Selling Products thru Online Shopping Malls
What are online shopping malls?
Online shopping malls are websites that offer a directory of stores and retailer storefronts. Different than the brick and mortar mall or outlet mall in your community, it's similar except you can't touch the merchandise or try on clothing - all sales are done thru the website as online shopping.
Online shopping malls provide consumers with easy access to popular stores, all in one place. It makes it easy to compare prices and use online cash back rebates, coupons, and other special promotions that may not be found elsewhere - all from one website.
Are online malls a scam or are they real?
Well, the answer is both Yes and No. Many online mall sites offer legitimate internet “storefronts” and are successful in providing the service to consumers and retailers alike; some do not and are merely middlemen. If you want to sell your products, look at all the storefronts on the site. Choose which type of online mall you want to subscribe to and really check out the business opportunity. Does it offer retail interaction with consumers? Like eBay, fees are associated with volume, how you are using the service. Fees can either make or break your success. Do your homework and choose a quality service that fits your needs before you commit your time, money and products online
Do Online Shopping Malls Offer the Same Benefits As Retail Storefronts or Outlet Malls?
When selling your products, the benefits of a retail storefronts or outlet mall verses an online shopping mall depends on many factors. You’ve seen and visited them both-- online malls invite you to sign up to take advantage of their business opportunity and offer benefits to online shoppers. Each will tout how you can successfully sell your products on their “cybermall”. Some even claim you don’t even need a computer! Our advice: Do you homework. Compare the costs, benefits, risks and make informed choices.
Common Problems with Online Shopping Malls:
- Internet malls do not have the same benefits as real malls. Location is everything and exposure helps a lot too. Walking thru the mall or a large department store you see those “prime” spots or “end caps” that features a special product at a “special price” this is considered prime location. Similar to an online mall, sites that have millions of users is the ideal location to be to exhibit your products. Choose your online shopping mall carefully.
- Some online malls promise you can get tons of hits on your site. Watch this statement as hits may not mean sales. Lots of traffic is not a good measurement of business. Carefully look at the site before you commit and look at it as if YOU are a shopper. Would you buy any of the products on that site? is it easy to find products? Is it related or complements your products and/or services?
- Keep in mind – it’s the mall owner, not the business that makes “all the money”. There are fees for the storefront, transactions, and if some of these malls require you attend some sort of seminar or class – watch and read carefully for all the fine print.
- Internet malls tend to get pricey. The costs for having a website may or may not be worth the benefits. Do your comparison shopping to ensure that the features you want and need for your website works well within your budget.
- Successful businesses on the Internet are content rich -- which usually means many pages. Check to see if the mall you choose allows for sites or check the costs for more than one page for your products. Web sites work better than a single page of products.
- Really be wary about those malls that claim that you don’t need to own a computer or if they train you to be a “consultant”. Something definitely is fishy here. If you are looking to sell something on the web, you best have a computer – a tool of the trade. Nuff said!.
Food for Thought: There are exceptions to the issues we described above. Depending on your product, some internet malls are considered “niche” malls which can be of great benefit. If you sell a niche product and the mall is well promoted, this meets the needs of your intended target audience. Again, do your homework and always read the fine print.
Here's a tip: If you have chosen to sell your products thru an online mall, call or email at least ten businesses that interact with that mall and ask for references and comments. You want to know about their experiences *before* you move forward. If they provide descriptions of their experiences and it becomes an indication of unflattering experiences, at least you heard it directly from them. Retail interaction with your consumers is most important, make sure your customers will be happy as well.
Best of luck with your selling adventures.