Many retailers believe that in order to implement successful online commerce solutions, they need to build them from the ground up, which can be a logistical nightmare. That’s not necessarily the case, as some solutions have the ability to easily integrate into your existing infrastructure, simplifying the entire process.
Blueport Commerce knows big-ticket businesses are, by definition, complex and unique. We strive to match our technology platform and services to your particular business model, rather than trying to fit it into a commodity-focused, inflexible platform that doesn't meet your needs. At Blueport, we aim to simplify ecommerce logistics and integrate your e-commerce with a complete multi-channel strategy.
Our platform is the beginning, not the end, of bringing your unique business online. As a comprehensive solution, it allows us to focus on what we do best — tailoring it to your unique needs, processes and peculiarities. Each of our integrations is a structured process, designed to marry our online technology and expertise with your understanding of your market and your business.
Whenever I speak with a big-ticket B2C retailer about expanding their store online, a recurrent question inevitably arises: "Why not handle e-commerce development in-house?"
Many of these retailers have been considering the online marketplace for some time and are wondering how they can participate without overburdening their current staff and technology. Their big-ticket businesses are complex and a standard platform won't accomodate them, and the addition burden of taking on B2C e-commerce development in-house is a daunting and resource-intensive task that many retailers just can't handle. In developing their multi-channel strategy, using a hosted ecommerce software solution starts to look like the best option.
At Blueport Commerce we have one focus — helping customers exactly like these retailers. We focus on what makes their business unique, so they can focus on what matters most — growing their new ecommerce online store.
Whether they have products that are unbranded, have a higher price point or are highly customizable, Blueport Commerce helps retailers connect with buyers worldwide. Complex delivery requirements a problem? We can help and ensure that a retailer's customers receive the white glove treatment they deserve, and more importantly, expect.
We match e-commerce development and services to address every retailer's unique business needs, not squeeze them into a commodity-focused, inflexible platform that doesn't address the intricacies of their business.
At Blueport Commerce, we're a turnkey solution specialized for big ticket that ensures the transition to e-commerce is easy, worry-free and profitable. By combining the industry's most advanced technology platform for localized, big-ticket retail, dedicated integration services and personalized B2C e-commerece development, Blueport Commerce can port every retailer's unique business to a ready and willing online marketplace
Big-ticket retailers face a whole different set of ecommerce challenges than do their mass merchant counterparts. That's because big-ticket ecommerce is fundamentally different than traditional ecommerce, long typified by consumers purchasing inexpensive, simple products online and receiving shipment via parcel service.
Big-ticket retail presents unique ecommerce barriers. It involves more expensive, less well-understood products — furniture, appliances, TVs, flooring, construction materials. Prices are higher and consumer confidence is lower. Inventory is bulky, expensive to move around the country and more expensive to return.
Because of this, big-ticket commerce is fundamentally local. Stores play a critical role. Ecommerce becomes a powerful tool to help stores compete in their local markets rather than a national channel that bypasses them. Online efforts serve to drive store traffic, generate leads and consummate online transactions, cost effectively and measurably.
For these reasons and more, big-ticket retailers often find their foray into the ecommerce space a daunting challenge. How do they successfully overcome these ecommerce barriers to manage the numerous components - merchandise, operations, and IT? Often, big-ticket retailers find that standard ecommerce platforms do not offer the tailored solutions that are required to successfully bring their products online.
At Blueport, our technology is specifically designed to help big-ticket retailers overcome these ecommerce barriers and develop success full online storefront that drive their sales.
We match our technology platform and services to address the unique business needs of big-ticket retailers, not squeeze them into a commodity-focused, inflexible platform that doesn't address the intricacies of your business. We focus on what makes these retailers' business unique, so they can focus on what matters most — growing their business online.
At Blueport, we pride ourselves on being different from other e-commerce companies. We’re more than simply a back-end system that retailers can plug into. We believe that technology and integration only opens your online store. Expertise in managing that store is what drives results.
Blueport's e-commerce services team ensures you get the benefit of our ten years of experience in big-ticket retail when marketing, merchandising and operating your online store. We know the unique aspects of these considered purchases, from imaging to marketing to customer support, and we'll work with you to develop those programs for your e-commerce efforts.
Our mission is to help you capture the e-commerce opportunity as part of an integrated multi-channel strategy. At Blueport Commerce, we're a turnkey solution specialized for big ticket that ensures your transition to e-commerce is easy, worry-free and profitable. By combining the industry's most advanced technology platform for localized, big-ticket retail, dedicated integration services and personalized service packages, Blueport Commerce can port your unique business to a ready and willing online marketplace.
We like to think we’re the complete e-commerce package. Let's talk.
As ecommerce evolves from a commodity marketplace to one where consumers make considered, "big ticket" retail purchases online, there are unique challenges that must be addressed. Big ticket ecommerce involves more expensive, less well-understood products - furniture, appliances, TVs, flooring, construction materials, etc. Prices are higher and consumer confidence is lower. Inventory is bulky, expensive to move around the country and more expensive to return.
