Do you want to sell products online? Then this article is for you.
It’s impressive how quickly the market can change. The pandemic was unfortunate, but the restrictions that crippled most businesses led to innovations that helped preserve social distancing while helping businesses continue providing services.
Be that as it may, online shopping was booming in Australia even before the pandemic. In fact, in 2019, Australian online shoppers spent A$28.6 billion or US$20.3 billion, making online shopping responsible for 9% of Australia’s total retail sales.
In 2018, retailers in New Zealand experienced an average growth of 3% in total retail sales of consumer goods. However, sales made through the Internet saw a significant growth of 16%.
Online shopping was becoming more popular than shopping in physical stores, and New Zealand shoppers were getting more skilled and comfortable with it. In 2018, more than 1.8 million people from New Zealand bought things online, 44% of them regular online shoppers.
This year, online shopping in the New Zealand market rose to $6.3 billion, while statistics predict $43.21 billion in sales for the Australian market.
It only goes to show that online shopping has been on the rise even before the pandemic. Today, small business retailers have more options to sell products online and connect with customers beyond conventional storefronts.
Starting an e-commerce store can be a good way to make money. During tough times, having an online store can help your business stay afloat.
Nonetheless, there are several factors to consider when using online marketplaces, like how long you want to customize and prepare your shop, how to reach more customers, and if you prefer regular customer contact or one-time sales.
Regardless of your choice, remember that choosing where to sell your products online can boost your online business.
For the first part of this 2-part series, we’ll look into seven popular online marketplaces for Aussie and Kiwi online sellers can try:
1. Sell Products Online Via Amazon
Amazon is one of the strongest eCommerce stores where online sellers from various product categories can sell products online to local and global markets. Amazon sells over 400 items every minute, proving buyers’ trust in this site.
Amazon ensures that sellers are verified and takes measures to prevent counterfeit products from being sold on its platform. It also fulfills orders fast, including same-day deliveries, so many people choose it as their favorite place to shop online.
Selling on Amazon increases the chances for online sellers in ANZ to do well online, but it also means more fees on the site, which can be heavy for small businesses on Amazon.
Amazon professional selling accounts cost $39.99 per month and require an application. Each item sold incurs fees. A free individual seller account is free if you plan to sell products online for fewer than 40 items monthly. Individual sellers only pay 99¢ per item sold and additional percentage fees based on the category of their item.
The Professional Seller program provides valuable benefits such as advanced inventory management tools, comprehensive seller reports for transparency, top product page placements to boost visibility and sales, flexibility with over 20 product categories and an option for 10 more, customized shipping rates for efficient logistics, and no per-sale closing fees, maximizing seller profits.
Despite the fees and competitiveness of the Amazon market, Amazon sellers are multiplying each year. Amazon says there are over 300 million active customer accounts worldwide and 1.9 million selling partners this 2023. This is why Amazon is great for selling large quantities or reaching more people.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is a versatile platform that gives users complete control over their online retail experience. It currently has 3.79 million total subscribers worldwide. It also offers many advanced features that can help improve your online store.
This is why Squarespace is a popular website builder in Australia, more so because Aussie online sellers can create their sites without knowing how to code. In addition, the platform offers inexpensive pricing, a user-friendly site editor, and award-winning templates.
These templates are designed to accommodate a wide range of products, ensuring your online store is pleasing and functional. Whether you’re selling clothing, electronics, or handcrafted goods, Squarespace has a design to match your brand’s aesthetics perfectly.
Moreover, Squarespace prioritizes user convenience throughout the shopping process. It streamlines the checkout process, making it effortless for customers to complete their purchases. Additionally, it offers various payment options, including the widely trusted PayPal, providing flexibility and convenience for your clientele.
Squarespace fosters brand loyalty by collecting post-purchase feedback via surveys, helping you improve and strengthen customer relationships. It provides transparent shipping cost estimates for informed shopping experiences.
Additionally, it simplifies the review process, boosting product credibility. In summary, Squarespace is your all-in-one solution for online retail, offering aesthetic templates, streamlined checkout, feedback collection, cost transparency, and review management to bring your retail vision to life.
3. Shopify
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce solution that gives business owners full control over their online retail experience. Unlike Etsy or Amazon, Shopify allows you to shape your website’s look, content, pricing, and discounts, ensuring a unique and brand-centric shopping experience for your customers.
According to Shopify’s 2023 first quarter report, its current GMV or Gross Merchandise Volume increased by 15% to $49.6 billion, a staggering $6.4 billion increase compared to early 2022.
There are over 4 million online sellers on the Shopify platform, making it a viable solution for online sellers and small business owners in Australia and New Zealand who want to tap into this global market.
With its customizable templates and design elements, you can create a website that reflects your brand identity. Shopify makes building an attractive and functional online store.
