In this new era of COVID, you may be wondering if you should add an online shop to your website for retail products. Today, let’s walk through some basic considerations. ⁠

⁠Pros:

• Makes it ultra convenient for clients to order from you — Who doesn’t love online shopping?!⁠ ⁠

• You won’t miss out on a delayed client purchase — Some clients will leave your business without purchasing a suggested product, and then wish they had. It’s very beneficial for them to know they can purchase the product from your website easily later.⁠ 55% of consumers visit a store and then still choose to buy online* — Buyers often like to test and use the product before they purchase it. ⁠ Be liberal with the testers while clients are in-office, and hopefully, they will repay your generosity with a post-visit purchase. ⁠

• Allows for more loyalty to your business and products — When your clients are aware that they can purchase products from your website, it more easily allows them to revisit and repeat the same transaction with you time and time again!⁠ ⁠

• Helps increase your revenue — By offering retail product purchases through an e-commerce site, you have a high potential of reaching new, organic clients, who are ready to discover what you have to offer!⁠ ⁠ ⁠

Cons:

• Setup costs involved — I recommend using a company like Shopify or Squarespace for your website. They have excellent reviews and affordable prices. (There is often a significant discount for purchasing annual plans.⁠) ⁠

• Not enough space or capacity to fill the demand — You will need to have a designated team member, packaging area, and mail meter for maximum efficiency.⁠ ⁠

• Fees — There is an industry-standard of 2.9% taken from transactions as a fee/ commission on your sales. I’d suggest offering your clients free or discounted shipping. Your ROI might suffer a little, but the higher volume of sales should make up for it.

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• Shipping costs — In an attempt to reduce shipping costs, I would encourage you to only sell lightweight products and/ or your best sellers.⁠

What do you think about adding E-commerce? ⁠

* Retail Dive