Don’t make it too crazy with colors and animation—simplicity is your friend

5. Use simple buttons and copy

It takes 50 milliseconds for a visitor to form an opinion about your website or ads, so it’s vital that you make it eye-catching and simple. One of the ways you can do this is by using buttons to direct visitors’ attention to the action you want them to take. 

While most Shopify themes already include this feature, do make sure your CTA appears as a button and not just text. Even if it’s surrounded by a small border, it’s better than having just a text link. 

Tip: You can cater your button copy to the market you’re selling. If you’re selling something like coffee, try changing the copy on your buy button to Brew It and see if that helps with conversions!

6. Use captivating hero images

Hero images—the main, featured images on a website—can be used to highlight a product or collection. In other words, they can be a massive call to action. Be sure to have your hero image link to a product or collection to get visitors to check out faster.

Gamestop does a great job of featuring new games on its homepage. It uses great images that make you want to find out more about the game, and if you click on the images it takes you to a page that lets you buy it. Simple and easy and sure to turn into sales. 

7. Keep it “above the fold”

The phrase “above the fold” comes from the newspaper industry, as the most important stories appear on the top half of a paper’s front page—the half you see when it’s on the newsstand or in a box. Below the “fold” of a storefront is the area of a website you can’t see until scrolling down. Any content above the fold is what visitors immediately see upon entering your online store.

If you can grab a visitor’s attention above the fold, chances are they’ll continue to click and navigate through your store.

Dr. Squatch puts all of the information you need well above the fold here. It has a call-to-action button in a prominent position, as well as all the menu options at the top. The copy is simple and prominent and its hero picture perfectly features its products. 

Free Reading List: Copywriting Tactics for Entrepreneurs

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Call to action FAQ

How do you write a call to action?

• Consider the funnel stage.
• Make early offers low risk.
• Use urgency to increase conversions.
• Test different colors.
• Use simple buttons and copy.
• Use captivating hero images. 
• Keep it “above the fold.”

What is a good call-to-action statement?

The best calls to action are clear and specific. They are relevant to the viewer and display an offer they can’t refuse. Your call to action is responsible for engaging a reader and encouraging clicks.

What is a call-to-action example?

The most simple call to action example is Buy Now. Other common examples include Sign Up Now, Add to Cart, and Go to Checkout.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.shopify.com/au/blog/17156160-7-inspiring-ecommerce-call-to-action-examples-and-why-they-work#3

For online retailers, Black Friday is one of the biggest business opportunities of the year. But without the right logistics in place, it could turn into a major business headache and customer deterrent. “No matter how stable your site is and how good your specials are, poor logistics can undermine all your Black Friday wins,” says Joshua Shimkin, head of SME growth and marketing at Peach Payments, a South African-based payment gateway.

Shimkin notes that the logistics of distribution and delivery underpin the success of any e-commerce site. “How you approach logistics impacts your costs of doing business, your customer satisfaction, and your overall brand reputation,” he says.

A recent study by Ipsos and Octopia in Europe found that 85% of online shoppers say a poor delivery experience would prevent them from ordering from that online retailer again.

In South Africa, reliability and good value delivery are top considerations encouraging customers to make repeat purchases, according to the fourth annual South African Digital Customer Experience Report by Rogerwilco, ovatoyou and Julia Ahlfeldt CX Consulting. The report notes “the last mile is the only mile that matters” for customers, who wish online stores would offer cheaper or free, as well as faster and more convenient delivery.

With Black Friday only weeks away, Shimkin says online SMEs need to move fast to ensure their logistics support their profit goals and keep their customers coming back.

1. Start the right way

“If this is your small business’s first Black Friday, now is the time to test whether your customer journey, payments and fulfilment processes work as expected,” Shimkin advises. The first step is integrating a secure, easy-to-use payment solution into your site.

Consider factors like how you will ship your products without damage, and how you will deliver to remote regions, and plan accordingly.

“Do a few trials to test whether the shopping experience is easy and professional and whether your courier collects and delivers promptly,” Shimkin suggests.

2. Think about pick and pack

If your SME is still too small to have formalised warehousing with picking and packing processes, Black Friday sales volumes could come as a surprise, Shimkin says.

Plan now to have sufficient stock, packaging and waybills on hand, and line up friends or family to help you package orders quickly, if necessary.

3. Enable fulfilment transparency

“Online customers – rightly – expect assurances before they click ‘buy’ that their orders will be delivered, and they want to know how long delivery will take and what it will cost,” Shimkin says.

This information should be clearly displayed on the checkout page and reiterated, with a courier tracking number, on the emailed order confirmation.

“Now is the time to add that information to your site. Customers also appreciate updates when their parcels are on the way and when they have been delivered.”

