The world of e-commerce has experienced a massive surge in growth and innovation, fuelled by advancements in technology and changing consumer habits. With the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating the shift towards online shopping, the e-commerce industry is expected to continue its upward trajectory in the coming years.

According to Vincent Viviers, omnichannel retail executive at Pick n Pay, innovation in machine learning, payments, loyalty and social commerce are shaping the evolution of online retail.

Viviers co-founded the on-demand drinks ordering app Bottles in 2016, which integrated with Pick n Pay and was later acquired by the supermarket giant and rebranded to Pick n Pay Asap, building capacity for Pick n Pay to compete in the on-demand grocery delivery space.

Viviers took to the main stage at the Ecom Africa conference and expo held in Cape Town this week to share his top five emerging e-commerce trends that businesses need to know.

1. Retail media revolution

Referring to it as the “third wave of digital advertising”, Viviers noted that retail media accounted for 20% of all digital advertising spend in the US for 2022, and the biggest part of retail media globally is sponsored product ads in search. Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are stealing market share from Google and Bing with sponsored product ads, which now make up 65% of all searches in the US.

“Google knows what your intent is from the title of your searches. Social media knows what you engage with because that’s where we spend a lot of our time. But we as a retailer, we know what you buy, and that creates extremely powerful signals for us to serve more targeted and relevant ads,” he said.

This targeted advertising can occur in-store, on retailers’ apps and websites, or through channels within their network anywhere on the internet. Viviers used the example of a consumer buying kitten food, which creates a signal that can be shared with an insurance company to target new pet owners.

2. Social and chat commerce

With consumers spending an immense amount of time on social media and chat platforms, integrating e-commerce seamlessly into those experiences can be an effective way to increase sales. Viviers noted that in 2022, people globally spent over 9 trillion minutes on Netflix, a statistic that is dwarfed by the amount of time we spent on TikTok in 2021 – an eye-watering 22 trillion minutes.

Users are already able to buy products directly through social apps such as Instagram and TikTok, and retailers like Amazon have adapted to this trend with the launch of Amazon Inspire, a TikTok-like feed of images and videos that align with the way customers want to shop.

Closer to home, Viviers illustrated the potential of WhatsApp, which boasts over 90% penetration in the three key sub-Saharan African markets – Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

WhatsApp’s commerce platform is already powering thousands of small businesses in South Africa, providing a simple way for customers to order and pay for goods. Larger businesses are starting to adopt this strategy too, Viviers said.

The real opportunity, according to Viviers, lies in driving e-commerce penetration at scale in emerging markets, where entry-level smartphones and limited storage space make it challenging for customers to download multiple apps. However, with WhatsApp’s widespread usage in these markets, it could be a potential channel for retailers to reach a large portion of customers.

3. Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a paradigm shift and it’s going to revolutionise the way we do business and e-commerce, Viviers exclaimed.

“This is probably bigger than the invention of the internet itself. We’re creating a brand new species that’s smarter than all of us. That often leads to people going ‘this is threatening my job and my livelihood’, and what I want to tell you is that AI will not steal your job (at least not for now), but a person who is comfortable using AI will.”

AI’s ability to synthesise large amounts of data at a rapid rate is something humans cannot match, and businesses need to leverage this technology to stay competitive. Sharing an example of how AI is being used at Pick n Pay, Viviers said that in a matter of seconds, ChatGPT generated trends in customer feedback using hundreds of thousands of rows of raw data. “It could influence our product roadmap immediately.”

Uber took 70 months to reach 100 million active users, Instagram took 30 and TikTok took nine, but ChatGPT has taken just two months. AI is set to continue evolving and being adopted at a rapid rate, and Viviers cautioned everyone to not get left behind in the AI revolution.

“If you are not already reading about AI, testing the different tools and staying abreast with the developments, you’re going to be left behind in a matter of months,” he warned.

4. Integrate loyalty and value-added services (Vas)

Viviers said that while loyalty programmes have long assisted retailers to grow customer databases and garner the loyalty of shoppers, they have become more gamified by encouraging customers to complete certain actions to unlock rewards.

But loyalty programmes are evolving beyond that. Globally there’s a shift from free schemes to programmes that are more akin to paid-for subscription services, as seen with Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus and Apple Plus, which all entice customers with a unique set of exclusive rewards.

“When you link that with value-added services, what you can unlock in terms of customer adoption is huge. And there’s no better example of this than Discovery Bank and Vitality locally,” Viviers said.

Within the 11 months following Discovery Bank’s introduction of flight bookings to its Vitality platform, allowing customers to easily view discounted flights and access their Vitality discounts, Discovery booked more than 450,000 flights totalling a value of over R1.1bn.

“This shows you the true power of bringing a digital loyalty programme and financial services together in an app,” he said.

5. Buy now pay later 2.0

The buy now pay later (BNPL) payment method has seen a steady uptake in online retail, and is only getting more attractive as cash-strapped consumers grapple with the rising cost of living.

However, the tedious sign-up process of some BNPL platforms has resulted in an undesirable break in the customer’s e-commerce journey and a barrier to BNPL adoption. Luckily, new developments are resulting in the onboarding and checkout processes becoming far simpler and more user-friendly.

Viviers referenced Apple Pay Later, which launched last month, and South African company Float, as two services simplifying BNPL for shoppers. The latter uses a customer’s existing credit card to spread out payments over a period of up to 12 months interest-free.

