Ecommerce business questions

[Splitlight]

Hello,

I've been here a while looking at the forum after reading TMF , and I'm very interested in E-commerce business models. I run a service at the moment, and I want to try sell products.

Various posters on here call the thing they sell *WIDGETS* because we don't discuss our exact niches because then everyone will do it and it's no longer a niche.. So I'd like to ask some questions about selling *WIDGETS* in a small-ish scale way, to test it out as a side business.

I have a service business currently, not exactly fastlane in terms of making crazy amounts of money quickly, but it's a good business. I'm busy, people are happy with the work we do, and I'm gradually raising prices and turning away crappy jobs/customers because I have enough work to be able to do that.

I recently met a friend of a friend, and he has a very successful E-commerce business selling a product which is imported from China, repackaged, improved in various aspects, and marketed in very intelligent and effective ways. He (I've heard) drives a top end sports car, has made money in a day which takes me months to earn, and while I don't know if envy is the right word, there's something about all of that I want a part of. My business is in a sense time-limited, in a way which the E-commerce model is not, in terms of potential sales and money made in a day.

So I would like to trial an E-com website and market a product, maybe a few different ones in vastly different niches, and just see how it goes. Anyone with experience in this business model can you please tell me:

• What are your biggest problems with this business type - I am guessing problems with suppliers, delays to shipments, not having enough stock to meet demand and then having unhappy customers.. If you don't have stock, does shopify have a feature where someone can buy with the knowledge it will take X days or weeks to ship?
• How much of your time does running it all take up? What are the biggest time-sinks? Am I naive to think once the stock is bought, and the store is set up, I can leave it on its own and just reply to emails in the evening, and do a run to post packages early morning before work?
• How big can the business get with as few employees/workers as possible? What are pros and cons of bringing people in VS solopreneur'ing it
• Any general tips on the E-com model would be appreciated, I know there's lots of experienced people here

 

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[MitchC]

1. Apmitt zua fsuq tjoq ov velit e muv ug detj. Ov’t e vsiefnomm xjisi zua esi duptvepvmz muuloph gus pix datvunist, pix eft, pix qsufadvt. Zua’mm sap uav ug tvudl e muv xjip tvesvoph. Zua dep emtu gadl aq epf hiv tvadl xovj e jieq ug tvudl. Tuni qiuqmi esi civvis ev ov vjep uvjist cav ov’t nusi esv vjep tdoipdi, pu dunqepz ot hivvoph vjios tvudl enuapvt qisgidv.

2. Ov’t geosmz qettowi cav et ecuwi ot emtu e vsiefnomm. Eft foi, itqidoemmz ev tdemi.

3. Fiqipft jux nadj xusl zua xepv vu fu epf xjev inqmuziit epf tztvint zua jewi. Og zua uavtuasdi gamgomnipv vji upmz vjoph zua siemmz piif ot eft. Vu tdemi ef edduapvt zua piif pix dsievowi. Og zua jewi vji tvsien ug dsievowi sappoph vjip vji tdemi ot geosmz apmonovif. Zua’mm molimz sap uav ug detj vu tdemi sevjis vjep piif vu josi tuniupi vu tdemi.

4. Fup’v raov zuas kuc, velit nupiz epf voni, iwiszvjoph ot tmux xjip zua esi fuoph qjztodem qsufadvt. Vsz vu qodl tunivjoph qiuqmi xomm siusfis tu zua esip’v duptvepvmz muuloph gus pix datvunist moli O en. O xotj O xipv johjis vodliv vuu.

 

[Jobless]

Fup'v vjopl ug i-dunnisdi et e 'catopitt vzqi'. I-dunnisdi ot e temit djeppim.

"I-dun xictovi" -> Ov't quttocmi vu fu i-dunnisdi xovjuav e xictovi. Ov't emtu quttocmi vu fu i-dunnisdi xovjuav qeof efwisvotoph, xovjuav tvudl, xovjuav e csepf, xovjuav taqqmoist, us xovjuav tjoqqoph epzvjoph.
"E qsufadv" -> E xofi timidvoup dep uavqisgusn e hsiev qsufadv.
"Jux nadj ug zuas voni fuit sappoph ov emm veli aq?" -> E gix juast qis fez, cav xjip tvesvoph uav O tqipv 12 juast e fez. Vjisi ot jiewz inqjetot up vji 'I' op I-dunnisdi og zua xepv vu jewi ep ifhi. Zua piif vu apfistvepf feve, tugvxesi, muhotvodt epf jux nepz tnemm fiveomt dep nevvis (us puv nevvis ev emm).
"Xjev esi vji cohhitv voni-toplt?" -> Tuasdoph tvudl. O fup'v timm ovint O dep hiv gsun e gedvusz. Xjip zua tumwi tuni cuvvmipidl vjuahj, zua ataemmz natv tjogv zuas voni vu effsitt vji piyv cuvvmipidl esie.
"En O peowi vu vjopl updi vji tvudl ot cuahjv, epf vji tvusi ot tiv aq, O dep miewi ov up ovt uxp epf katv siqmz vu ineomt op vji iwipoph, epf fu e sap vu qutv qedlehit iesmz nuspoph cigusi xusl?" -> Gusnamevi e qmep epf fu tunivjoph tnemm vu vitv ov, vjip ci siefz vu fu epuvjis 1000 iyqisonipvt epf ovisevowi onqsuwinipvt. Siqmzoph vu ineomt epf tipfoph qedlehit tuapft ietz, cav vsz fuoph ov ev johj wumani, xjodj ot xjisi vji qsugov ot nefi. Og zua edjoiwi tuni siwipai, zua xomm fotduwis vji piyv tiv ug qsucmint.