The memes showing people tracking their deliveries seconds after shopping online are based on reality, he notes. Most online shoppers are excitedly looking out for their parcels and will express their disappointment if there are hiccups.

4. Consider shipping costs

Scaling your business depends entirely on growing your revenues and profits faster than your costs, but shipping costs can eat into profits, especially on lower-value orders.

Shimkin says: “While many customers hope for free or cheap shipping, some customers may be in a hurry and willing to pay more for the option of express shipping. We believe offering a variety of shipping options at appropriate rates gives customers the choice they want.”

Adding a choice of shipping options to your site now can go a long way towards both covering the costs of shipping and ensuring happy customers over the Black Friday sales, he notes.

Delivery costs can be also managed by choosing the right courier for the task at hand. Some courier companies specialise in small, light goods and offer competitive monthly rates for large numbers of deliveries. If you’re selling large and heavy goods, you may need to source a specialist courier.

“Consider the services and capabilities of each service provider, such as same day/next day deliveries, comprehensive insurance, and integration into online shopping platforms. We have found that SMEs can benefit greatly from using a courier aggregator to help them get the best prices and services for their needs,” he suggests.

5. Remember returns and refunds

Finally, Shimkin says offering easy returns at no cost to the customer is important for customer satisfaction.

“Ahead of Black Friday, ensure that your returns policies are clearly displayed on your site, and build the costs of shipping returns back to you into your operating costs,” he suggests.

He concludes by reiterating the importance of logistics for the success of online SMEs.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference:  https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/389/233418.html

You may focus your attention on attracting new customers, but the truth is repeat customers are extremely valuable to your business.

Sure, customer acquisition strategies can increase your brand awareness and audience size. However, if you aren’t selling an experience that makes your customers come back for more, you’re ignoring a major revenue possibility.

Creating an experience out of purchasing your products is a great way to have your customers return for more shopping.

In this article, we’ll define repeat customers, why they’re important, and how to keep repeat customers as your business’s biggest fans.

What are repeat customers?

Simply put, a repeat customer is anyone who buys from your business more than once.

Technically this could mean any customer who has ordered twice; however, those aren’t the customers we’re focusing on today. We’re talking about the loyal customers who consistently and repeatedly shop with you.

If you’re examining customer data, it’s easy to identify your repeat customers. A repeat customer will have the following traits:

• They love your products
• They love the experience you sell
• They love your business or its mission

This is why customer experience is so important in the world of repeat customers.

If you sell a great product but a poor experience, you’ll likely see your repeat customer metrics fall.

There are a few key customer metrics you should be closely watching when it comes to identifying repeat customers: customer lifetime value, customer retention rate, and repeat purchase rate.

If these metrics are performing well, you likely have a lot of repeat customers who love your products and your experience.

Why are repeat customers important to your business?

Repeat customers are very important and super valuable to your business for many reasons. We’ve made a list of the top eight reasons why you should focus on increasing your repeat customers.

Loyalty

Most importantly, repeat customers are loyal to your brand and your products. Targeting your most loyal customers is a great strategy to improve sales and grow your business.

You can count on repeat customers to spend consistently (and at key times), market your brand, and provide better value to your business.

Consistent revenue

Repeat customers have the power to provide your business with consistent revenue. They like your business, they like your products, and they will continue buying from you.

If you sell skincare, for example, your repeat customers will be purchasing from you every time they run out of your products!

Knowing how many repeat customers you have can help you map out financial projections, and inventory management – plus, they keep the cash rolling in.

Increase trust

Repeat customers trust you, which makes them easier to sell to.

If you’re struggling to prove the benefits and worth of your products to new customers, you can understand why repeat customers are so important.

Repeat customers need little to no convincing to place an order. This means with repeat customers, you can spend less time focusing on brand awareness, customer acquisition, and marketing. Instead, you can focus on keeping your repeat customers happy!

Marketing

Repeat customers help your marketing strategy in two ways: content marketing and word-of-mouth marketing.

When you put your attention on repeat customers, you can focus less on content marketing. This is for two reasons.

First, you’ve identified that new customer acquisition is not as profitable as serving repeat customers. And second, repeat customers can do your marketing for you!

When it comes to digital marketing, user-generated content is an entire strategy of its own. Many businesses focus on using their customers to create and share content featuring their products on digital platforms.

You can reach new audiences with zero cost if your repeat customers are doing the marketing for you.

As for word-of-mouth marketing, your loyal repeat customers are eager to share your business with their communities.
You can use them for testimonials, reviews, and talking about your business to anyone who will listen. Their loyalty naturally makes them your biggest cheerleaders.

Greater lifetime value

Repeat customers will always have a greater lifetime value than new customers – because they’re always coming back for more!