For these reasons, big ticket commerce is fundamentally local. Stores play a critical role. Ecommerce becomes a powerful tool to help stores compete in their local markets rather than a national channel that bypasses them. Online efforts serve to drive store traffic, generate leads and consummate online transactions, cost effectively and measurably.
Blueport Commerce has developed a business ecommerce solution that is architected around this need for multi-channel localization. Its services drive results through a deep understanding of how consumers research and complete big ticket purchases online and in stores.
If you're running a B2B ecommerce site, you should think about localizing your content. Why? Because just like consumers shopping for clothing or home goods online, your business customer expects the content and promotions displayed online to be consistent with the brick and mortar store near where they are located.
Running this kind of multi channel business is becoming more and more crucial to ecommerce success. The ability to understand and accommodate the complexities of each business and deliver a localized solution that meets a retailer’s needs is at the core of a successful B2B ecommerce solution.
For B2B ecommerce solution providers, the impact of localization likely means displaying local sales contacts, showing local inventory levels, delivery times, availability and pricing based on the customer's location.
Not just for B2C anymore, localization is an important point for B2B ecommerce that should not be overlooked.
We were recently in the final year of a five-year contract with one of our existing e-commerce clients. We assumed that (like any company that's smart about its technology), they were in discussions with other major vendors in the multichannel retail software space - Oracle, Escalate, GSI Commerce, ATG and the like. But at Blueport we knew the client had one overarching need: to simply find the best B2C ecommerce platform for large order value (AoV) purchases. That's what we call Big Ticket retail - and it's our sweet spot. How does the story end? Yes, they re-upped the contract: http://www.blueport.com/news-events/.
We earned their renewal because we are confident that our e-commerce solution is the only one that meets the needs of big-ticket multichannel retailers. Blueport Commerce has the technology, knowledge and expertise to capture the strategic opportunity for your business online.
We know the complexities of big-ticket retail and we have the answers to make it work for you. We know how this transformation impacts each aspect of your business and we'll guide your team through the process step by step.
The number of B2C e-commerce applications starting to play in the big ticket retail category continues to grow. But, since your goods are larger dollar value purchases, they are typically more complex to move around the country and generally don't fit in the standard e-commerce package or platform built for commodity items. The Blueport Commerce solution was built for retailers like you, and that's why it works.
We've made other folks lives easy — let us do the same for you.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
What’s the next wave of e-commerce? Here’s a hint –it represents the 45% of retail that doesn’t fit in a UPS box. We call it “big ticket retail” and it includes large purchases that often require more consideration than traditional online purchases.
For these reasons and more, big-ticket retail is fundamentally local. Stores play a critical role. E-commerce becomes a powerful tool to help stores compete in their local markets rather than a national channel that bypasses them - essentially making it local e-commerce. Online efforts serve to drive store traffic, generate leads and consummate online transactions, cost effectively and measurably, creating a true multichannel retail supply chain.
Many e-commerce providers shy away from selling these types of items, as big ticket retail presents unique challenges. It involves more expensive, less well-understood products — furniture, appliances, TVs, flooring, construction materials, etc. Prices are higher and consumer confidence is lower. Inventory is bulky, expensive to move around the country and more expensive to return.
If you are a retailer who thinks your business is too complex for e-commerce transactions, there are solutions available to help you reach your big-ticket retail goals. Fundamental to these technologies and the services is the understanding that enabling big-ticket purchases online is different than traditional e-commerce, long typified by consumers purchasing inexpensive, simple products online and receiving shipment via parcel service.
Many retailers face challenges when developing or purchasing online ecommerce software solutions. Such challenges include:
Products that are challenging to sell online because they are expensive, unbranded, not well understood or highly customizable
Products that have complex delivery requirements that can't be met by standard parcel services
Franchise or co-op models where brand, product offering and distribution is controlled locally by independent dealers
If you face these challenges, it’s important to look for an ecommerce solution provider that specializes in your area of business. When selecting an ecommerce software provider, ask how they can address your specific challenges.
Also, be sure that the vendor you select combines its ecommerce technology platform with relevant experience and real advice, consultation and support. This will help you enable a seamless ecommerce business solution and a true multichannel strategy which will in turn allow you to better focus on your core business, drive results and create e-commerce growth. Contact us to see how we’ve solved your challenges for the largest of big-ticket retailers.
At Blueport, we have seen the ecommerce business grow from an industry to buy and sell commodity products like books and CDs to one where consumers research and buy complex, customizable, high-ticket products and services. With more than a decade of experience helping big-ticket retailers deliver these types of considered purchases to online customers, we now offers the industry's only managed ecommerce solution for the retailer with complex ecommerce needs.
Blueport was created by the management team of Furniture.com, which started as a Web portal selling furniture and became the furniture industry's leading managed ecommerce solution. Seeing our clients' success online, we recognize that big-ticket retail represents the next wave in e-commerce and that we are in a unique position to apply our knowledge, technology and expertise to a broader set of retail markets. The company's track record for success has now been extended to markets adjacent to the furniture industry, such as appliances, electronics, flooring, lighting and carpet, to name a few.