“If we can cut out the tedious signup process of BNPL platforms, and make them as simple as paying with a card, they’re going to continue to grow for every category, not just for big-ticket items. In global markets, we’re seeing people using BNPL for groceries as well as

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

The article reference: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/731/237857.html

Online shopping in South Africa is rising rapidly, with data released by World Wide Worx and Mastercard indicating that the South African online retail market reached R55bn in 2022, a 35% year-on-year increase.

And predictions suggest that e-commerce will continue to grow by 25% in 2023 which could see online retail exceed 5% of total retail in South Africa for the first time.

For retailers to ensure that they benefit from this steep upward trajectory, they need to adopt a future-facing strategy, says Cheryl Ingram, the managing director and co-founder of The Digital Media Collective (TDMC). Over the past five years TDMC has launched over 200 e-commerce stores for retailers wanting to build profitable online retail channels.

“Back in 2013 e-commerce was a relatively unchartered space in South Africa with MRP leading the field in terms of traditional brick and mortar retailers entering the online shopping space,” says Ingram. “The online grocery space was non-existent and most of the top retailers were still grappling with the idea that South African consumers would one day actively choose to shop online versus instore. A lot has changed in 10 years!”

These changes here in South Africa and globally are being driven both by retailers who are moving towards more multi-channel strategies and are continually reinventing the way we can shop online, and by the expectations of customers as they seek out more convenience on all levels, from checkout processes and payment methods to hassle-free and cost-effective delivery.

The result? An impressive spike in e-commerce activity. Brandmapp’s latest data shows that over 65% of the 33,000 respondents had shopped from one of SA’s largest online retailers in the last year – a 25% jump from just two years ago.

Here, Ingram shares her key industry insights on how retailers can benefit from the boom in 2023 and beyond.

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1. Spend to win

If brands are serious about building and growing their e-commerce business, they need to commit a substantial budget to paid media.

“There is a misconception that online requires a much smaller level of investment, when really what you put in will absolutely determine what you get out. A robust paid media strategy that includes all digital channels is not negotiable. Anyone who expects success from e-commerce without any significant investment in paid media might just as well build their next retail store in a field that has no road access,” says Ingram.

2. Be agile

According to Statista’s latest E-commerce Country Report the top five online stores in South Africa accounted for 68% of the net sales of the top 100 online stores in 2021.

But, as Ingram emphasises, e-commerce is a great equaliser, and she is continually surprised by relatively unknown online brands who cross her path who are driving seven-figure revenues monthly.

“This is the opportunity that e-commerce presents – it levels the playing field and gives anyone with the right product the opportunity to build a business that can outperform the big retailers because they have the right product and the agility to open the tap and let it run.”

She says slow turnaround times paired with lengthy decision-making processes often mean larger retailers miss opportunities. “Adopting a more agile approach is key to growth.”

Another challenge for larger retailers is the wide choice now offered to consumers online and their ability to quickly do price comparisons, undermining customer brand loyalty, a cornerstone of traditional large retailers.

3. Meet your customers where they are

For today’s time-pressed consumer convenience is key – they want to be able to shop quickly and easily wherever they are at any time of the day.

“For anyone in the online space, the key consideration should be the consumer and how far you are prepared to go to be wherever your consumer shops. Omnichannel retailing means a seamless shopping experience anywhere, anytime – and that should be the goal of every future facing retailer,” notes Ingram.

She adds that she expects to see a pullback on TV spend with higher investment in social media channels especially YouTube and TikTok.

Other changes that will make online shopping quicker and easier for South African consumers include one-click checkout (like Amazon Prime offers), subscriptions services particularly across monthly staples, and onsite checkouts.

“Onsite checkout means that customers never have to leave the social media channel they are on in order to transact, plus we expect to see a greater use of live shopping by the bigger brands,” says Ingram. “The role of WhatsApp in e-commerce is also likely to change considerably over the next couple of years, especially where the mass market consumer is concerned.”

4. Get personal

As we go into 2023, the retailers that are going to win the day will be those who have taken time to segment their customer base, who understand the value of personalisation, and who are delivering the right content to the right consumer.

“A single one-stop shop message served to all is no longer sufficient and consumers are looking for brands to better understand their needs and not clutter their inboxes with irrelevant and untimely messaging. The message from consumers to retailers is loud and clear: ‘Engage me with what I’m likely to be interested in – don’t spam me with a spray and pray message,’” Ingram notes.

5. Don’t buy into the myths

Ingram says many retailers make the mistake of buying into common myths around consumer behaviour in South Africa. The first is that e-commerce is only for the top end of the shopper base. “Analysis of the shopper profile of many of our bigger retailers shows that this certainly is not true,” she says.

Similarly, there is the misconception that South Africans have a deep mistrust of shopping online and that cash is king. “2022 Black Friday stats disprove this. Online is very much a part of every South African’s shopping journey with revenues and traffic higher than ever before. Similarly, we have seen a marked spike in cashless shopping.”

6. Watch for marketplace developments

Ingram explained that marketplaces have helped to build credibility for e-commerce in South Africa and she is looking forward to the changes the newly formed Bob Group will bring to the market with the merger of Bidorbuy and UAfrica.com.

“When they roll out their new marketplace offering they should be a serious competitor to Takealot for the simple reason that their model will be more like Makro, where the retailer ships to customers. In going this route, they eliminate the costs associated with 3rd party distribution and warehousing which will certainly appeal to the retailers,” says Ingram.

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

This article partly refers to: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/394/235577.html

Did you know the average person spends 147 minutes per day on social media? 