Customer lifetime value is a metric that tracks a customer’s total spend with your business over your relationship together¹.

It’s a major metric to track and grow because it has the potential to increase your business’s revenue immensely.

Easier sales

Because repeat customers already trust you and are loyal to you, they’re easier to sell to.

When your selling process is simplified, you have more time to grow other areas of your business.

Cheaper acquisition

Repeat customers are cheaper to acquire because they’re already familiar with your brand.

A great example of this is email marketing. Once you get a customer’s email, you can contact them at super low costs, directly in their inbox.

With a direct communication channel and previously established trust with your brand, a repeat customer has a super low cost for you to acquire their business.

How to attract and keep repeat customers?

Winning customers’ loyalty and turning them into repeat customers is no easy job.

But if you sell great products and provide a great experience, it will make things significantly easier.

Great customer service

Great customer service is the number one way to grow your repeat customer base.

Customers will only return if they have a positive experience that leaves them satisfied.

Investing in good customer service employees and software is a great way to grow your repeat customer base. It’s important to be helpful and available while your customers are shopping and deciding whether to make a purchase.

With Alibaba.com, there are customer service resources that will help your customers make the important decision to purchase from your business.

Create a great experience

Creating a great and memorable experience for your customers will have them coming back for more.

A great experience begins when a customer first discovers your brand and continues until they receive and use your product.

This is why marketing, customer service, great products, efficient operations, and presentation are all so important for repeat customers.

Improve your offering

For any business to succeed, you need a great offering that excites your customers.

Selling quality products at reasonable prices is an easy way to have a good offering. Providing your customers with plenty of options is another easy way.

You want customers to be excited about your shop and your products. So, having a great offer is an easy way to get customers to repeat their purchasing behavior!

Utilize customer feedback

Another great way to improve your offering and keep repeat customers is by utilizing customer feedback.

That’s why encouraging customers to leave reviews is so valuable! When shoppers take time to review your products and experiences, you should listen.

Make it easy for customers to provide feedback through email marketing, product ratings, customer service ratings, and social media marketing.

Customer loyalty programs

Customer loyalty programs are a great way to attract and keep repeat customers.

Create referral programs and reward programs that offer customers incentives or discounts when they place more orders!

Since repeat customers are easier to sell to and have a cheaper acquisition rate, offering an incentive is feasible. Just make sure the offer is valuable to both your business and your customers!

Have a great mission

In today’s times, having a great mission is an awesome way to keep your customers repeating their purchases.

Many businesses opt to stand for social justice issues and advertise these to their audiences. That’s because many shoppers look to spend their money at meaningful businesses that help them make a difference.

There are many different missions you can associate your business with: animal welfare, environmental change, body positivity, diversity, and inclusion, to name a few.

Standing for something makes your business more appealing to customers who agree with your mission.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shoppingmall/index

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://ventureburn.com/2022/07/amazon-to-hit-sa-heres-how-local-businesses-can-compete/

You have a passion for clothes and want to start an online boutique. It’s a great small business idea—you’ll capture some of the $294 billion consumers spend on clothes each year.

The problem? You don’t have any money to invest in starting a clothing business.Build a future on your own terms.

Here’s how to open an online boutique with no money. From discovering products to promoting them online, you’ll get your boutique up and running in record speed—even if you’re budget strapped.

1. Choose a business model

A business model describes how you’ll sell clothes through your online boutique.

Dropshipping clothes is great if you’re starting out with no money. Find a dropshipping clothing supplier, use their imagery on your store, and pay for inventory once it sells. You’re responsible solely for marketing. It’s your supplier’s responsibility to pick, pack, and ship items from your boutique to customers.

Other budget-friendly options include:

• Making your own clothes
• Private labeling
• Print on demand

2. Select products you’ll sell

Choosing a niche market for your boutique means you can be known as the go-to place for one specific type of clothing. That might be:

• Vintage clothes
• Baby clothes
• Dog clothes
• Plus-size clothing
• Vegan clothes

Hannah Nash, online boutique owner and co-founder of Lucy Nash, says, “Our boutique specializes in high-quality jewelry that is designed to be worn. Rather than buying mass-produced jewelry that will end up in a drawer, our pieces are unique and will add distinction to any outfit.

“We also focus on quality over quantity. We only select the best materials and use skilled artisans to create each piece. This attention to detail ensures that our customers can enjoy their jewelry for years to come.”

3. Write a business and marketing plan

An online boutique business plan details how your store will attract customers and make money online. Use this free business plan template to break down how you plan to work around minimal investment, detailing:

• Your business structure
• How you’ll source inventory
• Whether you need a business license
• If you’ll secure financing or funding
• Who your competitors are
• Budgets for inventory, marketing, and paid advertising

While you’re planning, spend some time crafting a marketing plan that details your target market and how you plan to reach them.

