The world of retail has steadily been moving away from the malls and town streets in the last couple of decades while online selling and delivery have been thriving. The focus on this has been ever more poignant recently with so many countries imposing curfews and lock-downs due to this ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Consider if You Want to Completely Close the Store
Moving to online sales may well mean that you consider the decision of whether to close the physical, real-world store? There are advantages to keeping a brick and mortar presence in your local community. You could have a reputation for service and quality, and this may diminish over time if you are not there reminding people of your presence.
Where Will You Store the Goods?
This question is one that will be redundant if you have decided to keep your shop open, although if the online store takes off you may be struggling for space and must look at somewhere else also. So, you will have to look at alternative options for storage, this could be renting, leasing or buying a small warehouse. This can be an expensive option though and if you are unsure of how much space you need or for how long then maybe you shouldn’t be looking at such a commitment straight away. Maybe a storage unit would be a better idea initially, and the beauty of these is that often they can be rented on a month to month basis. Some of these facilities are even managed so they can take in deliveries etc. for you.
Use a Reliable Courier
If you are sending items, especially nationally or internationally then you are going to need a reliable courier and ReliableCouriers.com is certainly that. You can get a range of pricing and delivery options. You also will want to be sure you choose a delivery option that gives you tracking information, this way your customers can be sure the package is on its way and when it will be delivered. This also confirms the delivery in the event of any disputes over whether or not the item was accepted.
Choose Your Selling Platforms
It could be forgiven for you only thinking about selling through your own website, this is always an important way to sell and you should look to set up a good platform for this. But remember there are always other ways such as eBay or Amazon Marketplace which are so easy to get selling on quickly and with no initial cost or IT skills needed.
Make Sure the SEO is Properly Implemented
If you do have a web shop then it is important to have your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) sorted meaning that you are setting up your site that when people search for your type of product then they find you rather than someone else. You can employ the services of a specialist SEO professional who can help get your site where it needs to be.
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