Whether you’re trying to make your first sale or you’ve been open for business for a while, it’s always good to find more ways to market your business on social media. 

Here are 12 top ways to grow your following and earn more sales for your small business. 

10 ways to market your business on social media 

1. Start with a plan

Creating a social media marketing plan helps to align, coordinate, and focus an organization’s marketing and communications teams. Also, it ensures everyone is working toward the same goals and resources are being used efficiently.

Start by identifying your campaign’s overall objectives and goals. Common business goals you can set include:

• Increase brand awareness
• Drive traffic to your website
• Generate leads
• Grow revenue
• Improve customer service

Next, figure out your target audience’s favorite social media platform. You can post content that’s tailored to each platform once you know where they are. If you know your audience is on TikTok, a short-form video strategy is critical to your social media success. 

Check out your competitors and see which channels they succeed on. Determine what formats are working best for them and what they’re missing from their social media strategy (which you can fill in!). 

2. Understand your target audience

It’s easier to make content that resonates with your audience if you know who they are. The more you understand your audience’s needs and wants, the more likely you are to convert them into customers or clients.

To find your audience on social, take a look at your current buyers and understand who they are. A few questions you’ll want to answer are:

• Who is your current audience?
• What kind of information are they looking for? And why?
• Where do they go for information?
• What conversations are they having?
• Who do they trust? 

There are a few ways you can learn about your social media audience: 

• Ask them. This can be done through surveys, polls, or even just informal questions on social media posts. 
• Look at demographic data from your social media accounts. This data can give you information about the age, gender, location, and interests of your audience. 
• Use social media analytics to track engagement and learn more about what kinds of content your audience is most interested in.

3. Choose the right social media platforms for you 

Now that you have all this insight about your audience, it’s time to choose your channels. Here are a few popular ones for ecommerce merchants. 

Instagram

Instagram’s visual focus is perfect for promoting products. A quarter of Instagram’s users are on the app every day. Any brand would do well to share their products on this network.

There are several ways to use Instagram to promote your store. You can share captivating images of your products, share a stop-motion video of one of your products in action, run a contest, or reach out to influential Instagram accounts and ask them to share your product.

Monthly active users: 2 billion.

Audience profile: Millennial and Gen Z.

Facebook

Facebook is a social networking website where people can post updates, photos, and messages. You can create a Facebook page and share images and video content with fans. Facebook also lets you run ads, livestream, and create short-form videos to promote your business to followers. 

Monthly active users: 2.93 billion.

Audience profile: Men and women aged 35–44.

TikTok

TikTok has grown a massive global following since its launch in 2016. 

TikTok users are highly engaged, spending an average of 52 minutes per day on the app. They are also highly receptive to marketing messages, with about half of users saying they’ve made a purchase after seeing a product on TikTok. This makes TikTok an ideal platform for businesses looking to generate sales and drive conversions.

TikTok is all about creative, engaging content, so if you don’t have the time or resources to produce this type of content, TikTok may not be the right platform for you. 

You’ll also want to think long term when planning a TikTok strategy. TikTok isn’t a platform where you can just post a few videos and hope for the best. You need to produce frequent content and engage with your audience on a regular basis. 

Monthly active users: 1 billion.

Audience profile: Ages 18–24. 

Pinterest

Pinterest is the place to be if you want to buy or sell products online. Eighty-three percent of weekly Pinterest users make purchases based on what they see from brands on the platform. Not surprisingly, many people use Pinterest to build wish lists. This makes it a great place to promote products—especially well-designed products that photograph well.

What’s even better is that pins tend to stick around for a long time. It’s not uncommon for pins to get viewed for months after they’re posted. Optimize your pins by posting when more people are online, using the right keywords, and using captivating images. You can even run contests to extend your reach.

Monthly active users: 431 million. 

Audience profile: Largely female audience; median age is 40. 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to connect with other professionals and potential customers. By creating a company page and sharing relevant content, you can reach a wide audience of people who may be interested in your products or services. It’s also helpful for connecting with influencers in your industry. 

Monthly active users: 310 million. 

Audience profile: Business professionals. 

YouTube

YouTube has become one of the world’s largest search engines for finding fresh content. What’s more, YouTube videos can also rank in traditional search engines like Google. This presents a huge traffic opportunity.

You don’t need to create a viral video to get results on YouTube. You can still promote your products with interesting or helpful videos. Many social media users may already be looking for your products or brand on YouTube. By creating a branded channel with your own videos, you can control the narrative.

Monthly active users: 2.1 billion. 

Audience profile: 18–25 years old. 

Snapchat

Snapchat is a popular messaging app that allows people to send and receive photos and videos. These images and videos are called “snaps.” Snapchat also allows people to add text and drawings to their snaps.

You can use Snapchat to market your business by creating snaps that promote your products. Many retailers use Snapchat to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at their brand. For example, you could create a snap that shows customers how your products are made.

Monthly active users: 347 million.

Audience profile: Ages 15–35. 

4. Add your branded hashtags 

An organization or company creates a branded hashtag to promote their product or brand. It’s a great way to raise awareness, create buzz, or engage with customers. You can use a branded hashtag on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Branded hashtags help create a sense of community and connection among customers and followers. They can easily connect with each other and share their experiences within the hashtags thread. 

See how retailer Fashion Nova uses the hashtag #NovaBabe to build community around its brand. Women regularly share their Instagram content with the branded hashtags, which enters them into a feed with over 1.7 million posts. All this user-generated content is free and advertises Fashion Nova at zero cost. 

