Is it slow in here? Or is it just me?

[saifcorp]

Hey all,

Just wanted to know how sales on your ecommerce stores are going for April so far?

The last 2 weeks or so have been quite slow for us and not sure if this is down to the great weather we have been having or something else is the issue.

In general what time of the year do you find your sales slowest?

 

[iboxsecurity]

I can honestly say although I do not run an ecommerce store I do manage/maintain many for my clients as well as build them and can honestly say I have had a lot of feed back lately that April has been the lowest they have had in months and in some cases in years.

The great weather? Who knows...

 

[paretowasright]

Yes some of my clients have said the same thing about April.
I think its a combination of Easter being split over 3 weeks in different areas/election on the way/nice weather. In terms of the quietest months it all depends on the product category you in are....ie Easter Eggs were probably quite popular 3 weeks ago but Christmas wrapping paper possibly a bit slow

 

[oldeagleeye]

It is a fact of life that people hold of spending the moth before every general election. Get ready for a mad rush in May however if they up the VAT to 25%.

Robert

 

[lesliedocherty]

March was our 2nd busiest month ever, April is on track to be one of the worst, cant figure it out.

 

[CaterTrade]

March was our 2nd busiest month ever, April is on track to be one of the worst, cant figure it out.

Exactly the same here. Brilliant March and awful April. I kept thinking it was something I'd done! It's odd, the traffic levels have been as good as any month, it's just people seem less willing to put their hands in their pockets. It has got me cracking on my SEO and fixing canonical urls out of self doubt though so some good has come out of it :redface:

 

[deniser]

It depends what you sell of course and I am sure the ash cloud and travel chaos has affected quite a large percentage of the population leaving them stuck overseas instead of being in the UK. In my daughter's class one third have still not managed to get back.

 

[kevin555]

densier - what you say about the ash cloud is pertinent and adds to the general uncertainty that is currently looming over the UK - very low growth of 0.2% rate bears this out.

The uncertainty of the election outcome is making people think about 'unnecessary' purchases and putting other decisions on hold. After the election, as has been already said, I think we'll see an increase in house sales, large purchases and people spending more on themselves etc.
However, if the election does not bring an outright winner this instability might continue.

Also, don't forget that there are a huge number of people that have been affected by the flight problems created by the ash cloud.

I would surmise that most of those affected have good/high incomes - either as business people or those who can afford 2nd/3rd holidays abroad during a recession. The very same key group who we rely on to make the 'unnecessary' purchases that keep us businesses afloat.

A very general summation but you get the point.

 

[hoboange]

I'm slightly reassured by these posts - this is exactly why i was looking on here. I only opened my business on 6th March and it seemed to be going ok. April (and particularly this week) has been really poor though and i'm beginning to panic! i was hoping weekends would be btter but everyone just seems to be in the park instead of shopping!

Like i say this is only my second month, can anyone tell me how long it needs to be before i really do need to panic - how do i tell if i'm selling the wrong things or if it's just current circumstances. I'm hoping 2 months is too early to decide it isn't working??

 

[saifcorp]

Exactly the same here. Brilliant March and awful April. I kept thinking it was something I'd done! It's odd, the traffic levels have been as good as any month, it's just people seem less willing to put their hands in their pockets. It has got me cracking on my SEO and fixing canonical urls out of self doubt though so some good has come out of it :redface:

Same here. January, February, & March were great. April has to be our worst month which also made me think there was something wrong with the site which there wasn't.

Traffic stats had been the same or better but people are not willing to spend.

 

[lesliedocherty]

traffic stats down about 4% in april but sales are down 60% on march,

 

[iboxsecurity]

I am seeing a lot of this lately, first few months were great for ecommerce but April has been a real downer for many ecommerce stores that we manage and also ones that friends of mine personally own.

I have seen a friends ecommerce store take a 80% dip in April so far - cannot understand it. Hopefully May will pick back up for everybody!

 

[spiritadventures]

Im so pleased I found this thread... I did post earlier in the month to see how people are getting on. So pleased this is just not me! Some days at the moment I have loads, next day nothing. WTH?!? Thanks for restoring some faith in my own business sanity!

 

[kevin555]

May also be worth noting that Google is having a big shake up in its results at the moment so you may find yourself jumping up/down and in/out of the rankings.

I know that we get a large number of customers through Google and will often see clutches of orders coming through then nothing. So going missing from the search results will see a drop in targetted customers, i.e. ones who are seriously browsing with an intention to buy.

We are trying to wean ourselves off the Big G but other affiliates etc just do not convert so well.

 

[Johnny77]

Phew!
Thought id broken my business bone, glad to hear its not just me doing bad in April, and i mean that in the best way possible!

