You have to admit that there are a certain very enjoyable benefits that we have got to experience with the advent of online shopping. It is because of these benefits and advantages there are more and more people now a day’s opting for this method of shopping because of its easy methods and also the vast variety.

The internet has gotten a really nice makeover in terms of this new and easy technique of buying whatever they want and that too much quicker and has given us a lot of perks to enjoy while doing so in the comfort of our home. There is no need to go out and get tired of searching and deciding and shopping. You can just relax at home and swipe through the sites and order whatever you wish to in a few simple steps.

Let us now see some of the most common benefits to be enjoyed from this online shopping:

• THE MATTER OF CONVENIENCE

Obviously the convenience is the greatest advantage. There is absolutely no restriction of timing in this recent trend unlike the time you usually spend deciding in stores. You can shop whenever you want be it early in the morning or midnight. You can place your order as you please. There are no long queues to wait for payments or any kind of shop assistants to help with your purchase; you can shop in minutes here.

• BETTER PRODUCTS IN BETTER PRICES

Now as this way of purchasing whatever you wish to buy has become a very common thing you can see that they have much better deals associated with much better products and the prices are worth it. There are a lot of online shops that provide you with a lot of discount coupons as well that makes shopping even more exciting and fun. Other than this there is only the need of collecting a sales tax for these particular shops which happen to have a physical location.

• SENDING OF GIFTS HAVE BECOME MUCH EASIER

Now it does not matter where you are at what time, sending gifts to people living far away has become very easy and convenient because of these online shopping facilities. Now there is no need of making any sort of excuses for not being able to send gifts to your loved ones, because this new technique has made it possible to do so without any difficulty.

• MUCH FEWER EXPENSES TO SPEND

Usually, when you opt for the conventional mode of shopping we are bound to end up spending way more than we have planned to do. There are a lot of things that we need to think about like transport and eating and other stuff. But as far as the generation of internet has made it possible to make use of this new method of shopping, such expenses need not be considered at all. It is just the shopping that you need to do at your own comfortable space as per your own wish and time and then you can relax.

• THE ENDLESS VARIETIES LAID OUT FOR YOU

There are some exceptional choices made available to you here. The varieties of options made available no matter in which department you want to shop in is amazing. The collection in this new method of shopping is new and different and the varieties always match with everyone’s taste. There are innumerable numbers of brands present as well as the latest international trends. Be it color or sizes or designs or patterns- there are a variety of options for every style and it is simply amazing.

You can very well see how much more convenient this online shopping is when compared with the conventional mode of shopping. So what are you waiting for? It is clearly the greatest use of technology ever!

The internet has changed our buying habits. Many people have found the convenience of online shopping to be a great experience. You can easily click and see the product. You have a fun time shopping, browsing, reading and getting informed about products. And you don’t have to take time out from your busy schedule to fight traffic, crowds and lines to buy the perfect gift for your recipient.

No wonder Internet business generated $301 billion in revenue last year, by a University of Texas estimate.

If you compare shopping online to offline you would think as far as security goes, it would favor offline shopping, right? Not really.

In the years past, shoppers were more reluctant to do their shopping online – now things have changed greatly. And that confidence in consumers directly reflects the enormous growth of online sales.

I have a friend who took his wife out for a romantic evening to a local restaurant. The last place you would expect credit card fraud to happen. By the time he noticed they had charged him double the amount for their dinner, it was too late to go back to the restaurant. He rang me and we concluded that it must be a mistake. It was later that we found out that the restaurant owner’s reputation was a bit shaky. Apparently he frequently overcharged customers in the hope they wouldn’t notice.

I don’t know. It’s a funny world we live in.

Does this mean the internet is safe? Relatively yes, but don’t forget, the Internet is an open field and there are some bad elements out there.

We have been shopping online for years. We never had a problem with credit card fraud on the Internet. But then again, we always take precautions. From this point forward, you will see 10 checkpoints online merchants have to pass to secure our business…

Will your credit card details be safe?

Reputable companies online know that one of the things preventing customers from placing orders with them is customers not been sure whether their credit card details will be safe. Responsible companies have taken this concern onboard and have set up their systems to provide the customer with maximum security.

How would you know if you are entering your payment details on a secure page?

You should see a picture of a lock on the bottom right hand side of your screen. This lock will appear on the page that you fill in when ordering and ensures that your name, address and credit card information is being sent to the online store through encrypted code. This encrypted code means that a hacker will not be able to steal your credit card information.

