Are consumers ready to buy big-ticket, million-dollar artworks online?
Some of the biggest names in art and technology are betting on it: chief executive Eric Schmidt, Twitter chairman and co-founder Jack Dorsey and Russian mega-collector Dasha Zhukova are investing in Art.sy, a new service set to launch this spring. The site is designed to help collectors find art based on their personal preferences and past buying history, much the way the music site Pandora guides music lovers to new bands.
Read more about how collecting art is the next big thing in selling big-ticket items online in the Wall Street Journal's "Clicking on a Masterpiece."
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
The Next Big Thing in Big-Ticket Ecommerce
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 by
Morgan Woodruff
Will Consumers Purchase Eyeglasses Online?
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 by
Betsy Miller
The New York Times’ Claire Cain Miller just wrote a great profile of Warby Parker, a New York startup that is seeing success by building an ecommerce market for prescription eyeglasses. This is the latest example of how traditional notions of what consumers will or will not buy online no longer apply.
Ecommerce Has Evolved
Up until recently most skeptics considered certain items off-limits in the ecommerce retail world -- items like furniture, fine jewelry, cars and appliances. All of these products were considered too complex, and as such, most retailers felt consumers would need to see them in person before committing to a purchase.
At the heart of Warby Parker’s strategy is a focus on offering customers convenience and superb customer service to make them feel comfortable with purchasing online. For example, the site allows shoppers to upload photos of themselves and virtually try on glasses. All eyeglasses are completely returnable, but the company will also mail customers five loaner frames to try on at home, or they can even be directed to several of Warby Parker’s physical locations across the country.
Ecommerce Works for Big-Ticket Retail
Here at Blueport Commerce, we recognized the ecommerce market for these big-ticket purchases over a decade ago and have been at the forefront of developing online retail strategies for retailers in these categories ever since. Warby Parker is another example of the immense opportunity online for businesses in all categories, and we are excited to see more companies take cues from these successes and make their foray online.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Ecommerce Has Evolved
Up until recently most skeptics considered certain items off-limits in the ecommerce retail world -- items like furniture, fine jewelry, cars and appliances. All of these products were considered too complex, and as such, most retailers felt consumers would need to see them in person before committing to a purchase.
At the heart of Warby Parker’s strategy is a focus on offering customers convenience and superb customer service to make them feel comfortable with purchasing online. For example, the site allows shoppers to upload photos of themselves and virtually try on glasses. All eyeglasses are completely returnable, but the company will also mail customers five loaner frames to try on at home, or they can even be directed to several of Warby Parker’s physical locations across the country.
Ecommerce Works for Big-Ticket Retail
Here at Blueport Commerce, we recognized the ecommerce market for these big-ticket purchases over a decade ago and have been at the forefront of developing online retail strategies for retailers in these categories ever since. Warby Parker is another example of the immense opportunity online for businesses in all categories, and we are excited to see more companies take cues from these successes and make their foray online.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
It's not always about price...
Friday, October 22, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
When it comes to ecommerce (and particularly big ticket retail) the impact of stellar customer service should not be underestimated. A new study from Harris Interactive highlights the fact that although low prices can certainly lure a customer in, a great customer service experience will ultimately make the lasting impact. What’s more, 85% of the consumers surveyed by Harris said that they would be willing to pay more for a service or product if it meant that they would receive better customer service. Specifically, 55% of the people surveyed said that they would be willing to pay an additional 10%, and 10% indicated that they would pay 25% more.
But beyond just price, a clear motivation factor for multichannel retailers to ramp up their customer service programs is the fact that bad customer service can have negative consequences beyond just that one dissatisfied customer. The Harris study found that 79% of consumers who have had a negative customer service experience said that they have told other people about it. Additionally, 66% of those consumers said they wanted to discourage other people from doing business with that retailer. And with Twitter, Facebook and other social communities acting as a regular avenue for shoppers to vent their customer service frustrations, that influence will no doubt very quickly spread beyond just the customer’s immediate circle of friends.