From what i can gather its a combination of things giving a double, tripple, quadruple, quintuple whammy;

1. Easter break
2. Good weather, (well it was)!
3. Volcanic Ash CRISIS!!! From what i hear some people arnt even back yet from the delays.
4. General Election looming, hung parliament? If you think its bad now, prey for a decisive election winner.
5. Despite all the rhetoric and talk of "recovery", we are still suffering inside the worst financial crisis ever.

All in all our online business is down around 75% on last month.
Very, very bad on cash flow.
Things had better pick up in May!

 

[Geoff T]

It is a fact of life that people hold of spending the moth before every general election. Get ready for a mad rush in May however if they up the VAT to 25%.

Robert

Robert got the nail - everyone holds their collective breath around election time...

house of commons shuts up shop (meaning the Lords get a(nother) free month)

budgets on hold to see who's pulling what...

I think the "hung parliament" option is making it worse TBH...

a "hung" parliament - oh we can dream...

 

[CaterTrade]

Robert got the nail - everyone holds their collective breath around election time...

It does seem so but I'm never conserned about what monkey is priminister if I'm buying a new camcorder or whatnot. It doesn't even cross my mind. And within my trade, if someone's oven has packed up, they need a new oven! I'm sure they dont think oooh no, there might be a hung parliament. I can understand them worrying about the expenses and may shop around and get a cheaper version. So I think there's another issue other than the election, as said, possibly the recession still lingers.

 

[CaterTrade]

Why is it I seem to have the uncanny ability to kill a thread at twenty paces? People are chatting away happily, I come along and that's it, the thread's dead like a rather dead looking parrot. :redface:

 

[alanc]

Why is it I seem to have the uncanny ability to kill a thread at twenty paces? People are chatting away happily, I come along and that's it, the thread's dead like a rather dead looking parrot. :redface:

I'm glad someone else feels like this. I thought it was just me that could kill threads.

Back on topic
I've had a very good April so far, in contrast to a rather poor March. Overall, sales are about the same as last year - which isn't pleasing - my first year of no growth.

 

[Geoff T]

Tell you what I've noticed (just to help a bit!) - people are holding fire on quotes I've provided...

Not "Yes", not "No" - but a "not yet" just makes your teeth itch!

 

[oldeagleeye]

Slightly off thread. Isn't it amazing. We have just had the expenses scandal and now the Westminster scoundrels are tying to con the public again with all this nonsense about a hung parliament with claims that the City will go into meltdown. There will be no decision making. It's all a load of bullocks.

The City factored in the possibility of a hung parliament ages ago and the SE dipped for a few days then bounced back up again. The volcano ash had more effect. What is even more important is that the City would love to see Vince Cable as chancellor.

No decision making. Come on now. The deals are already being done behind closed doors. Nick Clegg has already said he would not support a government lead by Gordon Brown and the daggers are already out. As for the Tories.

Nick Clegg used to work for Maggie Thatcher. He was her top man in Europe for years negotiating deals with everyone from Brussels to the Chinese - and damned good at he was too. That guy can work with anyone.

The bottom line. It would NOT be difficult to put together a cabinet in a coalition and quickly & not just any cabinet but an absolutely brilliant one.

I rather suspect it will be Alan Johnson PM. Nick Clegg Deputy PM and possibly Foreign Secretary. Vince Cable Chancellor and who cares about the rest.

 

[quikshop]

I rather suspect it will be Alan Johnson PM. Nick Clegg Deputy PM and possibly Foreign Secretary. Vince Cable Chancellor and who cares about the rest.

What a horrendous thought, we might as well abolish Parliament and all start singing the European national anthem now if a Lib / Lab pack is formed.

Anyhooow, back on topic

April is always slow, nearly every on-line retail business I've been involved in dips in April - we've had a 2 week school holiday, the start of the good weather and people's thoughts are turning to 'what holiday can we afford'.

 

[FiFi Fashions]

Hi all,
same for me, March was a record month for me, April lowest so far :|
Anthony

 

[lesliedocherty]

April finished 95% of last April, considering March was 150% of previous March kinda disappointing.

But i am surprised we made it to the 95% mark, was looking a lot worse mid month.

 

[MDG]

For me, up a lot compared to April 09 but around 10% down on last month.

Traffic levels were about the same as last month so it's lower conversion rate that has caused the slight dip. I don't think any changes on the site have caused this so it does seem to be a case of people being less willing to spend in April.

 

[saifcorp]

Any improvements in sales so far in May?

 

[Mister B]

Too early to say for us. April was 60% ahead of last year and May will be skewed because of two unfeasbily large orders Once we strip those out, we're looking at growth of around 30%. Not bad, but could be better.

Mister B