Your client is asking for a store that would allow them to order their frequently purchased promotional products online. After looking through their previous order behavior, you agree that using an online tool like a Company Store could be a great fit. Not only will the store help make the process more efficient and streamlined but it will alleviate some of the work for both you and your client.
Before you start diving into building a Company Store, you will want to ask your client some essential questions about how they intend to use the store.
Why do they want a Company Store?
By asking this one simple question, you can gain insight into how you can provide your client with better service using a Company Store. Some things you may want to ask include:
- What prompted you to look into a Company Store?
- What are you looking to get out of a Company Store?
- What are your end goals?
In the above scenario, the client may explain that the main reason they are interested in a store is to add efficiency. No matter what the answer, there are plenty of reasons why a client may request a Company Store. All of them are equally important in determining the features and overall set up of the store.
Who will be using the Company Store?
It’s important to know who will be using the Company Store as this will help determine how robust the program will be. It will also help you understand and pinpoint if and where you will need to set up permissions, categories, and features. For example:
- Is the store for internal or external use?
- If internal, is the entire company using the store?
- Will you require manager approval on orders (MOAS)?
Once you know who will be using the store, you’ll want to dig a bit deeper.
Multiple users? Do they want a shared experience or unique experience?
We understand that your client may have a robust set of needs which is why we developed our Company Stores to be flexible and customizable. If your client prefers that everyone shares the same experience (same access to the store, products, payment methods, pricing), then there is no need to set up any special permissions. However, if your client does need a user or group of users to have a unique store experience, be sure to ask what those experiences will entail. For example:
- Do you want each user group to have a unique set of product categories?
- Should user groups have a different set of permissions and privileges?
- Are checkout options like shipping and payment going to be unique to each user group?
Whatever their needs may be, you can turn that vision into a reality with permissions or Micro Stores.
What does your client envision for the storefront?
Sometimes it can be hard to explain how a store should look and feel. If your client is having trouble describing what they would like, you can ask any of the questions below to help determine what they have in mind.
- Do you want the store to mimic your current website?
- Do you have a brand or style guide we should follow?
- How will the layout and design feel?
- Should the navigation bar be left, right or middle aligned?
- How would you like products to be categorized?
- Do you want a FAQ page?
As former distributors in the promotional products industry, we understand that no two customers are the same, which means that no two customers will have the same vision of how they want their Company Store to look and feel. If you are unsure whether your client’s design is possible, feel free to contact our team. We are happy to let you know if the design is something you can easily do yourself or if it will require custom work.
Is your client genuinely invested in the solution?
There is a difference between wanting a Company Store and being fully invested in the success of the store. If your client wants a store, make sure that they have a plan in place to ensure orders go through the Company Store. It could be anything from sending out a company-wide email to pre-loading account balances to help motivate employees to shop for items using the new store. Whatever plan they have in mind, this will help make the program successful. Ultimately anyone can have a Company Store, but it’s only worth it when it’s going to be utilized and not collecting dust.
Dig Deeper.
The more you know about the who, what, where, why and how the better. Dig deeper with your client to make sure you understand what they are expecting. Don’t just provide a Company Store to your client, give a solution to whatever challenge they may be facing and add value as their trusted distributor.
Are you looking for more questions to ask your client? Check out our Discovery Document. Or if you are ready to present a Company Store to your client, read our latest blog, Tips for Presenting a Company Store to Your Client.