Does the online store value your privacy and confidentiality?

Prior to the internet days, when I used to order something from a mail order company, mysteriously I would be sent advertising from companies that I hadn’t done business with. Back then I didn’t know that companies sold your personal information for advertising purposes to other companies.

Receiving junk mail was annoying but because of the cost involved, it didn’t happen constantly. Imagine now if you do business online with a company that doesn’t respect your privacy and sells your email address.

Next time you open your email software, you are bombarded with emails ranging from a dozen to hundreds. Now that’s not annoying – it’s intolerable.

So moral of the story here, make sure your email address won’t be sold. Ensure the online store has a privacy statement which would state they will maintain your personal details in the strictest privacy and confidentiality.

Does the online store have contact details?

You may think, of course an online store would display their contact details on their website. You would be surprised. I was. No email address, nothing. This is a sure red flag.

Reputable companies will have contact details.

Do they have a refund policy?

Offline stores have a refund policy and you go into the store, physically select the product and are then allowed to return it for whatever reason. If a refund policy is important in offline stores, it’s twice as important for online stores.

The internet in convenience surpasses the offline world when it comes to shopping – but one thing it can’t match is that offline you can physically touch the product. Therefore a refund policy of 30 days is great, more is better. No refund policy and I would stay away.

Do they send you some sort of confirmation when you place your order?

When you place your order what you need is something to tell you they have receive it, a receipt if you like.

A reputable company will either issue you one via email or display a new page of their website where they thank you and tell you the order went through okay and your product is on its way.

When do they deliver?

What times do they deliver during the day? Do they deliver on the weekends? Can you choose a time to have your gift delivered? Will it be delivered personally to the recipient intended or will the courier leave it outside their door?

How will your gift arrive?

If its flowers, will it come with a vase or in a nice box or wrapped? Will your bouquet contain flower care instructions? How about flower food to make your flowers last longer?

If you’ve ordered another gift product, will they wrap it? In what kind of material will they deliver it? Do they tell you these things on their website?

How long have they been in business?

This may not mean too much. There are companies that start off and surpass all others. But perhaps for your peace of mind, you may want to use an online store that has been in business for some years. To check the history of the company is easy.

You can go to networksolutions.com and click on “whois” on the top bar. You will be taken to a page where you can enter the web address of the online store you want to check and you will receive the relevant information.

Is the online store’s site easy to use?

Is navigating easy? Is looking for products easy? Do their graphics download in a reasonable time? A sure sign of an amateur sight is if they have their website cluttered with information.

Have they gotten any bad reviews?

A reputable company isn’t necessary one that hasn’t any bad reviews to its name. It’s virtually impossible to please everyone.

There have been companies I have bought from and absolutely loved. So it surprises me sometimes when I stumble on a bad review about their products or even bad comments about them.

So when is a bad comment about a company worth considering? I take note of reviews where the writer complains of:

• not receiving the product
• not receiving a refund
• not having their emails answered

If you want to see what kind of reviews a company may have, click on alexa.com. When you get to the website, type in the address of the store you want to check out. This will also show you how long the company has been in business.

Online shopping is fun. Take a little care and make it an experience! Happy shopping!

Animal lovers all across the globe can now rejoice gleefully. The animals they love and had always wanted to own can now be had in the easiest of manners. Technology that has been providing solutions to various problems has now once again given us a new reason to smile. The now all pervasive internet can now be used by the animal lovers to buy their favorite pets and those too at the most economical rates. All that is required is a click of the mouse and you can get to see the most beautiful pictures of your favorite animals. You can also listen to their voices and watch videos of them online.

All this has been made possible by the efforts of some people who can fathom the relationship between the humans and their pets. It is important that all the people who want to own some pets should get in touch with these people and be the proud owners of the animals that they love. Having somebody to love or be able to share your emotions is a desire of every human being. Animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, fishes or any other farm animals can be a great companion of man in this regard. The online pet shop can make sure that you get the animals you love easily as well as economically.

If you are a lover of cats then the online cat shop can help you in getting this animal that you love in the easiest of manners. If you are a lover of dogs then the online dog shop would help you in owning a dog easily. There are many people who love more than one animal. Even in such cases, the online pet shop can help you in getting your favorite animals. A click of the mouse and the push of a few keys would make sure that you get the pets you love quickly and efficiently.

