Starting An Ecommerce Business

If you're setting up an online store from scratch, you'll need ecommerce solutions that align with your goals beautifully.

For starters, you'll want a content management system you can freshen up in an instant. And you'll want a website that's bespoke so you stand out from your competitors - not a template - but something as uniquely 'you' as your business.

Starting out is a really important time for your business. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a great first impression, so make sure you choose the right e-commerce solutions to partner with.

It isn't easy giving up the 9-5 routine to strike out on your own.

For a start there's the steady wage you've come to rely on that's in your bank account every month. Then there's the camaraderie - the banter with your colleagues around the water cooler as you dissect last night's TV.

And after all, there were bits of your job you actually enjoyed . . .

But as for commuting in rush hour, sitting in stuffy board rooms and working for a boss who knew less about the job than you did . . . say no more!

And once you've made that decision to go into business for yourself, there can be no looking back. You've got the drive, vision, determination to succeed.

It could be the best thing you ever did.

Correction: it will be the best thing you ever did - you'll see to that.

If you're setting up an online store from scratch, you'll need an ecommerce website which align with your goals beautifully.

For starters, you'll want a content management system you can freshen up in an instant. And you'll want a website that's bespoke so you stand out from your competitors - not a template - but something as uniquely 'you' as your business.

Today's online businesses have to concern themselves with more than just selling products and services. The most successful online ventures focus on brand-building activities that establish brand loyalty and encourage repeat business. Without the right platform in place, it's easy to get overtaken by your competitors.

It's vital to choose an ecommerce website design company that has your business interests at heart. People who will do more than simply design you a website, set up your store and shopping cart and leave you to it.

You need experts who will provide you with a great looking and fully-functional online store plus all the tools you need to actively draw in your target audience and be successful in the marketplace.

Starting out is a really important time for your business.

With stunning store and website design and all the tools and functionality you need to kick-start your business success, all you need to do is focus on your launch day.

And don't forget to invite your old boss - or perhaps not!

If you're ready to make the leap from selling out of an eBay, Amazon, or Etsy store, to having your very own 'branded' shop front, then by commissioning a fully-customised ecommerce website design from experts, you could have your exciting new online store up and running in no time.

Let's face it, using a proven business model like eBay to sell your products may have seemed like a good idea when you first started out. But what with increasing membership fees, sales commissions, and payment-processing costs, doesn't it make more sense to have your own dedicated online retail store with your name out front?

The vast majority of the people who browse Amazon and eBay are searching for bargains. And even if you're in the kind of business that relies on piling it high and selling it cheap, commission costs can be seriously prohibitive.

More than likely though, you'll be the kind of business owner who is on a mission to build a quality brand. In which case, having your own fully-customised store is a must in order to create credibility.

Having a website linked to your own personal domain name is the only way to go if you want your business to be taken seriously. Allowing third-party sites to house your products really means you're not in full control of your online presence. The main risks are that terms and conditions of a website may change overnight, resulting in higher fees. Or your account could be suspended because you accidentally fell foul of new legislation. The only secure way to make sure your business really is your business is through a custom design and your own URL.

So where will I find someone who understands my business and what I want to achieve with my website?

Talk to the experts. But before you do, check out their own website presence to make sure what they offer is sufficiently impressive. Many people claim to be website design experts, but what you will find is that they outsource the design work while creaming off a tasty commission.

This could be a real problem should you encounter functionality problems with your website later on.

What you need is an ecommerce website design company that will handle the whole job from brief to finished ecommerce website - an outfit that will over-deliver on their promises - and won't ask you to pay for their work until you're completely satisfied.

Many of us have a weakness for some kind of designer gear - whether it is Mulberry bags, Oakley sunglasses or Gucci shoes.

But of course, the majority of us can't really afford the premium price tags attached to these unless we can find them cut-price.

Luckily, there are plenty of designer outlets out there, or else there is the option of buying things off-season. Even better, you could consider looking at online designer outlets specialising in the kinds of items you most desire.

Here is why it makes sense to seek out your premium goods online and why having an ecommerce website business also could make good business sense:

Cost: An online store has significantly lower overheads because it doesn't have to pay for things like store rental. This means an online designer outlet can offer their products at lower prices than an offline seller. They will also often get their gear direct from the manufacturer so they themselves will be paying cost rather than retail prices. Added to this, many online retailers, because of these lower overheads, will be able to offer free shipping, particularly on multiple purchases.

Price Comparison: It is very easy to compare prices on items such as Ray-Ban sunglasses if you are looking at online retailers. All you have to do is get a selection of websites open in front of you and see what each has to offer. It is far more heavy work to wander through designer outlets in shopping centres trying to find the best bargains.

