The global economy may not have fully recovered yet, but all over the UK and beyond people are finding success with their small e-commerce businesses, be it on Amazon, eBay or a basic website.
It might have started as a way to clear out your home or simply make some money to supplement your main salary, but if it is proving successful, why not try and see how large it could grow? If you’re thinking of giving your online business a boost, follow these 3 straightforward tips and see where it can take you.
Get Social
If you thought that social media was a tool only of use for the big brands, think again. Social media can be used to engage with your audience no matter how small your business is, helping you to keep customers updated with your latest stock as well as provide them with an outlet to give feedback and allow you to resolve problems quickly and efficiently.
Facebook and Twitter are the most commonly used social media platforms, however for e-commerce stores you should consider taking a look at what Pinterest can offer you, particularly if what you stock would benefit from visual representation. For example, if you buy and sell clothing online, why not use your Pinterest account as an online shop window where people can not only view what stock you have on offer but share it with their friends and family as well?
Know Your Market
Before even considering expanding your business, you need to be sure that there is the market for it. After all, it is no use increasing your stock if you aren’t already selling out of it.
If you’re considering bringing in a new selection of products you also need to be sure that there is a demand for it to avoid being stuck with a load of stock that you can’t get rid of. This is where social media can come in useful, as you can directly ask your customer base what they want and what they are not interested in.
Invest in Storage Solutions
One potential obstacle to expanding your online business is a lack of space – particularly if you currently just run it out of your home – so what can you do if you want to increase your stock without having to pile up boxes of products in every room of the house?
Self storage is one of the most affordable options, and is often flexible in terms of how much space you can rent, while there are also companies that supply specialist storage and handling equipment to make managing the space as easy as possible – especially if you run the business yourself and can’t draft anyone in to help with the heavy lifting.
SHS Handling are one such company that can provide high quality storage and handling equipment including trolleys, pallet trucks and some of the best security solutions available.
So, if you’ve got a small e-commerce business but think that you could take it to the next level, what are you waiting for?