According to a reputable statistics site, there are 263 million Americans who shop by category online. Among the popular categories are fashion, media, and electronics. Amazon, eBay, and Aliexpress are considered to be the most established brands and retail giants in the World Wide Web.

Among the benefits of online purchase sites are convenience, better prices, variety of items, no crowds, no pressure, ease in price comparison, privacy in purchasing, and access to cheaper inventory. It’s convenient to shop in the comfort of your home. You do your research about the item that you want to buy by going through the various product review sites that give you a comparison of their features and prices. There is no salesperson who will waste your time with his sales pitch and pressure you to buy his company’s products or services. You are left to decide on your own at a time that is convenient to you. There is no need to go out so you save time, effort as well as skip the crowds. You can search for cheaper items as those that are on sale or used and save tons of money for that.

There may be some benefits of online shopping stores but the Web is a saturated market and eCommerce sites face the challenges brought about by tough competitors as well as the advancement of technology and the ever-changing consumer preferences.

The effective online store website

In order to stay in business, online shopping websites consider the following factors when managing their website, products, and marketing:

1. Organized website. Make your website intuitive and pleasing to the eyes. Ensure that it loads fast, images are intact and the links are working well. A poorly organized online purchase site will frustrate the audience and they will leave the site right away.
2. Mobile-friendly site. Most online buyers use their smartphones to purchase their items online. It is very essential for an online purchase site to make sure that their site is optimized for mobile users and their customers find it easy to navigate the site from their smartphones.
3. Good quality products with accurate inventory. In order to develop your brand, sell products that have good quality and ensure that the inventory is updated. When shipping your items, double-check for any damage. Ensure that their photos are taken in high-definition and their descriptions are accurate.
4. Variety of Payment Options. An eCommerce site that provides various payment getaways to cater to their buyers’ preferences will prove to be something that can encourage more online purchases and less abandoned carts.

Strategies that ensure security of buyers

• Reputable platform/secure web environment. Website owners need to ensure that their eCommerce platform is trustworthy to create a secure web environment for their buyers. Opt for a secondary authentication and ensure that your server is safe from hackers.
• Additional layers of security. Configure firewalls manually to allow genuine traffic and restrict access of harmful viruses into the website.
• Regular updates. Make sure that the website is functioning properly and safety is maintained. Update the SSL certificates and renew those that are expiring.
• Regular backup schedule. Backups are a great help in case website crashes. To prevent losses, the site must recover as soon as possible.
• Secure payment gateway. Your prospective buyers need to feel secure when they use their credit card details to pay for the items they buy. A payment gateway that uses suitable encryption and enables SSL certificates would be great.
• Management of data/Privacy. Data protection laws include ensuring customers’ privacy. It is not advisable to store data but if you have to delete records, be sure that the data can’t be accessed by the wrong people.

Keeping an online shopping website is a very tough job. However, everyone who has experienced managing an online purchase store can attest to the fact that keeping their site alive amidst bigger online shopping sites is a very challenging task.

What Local B2C Businesses Need to Focus on to Stay Open

Since COVID-19 barged in on our lives, there’s been a lot of rallying on social media about the #ShopLocal movement. I’ve been on that cheerleading team too-what about you?

But when push comes to shove, are you REALLY shopping local or just supporting from the sidelines while continuing to order from Amazon or some big-box store in a different country, capitalizing on all the juicy sales happening during the holiday season?

It’s OK. I think many of us are guilty, myself included.

Which leads me to why I’m writing this piece…

The dilemma of supporting local: sometimes it’s just not easy to do so.

The other day we needed a part for our BBQ. We called a few local stores, and no one carried the part we needed.

Amazon did. And we got it the next day.

Last Saturday I was bound and determined to support local businesses and set out to buy several gifts on my Christmas list.

In a nutshell, this is what I found:

• I drove 45 minutes round-trip to pick up a $10 item, so I could save a $10 shipping charge.
• Due to COVID-19, I had to stand in line outside, in the cold, for about 10 minutes before I could enter the store and look around.
• Across the street was another store I wanted to check out. The line-up was twice as long so I passed on that idea.
• One store I really wanted to go to (and support) was closed by 2pm. It was 2:30 when I got there.
• Two of the boutique stores I went to had a fraction of the inventory they normally have during the holiday season. Again, because of the pandemic they had to remove the centre aisle shelves in order to accommodate social distancing.
• Another small specialty store only allowed one customer in at a time and there were two people in front of me. I was running out of time, so I went back to my car.
• And don’t even get me started with the stress of dealing with the traffic jams and finding parking…

I was gone for four hours, doing my best to support local but dang-it wasn’t convenient at all! Not to mention how exhausted I was by the time I got home.

