2020 changed the world forever. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and economic crashes had an effect all over the United States. Almost the entire world of business was conducted online, especially with regards to retail. Coming out of the worst of the pandemic in 2021, while still dealing with its effects, e-commerce grew by 17.9%. Americans will spend an estimated $933 billion shopping online in 2021. It has also been forecast to grow even further, with 2025 seeing e-commerce making up 23.6% of total shopping sales, up from 11% in 2019. Experts predict the online e-commerce boom to continue even after the pandemic has finally dissipated.
The other side of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic was the number of people losing their jobs. According to research published by Pew in April 2021, roughly 9.6 million Americans aged 16-64 lost their jobs during the COVID crisis. Having lost a job due to previously unforeseen circumstances, many Americans decided to become their own boss and launch their own business. It has never been easier or more financially viable to start an e-commerce business than it is today. Success stories from ordinary people who have started an online shop and almost immediately made thousands are abundant, and it is natural for anyone to want to join them. But how do you start an e-commerce business? And what do you need to get started?
Choose a Product
This may seem like the most simple of steps. However, it can be a difficult process choosing a product that is popular but still has plenty of scope to be sold. It can be something you are passionate about; in fact, this is ideal. Despite this, choosing something that will sell is of paramount importance. A good example of a popular and successful product to choose is sunglasses. Wholesale sunglasses supplier Olympic Eyewear offer authentic designer sunglasses wholesale for those looking to start their own business. Sunglasses are a good item because of their price, their size, and their weight. This makes them easier to buy from suppliers, store if necessary, and ship to customers.
Target Audience
Deciphering your target audience will go a long way to defining the success of your business. If we continue to use the sunglasses example, it is clear that they are the perfect product to sell in terms of target audience. They are almost universally desirable by people of all ages, styles, and genders. This makes the target audience whoever you, as the seller, chooses them to be. The way you will find your target audience is the method with which you choose to market and advertise your product
Website and Marketing
Building a website was once a lengthy and costly process. In the modern era, where running an e-commerce business has been popularized to such an extent, it is quick and easy. An inviting and engaging website is important to attract customers. Once a target audience has been chosen, it is important to market your website in a place that they are likely to see it, visit your site, and buy your products. Social media is so ubiquitous in our lives, and sites such as Instagram are crucial, no matter what you are selling. According to Hootsuite, 130 million people browse Instagram for products, and 50% of those have visited a website to make a purchase after seeing it on Instagram. Finally, researching how and to whom your competitors market themselves could lead to a boost in sales, which after all is the most important thing.