Shoppers can browse the different looks and see real people wearing the brand’s clothes, and continue on to Fashion Nova’s store to purchase. 

5. Run Facebook ads

Facebook ads are a form of social media advertising that lets you promote your business on Facebook and Instagram. You can target these ads to specific groups of people based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. 

The ads can appear in:

• Messenger
• Facebook and Instagram feeds
• Facebook and Instagram Reels
• Facebook and Instagram Stories
• Facebook search results 

You can run ads for many reasons, like growing your email list, building brand awareness, or creating hype for a new product launch, like Pura Vida ad below. 

When creating your ads, remember to be authentic. Show real people using your products, test different ad types, and identify the metrics that matter most to your business. You’ll want to make sure all your ad elements tie into your main advertising objectives. 

6. Set up a Facebook and Instagram shop

You can take your social media marketing a step further by adding a Facebook and Instagram shop to your profile. This option makes it easier for people who discover your products on Facebook and Instagram to buy them.

If you have a Shopify store, add Facebook as a sales channel. You’ll be able to create your own Shop on your profiles where fans can learn about your products, look at pictures, and click the Buy button to make a purchase.

7. Go live

Many businesses are already promoting themselves with livestreaming tools. Although you’ll no longer be an early adopter, fewer companies do short, live video well versus, say, posting tweets or Facebook updates.

There are many ways you can use livestreaming to promote a product. In particular, you can use Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or TikTok LIVE to offer a demo of your product, answer questions through a Q&A, and even take your customers behind the scenes to show them what’s special about the way you do things.

8. Run a contest

Contests are an easy and affordable way to get your brand in front of a lot of people. By giving away your product, you can make sure your contest gets in front of the right kind of people: potential customers.

However, many contests fail. There are a few key mistakes to avoid when running a contest to promote your business. Make sure the platform, the timing, the messaging, and the steps people have to take to enter your contest are well thought out.

9. Work with influencers

Recent research from Glossy and Launchmetrics found that micro-influencers (accounts with less than 100,000 followers) offer the most social media value. Coming out of the pandemic, people are looking for real connections when it comes to brand and products. 

Partnering with influencers helps you tap into their follower base, whether they have 5,000 or five million followers. When a follower sees an account they follow promote your products, it’s more likely they’ll buy. It also creates a positive association with your brand. 

10. Use the right tools

It’s hard to keep up with the pace of social media without social media management tools. These tools help automate posts, track engagement, and analyze data to help you better understand your audience and how to reach them.

Some top tools we recommend are:

• Canva for creating social media content 
• Sprout Social for measurement and analytics
• Instagram Shopby SNPT for social commerce 
• Buffer or Hootsuite for all-around social media management and content calendar
• Brandwatch for social listening 

As a small business owner, you’re busy enough as it is. Using the above social media tools can help you find, engage, and convert your audience on various social platforms. 

Achieving your social media marketing goals

Products don’t sell themselves. Fortunately, there are many ways to build your social media presence and make sales online. With the social media marketing tips above, you’ll be well on your way to creating high-quality content that converts—and growing your business. 

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

Article reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/69319365-20-highly-effective-ways-to-promote-a-product

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

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The Christmas holiday is a busy time for many businesses. But some companies actually build their entire business model around this time of year. If you love the holiday season, here are some creative ideas for starting your own business opportunity in this niche.

The Economics of the Christmas Season in 2022

The Christmas season often brings additional revenue for most businesses in the retail industry. But sales fluctuate from year to year. In 2022, experts project an increase of between 7 and 9 percent from 2021. They expect an increase of between 11 and 15 percent specifically in eCommerce sales.

Why You Should Consider a Holiday Business

If you’re ready to start your own business, here are some reasons to consider a holiday niche:

• Enjoy a festive atmosphere: Holiday-themed businesses are built around holiday magic and cheer. Create a working environment that supports your love for the season.
• Have a flexible schedule most of the year: The Christmas season may be especially busy for your business. But this leaves time for the rest of the year for travel, remote work, and work-life balance.
• Reach ready-to-spend consumers: Consumers are generally willing to spend more than usual during the holidays. So Christmas-themed businesses reach people when they’re likely to bring in extra income.
• Connect with community organizations and events: Lots of communities and organizations plan special events and initiatives to celebrate the holidays. So your business may benefit from these connections and events.
• Offer other products and services to supplement income: If your business focuses mainly on holiday sales, this could leave time for the rest of the year for other income opportunities. For example, a holiday caterer may make extra money offering bartending service for summer gatherings as well.

Top Christmas Business Ideas

If you’re looking for lucrative Christmas business ideas for your next venture, here are some ideas to consider.

1. Deliver Christmas Trees

Lots of people buy Christmas trees for their homes during the season. But they may not have a way to get them home. If you have a truck or other large vehicle, pick out trees or deliver options of a certain size to their homes.

2. Catering Service

Serve families and businesses that host holiday parties with your own catering businesses. Offer traditional holiday favorites like turkey and stuffing, along with Christmas sugar cookies and peppermint candies.

3. Sell Gift Baskets

Gift baskets are a popular gift for friends, neighbors, co-workers, and clients. Offer a variety of themed options to appeal to various customers.

4. Shopping Service

Serve customers who don’t have the time or desire to shop for their own holiday gifts. You may offer services for a flat rate, or charge by the hour.

