Own An Online Store: E-commerce and Drop Shipping- Get the Basics!
Computers have pretty much changed the way we live. Since their inception, it has become clear that human society wouldn’t be the same now that computers have become part of it. Once, they were nothing more than glorified calculators that helped accountants calculate for profits, materials, logistics or digital record keepers that could keep an entire archive’s worth of record documents and additional information. But now, after decades of advancements, computers have become the technological equivalent of Swiss army knives and are now integral to civilization itself. From the business executive laying back in his or her office on the top floor of some skyscraper to the common employee trying to keep up with work behind his/her desktop or a cashier telling you that you’re about two dollars short for your groceries, there is now a need for computers in every echelon of society.
With the introduction of the internet, computers have become essential to just about every business and household. Able to connect loved ones and business associates across vast distances, as well as store massive amounts of information and display various ads and articles for the entire world to see, it is no surprise that there are individuals who have now found means to make a stable living through the internet. That’s right, we now have something called “e-commerce†which has become popular thanks to how the internet connects so many people together across the world.
Types of E-commerce
There are actually three main kinds of ecommerce and thanks to the internet being so widespread, they can be found just about anywhere in the world.
Business to Consumer: This is the most common form of Ecommerce wherein a big company decides to sell items or services to a common internet user.
Business to Business: Two companies decide to trade assets.
Consumer to Consumer: This can be best described as two ordinary users trading for a quick buck by selling items like a cellphone, laptop or software.
Whichever type of E Commerce you decide to engage with, your website is going to be the key to your success. At the end of the day, your website replaces the traditional brick and mortar store in its entirety. So within your webpage, you need to draw in potential buyers, establish your brand, highlight your products in their best light and offer plenty of information and customer service touchpoints. Make this as simple as possible for yourself by using a platform with a user friendly interface, like Shopify.
Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is a common facet of e-commerce and many users who engage in online businesses prefer e-commerce drop shipping as it is both simple and cost-effective. To explain, drop shipping is actually very similar to retailing wherein a company or business sells a supply of products to a given user who in turn sells the goods to a waiting crowd of other users.
Common products sold through drop shipping:
T-shirts (as all the drop shipper needs is the address of the customers)
Software (which can just be downloaded by the customer in question)
Figures (very popular with young adults)
Jewelry (often sold in large numbers to customers seeking to complete a set)
Drop Shipping Issues
Drop shipping may indeed be profitable, and users who engage in this kind of e-commerce often earn about as much or even more than your real-world retailer. However, drop shipping has issues of its own that any good user should be on the lookout for, such as a lack of supplies or a delay in payment. This can prove to be a devastating blow to anyone engaging in e-commerce, so caution is always advised should you decide to get involved in ecommerce yourself.
Pros and Cons of Drop Shipping
Pros
Drop shipping is simple and quick
Drop shipping allows users to make a better profit than those who actually manufacture the products themselves
Drop shipping can also be beneficial to users as they can sometimes negotiate with their respective dealers
Cons
Drop shipping is prone to back ordering
There is the occasional delay in payment
Shippers might run out of supplies if the demand is big enough, resulting in delayed shipments that can ruin a middleman’s reputation