Is there anypoint havin an Ecommerce website when Amazon is kickin every1 elses arse?
- Thread starter iyereoboite
- Start date
Why would you try and compete with multi-million pound businesses :|
Selling on-line for smaller businesses has always been about finding a niche within a larger market and giving your customers a better retail experience than the competition.
Those who have used our Ecommerce service in highly competitive markets such as toys, clothing and white goods but focused on niche areas within those markets have succeeded far more than shop owners who have tried to challenge the likes of toys'r'us, asos and currys head on.
Selling on-line for smaller businesses has always been about finding a niche within a larger market and giving your customers a better retail experience than the competition.
Those who have used our Ecommerce service in highly competitive markets such as toys, clothing and white goods but focused on niche areas within those markets have succeeded far more than shop owners who have tried to challenge the likes of toys'r'us, asos and currys head on.
Upvote
0
S
silvermusic
If you're going head to head with the latest release products, you're wasting your time. However, with the right knowledge and experience, it's still possible to beat them on the rarer, harder to get items that are not readily available. It's something I've been doing and growing for several years.
Amazon and many other similar sites use DVDs, CDs, Games and to a lesser extent Books as a way of gaining customers, they're not interested in making any great profit from those. the profit in those comes from it's market place sellers. In many cases I could buy new releases from Amazon cheaper at retail than I can from wholesalers, simply because of their buying power and discounts from suppliers, same goes for supermarkets.
Amazon and many other similar sites use DVDs, CDs, Games and to a lesser extent Books as a way of gaining customers, they're not interested in making any great profit from those. the profit in those comes from it's market place sellers. In many cases I could buy new releases from Amazon cheaper at retail than I can from wholesalers, simply because of their buying power and discounts from suppliers, same goes for supermarkets.
Upvote
0
I would agree with the previous posts.
You don't stand a chance taking on the big boys like Amazon with like for like products. They have the existing brand, top google positions and buying power.
Unless you can buy and offer your product a lot cheaper or you are in a niche market not sold on Amazon etc.
However, there is nothing to stop you selling your products on/via Amazon. Have you considered or looked into that?
You don't stand a chance taking on the big boys like Amazon with like for like products. They have the existing brand, top google positions and buying power.
Unless you can buy and offer your product a lot cheaper or you are in a niche market not sold on Amazon etc.
However, there is nothing to stop you selling your products on/via Amazon. Have you considered or looked into that?
Upvote
0
Sorry that statement is profoundly untrue,Amazon can easily be beaten by a competent SEO using the right resources.
Earl
Upvote
0
S
silvermusic
Indeed I've proved this many times, but it's no guarantee that they'll buy from you just because you happen to be higher up on a Google search. I suspect most of the bounces I get go to one of the big boys if lowest price is their ultimate aim. However, the few mainstream products i carry are used mainly as traffic generators hopefully they'll have a look around and find something that's not readily available elsewhere. I don't want to give out too many secrets on specific items, but I hoover up ends of lines from some of the biggest names in the industry, many times the quantities on certain items are very small, less than 10 units. These will rise in price rapidly when others sell out. However, this is something that only works because of 30+ years knowledge of the music business and the many contacts I've built up since going self-employed 5+ years ago.
Upvote
0
The Book Depository manage to compete against Amazon's signature product, and they do it very well. Their free postage makes them cheaper when buying a single book in just about all cases, especially if the book you're buying is not an Amazon loss leader like the latest trashy paperback best seller. They're well on their way to pushing Amazon out of book sales to Ireland.
UK site and US site. Different prices on both, same delivery times.
And if Amazon can be beat on books, well, they can be beat on anything.
UK site and US site. Different prices on both, same delivery times.
And if Amazon can be beat on books, well, they can be beat on anything.
Upvote
0
I started off with an online clothing store and dispite having a lot of competition selling cheaper than myself I still made quite a few sales, unfortunatly after I had a £230 charge back via paypal I lost hope and sold the site... since then the site has closed all together as it had a lot more chargebacks and the shop went under, must have been on some hit list.
Anyway it has taken me a few months but I am not giving up and have just about finished my new online shop and I'm busy seeking new suppliers and looking at marketing.
Anyway my point (will get there in a minute) is that smaller retailers are doing well and depending on what you sell, customers will shop with you rather than the big boys.
Plus I didn't even know Zavvi stll had a website until tonght and now they seem to sell everything like amazon, so I wouldn't exactly worry about them being my competion.
Anyway it has taken me a few months but I am not giving up and have just about finished my new online shop and I'm busy seeking new suppliers and looking at marketing.