Unlike most retailers looking to sell their products online, big-ticket retailers need an ecommerce platform that is specifically designed to address the "big-ticket" barriers that have prevented them from going online.
Unlike their mass merchandise counterparts, big-ticket retailers need a platform that will help them overcome challenges such as:
Merchandising products that are challenging to sell online because they are expensive, unbranded, not well understood or highly customizable
Managing shipping requirements and costs for products that have complex delivery requirements that can't be met by standard parcel services
Integrating franchise or co-op models where brand, product offering and distribution is controlled locally by independent dealers
Greater emphasis on cross-channel shopping
These retailers need a system that goes beyond just a standard ecommerce platform. They need a business solution that integrates their ecommerce store into a seamless multi-channel strategy offering.
Key ecommerce platform requirements for big-ticket retailers include:
Localization
Custom System Integration
Online Merchandising
Online Marketing
E-Commerce
Order Tracking
Franchise/Co-op Extranet
Store Intranet
CRM & Email Marketing
Inventory Management
The Blueport platform represents a decade of big-ticket learning in a specialize, comprehensive, hosted solution used by retailers representing billions in big-ticket sales.
At Blueport Commerce, our ten years of experience in big-ticket, localized retail allows us to understand your business and apply technology intelligently — not just hopping on the latest technology bandwagon, but finding solutions that work for your unique managed e-commerce retailing needs.
Blueport Commerce works with you to review your site strategies and programs, as well as with other technology providers to guarantee your customers the highest quality hosted e-commerce solution available, and to guarantee you the highest e-commerce returns possible – including leads to your local stores. We keep on top of the latest technology so you don't have to. We find the best providers, test them against our unique consumer profile, and adopt or develop best in breed e-commerce technologies to meet your needs.
Website Development – Blueport Commerce works with you over the course of our agreement to add new features and functionality to your e-commerce platform.
Partner Plug Ins – Blueport Commerce includes leading technology providers into our platform, driving down your costs through our scale and integrated platform.
Custom Integration – Blueport Commerce integrates with your retail systems, enabling cross-channel shopping and simplifying its management.
At Blueport Commerce, we are committed to respecting and integrating WITH systems, not in creating a separate e-commerce solution for you to then maintain. We believe that to be effective, e-commerce integration is essential: your e-commerce must work seamlessly with the systems you use to run your current business.
We also understand that your systems are likely not e-commerce ready, and that you may consider them a barrier to going online. This is a challenge we've faced many times before.
Our e-commerce platform is designed to integrate with any system— to extract what data can be found in your systems, augment it for e-commerce, then return completed e-commerce transactions to you that are indistinguishable from orders placed in your stores.
Your SKUs, your prices, your product information, enhanced and then returned as an order in your system that can be treated exactly like store orders from a fulfillment and service perspective. The result is true e-commerce integration: less work, higher customer satisfaction and a reduced need to develop separate staff or procedures for online sales.
E-commerce becomes another store, seamlessly integrated with your strategy, operations and reporting.
Choosing whether to host and maintain your web site is a tough decision, and factors include cost, staffing, and security. While the immediate assumption is to handle it internally like your store systems, once you start researching the hardware, equipment and hosting its complexities become clear. The security requirements, ability to keep it up 24x7, and the constant maintenance is not something your company can take on internally.
Blueport Commerce's hosted ecommerce solution can let you worry about the business side of your web site, not the uptime.
Key features of our hosted ecommerce solution:
All hardware and hosting for your ecommerce site, driving down operating costs for the retailer.
Benefit of our partners with leading providers like Akamai to speed delivery of your website content.
Server hardware maintenance, expansion and upgrades as well as operating system upgrades.
A highly secure, PCI compliant ecommerce platform.
Blueport Commerce's hosted ecommerce solution is cost-effective, and with guaranteed uptime and 24x7 support we can also give peace of mind to our retailers and their IT staff. Click here to learn more about how hosted ecommerce might be the right choice for you.
Are you a franchise retailer wondering how you could help your franchise owners get online? You’re not alone – here’s how we helped flooring franchise retailer Carpet One Floor and Home solve the franchise ecommerce problem.
With over 1,000 individually owned and operated franchise stores, Carpet One had physical locations covered but was lacking a comprehensive online marketing strategy. They understood that a web site could play a huge role in increasing revenue, brand awareness and traffic to their franchise stores but wasn't sure of the approach.
We starting working with Carpet One in 2008 on a complete franchise ecommerce solution, and in Spring 2009 launched the new site. The Blueport-powered Carpet One sites reflect each store’s unique offering, generating leads as well as sample, do-it-yourself, and installed flooring orders fulfilled by these local dealers. Providing both technology and ongoing management services, we allowed Carpet One to focus on what they do best – marketing, merchandising and operating their business.
Soon after launch, Carpet One saw substantial increases in qualified leads, both in-store and online. In addition, they’re seeing an amazing return on investment – an ROI of $10 for every $1 spent online, cost per sale online is half of traditional media and the average order generated online is 50 percent greater than only retail-customers.
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