5. Gift Wrapping Service

Christmas gifts are only complete when they’re beautifully wrapped. Let customers drop off their gifts for wrapping, or offer this as an extra service if you already offer personal shopping or retail options.

6. Christmas Lights Service

A Christmas light installer may provide both interior and exterior decorating options. Create attractive lighting arrangements using their own decorations, or provide your own for an extra fee.

7. Christmas Cards Seller

Design and sell your own witty Christmas cards, either online or in a retail setting. You may also offer digital templates or printed cards that let people add their own family photos and personalizations.

8. Holiday Event Planner

Lots of people and businesses host parties throughout the holiday season. Offer your services to handle all the details, from the food to the holiday-themed party entertainer.

More Great Holiday Season Business Ideas

If you’re looking for a business idea in the holiday niche, but none of the above speak to you, here are even more options to consider.

9. Christmas Tree Farm

If you have access to significant land, plant a variety of evergreen trees that customers can purchase. You may let customers visit your location and cut down trees themselves, or sell them pre-cut to local businesses.

10. Sleigh Ride Service

Sleigh rides are fun activities for winter festivals and other special events, especially those that target families with little kids. Invest in a sleigh and some horses or reindeer to pull it through the event. Then either charge a ride fee or get paid by the event organizer.

11. Winter Accessories Online Store

Start your own eCommerce business selling a variety of winter and Christmas products. For example, you could knit warm hats and scarves, or provide sweaters with Christmas characters or sayings on them. Create your own website or utilize marketplace sites like eBay and Etsy.

12. Christmas-Themed Attraction

There’s a huge demand for fun attractions to visit during the winter festival season. Offer activities for various family members, from Christmas cupcake making to designing witty Christmas cards. You can also connect with local shops and vendors to provide food and gifts.

13. Santa Costume Selling

People often purchase Santa costumes for holiday parties or special events. You may either make these garments or source them from other companies. Then set up an online store or partner with retail locations.

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14. Santa or Reindeer Rental Service

You may even contract with retail businesses or event planners to provide Santa or reindeer performers for special events. Animal handlers may need special training or licenses. But Santa performers often just need to look and act the part.

15. Gift Personalization Service

There are many ways to personalize holiday gifts, from embroidery to glass etching. Specialize in one or more of these options and then add names, dates, or quotes to various items for a special rate.

Are Christmas Businesses Profitable?

Christmas businesses can be quite profitable. But the exact rate depends on the type of business since there are many niches within this category. For example, a typical retail profit margin can range from 0.5 to about 5 percent. However, caterers often have profit margins between 7 and 8 percent.

What Is the Best Business for Christmas?

The best business for a Christmas audience may vary depending on each entrepreneur’s interests and goals. However, one lucrative business idea in this niche is offering Santa performers for retail businesses or special events. There are almost no startup costs and plenty of demand for this service during the Christmas period.

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, and more. With a successful track record of over 20,000 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://bit.ly/3ks0m1M

See the original article:  https://smallbiztrends.com/2022/09/christmas-business-ideas.html

Year-on-year, the average South African household food basket increased by R611.44 from July 2021. This represents a 14.8% annual increase – far above headline inflation reported through the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and outstripping food inflation.

Despite this steep price hike, South African consumers’ perceptions of grocery costs have improved over time, suggesting that consumer sentiment is driven by more than just price. This is according to Shannon Temple, lead retail analyst at DataEQ, who recently presented on consumer trends in retail at the 2022 edition of E-commerce Live.

“Looking at net sentiment* on social media towards grocery retailers’ pricing since 2020, there is an upward trajectory, indicating that conversation is becoming gradually more positive,” explains Temple.

“Notably, we see Woolworths with the steepest incline here, while Checkers and Pick n Pay experienced slight declines since last year,” she adds.

Having analysed over 1 million social media posts from consumers talking about South Africa’s major grocery retailers, Temple goes on to unpack three major trends that are shaping the local retail e-commerce landscape.

1. Special offers over price comparisons

Despite the prevalence of pricing and affordability in conversation, social media data indicates that consumers are speaking less and less about it since 2020.

Attention has moved away from price comparisons and towards special offers, with the online narrative shifting to which brand is offering the best value for money.

Driving a sense of savings is going to be critical for the industry going forward.

Consumers want to feel like they’re saving when using a premium service, and well-executed specials are key to achieving this.

2. An omnichannel experience is key

While special offers allow retailers to drive perceptions about price, they can be a major point of contention if not implemented correctly across all channels.

In this sense, creating an omnichannel shopping experience is critical for retailers and there needs to be parity between specials offered in-store versus what is offered on the app.

3. Operational ease still matters

Digital platforms do not remove the risk of operational issues arising.

If anything, there is an even higher expectation from digital customers for operational ease.

For example, the issue of items being out of stock is typically met with high criticism – especially when said item is linked to a special offer.

There are also logistical issues that are inherent to the e-commerce model, such as delayed delivery times or cancelled orders.

This is where expectation management and clear communication becomes vital, setting apart the retailers who excel in digital customer service, from those who don’t.

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, and more. With a successful track record of over 20,000 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://bit.ly/3ks0m1M

See the original article: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/731/231620.html

Despite a number of unique challenges, increasingly women are making their mark in South Africa’s competitive small business arena. And the fact that sub-Saharan Africa currently has the highest growth rate in female-run businesses in the world, is exciting news for future entrepreneurs.

