Questions To Ask Your Client
You’ve decided to open a store for your client – how exciting! Store building and launching a Company Store or Simple Store can be incredibly rewarding for you and your clients. However, there are a few key questions and considerations to contemplate before diving in. Read on to learn more about some important factors to keep in mind!
What is the Purpose of the Store?
The best place to start is figuring out exactly what your Client plans on using their Online Store for. Let’s go over some of the key differences between Simple Stores and Company Stores!
Company Stores are our most robust and feature rich system. Often they are full eCommerce sites, complete with easy to navigate filters, Category and Product Pages, and a streamlined Checkout Page. This Store type is best if your Client has a lot of products and needs a Store with more personal branding. Some of the common uses for Company Stores are Corporate Employee Stores, Uniform Stores, Points Stores, and Branded Apparel Stores.
Simple Stores are just that – Simple! However, that does not mean they’re boring.Simple Stores are perfect for Clients who have minimal products and are looking for a solution with a Single Page Storefront. They are also an unbeatable option for your budget conscious customers who want a quick setup and launch. And if your Client wants just a little something extra, BrightStores offers Advanced Design and Cart Add-Ons! A few of the most common uses for Simple Stores include Seasonal and Holiday Stores, Gifting and Rewards Programs, Fundraising Initiatives, and New Hire Packages.
What kind of Reporting and Statistics do they need?
The next thing to consider is what kind of capabilities your Client will need in regards to Reporting. The good news is that both Simple Stores and Company Stores offer a Custom Report Builder and Reporting Suite, so gathering important data and statistics about your sales has never been easier. Order management can be crucial to keeping your Store running well, and BrightStores does our best to ensure you have all the tools you need to succeed!
Who Will Pay For the Store?
Determining who will be fronting the cost of your client’s store is a major consideration you must acknowledge. Think about how much your client will realistically be spending per year on promotional products. This may help determine whether or not it is worth it for you to take the cost or if you will bill your clients instead. If you do decide to bill your client, it is important to consider your own time. Keep in mind all of your critical efforts in regards to store building, updating products, and maintaining the store. Very often, offering a store is just part of doing business.
How Will You Manage Fulfillment?
Now that you and your client have determined who will be paying for the store, the next step is to work out fulfillment! If you will be holding inventory for the store, you also must also consider who will be choosing, packing up, and shipping the inventory. To stay organized and in the know, you can show storefront inventory counts and also create low inventory alerts so that you’re always one step ahead of the game! You also must establish if your store will contain solely inventory or if custom orders will be offered. Hybrid Stores are a perfect option for those who wish to do both! The store would have inventory on hand as well as the capacity to produce custom orders. This is very common for both Company Stores and Simple Stores.
How Can You Help Your Client Manage the Store?
If your client is fully invested in the solution and cares about the work you’re doing, store building and maintenance will be thorough and organized! By helping your client promote the store via built in email marketing, you will drive more traffic to the store. We think that’s a win for both parties involved! If ordering from your specific store is a company policy, you can also help your clients use the store by offering coupons and gift certificates in Company Stores! This can be a fun way to say thank you to shoppers! Client involvement is valuable, and there are many ways to ensure they feel included while also being of assistance to you and their store.
As you can tell, opening a Store comes with many crucial decisions but the results are beyond worth it! Being fully prepared before beginning the Store Building Process is a brilliant first step. To learn more about selling and launching online stores, check out our webinar on demand here.
To get started or for any other questions about our amazing Store Solutions, contact us today!