Now in the spirit of full transparency, I did go to one big-box store and guess what?

No line-ups at the door due to the large store size.

I found exactly what I wanted.

I also found a 30% off coupon on my phone while standing in line that I used towards my purchase.

And I was in and out within a few minutes.

It’s tough for local small businesses to compete with that.

But they’re going to have to if they want to survive.

Big-box stores, including Amazon, offer the selection and competitive prices they do because they have the infrastructure to support those value-based initiatives.

And it’s not as if this is a part of any “new” economy either.

When I was a kid, we didn’t have the Internet, but we did have mail order. Remember that gloriously thick Sears Christmas Wish Book that came in the mail?

My Dad would sit with my brother and I as we pored through the toy section, circling our favourites with gleeful anticipation of what was to be opened on Christmas morning.

Mind you, the fulfillment of that wish list wasn’t as convenient as it is now.

Today the consumer just needs to shop from the comfort of their home and, voila! The presents arrive a few days later, ready to be wrapped and placed under the tree.

As a small business (particularly a brick-and-mortar one) how can you compete with that?

Here are a few ideas to consider:

Think in terms of value. What can you bring to the table that your customer can’t get at a big-box online store or at Amazon?

Consider these areas of focus for your customers:

• Customer service. The more personalized you can be, the better.
• Uniqueness of product. What have you got that a) can’t be found anywhere else and b) makes an excellent substitution for what they would have bought elsewhere?
• Quality. Most all of the time, price determines quality. Cheaper prices mean lower quality. It’s hard to compete on price so can you compete on quality instead?
• Convenience. How can you make it MORE convenient to shop with you as opposed to at Amazon?

  For example, can you offer the same conveniences that Amazon does like:

  • Ease of use
  • Sale prices
  • Free/low-cost shipping
  • Fast delivery

Always be thinking about the perceived value your business offers as that’s what consumers are basing their purchasing decisions on.

For people to support the shop local movement, the products or services must be of equal or higher quality / value than what Amazon or other online big-box entities offer.

COVID-19 has most definitely made a huge impact on small businesses, especially the brick-and-mortar ones that rely on local customers. The ripple effect of this pandemic has already been-and will continue to be-enormous.

If there ever was a time to take a hard look at your business model, it’s now!

You need to find creative ways to go up against eCommerce sites, which are only going to become more and more prevalent-and competitive-as the pandemic drags on.

To your business success,

Susan

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

1. Article: The ‘shop local’ message is everywhere, but it’s tough resisting deals during a pandemic. By CBC News

2. Article: Wondering how to increase holiday sales with COVID-19 and what seasonal marketing strategy to use? Read 4 Tips to Market Your Small Business Locally (on our website)

3. Article: If you run a store-front business or offer a service within a geographic area, focus your website marketing efforts on local SEO techniques like these: How to Optimize Your Website for Local Search

4. Articles: How to Shop Locally and Responsibly During COVID-19 and 5 Benefits of Shopping Local by Small Business BC.

The most satisfying aspect of shopping from e-commerce stores is that here you are pampered with lucrative offers and discounts on regular intervals and you can always avail products at cheaper prices compare to offline shopping. Since online e-commerce is a vast place, the opportunities for a perfectly satisfying shopping experience are plenty.

There exist a lot number of sellers for identical products and you always get the facility of variety along with reliability.

It is therefore always imperative that you make finest of choices and shop in a way that results you maximum benefits and perfect satisfaction. Here are some of the most important things that you must consider for having the best experience when shopping from the web –

Shop from popular and reliable websites– The world of online shopping is ever expanding and here exists countless number of stores for identical products. Therefore in order avail best products and a desirable satisfaction, you should always go with e-commerce stores that are reliable and genuine. You should not get lured by discounts and benefits offered by unreliable websites and should not share your bank or card details with such websites.

Genuine websites that are popular are known for reliability and safety and offer products that are real and qualitative. Since you never get to choose or select any product in person when shopping online, therefore you should always go with reliable websites whose products are genuine and fully assured.

Stay secure with payments – There are many individuals who simply are not aware of the potential thefts and frauds that can take place while making payments for online purchases. Therefore you should always exercise precaution and should always use secure networks to make payments for online purchases.

