Retailers are caught in a dilemma: on one hand, there are endless channel possibilities in the digital environment, each of which will enable business growth. On the other, expanding into new channels brings logistical complications that could lose customers if handled incorrectly. Embracing new channels is clearly at the forefront of retailers’ minds. According to a Jupiter Research study, 75% of businesses see multichannel expansion as a core growth strategy objective, in terms of both … [Read more...]

So, you’ve had an idea that you can’t get out of your mind, and you’re ready to turn it into a living, breathing business. How do you ensure this concept translates into a viable company, and doesn’t fall by the wayside like so many other start-ups? The simple truth is, there’s no hard and fast rule for business success, but there’s plenty of information out there. As we touched on in our blog on common mistakes made by ecommerce start-ups, everyone feels the need to offer advice to new … [Read more...]

Starting your own business is exhilarating and rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. As anyone who has embarked on a start-up project knows, there are many pitfalls along the way – and falling into them could mean the difference between failure and success. If you’re launching your own ecommerce business in 2015, to help you along the way, we’ve put together some top tips for dealing with common start-up mistakes. Here’s our guide to 6 things you shouldn’t do when setting up your … [Read more...]

Customer interaction is a vital part of shopping in all channels, but the advent of digital communication platforms such as social media has completely revolutionized the way in which shoppers want to engage with brands online. Whereas once consumers were happy to go into a store and chat to an assistant, or phone up a call center to log an inquiry, now ecommerce retailers are expected to deliver instantaneous service, without necessarily requiring the customer to actually speak at any … [Read more...]

Buying is a complex process for all retailers, but nowhere more so than ecommerce. Whether you're selling on Amazon, eBay, and any other marketplaces or online stores. Virtual shelves create endless possibilities for product variations and volumes, but this in turn makes optimizing the mix of goods on sale much more difficult than within a store. Trying to be everything to everyone is the quickest way to turn the buying process into a costly task, which leaves you with excess stock to sell at … [Read more...]

The start of the year is a great time to make new resolutions - most of us set personal goals, so why not create business targets as well? For most ecommerce retailers, the main ambition for 2015 will be to increase the size and value of your customer base. If you’re nodding your head in response to this statement, we’ve put together some key points to help focus your strategy for the year ahead, and help you form more profitable customer relationships. Put the customer at the heart of … [Read more...]