How to open an online store with minimal investment

It is better to sell it?

If you shote dresses, make prints on T-shirts or suspension of an epoxy resin - in general, produce something cool, then you can sell that, too. In this guide you will find helpful advice and for themselves, but it is written mainly for people who are lucky less: those who need to learn a foreign product suppliers and seek to sell something that is likely to have already sold competitors.

In the beginning, decide on key issues:

• Number of goods. Online shops are divided into two types: odnostranichniki sites and directories. And you can debug processes, selling a particular product in the single-page site, and then later to expand the range.
• trading method. You can sell products in both retail and wholesale. The second method is suitable for B2B-model, where the customer - other company.
• sales channels. If you do not want to start a major project, you do not need a website or buying banners. Properly designed pages and advertising on social networks can be enough.

And choosing the product, keep in mind some of its features:

• Main characteristics. If you are familiar with the fact that sell, or at least can understand it quickly - excellent. If not - will be difficult. And the deal still have (or charging this individual, you will be charged).
• Seasonality. If you sell fur coats, in the spring and summer sales will be low (and if you do not sell them cheaper than in the cold season, the zero). If you are not sure that will earn during the season enough to comfortably spend the rest of the year, selling what people want always.
• Demand. It's simple: the more popular the product, the greater the competition. If you choose something specific, then on the promotion of the product will have to spend more effort, time and money. Determine the popularity of the product will support selection of words from "Yandex", analyzing the number of searches.

Super, but I do not produce anything. Where can I get the goods?

At the manufacturer or supplier. The lower links in the chain, the better. Often when looking for a supplier, you can stumble upon a cunning intermediary with the high commission, so find out who the manufacturer is working officially. Sometimes the list of companies indicated on the website, and such providers are called distributors.

At this point, you should design your business officially, eg register SP.

Suppliers are working in B2B, and they do not need to entice buyers so zealously, as it will do you. They are less invested in marketing, website design or optimize pages for search services. If you have to look for a supplier to Google or "Yandex", be prepared to examine page by page in the issue, study antiquated sites and experimenting with synonyms in your queries.

Alert, if the supplier requires a monthly payment. Usually it is asked special services that provide access to directories proven distributors. Supplier to do so should not be.

Here's what to look for when choosing a supplier:

• Product quality. Make sure that the provider works with the original producers, so you do not have to blush because of negative customer reviews, and return the money for the goods.
• Conditions. It is not just about the price of the goods, but also the volume of purchases. Often suppliers set a minimum amount for wholesale order. Evaluate how it suits you.
• and support staff. If the supplier company are professionals, then you are less likely to fail their customers. And if in the process between you and the provider of trust is established, then in the future you may be able to order goods at a discount "for the".
• provider customers. If the supplier operate successful stores, product quality and service are almost guaranteed. So, before you enter into a contract, it is necessary to know a little about the experience of other customers.
• Location. If the supplier is based in your city, it will be easier and cheaper to collect the goods from the warehouse. It is quite possible that you'll be able to ride them.

You said that serious investment is needed. What is it like?

If the supplier will deliver the goods directly to the buyer, you will save on transport logistics and warehouse rental. This scheme is called the realization of dropshipping. You are a store owner doing his promotion, and delivery of, and payment for work with dropshipping returns provider takes over for a small fee.

These services are in varying degrees, have many distributors. But someone performs only storage and delivery, and someone else accepts payments, working with returns and complaints. Ask whether the dropshipping supplier is not engaged, that you liked. And if so - what range of services it offers.

Perhaps dropshipping - this is the only way to open runs an online store with minimal investment of money, time and effort. You do not have to sign agreements with the "Post of Russia», DPD, «SDEK», Pick Point and worry about the delivery in principle. Also, you do not need to spend money on rent warehouse at the start when your case still does not bring serious money.

Well, what if I have money and time to do everything yourself?

Dropshipping provider not just store the goods in his warehouse, and performs more a bunch of features, some of which you certainly would not want to carry out themselves, at least in the early stages of work online store.

Consider the services offered dropshipping provider, as an example of "Supplier of happiness"Specializing in working with online shops selling lingerie and adult products.

• A large assortment. A variety of products will impress the customer and to stand out among competitors. In dropshipping supplier has already established contacts with manufacturers of different brands. So you can offer customers a wide range of brands and products. For example, in the range of "Supplier of happiness" 25,000 articles and 280 brands.
• Storage of goods. The range of "Supplier of happiness" includes hundreds of different kinds of brands. Keep them on your stock is expensive and impractical.
• Communication with the customer on behalf of the store. All matters shipping dropshipping provider incurs.
• Packaging and delivery of goods. Dropshipping provider, as opposed to the newly established online store already has established logistics and delivers goods by mail, courier services into the hands of the buyer, as well as through a network of postamatov - terminals for dispensing purchased of things. So you can not limit yourself to one city or region, and work with customers throughout Russia. Do not forget to check with the provider what discount he can give you the tariffs of transport companies.
• Preparation of documents. And on your behalf: the sender is your online store can be specified when working with dropshipping. Responsibility to the buyer and reputational risks are carrying you, so it's important to choose a reliable provider.
• Getting paid. Money on your Card online store coming soon to your account. But if the buyer pays the courier upon receipt of the goods, and this scheme in Russia more popular, the money comes to you already from the dropshipping supplier.
• Purchase returns. If the buyer came to you with the claims and the requirement to return the money, you can forward your complaint dropshipping-provider - this is his concern.
• range synchronization. Supplier watching their range and automatically provides the heading for unloading CMS-platformThat is running your online store.

And it certainly is not dangerous?

Trust the most important part of the work to another company store is always dangerous. Therefore, dropshipping supplier is to choose even more carefully than usual. Ideally - relying on the experience of other stores who cooperate with them. Reviews of the owners can be found on search engines.

"Supplier of happiness" is engaged in dropshipping 2014. For five years, the company's customers have become more than 1000 shops selling products of 280 brands - manufacturers of lingerie and adult products. If you want to open an online store with an assortment of "happiness Supplier" will help to start a business without major investment.

Submit your application

I need a website. But I'm not a programmer, what to do?

To make a website without a big budget and programming skills, it is better to use a special constructor. "Supplier of happiness," for example, is working with a platform for creating online stores InSales and AdvantShopAnd also offers Create an online store on blockbuster platform "1C Bitrix".

At this stage, you should write a business plan. When you decide on the platform will be able to estimate how much you will cost website creation, domain buying and advertising in the first months of the store.

Ok, it worked. What's next?

To improve the design and navigation of the site, buying contextual advertising, SEO-filled pages of text, publish posts in social networks, create distribution - in general, do everything to the number of buyers grew.

And remember that a contract with one supplier is not obliged limited to its assortment. As your business you can search for new distributors and add to the catalog of his shop.