|
|
Topic Originator: jake89
Date: Sun 6 Dec 15:54
I like to support small businesses where I can. I'd rather avoid Amazon if I can and help the little guys I know genuinely care about the town. At this time of year this would involve a wee trip round the town to get various gifts. With COVID it's a wee bit different so I was looking to see which places would do delivery or orders for collection. So many are relying on Facebook to promote their business or have a website but with no ability to order online. Surely someone with the technical know-how could set something up to give local businesses an online shop for a reasonable price?
I realise this is a bit "first world problems" but it seems daft to me that I can order a takeaway with a few taps on my phone yet can't order some local gifts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: DBP
Date: Sun 6 Dec 16:57
Do a lot of them not use things like Amazon as an online market place?
... or eBay?
also, i realise that small businesses can use facebook as a `free` way of getting an online presence and ebay as a mechanism to sell online with no committed/upfront costs - but not everyone has facebook (i certainly don`t and know several people who had it but gave up on it a while back)
you can get a hosted website, with a simple website builder so it`s no more difficult than a facebook page plus the tools to do online shopping for a few pound a month. if businesses are going to move online and become more of a clicks and mortar with online and shop channels (and they have to) then it`s defo worth considering
Post Edited (Sun 06 Dec 17:04)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: moviescot
Date: Sun 6 Dec 17:03
Quote:
jake89, Sun 6 Dec 15:54
I like to support small businesses where I can. I'd rather avoid Amazon if I can and help the little guys I know genuinely care about the town. At this time of year this would involve a wee trip round the town to get various gifts. With COVID it's a wee bit different so I was looking to see which places would do delivery or orders for collection. So many are relying on Facebook to promote their business or have a website but with no ability to order online. Surely someone with the technical know-how could set something up to give local businesses an online shop for a reasonable price?
I realise this is a bit "first world problems" but it seems daft to me that I can order a takeaway with a few taps on my phone yet can't order some local gifts.
I think there are some towns/villages in England who have done just that. Set up a local internet site for businesses in their towns. Defo something that can be done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: AJ27
Date: Sun 6 Dec 17:35
My wife has done a lot of our Xmas shopping through Etsy which I believe is mostly made up of small independent businesses.
Andy J
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: jake89
Date: Mon 7 Dec 20:16
Etsy is great but tends to be more for the small scale. I'm talking about the guys with physical stores where you may want to order for delivery/collection. The ideal solution is to be able to confirm they have what you want (or not) without having to phone round the all the shops. If it's in stock then reserve for collection or order for delivery. Should be straightforward if integrated with a stock management system (all shops will/should have this).
Probably a good business opportunity for someone there. Or perhaps something the BID could have taken forward if it still existed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: AlfonzoBonzo
Date: Mon 14 Dec 19:08
Jake. I think you underestimate the resource required and cost of running e-commerce to any sort of reasonable measure. You reference a stock management system. I know for sure that you’re looking at one a grand just to create an API link to have a website talk to a till, plus ongoing costs. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg
Show us yer.... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: twin par
Date: Mon 14 Dec 20:10
My wife makes her own jams and preserves,and uses etsy. Doing really well.Deborah bees,on Facebook. She has just been doing this for about 3 months.Great for xmas ! Have a look guy's, all homemade,and fruit grown in our garden ,and well packaged for xmas ! If you are in pars land,we will deliver free !
Post Edited (Mon 14 Dec 20:52)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: jake89
Date: Mon 14 Dec 20:55
Quote:
AlfonzoBonzo, Mon 14 Dec 19:08
Jake. I think you underestimate the resource required and cost of running e-commerce to any sort of reasonable measure. You reference a stock management system. I know for sure that you’re looking at one a grand just to create an API link to have a website talk to a till, plus ongoing costs. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg
Possibly. But surely listing the products you sell on a basic website along with a price list may be a start? Maybe it's just me but it feels like they're missing out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Johan_Cruyff
Date: Tue 15 Dec 00:34
My wife and I use square here in the US. Its about $35 a month plus a small % per transaction but its super easy, great website and instore experience!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: SAP PAR
Date: Tue 15 Dec 08:53
Quote:
AlfonzoBonzo, Mon 14 Dec 19:08
Jake. I think you underestimate the resource required and cost of running e-commerce to any sort of reasonable measure. You reference a stock management system. I know for sure that you’re looking at one a grand just to create an API link to have a website talk to a till, plus ongoing costs. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg
Got to disagree with this. We set up an on line sweet shop using open source Oscommerce. The only outlay was the hosting and monthly fees for taking on-line payments and it was no where near £1K. That was back in 2006 when you needed a merchant bank account, to take on-line payments, which isn’t required anymore.
We took it from start-up to selling it 4 years later with a £250K annual turnover, so in my opinion you don’t have to have a large initial outlay to get started selling on-line.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: jake89
Date: Tue 15 Dec 08:58
Noticed the new gin place opening on Bruce Street already has an online shop set up. Just a hamper right now but that's already ahead of any other independent off licence in town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: AlfonzoBonzo
Date: Wed 16 Dec 22:36
SAP PAR - the comment was in reference to making website talk to stock management system. This requires an API bridge, which is costly
Show us yer....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: jake89
Date: Wed 16 Dec 23:01
I suppose if businesses feel they can't afford it then they must be fine getting by. Still seems daft to me that some independents in Dunfermline don't even have basic websites with lists of what they stock and prices. More than ever they need this stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