You should avoid sharing the details of your card on unsecured or public networks and should never tell your credentials to anyone in person. You should always ac flexible while making payments and should opt for wallet payments, cash cards and as well as COD option for a better and safer shopping experience.

Compare prices to grab best deals – Since online is a place where exists a lot number of sellers for identical products, each of them offer products at different prices. When shopping online you should be vary of this fact and should look to compare the prices of similar or identical products on different websites in order to get the best deal. You can for this purpose take help of rate comparison websites and compare rates quite easily and effectively. Hotel rooms, flights, bus booking as well as electronic gadgets are some of the different options that always find variation in price on different sites. Rate comparison helps you select the best service or product at most suitable price and gives you a perfect online shopping experience.

Discover coupons and promo codes – Discount on shopping is something that everyone looks forward to specially women. There may be times when the shopping portal may not come with best discounts on its products and at this time you can take help of coupon as well as promo codes to avail fruitful discounts. To find best and exciting coupon codes you can simply visit popular coupon sites and look for codes that are most suitable and popular. Coupon and promo codes are certainly one of the best ways to avail profitable discounts and make shopping an exciting experience.

Shop on sale days for best experience – Discount is a word that is synonymous to online shopping, however to avail best discounts you always require a little patience. Online e-commerce stores are pretty much aware of the fact that there exists a significant competition over the web and hence come with regular sale days to lure the customers to their platform.

Popular e-commerce stores come up with season ending sale, winter/summer sale as well as flash sale and provide opportunities to customer to shop for useful products at prices as low as 70% of the original price. Sale days are highly profitable and you should always make it a point to wait for such times and shop in bulk amount to get a perfect experience.

Avoid delivery charges – There are many times when you are able to find a perfect product at quite an exciting prize but when delivery charge is included, it pretty much looks an unsatisfying deal. Websites that charge exorbitant delivery charge with their products find it tough to convert potential customers into eventual customers of the business. When looking for a perfect online shopping experience, you should always shop with such websites that charge negligible delivery charge or zero charge. You should not get fascinated by the discounts alone and should also look to avoid delivery charges to experience economy in shopping.

Go for shopping via app– Online shopping has certainly evolved with time and most e-commerce stores prefer to operate via app rather than websites. Apps are more personal and you should look to shop form them only. App lets you shop for anything from anywhere and you get a personalized experience while going for easy surfing of products. App is more direct and you can filter the products according to your choice, taste and preference and also avail more suitable discounts than what available at websites.

Online shopping provides consumers with many benefits. Many people have discovered the advantages of online shopping and hence, prefer to use this mode of shopping to buy their goods. This explains why there is an increasing number of people using online shopping. At times, besides being able to obtain their goods faster through shopping online, they can get their goods at prices lower than those offered by physical retail stores.

One of the benefits of online shopping is that it helps consumer saves time. This suits the current lifestyle of most people who are rather busy and have difficulty finding time doing all their shopping at physical stores. With online shopping, they can cut down on their traveling time. Furthermore, if the product they want is not available in the physical store, they need to go to another store to find it. If this happens, more time is needed to travel to the next store. To add to the disappointment, some goods which have to be ordered may take weeks to be delivered to the consumer’s house. With online shopping, all these inconvenience can be avoided. It provides the consumer a faster way of shopping. By simply browsing through the internet, the consumers can find what they want very quickly and can opt to download certain web pages they find informative and helpful. Besides, online stores can provide faster service and delivery. Consumers can get their products with minimum of hassle and time.

Another benefit of online shopping is that it helps the consumer saves money. As consumers do not need to travel to the physical store to buy the product, they save on traveling costs. Besides, consumers may be able to buy their products at lower prices than those offered by the physical retail stores. Many online stores provide great discounts and incentives to online buyers. As online stores operate with no physical shopfront, the vendors are able to save on operating costs and hence can offer lower prices for their goods to consumers.

For consumers who know the kind of product they want to buy but have not decided specifically which one to buy, the internet can provide helpful information for them to make the decision. Through the internet, the consumer will have a wide selection of products as well as in-depth product information. The vendors’ websites usually provides detailed information about the products they are selling. Essential information such as product price, specification and availability are provided. This enables the consumers to make informed choices and buy with confidence. Customer service is also known to be good. Some vendors sent personalized thank you messages to buyers after they make the purchase.

The internet enables the consumers to gain easy access to several stores within a short time. This is a great benefit to consumers who are looking for something expensive and needs to find out about the different products various stores are offering and make comparisons. As they do not need to travel from one physical store to another, they save a lot of time and effort. With online shopping, the consumer can enjoy more convenience in getting product information, selecting the product, choosing the store and making the purchase.