For the big ticket retail category, where the purchase cycle is longer and results in more opportunities for the customer to interact with your staff, the payoff of good customer service as part of a robust multichannel retail strategy can be significant.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
But beyond just price, a clear motivation factor for multichannel retailers to ramp up their customer service programs is the fact that bad customer service can have negative consequences beyond just that one dissatisfied customer. The Harris study found that 79% of consumers who have had a negative customer service experience said that they have told other people about it. Additionally, 66% of those consumers said they wanted to discourage other people from doing business with that retailer. And with Twitter, Facebook and other social communities acting as a regular avenue for shoppers to vent their customer service frustrations, that influence will no doubt very quickly spread beyond just the customer’s immediate circle of friends.
For the big ticket retail category, where the purchase cycle is longer and results in more opportunities for the customer to interact with your staff, the payoff of good customer service as part of a robust multichannel retail strategy can be significant.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Big-Ticket Purchases Require Research -- Does Your Ecommerce Site Meet the Need?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by
Carl Prindle
As we've discussed, researching products online is very common (especially with big-ticket items), so Pew’s new research came as no surprise for those of us in the retail software industry. The research house found that 58% of U.S. adults research products and services they are considering purchasing online (compared to the 49% who did so in 2004).
Additionally, 24% of U.S. adults say they have posted comments or reviews online about the products or services they buy, indicating that many consumers are willing to share their opinions about products and their buying experiences.
With Big-Ticket Items, Research Is a Bigger Deal
Understanding this behavior is particularly important when selling big-ticket items. Big-ticket purchases require more research and consideration due to higher price points and complexity. In fact, 81% of consumers say they conduct pre-purchase research once the cost hits $100. Furniture, mattresses, appliances, flooring and home decor are all examples of products that consumers are spending a significant amount of time researching online prior to purchase.
Whether the ultimate purchase is made online or at a local store, retailers needs to take the necessary steps to ensure they are providing a seamless cross-channel customer experience that ultimately makes a sale. When executed well -- and with these shoppers in mind -- ecommerce sites can become a critical tool to help stores compete both locally and chain-wide.
The report’s author, Jim Jansen, comments, “Ecommerce is now a 360-degree experience for shoppers. It begins with research that in turn leads to purchases that then trigger commentary and reviews by shoppers. Every part of the online experience seems to have become second nature to Internet veterans.”
To cater to consumers' need for information, your online merchandising should include rich product descriptions and imagery as well as the ability for users to add and access product reviews. It should also be synchronized with local stores - so that selection, prices and promotions online match what's in stores in local markets.
Is your ecommerce software equipped to handle this growing group of U.S. shoppers?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Additionally, 24% of U.S. adults say they have posted comments or reviews online about the products or services they buy, indicating that many consumers are willing to share their opinions about products and their buying experiences.
With Big-Ticket Items, Research Is a Bigger Deal
Understanding this behavior is particularly important when selling big-ticket items. Big-ticket purchases require more research and consideration due to higher price points and complexity. In fact, 81% of consumers say they conduct pre-purchase research once the cost hits $100. Furniture, mattresses, appliances, flooring and home decor are all examples of products that consumers are spending a significant amount of time researching online prior to purchase.
Whether the ultimate purchase is made online or at a local store, retailers needs to take the necessary steps to ensure they are providing a seamless cross-channel customer experience that ultimately makes a sale. When executed well -- and with these shoppers in mind -- ecommerce sites can become a critical tool to help stores compete both locally and chain-wide.
The report’s author, Jim Jansen, comments, “Ecommerce is now a 360-degree experience for shoppers. It begins with research that in turn leads to purchases that then trigger commentary and reviews by shoppers. Every part of the online experience seems to have become second nature to Internet veterans.”
To cater to consumers' need for information, your online merchandising should include rich product descriptions and imagery as well as the ability for users to add and access product reviews. It should also be synchronized with local stores - so that selection, prices and promotions online match what's in stores in local markets.
