Wondering what would be the highly successful products that could always stay demanded? Those are shoes! Whatever happens, we all need different footwear which every person in the world purchases every year. Thus, selling shoes online is a great idea to start a business. We shall puzzle out how to efficaciously set up online sales.
Primarily, each company has to be registered. One could decide to engage with juridical persons, otherwise, a future owner is supposed to register as a sole proprietor.
Furthermore, eCommerce website development implies the selection of the target niche. The choice of a particular shoe market involves the decision on what type of footwear to sell: women’s, men’s, or children’s shoes; classic, sport, or handmade ones; industrial or indoor footwear, etc.
The next step would be to identify the audience you target your business at. It’s critical to study your future clients and get detailed info on them, say:
- age & gander;
- approximate income;
- purchasing objective;
- tastes;
- purchase frequency;
- habits and more.
To figure out your market segment, explore Google search inquiries, carry out thorough market research, and dig up what shoes are in greater demand.
The competitive analysis shall not be ignored. The idea is to find out what assortment similar businesses have, what their marketing policy is, what the audience thinks of them, their key advantages and disadvantages. To become a successful online shoe store you’ll have to differentiate from existing e-shops, so create an effective promotion strategy based on your competitive benefits.
Moreover, you’ll need to devote enough time to learn applicable business models to decide which one to go for. When it comes to selling footwear online, you are to choose from the options below:
- dropshipping;
- wholesale commerce;
- own production.
There are a few points that will influence your choice, for instance, sales geography, the niche you select, need in warehousing, and the initial budget. No matter what business model you apply, you’ll have to hire staff members to sell your shoes, what’s more, you shall find reliable suppliers to run the business smoothly.
Another question to answer is where to sell. These days there’s a variety of options:
- social media;
- major marketplaces;
- developing your own site (from scratch or by means of ready-made tools).
Each approach has its pros and cons, plus the choice will also depend on your objectives and expectations. By the by, you could use several channels simultaneously.
Regarding the payment gateways, people prefer having several options to choose from, and advanced solutions allow multiple variants, for example, cash, wire transfers, e-wallets, paying upon delivery, etc. Proper delivery has to be carefully thought through as well (pick-up points, home delivery, courier services, and more). Additionally, customers expect to be able to track their orders and see the status.
One shall not forget about adequate marketing strategies. To achieve greater results it makes sense to apply for:
- SEO tools;
- social media marketing;
- context ads;
- email marketing;
- blog;
- enhancing corporate image.
Finally, it’s essential to estimate the costs you’ll need to launch your startup. To figure out the required budget you shall consider such expenses, as development costs, staff paychecks, stock creation, warehouse fees, ads, and taxes.
Summing up, below are a few tips to turn your e-store into a successful venture:
- make the name eye-catchy;
- renew shoes you sell regularly;
- enable 24/7 support;
- create a working competitive strategy;
- add exclusive features.