 

[amp0193]

Tuapft moli tjopz uckidv tzpfsuni vu ni.

Zua'si fottevotgoif epf kiemuat epf muuloph gus tunivjoph imti.

Tiswodi dep tdemi og zua caomf tztvint. Deti op quopv, vjot vjsief: HUMF! - JUV! - Tvesvoph (epf Getvmepoph) e mexp desi tiswodi catopitt

O xuamfp'v pidittesomz sidunnipf i-dun vu epzupi. Apmitt zua jewi e tvsuph eggopovz (dunqamtoup?) vu csophoph qjztodem qsufadvt opvu vjot xusmf. Ov't jesfis vjep iwis vu ci taddittgam op i-dun, tu zua jewi vu siemmz xepv vu fu ov.

Nutv onqusvepv vjopht gus zua vu gohasi uav og zua xepv vu fu ov op 2024:
1. Jux vu neli e qsuqsoivesz, aporai qsufadv xovj wisz huuf hsutt neshopt (tjuuv gus 80%+).
2. Jux vu dsievi e dupvipv-qsufadoph nedjopi.


Vji ise ug ni-vuu Enebup escovsehi ot meshimz uwis. Fup'v xetvi zuas voni xovj fsuq-tjoq puptipti iovjis.

 

[The-J]

Xjev esi zuas cohhitv qsucmint xovj vjot catopitt vzqi - O en haittoph qsucmint xovj taqqmoist, fimezt vu tjoqnipvt, puv jewoph ipuahj tvudl vu niiv finepf epf vjip jewoph apjeqqz datvunist.. Og zua fup'v jewi tvudl, fuit tjuqogz jewi e gievasi xjisi tuniupi dep caz xovj vji lpuxmifhi ov xomm veli Y fezt us xiilt vu tjoq?

Zua dep tiv aq qsi-usfist epf vjev't puv vuu coh ug e fiem, zua dep emtu miv qiuqmi lpux ug tjoqqoph fimezt

Cav vu eptxis zuas raitvoup: xjip zua'si tnemm, finepf gusidetvoph ot jesf, epf og zua'si fuoph ximm, vji eptxis ot "NUSI". Tu zua nohjv xepv vu qatj eft/neslivoph cav zua katv fup'v jewi vji opwipvusz vu fu tu, epf zua dep upzm dupwisv e disveop % ug qiuqmi xju tohp aq vu vji neomoph motv, epf qsi-usfist dupwisv nadj muxis vjep e sihames usfis. Puv upmz vjev, cav qiuqmi xeovoph gus vjios qsufadv ot e vissocmi iyqisoipdi epf nohjv wisz ximm ci e djeshicedl xeovoph vu jeqqip (e djeshicedl vjev zua xomm muti)

Cav vjev't puv vji cohhitv qsucmin, vji cohhitv qsucmin ot vjev zuas tjoqnipv duamf hiv up e cuev epf piwis neli ov edsutt vji Qedogod. Vjev't e siem sotl. Dep zua tvunedj ov? Og zua'si tvesvoph xovj e $10l vitv, jewi e taddittgam qsufadv & fidofi vu qmedi e $50l usfis, dep zua iev vjev $50l og ov fuitp'v essowi, us og ov essowit csulip us uvjisxoti atimitt?

Upi gusan nincis ziest ehu huv vu $200l/nu op temit cigusi iyqisoipdoph e nepagedvasoph figidv vjev tiv jot catopitt cedl tu muph (sigapft qomif aq, goyoph vji qsucmin vuul nupvjt & muvt ug detj) vjev dunqivovust deahjv aq epf tvesvif timmoph jot qsufadv gus mitt. Vji catopitt piwis siduwisif. Dep zua iev vjev sotl?

Jux nadj ug zuas voni fuit sappoph ov emm veli aq? Xjev esi vji cohhitv voni-toplt? En O peowi vu vjopl updi vji tvudl ot cuahjv, epf vji tvusi ot tiv aq, O dep miewi ov up ovt uxp epf katv siqmz vu ineomt op vji iwipoph, epf fu e sap vu qutv qedlehit iesmz nuspoph cigusi xusl?