Is your ecommerce software equipped to handle this growing group of U.S. shoppers?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
13 Ways to Compare Ecommerce Website Software Providers
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
If you are looking to add an ecommerce component to your business, you need to conduct an ecommerce software comparison. With so many ecommerce software providers out there, this may seem like a daunting task.
Mighty Merchant offers 13 techniques for evaluating which companies might be right for you and your unique business needs. Here is a quick look to help you get started with your ecommerce website software comparison:
1. Look at and use real websites powered by the ecommerce software you are considering.
2. Note the visual design of these sites, including whether they all use the same template or if there is customization.
3. Does adding items to cart require creating an account?
4. Check the sites’ Google PageRank.
5. Look for the sites using major search engines.
6. Evaluate which features come with the base package and which are add-ons.
7. Carefully examine what is included in the setup costs.
8. What merchandising tools are available?
9. What are the administration tools like?
10. How easy or hard is it to add additional pages and make site changes?
11. Is this solution hosted by the provider, or do you need to manage that?
12. Get references on the ecommerce website software provider.
13. Call the provider to gauge customer service and support.
At Blueport Commerce, we create ecommerce website software solutions that specifically meet the unique needs of big-ticket retailers. You can learn more about our solutions here.
E-Commerce Retailers Optimistic About Holiday Sales
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
It seems like it's been a while since the words “optimism” and “retail” have been used in the same sentence. That’s why we love Thad Rueter’s Internet Retailer article “A Great Time for Cautious Optimism About Online Retail.” In his piece, Thad takes a look at some of the recent predictions and expectations for the 2010 holiday season:
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
- Kantar Retail, a research and consulting firm, estimated that online holiday sales will increase 6% this year
- Bold Software, which sells live chat services, released results of a survey of 171 e-commerce clients that found 65% expect gains in holiday sales, with 33% anticipating the same results as last year
- Stock analyst Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets foresees a 10% to 15% jump in e-retail sales this holiday season
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
The Next Frontier for E-Commerce
Friday, October 1, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
According to the State of Retailing Online 2010 report from Forrester and Shop.org, the next big frontier for e-commerce lies in international expansion. The annual report was unveiled this year at the 2010 Shop.org Annual Summit in Dallas, Texas, and it provides insight into where B2C e-commerce retailers are in terms of their capability to expand globally.
According to the report, nearly 73% of the 87 online retailers surveyed are already sending merchandise abroad from their home country's distribution center, with an additional 17% having an established foreign warehouse in place. Retailers who ship abroad see about 5% of their revenue generated from foreign orders.
However the big hurdle still remains in establishing and testing e-commerce logistics or e-commerce payment solutions to service these international customers. For example, when it comes to processing international returns, 37% of retailers currently require customers who want to return an item use a returns center in the retailer's country of origin, while 12% have an international returns center located in their own country to handle foreign returns.
Beyond just international e-commerce expansion, the report also offered a picture of some of the gains online retailers are beginning to see resulting from online retail site improvements, especially as the industry gears up for the critical holiday shopping period: 54% of online retailers say they've increased conversion rates over 2009 levels, 27% have seen gains in units per transaction, 47% say the value of average orders has gone up, and 31% say they've seen a decline in shopping cart abandonment rates, a key measure of customer satisfaction.
I’d love to hear whether these gains are in line with what you are seeing across your e-commerce sites?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
According to the report, nearly 73% of the 87 online retailers surveyed are already sending merchandise abroad from their home country's distribution center, with an additional 17% having an established foreign warehouse in place. Retailers who ship abroad see about 5% of their revenue generated from foreign orders.
However the big hurdle still remains in establishing and testing e-commerce logistics or e-commerce payment solutions to service these international customers. For example, when it comes to processing international returns, 37% of retailers currently require customers who want to return an item use a returns center in the retailer's country of origin, while 12% have an international returns center located in their own country to handle foreign returns.
Beyond just international e-commerce expansion, the report also offered a picture of some of the gains online retailers are beginning to see resulting from online retail site improvements, especially as the industry gears up for the critical holiday shopping period: 54% of online retailers say they've increased conversion rates over 2009 levels, 27% have seen gains in units per transaction, 47% say the value of average orders has gone up, and 31% say they've seen a decline in shopping cart abandonment rates, a key measure of customer satisfaction.