Some consumers who are looking for rare items prefer to use the Internet to look for the product. As rare items are not found in many physical stores, it is more economical to search for them and purchase them via the Internet. Online shopping benefits them as it saves them time, effort and money.

Online shopping enables consumers to buy things that they do not want to be seen buying them.

For example, those consumers who want to present their gifts to the recipient as surprises would prefer to make their purchases via the internet as they are afraid of being seen making the purchase in a physical store and that would blow the surprise.

Online shopping provides an alternative way of buying for people who are unable to travel to a physical store to make buy the products they need. These people include those who have mobility problems due to certain illnesses or those who have children or elderly at home to take care. Sometimes, lack of transport and bad weather can also prevent people from making their way to physical stores and shopping online help them to get what they need.

Consumers who use online shopping have the opportunity to give their feedback and contribute their views. Online stores usually encourage consumers to give their comments and provide forms for this purpose. They use the consumers’ feedback as a way to improve their services. Online payments for purchases are easy to make. Vendors provide payment systems that are convenient and easy to use. They also assure buyers that their personal data will be kept confidential.

From the above, we can see that online shopping has many benefits. Many people prefer to use this mode of shopping to buy their products because of these benefits. If you have not done online shopping before, you should try doing it right now. You will find it easy, convenient and rewarding. After you begin, you may find yourself using it most of the time. For more information, please visit Target Stores Online [http://www.internetbizcenter.com/shop/index.htm].

Jewellery has long been a favourite gift item with people across the globe. In the present age of the internet, choosing jewellery online is the most convenient thing to do. But some individuals remain apprehensive about the idea of shopping for things without viewing them literally. Following is a small guide which can help you shop confidently from internet jewellery retailers.

Conduct proper research relating to the jewellery item you might be prepared to buy. You may find out about many different gemstones, metals along with important jewellery details which assists you make an educated decision.

It is essential to order jewellery from reputable outlets. Ask for product recommendations from close friends, co-workers and family members. You may as well look at widely used forums and review internet sites to obtain views of individuals who may have shopped from a certain shop. The establishment you finally choose should offer safe and secure shopping according to the assigned criteria.

Read properly regarding the purchasing guidelines of the store. An established shop will make a guarantee of their sold merchandise. It will also have a suitable return/replacement policy, shipping and delivery method, anticipated shipping and delivery time explained on their site. A reputable retail outlet should have customer support and also service for the convenience of its clients.

Buy from a store which has very clear images and video clips of the items shown on their web site. A quality establishment will also present detailed details about the different dimensions of its merchandise.

Choose an outlet which has a good quality collection of the merchandise which it is advertising. You ought to have a look around a variety of websites to check out the quality of goods they are selling. Reputable retailers have a separate FAQ page for their clients as well as webpages of information declaring different areas of jewelry.

High-quality web based jewellery stores will have plastic rings available to help you get you exact ring size, helping you purchase the best ring for you.

You could consider looking for special offers as well as discount rates on various online stores. There are some superb deals and can order high quality jewelry at discount prices.

When selecting jewellery online you need to be sure that the retail outlet you are purchasing from includes a number of essential things in place.

– A contact form

– A published returns policy

– SSL security in place

The third point is the most essential! SSL is an acronym for secure socket layer. You will see when you process payments on the web your online browser shows a padlock, this padlock means that your payment as well as card details are safeguarded. By no means purchase from any web based jewelry shop which does not have the padlock sign on their pages!

Buying jewelry from web stores can be fun only when you realize how to make it work correctly. Internet shopping is easy, handy so helping you save a lot of your precious time and money.

E-commerce websites are now-a-days opting various Tele-communication technologies to provide effective customers service. The hotline services or email support services from e-commerce websites often create hassle for the customers. Live chat option is the trending technology, where the customers can then and there communicate with the vendor regarding the size, color and quality of product.

Instant Messaging empowers clients to ask fundamental inquiries while shopping for a product or a service. E-commerce suppliers frequently report that live chat programming empowers them to address the sorts of specific inquiries that aren’t normal enough to warrant a reply in a FAQ area yet that can have the effect in bringing a deal to a close.

