Starting an online shop sounds fantastic and entrepreneurial. It is, but there are a few things involved before you get there. Maybe you are thinking about it because you already have a product you want to start selling. Maybe you just want to start for yourself and are only now thinking about what product you want to sell in the first place. That doesn't matter to us. We are happy to show you everything you need to start an online shop. Follow the steps below and in no time you will be the owner of a new online shop!
Make sure you have a product that is in demand
Starting an online shop hinges on the marketability of a product. So make sure you offer a product for which there is sufficient demand. It could be that you already have a product that you sell physically, so you already know whether there is demand for this product. Another scenario may be that you already have a product in mind, but still know little about the market around it. In that case, and the case where you still have no idea at all what you want to sell, it is wise to do market research.
Market research is a very important step when you want to start an online shop. A good market research is done using 4 parts.
- You do industry research to understand the number of companies in your industry, success stories and flopped stories. You also do this to discover what the developments and expectations are for your industry. Eventually, you will know whether this industry is interesting enough to start an online shop.
- Then map the competition, so you can stand out and convince potential customers to choose you instead of the competitor.
- Then you start looking at potential customers by doing a customer survey. This allows you to identify characteristics of your target group, and then respond to them.
- Finally, it is wise to do an environment analysis. In this analysis you look at the opportunities and threats within different developments, such as technology, politics and laws and regulations.
A name for the online shop you want to start
It is important to find a good name for your online shop. This name certainly does not have to be perfect, but at least it should not evoke wrong associations. Nor is it useful to choose a name that already exists. You could be accused of plagiarism and there is a chance that the appropriate domain name is already taken. If you already have a name in mind, it is a good idea to check whether it is registered at the Companies House and whether the domain name you have in mind is still available. If the name you came up with is not yet registered with the Companies House and the domain name you want is still available, chances are it is a good name for your company and you can move on to the next step.
When you have done this, it is time to let the Chamber of Commerce know that you are starting an online shop. You do this by registering in the Companies House trade register.
Start a webshop: make it yourself or have it made?
Of course, starting an online shop cannot be done without creating (or having created) the online shop itself. After you have taken care of everything else, it's time to create your webshop. With some understanding of website building, you can try to do this yourself. We even have some tips for you here. If you don't have enough time or know-how to do this, you can also let a web agency create your online shop. Of course, we are happy to think along with you about this!
In addition to (having) your online shop created, there are a number of other issues that come into play. How will you ensure that customers find your online shop? How will you make sure the payment methods are linked and work on your online shop? And have you already thought about where you will have your webshop hosted, to make sure it stays safe and online? These are some difficult and technical questions that we would also be happy to help you with.
Delivery of your product
Selling products in your online shop does not stop at payment. The sold product still has to be delivered to the customer. Think about this well in advance. Which parties would you like to work with? Or do you prefer dropshipping (if this is relevant for the products you offer on your online shop, of course)? Whatever choice(s) you make in this, make sure you keep your customers happy.
Start a webshop = apply for a trustmark
Finally, it is also wise to apply for online shop seals of approval. This is because these labels are an important indication for potential customers to determine whether your online shop looks reliable or not. If it does not look reliable, potential customers will also remain potential customers for your online shop and will not make a purchase. And we don't have to tell you that this is a scenario you'd rather avoid.
In this blog, we tell you a bit more about what makes an online shop trustworthy.
Advice
This, in a nutshell, is what you need when you want to start an online shop. If you're still struggling, could use the expertise of a web agency or want to have an online shop created? Feel free to contact us, we will be happy to help you!