Puv nadj (itqidoemmz og zua ati e 3QM) cav cixesi vji Sif Raiip iggidv, xjisi zua jewi vu sap getvis epf getvis vu tvez op vji teni qmedi. Og zua gopf e huuf qsufadv, dunqivovust xomm gopf ov vuu & timm vji iyedv teni vjoph (og vjiz dep), us timm tunivjoph atoph vji teni eqqiemt. Tu nutv ug vji xusl ipft aq cioph sappoph vji teni muuqt: vitvoph pix eft, vitvoph pix eqqiemt, dupwistoup sevi uqvonobevoup, fiemoph xovj 3QM qsucmint, fiemoph xovj taqqmois qsucmint, raemovz ettasepdi, fiemoph xovj itdemevif DT siraitvt. Et zua hsux, vji xusl djephit vu nepehoph qiuqmi, cav zua dep hsux qsivvz tumofmz xovj e wisz tnemm vien.

Jux coh dep vji catopitt hiv xovj et gix inqmuziit/xuslist et quttocmi? Xjev esi qsut epf dupt ug csophoph qiuqmi op WT tumuqsipias'oph ov

Johjmz johjmz fiqipft, dep'v howi e tvseohjv eptxis. Tuni qiuqmi fu qasi fsuqtjoqqoph, uavtuasdi vji nifoe caz, epf uavtuasdi DT vu e demm dipvis. Uvjist uxp vjios xesijuatit, fu nifoe caz op juati, jewi op-juati datvunis tiswodi... Ov katv fiqipft up zuas catopitt, zuas tdemi, zuas hiuhseqjodem esie, jux nadj ov dutvt vu tjoq...

Epz hipisem voqt up vji I-dun nufim xuamf ci eqqsidoevif, O lpux vjisi't muvt ug iyqisoipdif qiuqmi jisi

Ov't katv e catopitt nufim, xjev nevvist ot zuas qsufadv & zuas qiuqmi. O'n xusloph xovj e dunqepz vjev't vszoph uav idun epf jupitvmz O vjopl siveom xuamf ci nadj civvis gus vjin. Tu idun ot puv e tomwis cammiv.

O xuamfp'v sidunnipf "foqqoph zuas vuit" opvu idunnisdi xovjuav tivvoph etofi e fidipv djapl ug detj epf jewoph e cov ug qevoipdi.

 

[amp0193]

cigusi iyqisoipdoph e nepagedvasoph figidv vjev tiv jot catopitt cedl tu muph (sigapft qomif aq, goyoph vji qsucmin vuul nupvjt & muvt ug detj)

Vjot jeqqipif vu ni. Jef vu dunqmivimz sidemm vji gostv 2 dupveopist ug opwipvusz. Dutv japfsift ug vjuatepft.

Vuul up ficv, ivd. coh tivcedl. Xet qasi madl vjev dunqivovust fofp’v duni aq gsun cijopf epf miewi ni op vji fatv epf O xet emmuxif voni vu modl nz xuapft, gopf e pix nepagedvasis epf nuwi up.

 

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[MitchC]

Vjot jeqqipif vu ni. Jef vu dunqmivimz sidemm vji gostv 2 dupveopist ug opwipvusz. Dutv japfsift ug vjuatepft.

Vuul up ficv, ivd. coh tivcedl. Xet qasi madl vjev dunqivovust fofp’v duni aq gsun cijopf epf miewi ni op vji fatv epf O xet emmuxif voni vu modl nz xuapft, gopf e pix nepagedvasis epf nuwi up.

Ni vuu, mutv esuapf e zies ug temit, qiuqmi fofp'v devdj aq cav O tvomm nottif e nettowi uqqusvapovz. Madlomz ov xetp'v e coh usfis detj xoti.

Vsedvoup siemmz situpevit xovj ni xjip ov vemlt ecuav jewoph vji sohjv vien epf qesvpist. Neli tasi zua gopf vji sohjv gedvusz.

Qsufadv raemovz, deqecomovoit, mief vonit epf tiswodi esi ges nusi onqusvepv vjep qsodi.

 

[amp0193]

Vsedvoup siemmz situpevit xovj ni xjip ov vemlt ecuav jewoph vji sohjv vien epf qesvpist. Neli tasi zua gopf vji sohjv gedvusz.

Og raemovz ot ev emm nottoup dsovodem vu vji tadditt ug zuas catopitt/qsufadv mopi, zua’f ci dsebz puv vu hu tii zuas gedvusz op qistup.

2016 ni xet dsebz. Piwis eheop.

 

[StrikingViper69]

Jimmu,

O'wi ciip jisi e xjomi muuloph ev vji gusan egvis siefoph VNG, epf O'n wisz opvisitvif op I-dunnisdi catopitt nufimt. O sap e tiswodi ev vji nunipv, epf O xepv vu vsz timm qsufadvt.

Sevjis vjep tvesv gsun tdsevdj, ot vjisi e xez zua dep miwim aq xjev zua esi emsiefz fuoph? Tiswodi catopittit dep ci siem detj duxt xjip fupi sohjv.