“While theidea of raising capital can be daunting,” says Janeesha Regubeer, area manager at South African small and medium enterprise (SME) financier, Business Partners Limited, “there are ways to work around a lack of funding by consolidating your resources, analysing your skillset and finding a niche market that you can service, or a unique challenge that you can solve.”

In this article Regubeer explores three practical business idea options that aspiring women entrepreneurs can use to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey.

Social media management

According to the SA Social Media Landscape 2022 study by World Wide Worx, just under 50% of adult South Africans accessed a social network in 2021, with the most popular platforms being Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

“There are three major components of the business of social media marketing: content creation, paid advertising and community management,” says Regubeer, “and the best part about building a social media management business is that all three of these components require very little formal training, which makes entry to this area relatively easy.”

Many of the major social media networks have native content creation suites, so even amateurs can create videos and digital content. Advertising on social media is also fairly intuitive, and there are lots of online tutorials that can guide you through the process. Community management is particularly important for big brands that receive many complaints, suggestions and questions on social media. For these brands, interacting with their customer base on socials has serious reputational implications – which can form the basis of a value proposition for a social media management business.

Online fashion boutique

“E-commerce in South Africa has been on a steady incline over the last decade and experienced a boom during the pandemic years,” says Regubeer. “Now, with social media channels introducing native platforms and functions that allow shoppers to buy products and services online, the digital shopping landscape is evolving.”

The social commerce trend has also taken off in new and exciting ways in South Africa, where many entrepreneurs are now selling vintage and second-hand clothing on social media.

“If you’re someone who has a background in fashion design or an eye for fashion,” she says, “this is the space to be in right now. You could set up an online boutique offering a mix of vintage and new fashion, supported by engaging social media content. Promoting and selling sustainable fashion also presents a great opportunity to help shape the fashion industry of the future, as well capitalise on conscious consumerism trends.”

Affiliate marketing programme

“If you’re digitally savvy and you’re looking to build a business that will allow you to work from anywhere in the world, affiliate marketing may be the answer you’re seeking,” adds Regubeer.“Affiliates are usually online users who own digital real estate in the form of a blog or a social media profile with a following that is of particular interest to niche brands.”

As an affiliate, you will essentially partner with a brand or business and add links and advertisements to your website or social media profile that advertise a product or service. If a user clicks on the link and ends up making a purchase on your partner’s website, you will be paid a portion of the proceeds.

“If you’re a health fundi, you could collaborate with healthy food brands, supplement vendors and sportswear brands. And if beauty is more your thing, you could partner with skincare and makeup brands to increase their market share in the wellness industry. As marketers have claimed, affiliate marketing is a great way to make money while you sleep.”

As we celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa, it is important for women entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities to start their own business and create multiple income streams. At the same time, we appeal to financiers to support women entrepreneurs in their journeys by providing the required finance,” concludes Regubeer.

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, and more. With a successful track record of over 20,000 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://bit.ly/3ks0m1M

See the original article: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/837/230535.html

The global footwear industry is predicted to grow at a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5 percent over the next four years. In light of the fast expansion of the footwear market, a promising business you can start to venture into is an online shoe store. 

Why Should You Sell Shoes Online?

Some company niches will always be relevant, no matter what is going on in the country, the weather, or other external factors that we can’t control. In addition to clothing, footwear is a product that will always be popular and will never be affected by such conditions. 

Here are some of the reasons why you should start selling shoes online:

• There is always a demand for shoes. Almost every adult, buys at least two pairs of footwear each year. And according to studies, a person from the US’s monthly spending on shoes costs around $392 a year. Furthermore, for some of us, the act of shoe shopping serves as a form of relaxation (especially for women).
• You have various options. You have complete discretion over what type of shoes you will sell and how you want to organize your product line to best compete with the other companies on the market.
• You can now sell shoes without having your own factory. Shoes can now be sold online without having to have a factory. There are already a lot of choices where you can source your shoe products without having to manufacture them yourself.  All you have to do is track down reputable vendors.

It is now very easy to start an eCommerce shop in this time and age of the internet. You don’t need to go to and fro either just to manage and maintain it.

So if you’re ready, let’s move on to our comprehensive guide on you can start a shoe business online from scratch!

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start A Successful Online Shoe Retail Store

Starting an eCommerce store is not an easy task and online retail stores always start with researching and learning about their target market. Thus, this is the first step in our list: 

Step 1: Conduct Market Research

It is entirely up to you whether you want to sell men’s or women’s shoes, sneakers, boots, or any other variety. It’s an excellent idea to conduct market research to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Assuming that you’re from Europe and wish to sell in the Asian market. Begin by asking, “What are the best-selling shoes in Asia?” Which product do I want to concentrate on? How will I keep my company going?

If your plan is to sell just any type of shoes, then you’re already making a bad decision. Of course, everyone requires shoes. However, in eCommerce, targeting everyone is a dangerous move. We recommend starting with a specialized product that addresses unique market demands. You may have worked it out by now, but in case you haven’t, here’s what you can do.

Rather than thinking, “I want to sell men’s shoes,” concentrate on a specific market like leather shoes, knee-high boots, sneakers, etc. Narrowing down your options and focusing on a niche will help your business get in front of the correct audience.

There are many ways how you can do market research to figure out what your niche is:

• Check out big shoe retail stores like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. Find out what kinds and types, and designs of shoes are being sold there and which ones are flying off the shelves.
• Conduct surveys, polls, or interviews. This will help you determine what many customers like.
• Use Market Research Tools. Helpful tools like Google Trends, Google Keyword Planning Tool, and even Google’s Search Suggestions will help you find information about stuff relevant to selling shoes online.

