If you are looking to access the global online marketplace but not sure where to start, we have caught up with two successful ecommerce startups to get their advice on launching and growing an ecommerce business.
First up we have advice from Jules Quinn, Founder of The Teashed. The Teashed caters to tea aficionados and was founded in 2011. Since then the business has grown substantially and now has 150 suppliers in the UK and distributors all over the world.
What made you decide to start the business?
Since I was a little girl I wanted to run my own business, I never even thought about working for someone else. I think possibly you are born with a drive but I also think things happen in your life that make you more determined and give you the knowledge and stamina to do it alone.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
The biggest challenges have been hiring the right staff and knowing how to handle them and growing without investment.
What do you do differently for your customers?
We are a very friendly and personable company and are always there be it nights or weekends to answer questions and interact with people. All orders which go out are beautifully packed and there are always some extras included, so customers are really delighted when they receive the box. We are more than happy to accommodate customers’ requirements such as bespoke gift sets, postage requests and sometimes even sourcing blends of tea for them.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs looking to start an ecommerce startup?
Start out with a simple online store such as Shopify. Then get some really good lifestyle photos taken to show customers what your brand is about. Think about how you can drive people to your website, such as using social media, blogging, press etc. Don’t think just because you have a website that all of a sudden you will get sales and people will find you!
Next up we have insights from Sam King, the Owner of Lime Lace. Lime Lace offers eclectic and personally sourced home accessories, vintage items and gifts to customers online.
What made you decide to start the business?
My background is in property developing and interior design, and I’ve worked for some great companies and employees over the years but I always knew one day I would create my own business when the time was right. I set up Lime Lace in August 2012 as I realised there was a gap in the market for a retailer who specialised in eclectic and unusual home interiors and gifts. My website is a one stop market place for designer and unusual furniture, wallpaper, lighting, gifts, jewellery & art. We now sell our products to retail customers, commercial and residential interior designers all around the world.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
Our biggest challenge has been to stand out from the crowd and set ourselves apart from the competition. We wanted our website to represent our brands ethos and style of being eclectic and unusual. We analysed 100s of websites to pin point our exact style requirement and now we have a unique and successfully site which is easy to navigate and user friendly. We also use a wide range of social media campaigns to keep in contact with our customers and attract new ones. We use these mediums to give our business a persona as it is easy in this digital world to forget that we’re dealing with people. We engage in conversations and allow our customers to see the people behind our brand.
What do you do differently for your customers?
We are personable and approachable! Our customers can ask us questions any time of the day and we will respond efficiently. They also have confidence in us to provide an eclectic and well thought through product portfolio which is competitively priced.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs looking to start an ecommerce startup?
Originality is key! Do not copy and paste product titles and descriptions from your supplier’s website/catalogue as you will be penalised by the search engines for using duplicate content so will not appear high up in the search results. It is time consuming but for every product we list we ensure each description is unique, this also helps in connecting with our customers too as they read a real and in depth description thus giving them purchasing confidence. Know your customers inside out and ensure you use appropriate marketing tools to attract them to your site. We use Pinterest and Polyvore regularly to create mood boards and collections which we know our customers love to browse in their spare time and it inspires them to purchase products for their own home or share with their friends and followers!
We hope that experiences shared by these two startups have given you the insights you need to start your own ecommerce venture!
Author Bio: Chad Deatherage is a serial entrepreneur and the VP of Sales at My Payment Savvy.
