What holds people back

nellyshark

Hi,

I'm just interested to hear peoples views on this.

It is mainly targeted at people who wish to make online sales but atm do not have any eCommerce functionality.

I'm intrigued as to what holds people back from making the jump from say selling a product locally to setting up an online store.

Is it cost? lack of technical skills? unsure as to whether there would be enough uptake? risk?

This is aimed mainly at people who have an existing business/sales method although views from everyone is welcome

Boom Boom

It's a bit mix and match there op

for me personally, it's the cost/benefit ratio

Scenario, I have a shop sells items locally I'm intrigued to go online in order to cast my net further. Now I have to go off and search hi and lo for competitors online examine their products and pricing compared to mine postage costs etc. and their turnaround time for dispatch.

That all takes time.

Then I select a webdesigner costs ranging from 500 to 5000, I've heard, depending on what you want and how good your designer is remembering that SEO seems to play an important role.

so if i splash out c. 3k on a website/online store what is the timespan for my return on investment and what further costs is there after the initial design and go live phase.

I can barely manage logging into boards.ie so I wouldn't be to up on web design/page updates etc.

thanks

R3al

I think for most people it is cost, lack of time and whether their products are suitable for online sales, for instance low value heavy items would probably cost too much to ship.

Some people might be put off by the perceived complexity of setting up an online store, plus there is the problem with fraudsters, most people do not realise that with online sales that it is the retailer who pays for card fraud via chargeback rather than the credit card companies or the consumer

nellyshark

Sound input so far

DoMyBooks

The problem I see is that web design companies seem to advertise online. The companies who really need their help don't use the internet.

I seen someone before offering to build an online store at no cost but take a small part of the revenue. That could convert a lot of brick and mortar stores into trading online as the risks and reward are shared with the web designer.

nellyshark

DoMyBooks wrote: »

The problem I see is that web design companies seem to advertise online. The companies who really need their help don't use the internet.

I seen someone before offering to build an online store at no cost but take a small part of the revenue. That could convert a lot of brick and mortar stores into trading online as the risks and reward are shared with the web designer.

That is something that I have been researching too.

Thanks for the input so far

BarryM3

I'm coming at it from a different side.

My order fulfillment business is perfectly placed to handle the storage and distribution of the actual products and at prices that would make me very competitive. I've been looking at getting into setting up an online shop, I just have no idea what to sell.

nellyshark

BarryM3 wrote: »

I'm coming at it from a different side.

My order fulfillment business is perfectly placed to handle the storage and distribution of the actual products and at prices that would make me very competitive. I've been looking at getting into setting up an online shop, I just have no idea what to sell.

So you are like a Warehouse for eStores?

BarryM3

nellyshark wrote: »

So you are like a Warehouse for eStores?

Yep!

I store, pick, pack and ship products for online retailers. Also do same for non Internet businesses.

Best Price Accessories

can you give more info at the pick, pack and ship service you offer. How are you paid?

barry123

nellyshark wrote: »

Sound input so far

+1
Interesting to get peoples views on this!

nellyshark

What would alleviate the risk for people then?

Best Price Accessories

i think people are afraid of failing which is what held me back for about 5 years. Finally bit the bullet though.

the main risk with any online shop is that you have all the stock, a top notch website and nobody visits.

the hardwork is very much trying to get people into the site and I'm not sure how the risk of people not visiting the site can be minimised especially when it can be expensive to advertise the online business etc

suey71

Fear of failure.

And it might sound silly but also a fear of success.
For example, what happens if their new business takes off too fast and they are not good enough to grow fast with the business.

Also a lot of potential entrepeneurs get caught in what is known as the Golden Spiderweb or The Furry mousetrap, otherwise known as the comfort zone. They have a good job, earn a nice wage, and although they have a good idea for a potential business, it is put on the back burner until they are shocked into action by being made redundant etc.

I am guilty of all of the above, and hopefully my new website will be ready in about a month and I can make a go of it.

BarryM3

Best Price Accessories wrote: »

can you give more info at the pick, pack and ship service you offer. How are you paid?

Conscious not to hijack the thread but if you have signatures enabled you will see a link to my website. I charge on a per order basis and invoice at months end.

I will PM you with more details

nellyshark

Would there be anybody interested in a type of partnership where I look after the technical side. This is one are I would love to be involved in

Glenalla

I would be inrerested in looking at some sort of partnership. PM me