Whatever specific shoe product category you choose for your shoe retail store, you have to make sure that you have enough data about your market. This will help you focus and succeed on the next step: knowing where and how to source your products.

Step 2: Know Where and How to Source Out Your Shoe Products

Now that you know what types of shoes you want to carry out and who your potential consumers are, it’s time to figure out where you’ll get them. Your sources could include used or pre-owned shoes, as well as bulk purchases from wholesalers, manufacturers, dropshipping vendors, or print-on-demand providers.

Here are some of the things you should consider when finding your shoe product source:

• Pre-Owned Shoes

In most cases, used shoes are less expensive than new shoes. There is no reason why you can’t buy as many pairs of old shoes as you can afford using this option. Useful for a costume party or other special event, worn shoes are more cost-effective than new ones.

• Wholesale

Purchasing wholesale shoes is a great method to get the greatest brands at low prices. Shoes are known by several names worldwide. With so many internet stores selling shoes in quantity, it’s easy to get cheap sneakers. Branded shoes are pricey but can be obtained at wholesale rates.

• Manufacturing

Spend as much time as you want on the business. If you enjoy the work and have some experience, you can start small and handle the entire company yourself. With everyday business and process changes, there will always be a need for new features, products, and services. You can also use a variety of business models and pricing tiers to reach a wide range of clients.

• Dropshipping

To fulfill customer orders using the dropshipping model, you will collaborate with dropshipping suppliers or wholesalers. When a customer places an order, you purchase the shoes from a supplier. The shoes will subsequently be delivered to your clients directly.

You can use ShopShipShake or other platforms to look for established shoe retail stores where you can source your products.

• Print-On-Demand

Lastly, we have a print-on-demand option. This option allows you to source shoe products from suppliers of white-label products where you can sell shoes on a pre-order basis with your own custom designs. Print-on-demand is more efficient and does not need you to handle shoe products physically. Examples of POD platforms for shoe products are Printify, InterestPrint, and Printy6.

Before selecting a POD platform, you must consider the following questions:

• Where are the shoe products from?
• What is the required minimum order quantity?
• What is the cost of a sample?
• What is the cost of production?
• What is the expected turnaround time?

You should have the answers for all these, so you can decide on the best fabric, type, and specifications that are best for your target market. So before making an account, make sure that they comply with the shoe requirements based on your market research. It is also a good idea to request a sample of the items to make sure that you can satisfy your target market with their quality and specifications.

We’re almost done with researching. So let’s discover next where you can sell them.

Step 3: Know Where To Sell Your Shoe Products

There are two main options where you can sell shoes online: on online marketplaces or on your own online store. 

1. Marketplaces

Marketplaces are platforms that allow people to establish their own shops in a so-called ‘online market’ and sell their products. Usually, these websites already have high traffic or visitors so you’ll products have higher chances of being discovered and bought. It does not cost a lot too because you only need to pay for the listing fees. However, there are also restrictions and regulations that you need to adhere to so you can be allowed to sell from these platforms. Some marketplaces include Etsy, Amazon, and eBay.

2. ECommerce Platforms

On the other hand, you can build your own eCommerce shop with platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, or Magento. These eCommerce solutions have a huge set of functions that can help you build, manage, and maintain your online store. The downside of this option is that you need to market and improve your site visibility hard on the search engine in order to be found by customers. However, this option also gives you the freedom to market and sell without restrictions which makes it a more viable option for big brands.

The best site to sell online depends on your niche, needs, and ambitions. For eCommerce newbies, online marketplaces are a great place to start because they reduce upfront costs, risks, and time.

You can also build up your eCommerce website if you already have a well-known brand and don’t want to split your revenues with the marketplace.

Step 4: Develop an Online Shoe Store Business Plan

To succeed in an online shoe retail business, you must have a well-defined and strategic business plan in place. Your online shoe store business plan will be the foundation of your business and will keep you focused on your goals and developing it is the most important step toward achieving your aim of launching an online shoe line.

Let’s take a closer look at the processes and things you must define when developing an online shoe store business plan:

• Write an Executive Summary: Write a brief introduction to your company, its owners, target market, the amount of credit you wish to take out, and the purpose for launching your retail shoe stores.
• Define Your Ownership Structure. Indicate the type of ownership, such as sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.
• List Down Your Products. List the items you wish to sell in your retail shoe stores whether they’re women’s shoes, men’s shoes, children’s shoes, or industrial shoes.
• Include Your Market Analysis: Specify the demographic you want to reach, such as fashion-conscious female customers, homemakers, professionals, and so on. Also, explain how you expect to recruit and address the needs of this demographic. It is also critical to demonstrate how you intend to contact them.
• Develop a Sales Strategy: Describe how you aim to increase sales. This involves appealing product displays, as well as selling online through your website, social media sites, or third-party markets. Provide a sales forecast and milestones, as well as a competitive advantage.
• Define Your Management Structure. Describe your organizational structure, the manager’s functions, the manager’s support personnel, their positions, departments, training costs, salaries, and benefits.
• Do a Financial Planning. Provide a break-even analysis, expected profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet, and company ratios in your online shoe store business plan.

Step 5: Get Your Business Registered and Understand the Legal Requirements for ECommerce

One of the most typical early mistakes made by a start-up business is failing to recognize the importance of legal requirements and existing law in conducting business. Before you even start an online business and have a website in place, you should always make sure that it is legal in order to avoid any legal issues in the future.