I’d love to hear whether these gains are in line with what you are seeing across your e-commerce sites?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
RoomStore Re-launches Its B2C E-Commerce Site with Blueport Commerce
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
We’re thrilled to share with you the new site for RoomStore, a long-time customer and one of the largest furniture retailers in the country with more than $325 million a year in sales. We launched the first RoomStore site more than five years ago and, since then, we’ve continued to evaluate and make changes to the site on a regular basis.
But with this major re-launch, we have leveraged our unique B2B e-commerce solutions to improve the online customer experience to drive cross-channel sales. Among the new features:
- Precision Localization: The site automatically adjusts based on a user’s location, dynamically providing inventory, pricing, promotions, delivery details and more create a seamless cross-channel shopping experience.
- Live Chat/Click-to-Call: Shoppers can now choose how they want to communicate with customer service representatives -- via online chat or phone. Dynamic icons reflect real-time availability of customer service reps including when they’re able to chat, connect via phone or request a call-back.
- Collaboration Bar: Social media and other enhancements are available via a single tool on product pages, giving customers the additional resources they need for big-ticket purchases, like sharing an item with a friend, live chat or printing a store-ready page.
- Shoppable Images: Interactive information tags are displayed on room settings, allowing shoppers to get information on the items in the room and add them directly to their shopping carts from the image. This feature allows customers to be as few clicks from purchasing the items they want as possible.
That is just a taste of what the new RoomStore.com offers. To learn about all of the innovative features, check out the press release.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Nordstrom Links Online/Offline Inventory to Increase Multichannel Sales
Friday, August 27, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
The New York Times had a fascinating piece this week about how multichannel retailer Nordstrom is reaping the rewards of integrating its online and offline inventory.
When shopping on Nordstrom.com, consumers are able to see what items are in stock in the Web warehouse as well as what is in stock in Nordstrom stores. This means that if a particular item is out of stock online, customers can quickly search for it across Nordstrom’s 115 retail store network and, even if just one single SKU of that product is left in the most remote retail store location, it would be displayed in the ecommerce store, and store employees would ship it to the Web customer.
Nordstrom has seen immediate and quite remarkable results from this initiative. In the 11 months since Nordstrom made the inventory change, its same-store sales have increased 8 percent and have outperformed the department store average. The number of customers who buy products after searching for an item in the ecommerce store have doubled. But, in my opinion, one of the most important benefits for Nordstrom has been that its inventory is moving faster, and often at high prices.
The fact is that consumers don’t want to have to think about what "channel" they are shopping -- the most important thing to them is getting the product they want when they want it. Today, a consumer may do research on your ecommerce store, visit your physical retail location to see the product firsthand and perhaps even do some price comparisons on their mobile phone, in any given order. Where they make the final purchase is really not as important as ensuring they get the information and products they need, and that all of the information they get is consistent and accurate.
What Nordstrom has done is still considered unusual in the industry. But, it’s at the heart of big-ticket multichannel retail and an ecommerce strategy inherent to the ecommerce services we provide our clients. I'm certain we will be seeing more retailers adopt this strategy in the near future.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
When shopping on Nordstrom.com, consumers are able to see what items are in stock in the Web warehouse as well as what is in stock in Nordstrom stores. This means that if a particular item is out of stock online, customers can quickly search for it across Nordstrom’s 115 retail store network and, even if just one single SKU of that product is left in the most remote retail store location, it would be displayed in the ecommerce store, and store employees would ship it to the Web customer.
Nordstrom has seen immediate and quite remarkable results from this initiative. In the 11 months since Nordstrom made the inventory change, its same-store sales have increased 8 percent and have outperformed the department store average. The number of customers who buy products after searching for an item in the ecommerce store have doubled. But, in my opinion, one of the most important benefits for Nordstrom has been that its inventory is moving faster, and often at high prices.
