Any point selling books on line?

scotmum · Jan 28, 2010

I have been plugging away at my website since May mainly creating content, affiliate links, working on attracting women to my forum, adding listings, reviews and writing blogs. I have managed to attain some good web traffic and so am now thinking of the 'next step'.

Since my primary web visitor is a woman aged between 25 and 38 with one child aged between 1 and 3, I have considered adding an ecommerce facility on the site so I can sell books aged at the 0-5 market and parenting books also. I have found a distributor and can get the books I would like to sell at 45% off retail value. The problem I have now realised in my research of this 'next step' is that even at the wholesale price I would still be selling at almost double that of Amazon. Added to this is the problem of the cost of postage when sending out heavy goods such as books.

So my question is shall I opt for a different route to selling the books (which I know are popular among parents and babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers) such as a door to door catalogue (and therefore I could offer free delivery) or a stall at a craft/gift/baby fair and use these different selling methods as an additional means of promoting my site and gaining brand awareness?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance

awebapart.com · Jan 28, 2010

scotmum said:
I have found a distributor and can get the books I would like to sell at 45% off retail value. The problem I have now realised in my research of this 'next step' is that even at the wholesale price I would still be selling at almost double that of Amazon.

That is a classic quote and it sums up so much about the industry!

You should be commended for doing your market research and competitor analysis first, before going full steam ahead with an online shop, not everyone does this.

Can you not just provide links to the books on amazon from your site and get an affiliate cut, have a look at the amazon affiliate programme.

scotmum · Jan 28, 2010

Thanks for the advice.

I have worked out that Amazon is selling the books I want to sell cheaper than the wholesale distributor - how can anyone compete with that? Feeling a bit deflated now...

downsouth · Jan 28, 2010

Also remember with Amazon is that they have a 24 hour cookie, I tend to avoid amazon and look for better paying affiliates

Snippa · Jan 28, 2010

Personally, I buy a LOT of books online and I always go for the best price, so it's a valid concern. I agree with Paul, though. Can you not just sell books as an Amazon affiliate and provide the same service - and without having to deal with shipping?

James.Dunford · Jan 28, 2010

I would stay steer well clear or books. Amazon do them at rock bottom prices (And no one can really compete with them...! http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/features/2005/07/images/061119picoftheday.jpg http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/gallery/2008/nov/15/consumer-affairs-amazon?picture=339688721 ) and delivery is pretty reliable. If they want a good service, ie people that are trusted then waterstones or WH Smith's are used. The only chance used to be a niche, but now Amazon have pretty much every book in every niche anyway, it is nigh on impossible to compete! I would say loook at the amazon associate program though!

scotmum · Jan 29, 2010

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I have spent this morning integrating the Amazon shop with more categories than I could have hoped/afforded to stock myself. Still having problems with the widgets though, but here it is:

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/scotmum-21

Willself · Jan 29, 2010

One Unique offering you might make!!

is selling Family Holidays!

lol

The commission on the above would be 20%!!

Excellent returns!! without

the Hassal

lol....Simply list!!

facebookapp110 · Jan 29, 2010

Well try twitter and facebook fan page and tell people about your book. If they are interested they will surely buy it.

scotmum · Feb 26, 2010

The Amazon affiliate programme is going quite well. I am actually selling a large range of products that I could never afford to stock myself via Amazon. Thanks for all the good advice on this thread-I have saved a great deal of money and my own sanity by not steaming ahead and buying stock that I would not have had a hope of shifting.

Snippa · Feb 26, 2010

I was thinking about this. I know several women who sell Usborne books, and they sell MUCH higher than Amazon, and these women do very well with it (it's a direct sales company). So I think saying it absolutely cannot be done is not an accurate statement. It may be difficult, but it IS being done. Maybe it's in the approach?

scotmum · Feb 27, 2010

I am sure that some people do very well selling those books but these people have long down lines. You cannot make a huge profit from party planning without recruiting. I don't want to recruit people to sell books for me. My approach is not at fault here - I have an on line business. I don't want to traipse around country fairs/toddler groups and the like trying to peddle books that are twice the price of Amazon. The commission structure is very poor indeed and unless you are focused to recruit many many other people this kind of business is just PIN money for many women. You should have a look at this thread if you are interested in the MLM area of business and its drawbacks:

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=144465

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Any point selling books on line?

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