If you’re a small business owner in Ireland and you’re wondering how to expand sales, then you need to start researching and implementing eCommerce into your business.

Are you hesitant to break into eCommerce because of security concerns, or simply lack the technical understanding required to sell products online? If so, don’t worry. Selling products online can seem like a complicated affair and seem difficult to set up. The truth is, selling products online is becoming easier and easier every year. Now, small businesses across Ireland are increasingly selling products online. There’s never a better time to gain a better understanding of what it takes to create an eCommerce business and start selling online.

Small Business eCommerce In Ireland

If you run a small brick-and-mortar store, then you might be wondering if you should move exclusively online. According to Entrepreneur, plenty of people will continue to shop in-store, and this market is still far larger than the eCommerce market.

However, it’s important to note that eCommerce is here to stay, and it’s increasingly becoming more popular year on year. Online shopping has experienced dramatic market growth since the beginning of covid-19. Although this rise is slowly decreasing as consumers are once again visiting stores in person, the trend of online shopping is still increasing. So much so that many young adults are choosing to do the majority of their shopping online.

It’s important that small business owners in Ireland learn about eCommerce as soon as they can because it has grown dramatically over the past few years. Mobile eCommerce has seen the biggest rise in adoption with many users across Ireland now claiming to have made a purchase online through their mobile phone in the past 12 months.

Why Small Business’s In Ireland Should Set-Up An Ecommerce Site

Your Competitors Are Selling Online!

The first reason you should start selling online is that your competitors are selling online.

If you’re looking around at businesses in your local area and you can’t see any competition, it’s important to remember that many consumers in your locality are purchasing goods online because they find it easier and more convenient.

By conducting some quick research, you will soon come to the conclusion that you have competitors based throughout Ireland, not just your local town or county.

If you give consumers the option to purchase online from your business, you could be pleasantly surprised by the results. Not only will your current customers have an additional option to make purchases at your business, but you’re also positioned to take advantage of organic online traffic.

Sell Products Globally

It goes without saying that brick-and-mortar stores are bound by location. Depending on your product or service, this could be key to your revenue. Even if you think that your business ‘needs’ to stay local, building a website and selling online could become your main source of revenue.

Obviously, if you’re a small cafe, you’re not going to sell breakfast online. But let’s say you’re a hairdresser, you could serve your local community by offering haircuts, then sell a range of hair products online. By developing a website, eCommerce capabilities, and digital marketing plan, you could soon find yourself making more money from selling products online than you do cutting hair.

The future of business is continually moving towards a global marketplace. It’s becoming easier and easier for Irish consumers to make purchases from businesses located outside of Ireland.

But fortunately, this also works in reverse. Consumers in the UK, Europe, and America can make purchases from your business more easily today than ever before in history. Now is a perfect time to get your business online.

Passive Earnings

If you can keep your shop open 24-7 and you are able to expand your offerings to a global audience, this means that you have the potential to create a passive income stream – that is, your revenue doesn’t necessarily rely on great salespeople or opening hours.

When you and your customers are no longer restricted by logistics such as location and time of day, you have plenty of opportunities to boost revenue in new ways. Who doesn’t want to make money while they sleep?

Lower Costs

The ability to lower costs when selling products online compared to selling products locally in a brick and mortar store could honestly be one of the best benefits of eCommerce.

eCommerce can carry far lower costs than brick-and-mortar setups. Adding an online component to your existing business doesn’t need to be a high-risk investment. In most cases, adding eCommerce capabilities would be a far better choice than opening another physical store.

If you’re looking to expand your business, you should seriously consider upping your eCommerce game before thinking about opening another physical store.

eCommerce Costs

If you choose to start implementing an eCommerce plan into your business, there will be some initial costs. Such costs depend on your own unique situation.

Free Digital Marketing Consultation

If you’re planning to take your business to the next level, you should contact VIMAR today for a free consultation. We are an award-winning team of digital marketing professionals located in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

We have helped transform businesses from all across Ireland, set up professional websites, and start selling online. If you would like to see some of our recent work, check out our case studies here. While many business owners may be worried about spending money on developing a website, eCommerce capabilities, and digital marketing, it’s important to remember that this investment is in fact going towards assets.

Your website and your online image are an extension of your overall brand. By not investing in your own online image, you’re allowing someone else to craft your image. It’s important to take control and project your own business.