The fact is that consumers don’t want to have to think about what "channel" they are shopping -- the most important thing to them is getting the product they want when they want it. Today, a consumer may do research on your ecommerce store, visit your physical retail location to see the product firsthand and perhaps even do some price comparisons on their mobile phone, in any given order. Where they make the final purchase is really not as important as ensuring they get the information and products they need, and that all of the information they get is consistent and accurate.
What Nordstrom has done is still considered unusual in the industry. But, it’s at the heart of big-ticket multichannel retail and an ecommerce strategy inherent to the ecommerce services we provide our clients. I'm certain we will be seeing more retailers adopt this strategy in the near future.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Arhaus Furniture's Custom iPad App Aims to Drive Cross Channel Sales
Thursday, August 19, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
Arhaus Furniture, a high-end furniture multi channel retailer with stores in 13 states in addition to a print catalog and an e-commerce site at Arhaus.com, will soon arm their entire delivery team with an iPad application aimed at not only enhancing the product delivery experience, but also driving repeat and incremental purchases from their customer base.
The application is designed primarily for customer use: customers will be handed the iPad at the start of the delivery, which will include a welcome and thank you message from the retailer, will be able to look at different furniture setup options and even browse the entire Arhaus ecommerce catalog. Customers will also sign off on deliveries using their fingers on the touch screen and will also be able to fill out a post delivery survey on site.
While the iPad application will certainly result in efficiencies in the retailer’s fulfillment and delivery systems, what is interesting here is how the company is adding another level to their customer service experience through a true cross channel retail strategy. For example, while a customer is having a sofa delivered that they purchased at their local store, they will be able to browse the Arhaus.com ecommerce catalog through the iPad app for the matching chair they recall seeing during their shopping trip.
No doubt that we will continue to see more and more retailers integrate these type of mobile and tablet products into their multi channel strategy to enhance their customers' retail shopping experience, be it in-store or on the go. And as retail channels become increasingly blurred and intertwined, the importance of having consistent content and product information for your customer no matter where they are shopping will be imperative and essential to driving sales.
How are your stores or franchises integrating technologies such as the iPad into their sales or customer service process?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
The application is designed primarily for customer use: customers will be handed the iPad at the start of the delivery, which will include a welcome and thank you message from the retailer, will be able to look at different furniture setup options and even browse the entire Arhaus ecommerce catalog. Customers will also sign off on deliveries using their fingers on the touch screen and will also be able to fill out a post delivery survey on site.
While the iPad application will certainly result in efficiencies in the retailer’s fulfillment and delivery systems, what is interesting here is how the company is adding another level to their customer service experience through a true cross channel retail strategy. For example, while a customer is having a sofa delivered that they purchased at their local store, they will be able to browse the Arhaus.com ecommerce catalog through the iPad app for the matching chair they recall seeing during their shopping trip.
No doubt that we will continue to see more and more retailers integrate these type of mobile and tablet products into their multi channel strategy to enhance their customers' retail shopping experience, be it in-store or on the go. And as retail channels become increasingly blurred and intertwined, the importance of having consistent content and product information for your customer no matter where they are shopping will be imperative and essential to driving sales.
How are your stores or franchises integrating technologies such as the iPad into their sales or customer service process?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Local E-Commerce:
The GSI Commerce Perspective
Friday, August 6, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
Forrester’s e-commerce analyst Brian Walker recently featured a great interview with GSI Commerce founder and CEO Michael Rubin on his blog. Rubin discussed how GSI is evolving and what some of the main areas of focus will be for the company in the near future.
One of the most interesting things that stood out for me from their conversation was Rubin’s identification of localization as one of the next key e-commerce trends to watch in the near future. Consumers are increasingly demanding more personal, relevant and local products and services from their online shopping experience. Consequently, retailers will need to invest in technologies that cater to these local preferences to capitalize on the consumer need.
Part and parcel to a localized e-commerce experience is the expectation of rapid and lower cost delivery and return of products. In order to deliver on this promise, Rubin points out that multichannel retailers will need to leverage their stores and distribution centers to get consumers the products they want as quickly and cheaply as possible. This is an area where GSI is investing a great deal of time to provide innovation.