Through Instant Messaging (IM) tool the users can make point-point HD video calls. HD video calling provides customers a rich experience in availing the support services form the e-commerce companies. The advantages of live video chat in e-commerce websites for both clients and the vendors include: Real-time, one-on-one individual customer support. Client reps can impart Web screens to the client, impart the website route, and direct them to the site page and product(s) they get some information about. Clients can see the item up close. Reps can likewise help clients with inquiries regarding strategies on the best way to do something with an item. Create individual associations from social discussions and client help. Make internet shopping more proficient and agreeable.

How to use IM:

By enabling the live video chat option on every page of the e-commerce site, the customers can click on the video chat option to get live and instantaneous support from the vendors. Here there will be options for one-way or two-way video chat, in one way video chat the customer need not have a camera. In one way video chat, only customer support executive’s video will be visible to the client. The particular shopping associates can explore the website, give item suggestions, think about stock, exhibit item peculiarities, and examine insights about stock shades and examples.

Advantages of IM for online shoppers:

Video chat option in web shopping renovate the e-trade destinations as it would make the webpage more reliable, enhances number of leads, reduced number of product rejections. The following are the various advantages of live video assistance for the customers:

• Can visualize the product

• Check for the product availability based on the size and color

• Having clear knowledge on the product by discussing with the sales guys

• Though live video chat the customers can have the personalized shopping experience as of the real physical shopping.

• Complaints or after sale support will be more enhanced as the customer can clearly show where the product is damaged or how the product is not performing well.

I was recently asked if I could offer some tips about starting an online yarn shop. I was keen to help, as I have recently made the leap into my own online venture. So here are some of the tips and traps that this not so young player experienced in the wonderful journey that became my very own yarn shop!

These tips apply to all types of online business and are not intended to be a complete guide. I urge all potential business owners to use the many resources available both online and in the greater community. It is a hugely challenging and exciting step to take but being a one person business doesn’t mean you have to do it alone! So here are my top tips for anyone thinking about starting their own online business and living their dream.

1 – Learn about business. It’s not just buying and selling. While you may have strengths in some areas, there are specific things that you must learn. No-one can be an expert on every aspect of running a business. Get training (local college courses, government funded programs etc) and make sure you have at least a basic understanding of all areas of business. I started my business with the assistance of an Australian Government funded program called NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme). It is a program for people who are registered as unemployed and who want to start their own business. The program offers training (Cert 4 in Small Business Management, which is a Nationally Accredited course), a fortnightly payment which is paid for 12 months, and regular mentoring sessions. I found the learning process extremely valuable and eye-opening, as I was introduced to many business concepts that I was not aware of. Without this training, my business dream would have remained just that.

2 – Know what is involved. There are many facets of running a business and if you go into this blind you will almost certainly fail. Make a close friend of your local Small Business organisation. It is one of the smartest things you will ever do.

• Startup funding. Do you have savings that you can put towards setting up a new business? Or will you need to apply for finance, in the form of loans or grants?
• Regulations – Does your local Government have rules about running your type of business, eg, home business regulations, insurance?

• Taxation – This one is probably the most challenging of all. Get some basic advice from your taxation regulator. Their websites are usually packed with good information about starting and building a business and complying with taxation laws. If this is not one of your strengths, budget for an accountant to help you with this. Even if it is, you should have an accountant on hand for annual returns.

3 – Website and supporting systems – Be prepared to spend time and money on your website design and implementation. Online businesses are booming, but that doesn’t mean they are easier to set up than traditional stores. You can’t just slap up a website and expect visits and sales from day one. You need to optimise your site so all of the major search engines can find you and customers can reach your site based on their chosen search terms. If you use a website designer ask them about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). It can add a significant cost to the build, so learn as much as you can and do as much as possible yourself if you can.

Know what you need from your business systems. Do you have web design experience (which is quite different to knowledge, as I found out!). Do you know what you need in a website/shopping cart? Again, talk to people, check out web design firms and contact their clients for feedback. Don’t assume that a website/shopping cart will have the features that you assume are standard, eg, stock control, email and newsletter facilities.

The same goes for accounting and office software. If you have bookkeeping experience you are ahead of many. If not, consider taking a short course or employing a bookkeeper. Yes, this will add to your operating costs, but so will being stung with a huge tax bill!

Make sure your computer skills are up to date, as you will be doing lots of word processing, budgeting and emails. You may also want to invest in a writing course, as you will be shocked at how much time you will spend banging away at the keyboard, replying to emails, social networking posts, preparing newsletters and blogs.

