There’s never been a better time in history to launch an eCommerce store. With so many people stuck at home or practicing social distancing, traditional shopping seems to be falling by the wayside. The pandemic has shown us that just about anything we can get from a brick-and-mortar store can be bought online from the safety of our homes.
If you’re planning on launching a Shopify store, this is your ultimate guide to all of the reasons why you should as soon as possible. With COVID’s end nowhere in sight, it’s time to take advantage of the unique opportunities that the pandemic has afforded ambitious entrepreneurs like yourself.
A Larger Audience
Perhaps the biggest reason to start an online store during the pandemic is that you’ll have a much larger audience and demand for your products. Your brand might very well provide essential products or services, making it a necessary addition to the market. Many brands have made the switch either to entirely online operations or at least a majority of operations moved online. This saves money, streamlines production, and provides a much-needed service during the pandemic.
Even though we’re not in the thick of the March and April hysteria anymore, we’re still seeing record numbers of people switching to entirely online shopping. Even grocery stores are offering online ordering and pick-up to encourage social distancing. This is an opportunity. Take advantage of the fact that most people are utilizing eCommerce to do their necessary shopping.
It will be a bit easier to market to this audience, as well, considering many of them are spending a significant portion of their time online anyway. Quarantine hasn’t exactly been fun, and some people use retail therapy to pass the time and minimize the stress.
COVID Isn’t Going Anywhere
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going anywhere anytime soon. What started in January as a sickness in a foreign nation as quickly become the reckoning of 2020, and some experts are warning of a second wave in winter. It’s likely that we’ll all end up in lockdown once more, confined to our homes to ride out the storm through the cold winter months. Regardless, people still need certain things, and eCommerce will be a huge part of fulfilling those needs.
Record Sales On ECommerce Sites
Online spending has grown significantly in the months since the pandemic first hit. Online stores experienced a surge in sales as people scrambled to purchase necessities (and not-so-necessary items, of course). The first half of 2020 saw an increase of 30% in eCommerce spending in comparison to last year’s first half, and online spending accounted for nearly 18% of all consumer spending in the US.
Sites that were already established as eCommerce hubs, like https://blackbuffalo.com/, are finding that the pandemic has only increased their traffic further and is driving sales through the roof. Do you need a better reason to start your eCommerce business? Products that relieve stress and anxiety are in high demand right now, and CBD products are at the forefront. Getting some ideas for your store yet? Good!
With eCommerce markets valued in the billions of dollars already, the growth from the COVID-19 era is sure to put eCommerce in s good position to supplant brick-and-mortar retail stores. Is this the death of traditional retail? Will the pandemic drive us all to become online-only shoppers? Only time will tell.
Save Overhead Costs
Aside from boosting profits, eCommerce has another distinct advantage over its brick-and-mortar cousins: trimming overhead. Brick-and-mortar stores have far more upkeep than an eCommerce store, having to cover utility costs, insurance for the property, building maintenance, and more. These costs can seriously cut into the profit margin. Plus, with a brick-and-mortar store, there’s always the chance of an unfortunate act of nature destroying the store.
That’s not to say eCommerce stores have no overhead, but the overhead is much more manageable. Here are some ways to trim overhead costs in an eCommerce store.
What Does The Future Look Like?
It’s clear that COVID-19 is going to stick around for awhile longer, so we’ll need to be prepared to potentially buckle down once more in the safety of our homes. If that happens, eCommerce will be what keeps the nation going. This vital role means ample opportunities for entrepreneurs to solidify themselves as a trusted brand and get a piece of the market.
Conclusion
The COVID era has paved the way for a massive increase in eCommerce sales. Without eCommerce, it’s likely that we’d have had a shortage of necessary items during the pandemic. Now is the time to launch your Shopify store and get in the game. Don’t wait until it’s over, or you might miss a golden opportunity to grow and prosper!
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I am sure it’s the right time to launch an e-commerce store with Shopify. I never knew launching a website can be too easy as it is now with Shopify. Thanks for this informative post.