We have been focusing on e-commerce localization at Blueport Commerce for the last decade. Like GSI, we believe this is at the heart of the next generation of e-commerce, or rather, the next generation of cross-channel retailing. Whether they are shopping for a new piece of clothing or a new piece of furniture for their home, consumers want their retail experience to be local. They want the comfort of knowing they can connect with retailers in their area, who can answer questions about the product, or handle exchanges or returns quickly and easily.
In order to deliver this kind of experience, retailers need to stop thinking of e-commerce as an isolated ‘island’ within their operations and begin to construct a truly coordinated, cross-channel strategy. E-commerce teams need to be aligned with bricks-and-mortar stores as well as fulfillment and warehouse facilities. When all of these components are working as one holistic retailing effort, localization is inherent and e-commerce becomes a driver of multi-channel retail sales.
This approach is at the heart of Blueport’s e-commerce package and I am intrigued to see the innovations from GSI in this area as well.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
One of the most interesting things that stood out for me from their conversation was Rubin’s identification of localization as one of the next key e-commerce trends to watch in the near future. Consumers are increasingly demanding more personal, relevant and local products and services from their online shopping experience. Consequently, retailers will need to invest in technologies that cater to these local preferences to capitalize on the consumer need.
Part and parcel to a localized e-commerce experience is the expectation of rapid and lower cost delivery and return of products. In order to deliver on this promise, Rubin points out that multichannel retailers will need to leverage their stores and distribution centers to get consumers the products they want as quickly and cheaply as possible. This is an area where GSI is investing a great deal of time to provide innovation.
We have been focusing on e-commerce localization at Blueport Commerce for the last decade. Like GSI, we believe this is at the heart of the next generation of e-commerce, or rather, the next generation of cross-channel retailing. Whether they are shopping for a new piece of clothing or a new piece of furniture for their home, consumers want their retail experience to be local. They want the comfort of knowing they can connect with retailers in their area, who can answer questions about the product, or handle exchanges or returns quickly and easily.
In order to deliver this kind of experience, retailers need to stop thinking of e-commerce as an isolated ‘island’ within their operations and begin to construct a truly coordinated, cross-channel strategy. E-commerce teams need to be aligned with bricks-and-mortar stores as well as fulfillment and warehouse facilities. When all of these components are working as one holistic retailing effort, localization is inherent and e-commerce becomes a driver of multi-channel retail sales.
This approach is at the heart of Blueport’s e-commerce package and I am intrigued to see the innovations from GSI in this area as well.
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
GSI bolting on more to create B2C Ecommerce Software giant
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
GSIC snapping up another company today!
This morning, GSI announced the acquisition of FetchBack, an online marketing company with a proprietary retargeting and analytics platform. FetchBack is GSI’s 5th acquisition this quarter, and Blueport believes this will help to round out the Marketing Services segment with a complementary service offering. Who's next?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
This morning, GSI announced the acquisition of FetchBack, an online marketing company with a proprietary retargeting and analytics platform. FetchBack is GSI’s 5th acquisition this quarter, and Blueport believes this will help to round out the Marketing Services segment with a complementary service offering. Who's next?
Copyright 2010, Official Blog of Blueport Commerce
Ecommerce Software Packages: Which one is right for me?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
Any retailer setting up an ecommerce store or considering replatforming their current offering, knows the choices in ecommerce shopping software are endless. The landscape is wide, with numerous vendors offering ecommerce software packages.
The big-ticket retailer often finds their ecommerce shopping software choices to be even more complex. This is because their needs are inherently different. They go beyond setting up a basic online shop, to require more sophisticated merchandising capabilities and fulfillment, and an ability to understand their unique business models. Performing an ecommerce software comparison seems an impossible task.
So where do you start in your decision making process? Here are two initial points to consider:
1. Start by evaluating your current ecommerce shopping software or the retail systems you use to run your business. Many big-ticket retailers find their systems are not ecommerce ready, and that they may pose a barrier to going online. Make sure the ecommerce software packages you are considering are able to seamlessly integrate with your current systems. At its best, your online ecommerce solution should be able to extract the data found in your current systems, augment for e-commerce, then return completed ecommerce transactions to you that are indistinguishable from orders placed in your stores.
2. Make your ecommerce store an extension of your bricks and mortar store, not an island in itself. Look for an ecommerce software package that treats your SKUs, prices and your product information exactly like store orders from a fulfillment and service perspective. This is a fundamental difference between ecommerce shopping software for mass merchants, and that which is geared towards big-ticket retailers. The result is 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.
Finding an ecommerce service provider that meets these inital criteria is the first step in setting up your ecommerce store and capitalizing on the advantages of e-commerce.
The big-ticket retailer often finds their ecommerce shopping software choices to be even more complex. This is because their needs are inherently different. They go beyond setting up a basic online shop, to require more sophisticated merchandising capabilities and fulfillment, and an ability to understand their unique business models. Performing an ecommerce software comparison seems an impossible task.
So where do you start in your decision making process? Here are two initial points to consider:
1. Start by evaluating your current ecommerce shopping software or the retail systems you use to run your business. Many big-ticket retailers find their systems are not ecommerce ready, and that they may pose a barrier to going online. Make sure the ecommerce software packages you are considering are able to seamlessly integrate with your current systems. At its best, your online ecommerce solution should be able to extract the data found in your current systems, augment for e-commerce, then return completed ecommerce transactions to you that are indistinguishable from orders placed in your stores.
2. Make your ecommerce store an extension of your bricks and mortar store, not an island in itself. Look for an ecommerce software package that treats your SKUs, prices and your product information exactly like store orders from a fulfillment and service perspective. This is a fundamental difference between ecommerce shopping software for mass merchants, and that which is geared towards big-ticket retailers. The result is 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.
Finding an ecommerce service provider that meets these inital criteria is the first step in setting up your ecommerce store and capitalizing on the advantages of e-commerce.
Finding the Path to Easy Ecommerce
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
Implementing an ecommerce strategy opens possibilities for your business — increased sales online and in stores, more efficient marketing, and direct one-to-one communication with your customers to name a few.
Whether this is the first time you are selling online or you are coming back to give it a second try, Blueport Commerce walks you through this transformation step-by-step to make ecommerce easy.
With more than a decade of experience in helping big-ticket retail make the leap into e-commerce, we not only understand your business and your market, but we also understand the hurdles you will face along the way. Our managed ecommerce solutions help retailers drive their multichannel strategy and make the transition to ecommerce easy, worry-free and profitable.
Ecommerce will impact every aspect of your organization, each in different ways. From IT, to merchandising, to operations and even right down to your in-store staff:
Merchandising: Meticulously presenting your product to its best advantage, we introduce your customers to the breadth of your merchandise without their having to leave home.
Marketing: We understand the complexities of big-ticket retail marketing and will work to make e-commerce an integral, invaluable component of your marketing strategy.
Operations: We share retailers' passion for efficiency and service — in fact, we believe that e-commerce can't succeed in a category like big-ticket without it. We cut our teeth in furniture — arguably the most challenging of fulfillment problems. Our platform and processes are designed to make shipping a sofa — or your product — as easy as calling UPS.
Finance: Incremental e-commerce growth sounds good, but what will it cost? What are the risks? Our business model is designed to answer these questions, making e-commerce a positive ROI effort almost immediately.
Store: We understand that the biggest impact of ecommerce is in your stores and we have implemented technology and services to send you as many educated, easy-to-close customers as possible making e-commerce easy and a positive ROI effort almost immediately.
IT: In our ten years of experience in working with retail chains to deploy e-commerce systems, we've seen it all. We'll work with your existing infrastructure and processes and translate them into an effective e-commerce strategy.
Our goal? Use our infrastructure and experience to take what you've built online, as efficiently and robustly as possible
Whether this is the first time you are selling online or you are coming back to give it a second try, Blueport Commerce walks you through this transformation step-by-step to make ecommerce easy.
With more than a decade of experience in helping big-ticket retail make the leap into e-commerce, we not only understand your business and your market, but we also understand the hurdles you will face along the way. Our managed ecommerce solutions help retailers drive their multichannel strategy and make the transition to ecommerce easy, worry-free and profitable.
Ecommerce will impact every aspect of your organization, each in different ways. From IT, to merchandising, to operations and even right down to your in-store staff:
Merchandising: Meticulously presenting your product to its best advantage, we introduce your customers to the breadth of your merchandise without their having to leave home.
Marketing: We understand the complexities of big-ticket retail marketing and will work to make e-commerce an integral, invaluable component of your marketing strategy.
Operations: We share retailers' passion for efficiency and service — in fact, we believe that e-commerce can't succeed in a category like big-ticket without it. We cut our teeth in furniture — arguably the most challenging of fulfillment problems. Our platform and processes are designed to make shipping a sofa — or your product — as easy as calling UPS.
Finance: Incremental e-commerce growth sounds good, but what will it cost? What are the risks? Our business model is designed to answer these questions, making e-commerce a positive ROI effort almost immediately.
Store: We understand that the biggest impact of ecommerce is in your stores and we have implemented technology and services to send you as many educated, easy-to-close customers as possible making e-commerce easy and a positive ROI effort almost immediately.
IT: In our ten years of experience in working with retail chains to deploy e-commerce systems, we've seen it all. We'll work with your existing infrastructure and processes and translate them into an effective e-commerce strategy.
Our goal? Use our infrastructure and experience to take what you've built online, as efficiently and robustly as possible
Logistically speaking, Ecommerce Should Be Integrated
Thursday, March 25, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
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.
B2C E-Commerce Development: Why Retailers Should Not Take this On In-House
Friday, March 19, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
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
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
Overcoming the Barriers to Big-Ticket Ecommerce
Monday, March 15, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
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.
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.
Blueport Commerce Is a Different Kind of E-commerce Company
Sunday, March 14, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
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.
Why Localization is Important for Business Ecommerce Solutions
Friday, March 12, 2010 by
Betsy Miller
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.
Operations is where the rubber hits the road.
Monday, March 8, 2010 by
Morgan Woodruff
Do you have Operations QUESTIONS?
We know that operations is where the rubber hits the road. Fulfillment and customer service are your passion, and unlike some retailers, you don't have the luxury of just dropping a product in a UPS box. We suspect marketing and merchandising efforts, like ecommerce, often mean headaches for you.
That's why we're different than any other ecommerce software solution. Blueport Commerce's Custom System Integration is designed to make e-commerce a closed loop that begins and ends with your existing systems. Our platform extracts your SKUs from your system, and returns orders to your system in a format identical to an order written in your stores. We've done this with any number of systems, from home grown to major commercial packages, with the end result being ecommerce orders that are no different to fulfill than store orders.
We share your passion for efficiency and service — in fact, we believe that ecommerce can't succeed in a category like yours without it. We cut our teeth in furniture — arguably the most challenging of fulfillment problems. Our platform and processes are designed to make shipping a sofa — or your product — as easy as calling UPS.
We know that operations is where the rubber hits the road. Fulfillment and customer service are your passion, and unlike some retailers, you don't have the luxury of just dropping a product in a UPS box. We suspect marketing and merchandising efforts, like ecommerce, often mean headaches for you.
That's why we're different than any other ecommerce software solution. Blueport Commerce's Custom System Integration is designed to make e-commerce a closed loop that begins and ends with your existing systems. Our platform extracts your SKUs from your system, and returns orders to your system in a format identical to an order written in your stores. We've done this with any number of systems, from home grown to major commercial packages, with the end result being ecommerce orders that are no different to fulfill than store orders.
We share your passion for efficiency and service — in fact, we believe that ecommerce can't succeed in a category like yours without it. We cut our teeth in furniture — arguably the most challenging of fulfillment problems. Our platform and processes are designed to make shipping a sofa — or your product — as easy as calling UPS.
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