Greetings from Robert Schow, VP of Customer Operations
The holiday season can be a great opportunity for online entrepreneurs. There are several promotions that you can use during the holidays, including general discounts, free shipping, or specific sales on holiday-themed products. You probably already use several of these promotional techniques. However, using holiday-themed promotions lets you associate your product with the total holiday experience. We at StoresOnline wish you success with this year’s holiday traffic.Drop-Shipping
Drop-shipping is a great way to sell your products online. What is Drop-shipping? Drop-shipping is the process by which a retailer can sell products online without keeping any goods in stock. The customer’s order and shipment details are forwarded to the manufacturer or supplier, who then ships the goods directly to the customer. As a retailer, your profit is the difference between your cost and the retail price. Drop-shipping can help keep your overhead low and your profits high. Better yet, taking advantage of a drop-shipper can save time and reduce stress, which will allow you more time to market your website an attract new customers.
There are two methods of drop-shipping: blind and regular. With blind drop-shipping, your drop-shipper will use your label and/or shipping information, so that the customer believes the product is being shipped directly from you. With regular drop-shipping, your customers will receive their product from the manufacturer without a change in the label or packaging. Be sure to clarify what type of drop-shipper you have partnered with in order to provide the highest level of service for your customers.
One of the main benefits of utilizing a drop-shipper is being free from the burdens of holding inventory and shipping product. However, there are other potential negative aspects of drop-shipping to be aware of. Because the product is not physically available, you may not always have current information about stock levels or quality control. You will not have control over the shipment process, so be sure that you choose a reliable drop-shipper. Be sure that your customers have the correct return information. This is especially important if you are not using a blind drop-shipper.
If you decide that drop-shipping is a good way for you to simplify your business, there are many ways to find a reliable drop-shipper. Don’t feel obligated to limit yourself to one drop-shipper. Having back-up suppliers is a good idea to ensure that you always have products available for your customers. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- After selecting a product that you would like to sell, research the manufacturers and suppliers online. Often you can find information on product packaging to help you start your search. Contact the company in which you are interested, and inquire about having them drop-ship their products for you. Depending on the size of the company or type of product, they may decline. Do not get discouraged! Ask them for their distributors, and inquire down the line until you find someone who is willing to drop-ship. Remember to have confidence when contacting potential business partners. Researching information about their company and online sales will give them confidence in your abilities. For additional assistance, see the sample inquiry e-mail in merchant services for ideas on how to approach potential suppliers.
- Also, consider contacting the owners or buying agents of local brick and mortar stores that already carry products that are of interest to you. Again, do not get discouraged if they do not accept. Small business owners or manufacturers of unique products may not be familiar with the term drop-shipping. Explain the process and the benefits for both parties. Finding a good drop-shipper can take time, but it will be worth your effort.
- Another way to find drop-shippers is to use an online search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. Simple searches can produce exceptional results. Remember to use both broad and specific searches. For example, searching the phrase “men’s watch” and then “Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master” will yield very different results! In addition, using different words like dropshipper, drop shipper (mind the space), manufacturer, or supplier will produce different search results. This process will give you more options to choose from and a variety of companies to contact.
- If you do not have a specific product in mind, consider attending a trade show or subscribing to a trade magazine. By doing either of these, you make yourself available to companies looking for ways to expose their company name and products. Contact your local exposition center and check websites like http://www.tsnn.com/ for upcoming events.
- Always remember that when contacting drop-shippers by phone, e-mail or in person, you are attempting to forge a professional business relationship. Tell them your name, your company name, and where you found their information. Explain that you are interested in selling their products on your website, and ask what information they need from you to get started. Consider having a “starter” site completed with your basic company information. With the Avail247 communication package, you can provide your domain-branded e-mail and toll-free phone and fax numbers, all while keeping your personal information safe and secure. A well-built quicksite will establish a level of professionalism that will translate to your retail website.
The process of finding drop-shippers will get easier as you become more comfortable with contacting new people and offering your services. Above all, remember to not get discouraged, as this process can take time! As you build a positive track record, more opportunities will be available to you. In time, you may also be able to develop relationships with suppliers that were previously unwilling to do business with you, and secure better terms for your business.
If you need additional help in finding a drop-shipper, remember to search “dropshipper” in merchant services for more information. Your StoresOnline customer service representatives are more than happy to help you with any part of this process. Good luck!
Holiday Suggestions
Remember with the holidays coming up to be sure to test your website to make sure everything is properly connected and set up. Testing would include making sure your ordering rules are configured the way you want them to be, charging the amounts that would best suit your business, and making sure you have your credit card processor connected properly. If you have any questions on how to do this, please be sure to contact Customer Support at 801-434-8582.Be sure to activate your account for the upcoming holiday season so that you may be able to take orders and suggestions through your toll-free phone/fax number and email. Remember, the toll-free number is only available in the US. To activate your Avail account, be sure to visit us at www.myavail247.com. You can receive a discount code from a Customer Service Representative by calling us at 801-234-5982.
Chat Support
Thanksgiving
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Re-opening 5am MST Nov. 28th
Christmas
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New Years
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Phone Support
Thanksgiving
No phone support Nov 27-28
Christmas
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New Years
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Product and Product List Message Elements: You now have the option of adding product or product list elements to your customer email messages. This feature gives you the ability to link to your products directly in your customer emails.
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Coming Soon: Video tutorials on Relevancy Search Engine Optimization, Finding a Drop-Shipper, and The Reverse Search Tool.
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Our customer service and programming departments are committed to providing the best possible service to our merchants by listening and responding to their needs. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for our customer service department, you may visit us at www.myquickresponse.com for 24/7 Customer Support Live Chat. You may also call 801-434-8582.
As always, we are grateful to have you on board as a merchant with StoresOnline! See you next month!
Robert Schow
VP of Customer Operations
StoresOnline, Inc.