Convenience: It's a lot easier to sit in front of your computer and choose what you want to buy than it is to traipse around the shops. Also, if you happen to live in an out-of-the-way place with little proximity to any kind of designer outlet then buying online may well be the only realistic option open to you. This way, your goods are delivered right to your doorstep at the click of a mouse.

Time Saving: As anyone who has been on a hunt for designer gear knows, making the odyssey through various outlets in search of that one amazing bargain can be both incredibly tiring and incredibly time-consuming. Most of us have a friend who can snuffle out a bargain on a 'money-off' rack like a pig snuffling for truffles, but for the rest of us it can be a tedious and ultimately disheartening experience. Online, all you have to do is type in the search terms relevant to what you want and, hey presto, it will become instantly apparent what is available.

Health food businesses are continuing to be a popular niche decades after they became a fixture on the high street. This is because many people are interested in health and as consumers we spend more money on health products and supplements than we ever have in the past. This kind of venture can be lucrative, rewarding and engaging.

Consumers are drawn to issues of health for different reasons. There are always articles in the media about unhealthy products that are finding their way into our foods. Across the Western world there is concern about an epidemic of obesity and many people want to lose weight. As well, people are living longer and while many have a great quality of life, some old individuals struggle with blood pressure, joint and mobility issues. Some supplements can help these conditions.

Let’s take a look at some the key things you need to consider to get this kind of business up and running.

One of the first things that you will need to think about is whether or not your business will be online or on the high street. Both have their pros and cons and at the end of the day only solid research will give you the answer that you need. There are some major chains that operate health food shops and so if you are looking at the physical location the market will probably be competitive, unless you narrow down your niche quite a bit and focus on a specific area of health. A health website is certainly more cost-effective but at the same time has its own unique challenges, such as awareness raising and delivery costs.

Ideally you shouldn’t just jump into this business because you want to make some money, but obviously that is the number one reason. The point is that it can really make a difference if you’re interested in health and organic products. The more you want to understand how these things will help people and why some individuals are interested in nutritional supplements, the better you’ll be at the business. You’ll be interested in research, finding solutions and better serving your customers.

The general health food business can have a broad customer base. You can target people interested in weight loss, those with special dietary needs, as well as vegetarians and vegans. Even people who don’t consider themselves to be particularly health-conscious often visit health food shops. They might just pick up a pack of vitamins or look for a certain product to fight off an ailment they have every once in a while.

In addition to the above, you can also look at targeting people who are not necessarily into supplements, but instead want healthy snacks and healthy foods. There has been such a focus in the media recently about the amount of fat and sugar in certain foods that more and more people are becoming conscious of what in the things that they eat. If you can sell things like oat bars, dried fruits, good quality dark chocolate, healthy drinks, or even smoothies, you should be able to cultivate a good customer base.

There will be basic rules and regulations that you will need to follow when you set up your shop. Contact the local council and various trading organisations so that you do things according to the letter of the law. Along with your business plan, put together a marketing plan and look at how you going to raise awareness of your business before it opens. Beyond these things, you must do as much research as possible so that you develop an extensive knowledge in your products and nutritional information. This means that you will become a valuable resource to your customers and you will have a credible sales pitch.

If you decide to get involved in any research activities then you can in the UK claim R & D Tax Relief for this activity and a good accountant will be able to advise you on how to do so. Equally, if you are aware of other companies or suppliers who are involved in research they too can claim R & D Tax Relief.

If you're planning on sending your:

. . . and whether it's for business or purely pleasure, sending your parcel to America has never been easier.

With four time zones set across 50 states, America offers regional marketing opportunities on a grand scale.

If you watched the TV series Stephen Fry in America, where Fry visited each of the 50 states in a London cab, you'll know that every US state has its own distinct personality. You will surely be familiar with some of the nicknames such as the ones mentioned above which commonly feature on the license plates from their territories. But did you also realise just how much some of the state nicknames have evolved down the years?

For example, Florida has changed its nickname no less than 12 times. It's been called: the Alligator State, the Orange State, the Everglade State, the Gulf State - and somewhat poignantly - 'God's Waiting Room.'

California was once dubbed the Sunshine State, but has also been called The Bear State, The Eureka State, Land of Milk and Honey and El Dorado State, for various business and tourism promotions. The Golden State (its present name) was coined following the Gold Rush of 1848. California was admitted into the Union in 1850 as the 31st state and immediately assumed the name the Golden State. Despite attracting various 'guises' during its brief history, the original nickname has endured.

South Dakota was also formerly nicknamed the Sunshine State (yet another one), but changed its name to Mount Rushmore State in 1980.

Some US states that have been tagged with amusing or intriguing past nicknames include:

In addition to nicknames, each state has its own motto (some states have two!) and these are mainly derived from Latin and English.

So when you next need to arrange delivery of your parcel to USA, you need look no further than one of the UK's foremost courier brokers. They will get you a great deal on services to the US, whether your parcels are destined for one state - or 50.