E-Commerce vs. Brick and Mortar
A question I get a lot is how I got started in E-Commerce and why I didn’t start with a brick and mortar store. We still don’t have a brick and mortar store and I honestly don’t see us investing in one for quite some time.
We started out by selling our candles at local craft shows. Not to brag but we were always one of the most popular booths at these shows. We would typically sell out hours before the close of the show. Soon customers were calling us after the shows and asking for more candles, and some were asking if they could use our candles as wedding favors. At our last show we introduced more wedding favors and the crowds went crazy! That is how our online store began. I knew that if we could get our products out there we would get more sales. The best way to expose our candles and new wedding favor line was the Internet.
E-Commerce gives us the opportunity to reach a market far beyond our small Colorado town. I have sold wedding favors to brides as far away as Lithuania and as close as across the street. I recently had a long telephone conversation with a bride in Ireland. I couldn’t believe that a woman half way across the world was looking at our website, and purchasing her favors from us in our little Colorado town.
The only downside to e-commerce is that I have a very hard time getting away from it. Our store is live 24/7 so emails and orders come in at all hours. I’m slowly learning how to manage my time better, but I think I will always struggle with finding a balance.
I am very grateful that we were able to launch a website and start selling our products so quickly. I don't think we could have been as successful with just a brick and mortar store.
I would love to hear your comments, and if you have a brick and mortar store along with your website!
2 Comments
br2_6_9 says:
Absolutely, only eCommerce is the way to go with someone starting from scratch and needs flexible hours - not to say this is easy, but is more flexible.
Meanwhile, question to you: How did you start to sell online - eBay (no branding)? Amazon (kinda expensive fees)? your own custom site (prohibitively expensive for beginners)?
Kara English says:
Hi br269!
I started selling online with a ProStores store, then later moved on to a Yahoo Store. I designed our first site on my own, then two years later I decided to bring in a design firm. It was expensive but I feel it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Thanks!!
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