Anyway my point (will get there in a minute) is that smaller retailers are doing well and depending on what you sell, customers will shop with you rather than the big boys.
Plus I didn't even know Zavvi stll had a website until tonght and now they seem to sell everything like amazon, so I wouldn't exactly worry about them being my competion.
Upvote
0
Amazon is now a massive industry - not just books and DVD's - It is amazing how many people just think of them for books & DVDs but not other products. Some of the excellent online retailers now sell through Amazon.
Why would you not trust them when buying other products, their vetting and feedback system is very stringent - if a seller doesn't perform well and have a quality product they will be thrown off Amazon. It is probably the most safest place to shop and if you don't like the product or get a faulty one you are on a sure bet for a refund.
Why would you not trust them when buying other products, their vetting and feedback system is very stringent - if a seller doesn't perform well and have a quality product they will be thrown off Amazon. It is probably the most safest place to shop and if you don't like the product or get a faulty one you are on a sure bet for a refund.
Upvote
0
The problem is about getting your name out there and then getting it trusted.
Charity events are good and offering for every sale you donate x x amount to said charitys.
Start with small charitys get in local newspaper people come from local area then word of mouth spreads and give to bigger charitys maybe nationwide and get in nationwide paper and woallah you now have nationwide audience and your offering a service where part income goes to charity.
Anyhow goodluk as it is easier said then done but let me know how you get on
Ryan
Charity events are good and offering for every sale you donate x x amount to said charitys.
Start with small charitys get in local newspaper people come from local area then word of mouth spreads and give to bigger charitys maybe nationwide and get in nationwide paper and woallah you now have nationwide audience and your offering a service where part income goes to charity.
Anyhow goodluk as it is easier said then done but let me know how you get on
Ryan
Upvote
0
G
Green Jelly
As a pp said why not set up on Amazon as well as your ecommerce site? A family member has a both their own gift webshop and sells on Amazon and gains around 80% of the business via Amazon. They find that people trust Amazon and some people think they are in fact Amazon rather that a retailer themselves. Downside is Amazon take a big cut of your sales price which is not good for lower margin products.
Upvote
0
I bought a book from Amazon a month a go and chose to have it from amizon and not one of thier buyers, an extra £1 for the privlige but price isn't always the main factor - for me anyway.
Upvote
0
S
silvermusic
Feedback and seller/item location are major one's too. I won't even entertain trying to undercut someone outside the UK, esspecially in the run up to Xmas.
Upvote
0
Price is the major factor for most business.
Unless you are selling something totally unique.
Earl
Upvote
0
Only if you have a niche product. There's a knack to running a successful e-commerce site and common pitfalls to avoid as well which will improve your chances of success. One such factor is that of credibility. A solution that I always suggest is have your business address, and reg no's in the footer to build confidence.
However, unless you also have a brick and motar presence (such as hairdressers or beauticians also selling products online) or are selling products that you really cannot purchase elsewhere then it is a very tough market.
Amazon readily ranks higher than Sony, Panasonic, etc. which is a classic example of organic search engine optimisation being an even playing field where the supplier can rank above the manufacturer.
If you are selling the same products as Amazon then why not try Marketplace?
However, unless you also have a brick and motar presence (such as hairdressers or beauticians also selling products online) or are selling products that you really cannot purchase elsewhere then it is a very tough market.
Amazon readily ranks higher than Sony, Panasonic, etc. which is a classic example of organic search engine optimisation being an even playing field where the supplier can rank above the manufacturer.
If you are selling the same products as Amazon then why not try Marketplace?
Upvote
0
Amazon doesn't have complete market share and it is true that many people still associate it with only books, dvd and cds. Although it is not the case nowadays, there was a time that Amazon would only even enter my mind if I wanted to buy books.
Having a niche works with any business not just an e-commerce. The whole point is how you operate your online store and your overall business. Ask yourself pertinent questions such as:
What are my competitors doing?
Are they copying me? If so, how can I keep a few steps ahead of them?
Having a niche works with any business not just an e-commerce. The whole point is how you operate your online store and your overall business. Ask yourself pertinent questions such as:
What are my competitors doing?
Are they copying me? If so, how can I keep a few steps ahead of them?
Upvote
0
S
silvermusic
Having a niche product on Amazon is never going to last long term. If they see a new product they don't have is selling by the bucket load what do you think will happen?
Doesn't take Einstein to work out they source it themselves and with there buying power price you out of the market, seen it happen many times. This is exactly why I only sell end of lines on Amazon that are hard to get, although it's only a small part of my business. Knowing your product and sourcing the right product takes a lot of work.
