So rather than head to the store for one item, I went online yesterday to try and order it. Went to the largest online retailer I could find, and the soonest I could get my item was a month from now. And it was in stock! Online shopping has taken a great leap forward. Sadly, this has definitely come at the expense of brick and mortar retail, which I fear may never fully recover. On a less gloomy note, if you were looking to start your online retail business, it is hard to imagine a better time.
There are so many tools available for this, and the type of business and product you choose will largely determine which too you use. Is your product more of an Etsy item, or would it fit on a Shopify site? Should you launch your own web site through Squarespace, or become an Amazon affiliate? There is a world of difference between these sites, and it is worth the time to understand them.
Etsy is for makers. If you have a craft or hobby produced item, something artisanal or unique, Etsy is where you want to be. It also is popular with Print on Demand types, although you have to enter things just right to be compliant with Etsy’s rules when you aren’t actually doing the manufacturing. For the right product though, it can be just perfect.
Shopify is for those who want a retail store-type of web site, but don’t want to design one from scratch. It is also great for drop-shipping – I would guess that the majority of Shopify stores are actually drop-shipping sites. One great thing about Shopify – it links to all of the major drop ship suppliers. (Like Salehoo!) It also has options allowing for custom domain names, which can make your site look very professional. It also allows for nearly any niche – if you want to sell it, you can probably sell it through Shopify.
An independent web site – such as this one – offers you the most flexibility, but also the most work. Now, sites like Squarespace can greatly simplify this process, but you have to do the work yourself. This is great for someone who wants to control every aspect of the store, or who wants to blog or write or – well anything. Your web site can look any way you want it to, and that is both a blessing and a curse. IF you don’t have the technical or design skills, may I suggest finding a good web builder?
The last one I mention is the Amazon. I mention it last because it can be challenging to use, but it does offer you access to the largest online store in the world. Seriously, Amazon is arguably the largest marketplace in the history of the world. Now, this is a mixed blessing. If you can drive traffic to your products, and if you can get them to stand out, you can make a fortune on Amazon. If.
So what niches should you pursue. This depends on your interests. One of mine is scuba diving. So I have an online store for dive themed clothing and other items. (divewithmatti.com) Maybe you are musical. Or a mechanic. Or a baker. Whatever you do, especially if you love to do it – that should help you decide what to sell. Why? Because all of these options involve work. The more you are enjoying what you are doing, the less it will feel like work. So find something you like or love to do, and find out what products in that space can be profitable. Once you have your product, then you can chose the tool to sell it. And then you can dig in to the work. The best part – it won’t feel like work.
First things first – register your domain name!
Don’t miss the last sale of 2020 at Namecheap!