by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

Manual…there are very few processes that are actually handled manually these days. Automation is not the lazy entrepreneur’s path; it is the smart entrepreneur’s choice. After all, one sure and fast way to give yourself a lousy reputation and a failed business venture is to fall behind, fail to meet deadlines, and take orders that end up on backorder because you just don’t have the merchandise. (Grundy, 2013)

This is why manual inventory management is a foolhardy approach to running your business in this day of “automated everything”. Now, this is not to say that all solutions are the same, and you need to find a resource that meets your actual needs. This begins with one question:… Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

How does the “typical” multichannel retail business actually work? Interestingly enough, there isn’t really a straightforward answer to that. This tends to surprise many due to the fact that using multiple channels for sales is a very popular way of building an online business.

As a simple example: A business owner has their eCommerce store taking direct orders from clients, they have an Amazon store, they offer shopping on their Facebook page, and they use several other online channels such as eBay and even Newegg…. Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

For far too long, online retailers have struggled with integrating shipping functions into their eCommerce websites, or even just into their business processes. Complex codes made it impossible for them to sync their functions directly with leading providers of shipping such as USPS. Though many found dedicated programs that worked around this particular challenge, few of them actually shortened or eased their workload. In fact, for many it just added another step. (Zimmerman, 2014)

After all, if you still have to take the data from the retail channel’s sales page, open a browser to the shipping resource, enter the details, pay and print the labels, and make arrangements for picking up or dropping off – you haven’t actually saved much time. What about the notifications to the buyer confirming the shipment? What about returns, if needed?… Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

Specialize and Let eBay Shipping Management Tools Help You Succeed

One of the best ways to succeed as an online entrepreneur is to find a “niche” market. It doesn’t really matter what market you are in (garments, electronics, toys, etc.), a major part of success is to specialize. This is even more important in the age of Internet shopping. After all, we are now being told that competition also means that product descriptions have to be SEO, that photos have to be artistic and appealing, and that knowing the market is essential. How better to do that than to specialize? (Shopify, 2014)… Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

“Don’t quit your day job.”

That is a bit of famous advice given to a lot of people, and for a lot of reasons. The aspiring actor or singer is warned against severing other sources of income by quitting their dependable day job; the ambitious business owner is told to take it slow and keep money flowing in from their usual day job; and the dedicated entrepreneur warned that they need their current job if they want to build their business…. Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

Entrepreneurs with a handful of sales channels know that they must find ways to use their time the most effectively. This can be a struggle when just beginning, and even as the enterprise stabilizes and gains strength. After all, with multichannel retail it is going to come down to the management of inventory, ordering, shipping, and service. There is also the marketing, the upkeep of the website and online presence, and even social media to consider.

In the midst of it all, the entrepreneur may also want to grow the business, actually participate in the creation of products sold or lines chosen for sale, and yet the many demands can make it almost impossible. This is why it is best to look for resources to fit your needs, and key among them is Amazon seller software…. Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

How’s this for a shocking fact:

“According to Baymard Institute, a web research company in the UK, 67.45% of online shopping carts are abandoned.” (Macdonald, 2013)… Read the full article

by Nawaz Charania | Ecommerce Business Tips |

It can be mind-numbing and downright boring to scan sales reports. You can generate them around so many criteria that it could end up seeming like the data is unable to give you any sort of accurate picture. In other words, it can sometimes feel as if you can adjust the reports to get the outcome you hope to see.

Naturally, this is not the smartest way to do business, and many kinds of management resources don’t actually make the most useful reports available. These would include real time inventory reports, sales data, returns and shipments, and even information about feedback from clients…. Read the full article