Which social media marketing platforms will you use? What types of content does your target customer engage with? How will you drive them to your online boutique? Use a free marketing plan template to answer these questions.

4. Create a brand

A brand sets your online boutique apart from the rest. Yours should communicate what you sell, who you sell to, and why someone should buy from your boutique.

To DIY a visual brand on a budget, create:

• A business name
• A tagline or slogan
• A value proposition
• Core values
• A visual identity, including a professional logo, colors, and fonts

Whatever you choose, be consistent with your online boutique’s branding across all touchpoints with potential customers. Brand consistency can increase revenue by as much as 33%.

5. Open your online store

To sell clothing through online boutiques, you need an ecommerce website for potential customers to search, browse, and purchase your inventory.

An online store (instead of marketplaces like Etsy) gives you greater control over the brand experience, and helps you retain important customer data that can be used for future retargeting.

Pay attention to the following elements of your online store:

• Clothing product photography. Showcase what your boutique inventory looks like in various scenarios, like models of various sizes, hung on a hanger, or folded up.
• Product descriptions. Share your size guide, the material it’s made from, and why your boutique’s inventory is different from other brands.
• Navigation. Help people discover new products in your boutique by linking bestselling products and categories.
• Store policies. From shipping to returns, giving potential customers this essential information upfront often makes them more comfortable in making their first purchase.

6. Decide on your shipping strategy

Consider domestic and international shipping rates, and whether you’ll offer free shipping—some 66% of customers are put off if they have to pay for shipping. Work around this problem without sacrificing your profits by enforcing a minimum spend threshold, such as “spend $50 for free shipping.”

This problem is taken off your plate entirely if you’re using the dropshipping business model to run your online boutique. Order fulfillment and shipping are the responsibility of your dropshipping supplier. 

7. Price your boutique’s inventory

One of the hardest things about opening an online boutique is pricing your inventory. You’ll need to sell products for more than they’re costing you.
Consider different pricing strategies, such as:

• Value-based pricing
• Competitive pricing
• Psychological pricing
• Penetration pricing
• Discounting

8. Get set up to take payment

You’ve set the prices for each item in your online boutique. Next, get your payment processor up and running to collect money from each customer.

The most popular payment method is debit or credit card.Customers can use their American Express, Visa, or Mastercard to pay for online purchases.

Alongside debit and credit cards, offer alternative payment methods on your boutique to generate more sales. That includes:

• Mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Buy now, pay later, such as Shop Pay Installments
• Bank transfer

9. Start promoting your online boutique

Your job isn’t over once your boutique is up and running. Smart marketing strategies increase the odds of people stumbling upon your online store. The more ecommerce website traffic you have, the greater your chance at making money online.

Promote your online boutique using free promotion tactics like:

• Gifting free products to fashion influencers
• Guest posting on clothing publications
• Creating TikTok videos
• Offering a discount code
• Running an automated email marketing campaign
• Hosting a social media giveaway

10. Optimize your online store

The average conversion rate for an online store is just 2.86%. The type of traffic you’re driving to your online boutique largely impacts your conversion rate. But there are things you can do to squeeze more revenue from existing website visitors.

Optimize your online store with conversion rate optimization (CRO) tactics like:

• One-click checkout
• Trust signals, such as payment processor logos or free returns policy
• A/B testing elements on the page, such as your product photos or layout
• Showcasing social proof, such as customer reviews or user-generated content
• Mobile-friendly design that automatically resizes based on a visitor’s device

You don’t need cash to start an online boutique

Opening an online boutique is a great low-cost business idea. Choose a business model that doesn’t require upfront cash, like dropshipping or print on demand, and explain how you’ll work around a minimal budget with a solid business plan.

How to start an online boutique with no money FAQ

Is owning an online boutique profitable?

An online boutique can become a profitable business, since it allows you to tap into the $775 billion global consumers spend on fashion. The key to success is monitoring your profit margins and selling clothes at a higher price than they cost you.

How do I start a small online clothing business from home?

Start by choosing a business model that doesn’t require upfront investment, such as dropshipping. Find a reliable supplier, sync their inventory with your online store, and start promoting your boutique online.

What can be sold in a boutique?

• T-shirts
• Sweaters
• Jewelry
• Handbags
• Cosmetics
• Luxury goods

Where do boutiques buy their inventory?

• Thrift stores
• Directly from manufacturers
• Dropshipping suppliers
• Wholesale fashion retailers
• Online marketplaces like eBay

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

If you would like to know more details about us, please contact with us:  www.shopshipshake.co.za

If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Article reference: https://www.shopify.com/au/blog/117806725-how-to-launch-an-online-store-with-no-cash-investment#1