If the Covid crisis has accelerated things, e-commerce was already booming before 2020. Of a turnover in Europe of 636 billion euros, France is in second place with 103 billion euros in 2019. And it is clear that these figures have exploded in 2020. Moreover, the number of online stores in France has exceeded 200,000.
So what are you waiting for to create an online store too?
Whether you already have a physical business or you want to start an e-commerce business, the adventure is within your reach.
In this article, we present you the simplest strategy to create an online store easily and with very few means.
We break the myth of creating a free online store right from the start. You need to invest a minimum amount of money so that customers can trust you. But we guarantee you this minimum investment and really well placed.
You can create different types of websites to sell your products or services, but the online store is really dedicated to e-commerce, B2B or B2C.
There are many tools available to create a merchant site. But in this article, we explain how to create a Shopify store, since it is currently the most used solution by e-merchants. With 800,000 stores open worldwide, it is clearly an e-commerce solution that works.
How to create an online store for free
Create an online store easily and for free, it does not exist. But easily and cheaply, yes.
You have two options:
Use an Open Source web solution
Use a Saas solution (Software as a service)
The first option can be a WordPress site, on which you will add an e-commerce tool Prestashop for example. The advantage is that you can fully customize your online store, but you need technical skills. That said, everything can be learned, and if you want to have this freedom, it is within your reach. But it does take time. Think about this aspect when you choose your online store solution.
The SaaS solution, such as Shopify, is ideal when you don’t have the technical skills or the time.
In terms of budget, you can afford it, because the technical side is entirely taken care of: updates, maintenance, security, etc.
And thanks to the 6000 Shopify apps, you can easily find all the features you need for your online store and managed by third party services.
Moreover, Shopify offers you a 14-day free trial period. So the best strategy is to prepare all the elements you’ll need to get started in just one day, and enjoy a free online store for 14 days.
Finding products to sell on an online store
If you are already a merchant and you want to move to online business, the question does not arise.
The same goes if you have already thought about your business.
If you just want to start an e-commerce business but you don’t know what to sell, then this paragraph is for you.
Since there are few or no geographical barriers and fewer and fewer technological barriers, competition is fierce in e-commerce. It is therefore very important to think about a selling concept.
We invite you to read our resources on the subject, but here are the essential questions to ask yourself when you want to open an online store.
What areas are you interested in?
Does your product solve a problem?
What is its added value?
In any case, you must absolutely stand out from the competition, thanks to one or more of the following points:
Your product is unique
Its price is competitive
It is the best quality on the market
You are starting (or riding) a trend
Your brand is super attractive, no matter what you are selling
Choose one or more strategies and give it your all.
Finding suppliers
If you make your own products, you can skip this section. Otherwise, you need good suppliers.
This can be done by looking at online directories or visiting trade shows related to your industry.
In any case, don’t stop at the first supplier. Meet with them, talk to them, test the merchandise and negotiate prices or quantities.
If you don’t want to bother with stock, you can turn to dropshipping. In this model, the suppliers send the products directly to your customers.
You can find more explanations in our article Starting a dropshipping business: 4 tips for success.
Another ideal option to open an online store without stock is print on demand. You have your designs printed on clothes or objects, by intermediaries who also take care of the delivery.
All the info on POD can be found in this article: Print on demand: definition, suppliers and tips
If you choose the dropshipping option, you should know that with the Oberlo Shopify app, you will be able to import thousands of products into your store in a few seconds.
Calculate your prices
This is a crucial step in creating an online store. It is obviously essential to calculate your prices well, but on the other hand, you can always make adjustments.
To help you in this task, you can make a provisional balance sheet, in which you will note all the fixed charges related to your commercial activity. Then you add the expenses proportional to your activity (manufacturing or purchase price, delivery costs, packaging, marketing, etc.).
Finally, you add up your personal expenses and the time you will spend developing your business.
Make simulations, estimating the amount of income you need to generate and make price/number of sales ratios to know your objectives. And don’t forget to include your taxes at the end.
You will adjust all this later on according to your objectives and your activity, but also for marketing reasons. You will see that the notion of psychological price is real and that the lowest prices are not necessarily the ones that work best.