To guarantee that you are respecting patent, trademark, and copyright laws, the first thing on your list should be to validate that your selected business name is not already in use in the market. As a business owner, consulting state authorities or visiting government websites for the appropriate legal information can also assist you in gaining a sufficient understanding of the unique needs required for your eCommerce business.

It will take less time to do the right thing than it will remedy something that has not been done. No entrepreneur wants to see a thriving business fail due to legal concerns, so prioritize it first and foremost from the start.

Step 6: Setup Your Brand

Once you’ve dealt with the legal requirements for your eCommerce shop, you can now start building your brand.

A successful and complete brand strategy should include the following components as part of the process:

• Identifying a brand
• Analyzing competitors
• The target audience
• The voice of the brand
• The brand’s message and story

Branding comprises three major criteria: How are you unusual, trustworthy, memorable, and pleasant to your ideal customer? It will convey your mission, promises, and problem-solving skills. This is a crucial phase when building a brand from scratch (whether you are just starting or already established). You wouldn’t make a house without a plan, would you? Your brand is the same. Brand strategy is the blueprint for how the world sees your company.

You will never have perfect control over how your brand is seen by others. You can direct clients, make an excellent first impression, and maintain your reputation, but you have no influence over their perceptions (say, if they had a bad customer service experience). All you can do is put your best foot forward and work to establish a connection with your intended audience. However, you now have the necessary tools, experience, and resources to get started.

Step 7: Setup Your Online Shoe Store

After setting up your brand, you can now start building your eCommerce shop.

Let’s look at how to set up retail shoe stores on several platforms:

1. For an ECommerce Website: Buy a Domain and Develop your Website

In order to start a website of your own, you need to own a domain first. Your domain name will represent your website in the search engines and therefore is the first step before developing a website. You can buy domains from NameCheap, GoDaddy, HostGator, Bluehost, and more. You will be asked by eCommerce platforms about your domain name anyway, so make sure you have it before even trying to subscribe to them.

Next, you should now set up your own website. Whether you choose to create it using Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, etc., we can assure you that everything will be easy to set up with the available themes already in place that you can immediately use for your store. 

2. For a Marketplace: Open a Marketplace Seller Account

It is easy to open a marketplace seller account. You only need to comply and provide the information required to register such as your business name, Tax Identification Number, Account Numbers, and any legal documents that are required by the platform. Once you finish setting up your seller account, you can start listing your products immediately.

3. Another Option: Set up Shops on Social Media

Selling shoes on social media is also a good idea. Most popular social media networks provide business-specific functionality. For example, you can use Facebook Shops to create a successful online shoe store for Facebook customers. Better yet, you can make your Facebook profile look like your own website. See our guide to selling on Facebook for additional details.

Step 8: Arrange a Photoshoot 

If you already have the stocks on hand, it’s time for shoe photography. Arrange a photoshoot to take photos of your shoe products. Shoe photography is an essential step because your shoe product photos will represent your actual products and will be used to display on your online shop.

Aside from the camera and high-definition lenses, there are several other aspects that will influence the final image. You may photograph them focused only on the shoes. You can use shoes editing app like Removal.AI, a background remover to give you the white background you need. You can photograph them while they are being worn to show the scale and the usability of the shoe product. You must strategize and take the right shoe photos to make it marketable and inviting to your customers. 

Step 9: Make Your Product Photos Ready for Web

Time is money, and many customers are unwilling to wait for an online business to load quickly enough. As a result, you must optimize your photos for the best possible quality while still keeping the page load speed in mind. Fortunately, there are free shoe editing apps available to assist you in optimizing your photos and striking that balance. Some of these tools are: TinyPNG, Kraken.io, and Compressor

Finally, ensure that you accurately label your shoe photographs and include metadata and keywords that can help enhance your search ranking.

Step 10: Know How to Market Them

After listing your shoe items, you need to exert your best effort in planning and implementing your excellent marketing strategy. The following are some of the most essential steps in the process:

• SEO. For your own eCommerce store, you need to optimize your website for search engines to increase its visibility.
• Contextual Advertising. An excellent method of promoting your platform to potential customers is making use of advertisements to boost your online shoe store’s presence.
• Email marketing. It is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and provide exciting news, such as a big sale or the debut of new products. Also, you can ask customers if they’re satisfied with the products they’ve already purchased.
• Social media. Invite your customers to like your social media pages and engage with them to build a relationship with them through your postings. Respond to user feedback, address their inquiries, and set up surveys. Also, don’t forget about advertising that is specifically targeted!
• Blog. Anyone can boost website promotion by running a blog with articles. It’s an excellent method to anticipate some of the user’s questions before they’ve ever been asked.

Step 11: Find Tools to Automate Your Business

As a result of business automation, brands can now achieve more with less and grow at a rate that has never been feasible before. The idea is that business size doesn’t matter so much, and automation can give an advantage to smaller brands, which can adapt faster than their larger competitors to new trends.

Automation isn’t just for large corporations, and online shoe stores will have access to more and more automation solutions in the coming years. 

You should now be ready how to establish a successful online shoe store. You now have a good idea of how to start one from finding the right shoes to developing a shoe retail store, preparing a business strategy, and marketing, among other things. Putting this knowledge into action is the best time to do it right now.

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, and more. With a successful track record of over 20,000 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://bit.ly/3ks0m1M

See the original article: https://removal.ai/how-to-start-an-online-shoe-retail-store/