How hard is it to start an online retail business today?

[Wantinglegaladvice]

I’m currently looking at whether it’s worthwhile launching a dropship furniture business, tailored to the low-mid range but with some interesting designs. I’ve found a few suppliers who are willing to dropship to the customer and offer low cost devotedly so I can build it into the overall price offering free delivery across the site.

On the other hand I think that when up against the likes of Wayfair the marketing spend needs to be massive to get anywhere but in the other hand I think maybe after all it doesn’t and it can be grown more slowly at lower cost.

I own a digital agency so this would be on the side and I can use the resources and my knowledge from that to buildit.


Is it worth while or too Saturated?

 

[japancool]

Didn't you already ask this question?

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[fisicx]

Easy to start an online retail business. Making it a success is hard.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

My worry would be the returns, its easy to return a widget that costs £10 more of a problem at say £300 and 4-6 feet long and probably lots of others using the same drop shipper as you including the shipper themselves

 

[Wantinglegaladvice]

My worry would be the returns, its easy to return a widget that costs £10 more of a problem at say £300 and 4-6 feet long and probably lots of others using the same drop shipper as you including the shipper themselves

The dropship supplier wont accept returns and we would have no real method of taking them either I guess so it would probably be take the hit. Wayfair doesn’t often bother collecting returns either.

 

[fisicx]

The dropship supplier wont accept returns and we would have no real method of taking them either I guess so it would probably be take the hit. Wayfair doesn’t often bother collecting returns either.

But we all know it's not going to happen....

 

[NickGrogan]

The dropship supplier wont accept returns and we would have no real method of taking them either I guess so it would probably be take the hit. Wayfair doesn’t often bother collecting returns either.

Taking returns isn't optional.

 

[Wantinglegaladvice]

Taking returns isn't optional.

They are B2B so on that basis refuse. We’d have to take it however.

 

[Deleted member 335660]

It’s easy to get suppliers and easy to create a website. The rest is hard work and expertise or time spent learning.

You need to define your market first and then see what the competition is and how much money for marketing you are willing to put into it.

 

[fisicx]

They are B2B so on that basis refuse. We’d have to take it however.

Except you won’t. You aren’t going to set up and develop the business.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I recon for £150 and 2 hours work you could be up and running.

The downside is that you won't get any customers.

For that you will need:.

1. A far better website than the one above.

2. A big marketing budget.

3. Razor sharp targeting.

2 of the above might suffice.

 

[japancool]

Here's the thing, OP. All those businesses you've touted - furniture dropshipping, online estate agent, farm produce market place - are businesses where clearly, you just want to set up a website and then have it run itself.

Doesn't work like that. To make it successful, you have to put in lots of hard work yourself. And spend money on your marketing budget. Find and engage your customers. Do market research.

If you think you can just set up a website, do some SEO and bang, wait for the money to roll in, you're in for some major disappointment.

You have 30-40K spare cash, according to another post. Set up a proper business. Do all of the above. Get some stock in. Sell it. Make decent margins.