4 – Do your market research. If you don’t do this you won’t have a market to sell to. Obviously you are going into business because you have a passion for something, whether it be knitting, gardening, or any other reason. You may excel in one or more areas, but don’t assume you know what customers want based on your beliefs.

I spent weeks researching yarn websites, checking what they were selling and seeing what other services they offered (blogs, freebies, tutorials etc). I looked at their design and overall feel. I also visited local yarn shops to see how I could translate the physical shop front into a virtual one. The main message I drew from this was that I had to provide a friendly, easy to use and informative website with plenty of variety and ways for the customer to interact with the store.

You need to know who your competitors are. Direct competitors are those who sell the same type of product that you want to sell. Indirect competitors can be retailers who sell mass produced knitwear or cheap non-branded yarns. Your business plan should include a general description of your competition and outline how you will fit into the current industry and how you will stand out from the crowd.

You are looking to offer a USP (unique selling proposition). This can be selling a product that no-one else carries that is in demand, or providing a service that isn’t available, for instance, coffee shop facilities, delivery service, classes etc. It’s all about developing your business as a brand. Think of some big companies and note down what comes to mind when you hear their name. It is as much about how they do business as the products they sell.

5 – Develop a business plan. This can be done on your own or with the assistance of Business Support Centres. A business plan is essential for obtaining finance, as well as being your “bible” that you refer to frequently, both to see if your business is performing as per the plan, and also to remind you why you did this crazy thing in the first place!

A well prepared business plan gives you an edge when you are negotiating finance and getting started, as it shows that you are serious and professional in your approach. It should include results of market research, your biography as it relates to your intended business and a set of start up and projected financials.

6 – Develop an effective marketing strategy for your business. Letterbox drops may not be the most effective way to promote an online business, but well placed posters and flyers in shopping centres, libraries, community centres, retirement homes, hospitals may work well. Print advertising doesn’t have to be restricted to just yarn magazines. Consider parenting, craft and lifestyle magazines as well.

Use social networking sites. I have a Twitter account and a Facebook page. Out of the 2 Facebook has been the most valuable, as it offers the viewer a look inside my business and its core values. This relates to building your brand. I didn’t realise the relevance of this at first, but after attending a couple of business seminars and doing my market research, I realised that my “brand” is the core of what I do. My aim is to assist knitters of all skill levels but particularly new and inexperienced knitters, who may be afraid to approach a high-end store for advice. This is becoming my “brand”.

Identifying your brand is a key feature of your business plan, so try to get this established as early as you can. And do remember, your original business idea may well evolve and change as you respond to customer demands.

7 – Be prepared to generate no income for at least a year. Although I receive an allowance for the first 12 months, I still have to rely on my savings to survive. You may have to consider running your business alongside a “real” job for a time. I haven’t resorted to this yet but I do feel the time may come fairly soon. In the meantime I am doing everything I can to prevent this, but have to be realistic.

8 – Network. Talk to people! If you want an insider view on the type of business you want to run, talk to someone who runs a similar one. Obviously you could scare some operators who perceive you as a potential threat. Why not talk to someone who runs a non- competing business, for instance, if your business is knitting yarn, talk to a scrap booking or other craft shop owner. They are usually happy to answer questions and take an interest. You can also contact the same business type in a completely different location, as they are unlikely to be a direct competitor.

Participate in forums and subscribe to newsletters and magazines to keep up with trends and gather feedback from people who use the products you want to sell. When I was first looking at starting a yarn business I wanted it to be a physical shop, containing a coffee shop and play area as well as an extensive yarn selection. I posed the question “What would your dream yarn shop look like/have?” to a local forum group and they came up with exactly what I had envisioned. This was really encouraging, but after a lot of thought and soul searching, I realised that I wasn’t ready for the challenge of such an ambitious operation. Starting online is in no way a compromise, or practice run, but it may well lead to me opening a retail outlet in the future.

9 – Last but not least, stay positive and passionate about what you are doing! Most people who have dreamed about opening their own yarn shop (or any business for that matter) focus on one aspect of that business. For us yarnies it is the dream of being surrounded by beautiful fibres every day! While this is always going to be the case, there are so many other facets of owning a business that can overtake your dreams.

The day to day pressures of small business are always going to be there, so keep reminding yourself why this was so important to you. And if you sometimes forget what it was that made you want to do this, remind yourself by picking up your needles and yarn and escaping to your dream world even just for an hour – you’ll soon remember what madness lead to opening your very own yarn shop!