Doesn't take Einstein to work out they source it themselves and with there buying power price you out of the market, seen it happen many times. This is exactly why I only sell end of lines on Amazon that are hard to get, although it's only a small part of my business. Knowing your product and sourcing the right product takes a lot of work.
Upvote
0
I have clients who sell things you can get on Amazon (e.g. consumer electronics), but they still make a good profit from PPC.
Steve
Upvote
0
K
keepitsecret
I agree totally. Niché market I believe is one ofthe only ways to stand up againt the big boys, but doing it though maybe a eBay store and you're own store and some good ol' fashioned hard graft advertising you should start to build up your own name and not running on someone elses name.
Just like Richard Branson said "Brand everything, till there sick of seeing the name of the company". We have done that and after our first year of trade and a lot of hard work, things are geting bigger and better and our name is getting known around the niché market we work in. So it can work.
Upvote
0
Gosh what a lot of mixed views!!
I run an online gift book company and we cross over on so many titles that Amazon sell. Were doing fantastic at the moment.
For me what's worked is beautiful photography to show the books, fab descriptions, lots of little extras to sell with them, personalisation and most of all fantastic customer service if they just want to inquire or order.
Only a small company can do this well and with a personal touch and customers love it.
Just my opinion!
I run an online gift book company and we cross over on so many titles that Amazon sell. Were doing fantastic at the moment
.For me what's worked is beautiful photography to show the books, fab descriptions, lots of little extras to sell with them, personalisation and most of all fantastic customer service if they just want to inquire or order.
Only a small company can do this well and with a personal touch and customers love it.
Just my opinion!
Upvote
0
M
MQ57
I Never shop at Amazon - and prefer to just pick up an online store via Google - usually one thats on the links as I know they are current.
I have heard bad things about Amazon - so, don't be totally put off. Not everyone looks for the cheapest biggest sellers.... just as we don't on the High Street.
I have heard bad things about Amazon - so, don't be totally put off. Not everyone looks for the cheapest biggest sellers.... just as we don't on the High Street.
Upvote
0
R
RoseRover
Finding a niche and great customer service do work. I run a furniture online shop and differentiate on the fact that we will customise the furniture where possible eg made to measure wardrobes, dining tables, provide your own material for chairs etc and you can't buy that on Amazon.
As another example, a customer of mine was already using EROL for his piano accessory site but noticed that despite the name and theme of the shop, he was selling quite a few wardrobe heaters (yes, I'd never heard of them or ever felt the need for one but they do exist).
We discussed setting up a new store to sell purely wardrobe heaters on 23rd October. I bought the domain name and erol starter edition for him on 24th October and as I based the new site on his existing one, I had it set up and working after 3 hours work. I then submitted it to google and google base etc.
It did take a week for google to index the site but as we had bought www.wardrobeheaters.co.uk we went straight in on page 1. That was 3 weeks ago. Today we have had to put notes on the site that they are waiting for new stock as they have sold out in 3 weeks (I don't look after stock ordering!!). This is with no advertising whatsoever.
I just thought I would share the story and only wish I could find a niche product like this with pent up demand - there must be more out there.
Rose
As another example, a customer of mine was already using EROL for his piano accessory site but noticed that despite the name and theme of the shop, he was selling quite a few wardrobe heaters (yes, I'd never heard of them or ever felt the need for one but they do exist).
We discussed setting up a new store to sell purely wardrobe heaters on 23rd October. I bought the domain name and erol starter edition for him on 24th October and as I based the new site on his existing one, I had it set up and working after 3 hours work. I then submitted it to google and google base etc.
It did take a week for google to index the site but as we had bought www.wardrobeheaters.co.uk we went straight in on page 1. That was 3 weeks ago. Today we have had to put notes on the site that they are waiting for new stock as they have sold out in 3 weeks (I don't look after stock ordering!!). This is with no advertising whatsoever.
I just thought I would share the story and only wish I could find a niche product like this with pent up demand - there must be more out there.
Rose
Upvote
0
Latest Articles
-
The Most Dangerous Moment in Business Is When Everything Is Going WellThey Saw It Coming. They Did Nothing. The Lessons Every Business Owner...- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
AI and Your Business: Useful Tool, Not a Magic WandThere is no shortage of noise around artificial intelligence right now...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
Companies House WebFiling security incident: what happened, what to check, and what to do nextCompanies House has confirmed that its WebFiling service suffered a...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
Spring Budget 2026: A Quiet Update for UK BusinessesChancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the UK’s Spring Statement on 3 March...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
Practical Ways to Make Your Small Business More Resilient (Especially When the Unexpected Happens)Running a business means juggling plenty of things you can plan for and...- UKBF Editor
- Updated: