Attracting shoppers from far away is one of the benefits of a website for any retail business. There are plenty of other benefits including being able to sell products when the shop is closed, letting people see what’s in-stock from their home, selling products before you have them in-store and quitting stock that’s not selling in-store to list a few more.
One of the biggest benefits of a website is the opportunity to create a plan b for the business, selling products in a completely different category to provide a fresh income stream, a soft landing should the core retail business find itself in rough waters. The two major websites I have related to my own retail business do this, they sell plenty of products not stocked in the shop with fulfilment from a ‘dark’ store, a space not open to in-store shopping but leveraging retail business resources for efficiency.
There are many benefits of selling online. Having a website today is as important as having a fax machine was twenty years ago. It’s a basic business tool.
Here are some newsagencies with websites. yes, they are all newsXpress businesses because I have their details at hand. Take a look. Some are completed and trading while others are early on that journey.
- MOUNT LAWLEY NEWS, https://oliviaandgrace.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS LEVEN, https://serenityhomeandgifts.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS NUMURKAH, https://onebaby.com.au
- COBRAM LOTTO, https://giftideasshop.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS SUNBURY, https://brenita.com.au
- newsXpress Kenmore Plaza, https://morethannews.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS MIDVALE, https://heybelle.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS CENTREPOINT MIDLAND, https://treasureboxgifts.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS GOULBURN, https://goulburnstationery.com.au
- newsXpress Hawthorn, https://mintcoinshop.com.au My shop.
- newsXpress Hawthorn, https://myornaments.com.au My shop.
- NEWSXPRESS HIGHLANDS MARKETPLACE, https://highlandsgiftsandplush.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS MERIMBULA, https://merimbulaextra.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS PARKES, https://parkesnewsandgifts.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS RIVERSIDE, http://inspiregifts.com.au
- NEWSXPRESS SOUTHLAND, https://www.cutenessoverload.com.au
- NORTH RINGWOOD NEWSAGENCY, https://www.aidecor.com.au
- PAPERPLAY INVERLOCH, https://www.paperplayonline.com.au
- SETTLEMENT CITY NEWSAGENCY, https://www.giftolicious.com.au
I have shared this list because showing is better than telling.
Most retailers tend to overthink their first website or two. The best advice is launch early and launch often. In other words, develop an idea and go with it. Learn about being online and evolve the website as you learn more.
The website does not have to reflect your shop, but it can if you want.
Web development is expensive, especially if it is done 100% in Australia like these have been. If you want to reach more shoppers, it is critical. But, a website is a hungry beast. feed it and it is more likely you serve you well. Don’t feed it, and it is likely to not serve you well.
Disclosure: my newsagency software company, Tower Systems, has made many websites for newsagents. newsXpress, the newsagency marketing group I own, offers members half price beautiful websites from Tower.