Shopify also enhances customer engagement with features like product videos and 3D views that can captivate your audience and boost conversion rates. Furthermore, Shopify offers built-in SEO tools to optimize your website’s performance and traffic.
This online seller’s platform also offers Kit, an automated virtual assistant that streamlines marketing tasks, such as creating Facebook ads with a text message, freeing up time for other business responsibilities. Its mobile app also allows you to manage your website and monitor performance remotely, ensuring you stay connected and responsive to customer demands.
Indeed, Shopify is a versatile and accessible platform that empowers online retailers. With control, customization, dynamic product presentations, SEO tools, automated marketing, and mobile management, it offers a comprehensive solution for building a compelling online retail presence that aligns with your brand and business goals.
4. eBay
Established and well-known e-commerce platform eBay continues to be a thriving market serving a wide range of sellers. While almost any product can be sold on eBay, it excels for businesses specializing in books, media, holiday decorations, and office supplies.
The platform gives retailers the tools they need to make their online shops unique, including creating custom banners, featuring specific products, displaying enlarged images of those products, and organizing their stock more effectively. Sellers can also interact with their customers by sending out newsletters.
One of eBay’s most notable qualities is its comprehensive seller support system. This includes protection for sellers to ensure transactions are safe, easy payment options, tools to help your business grow, and tools to manage your inventory better. It is essential to mention that eBay charges sellers two main fees: an insertion fee and a final value fee. The final value fee is determined by the total amount of the sale and is applied to each item sold.
Even if the platform experienced a slight decrease in active buyers last year, it still has an impressive 132 million active buyers for 2023.
This is because eBay can be used for many different purposes. For instance, sellers can sell both common items and luxury goods or rare collectibles. eBay is also different from other online shopping sites because it lets online sellers choose how they want to sell their items. They can set a fixed price or put their items up for auction, giving them different options to suit their needs or preferences.
Overall, eBay is a reliable online platform for sellers and is a great choice for online sellers in AU and NZ looking to expand their business.
5. Etsy
Etsy, the go-to hub for handcrafted treasures, offers sellers a stress-free journey. You won’t be bogged down with tasks like fussing over stock photos, themes, or color choices. Just load up your unique items, and you’re set to start selling. Safety is a top priority in this online selling platform, with secure payment processing and strong fraud protection to keep both sellers and buyers at ease.
When it comes to fees, Etsy keeps it straightforward and fair. You’ll encounter a small listing fee, a transaction fee, and a payment processing fee, ensuring everyone plays on a level field. But the perks don’t stop there. Etsy boasts a loyal customer base that actively seeks out one-of-a-kind, handmade goodies like yours. This dedicated audience is a real boost for your sales and engagement.
Etsy also throws in some handy features for sellers. If you need a breather, you can team up with fellow sellers in collective stores, keeping your shop active. Plus, Etsy Wholesale opens doors to wholesale clients who might want to stock your creations in their stores or online. Etsy charges a one-time fee and a commission on each item sold through this option, making it budget-friendly.
Their user-friendly marketing tools make creating customer promotions and coupons a breeze, allowing you to interact and promote your products effectively. In a nutshell, Etsy’s well-earned reputation as the ultimate marketplace for handcrafted treasures comes from its seller-friendly approach, transparent fees, access to quality customers, collaboration options, wholesale connections, and nifty marketing tools. It’s the perfect platform for artisans and sellers looking to thrive in the online marketplace.
Many Australians are now using Etsy and finding it very popular. Many people use this platform to sell things they made themselves or collections they put together. Many others also use it to shop online. Currently, this e-commerce platform has over 125 online sellers in Australia.
6. Lazada: Selling Products Online in the Southeast Asia Market
Lazada, a powerhouse in the e-commerce realm, has firmly established itself as the leading platform for online shopping in Southeast Asia since its inception in 2012. Operating across key markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, Lazada has become a go-to destination for consumers in the region.
One standout feature of Lazada is its expansive product catalog, boasting various items across nearly every conceivable category. With a network of over 155,000 online sellers and 3,000 renowned brands, the platform offers an unparalleled selection that caters to the diverse tastes and needs of its 560 million consumers. To put this into perspective, that’s more than ten times the combined population of Australia and New Zealand. In other words, it’s a massive market teeming with opportunities.
For sellers eager to tap into this vibrant market, Lazada presents a user-friendly, hassle-free onboarding process. Registration is not only straightforward but also completely free, making it an appealing option for those seeking to expand their horizons beyond the Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) region. If you want to broaden your reach and connect with a colossal consumer base, Lazada beckons as a prime platform to explore and thrive in Southeast Asia.
7. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace, a thriving platform for online selling, offers a unique avenue for reaching thousands of potential customers daily. Unlike conventional e-commerce platforms, Facebook Marketplace exudes a community-oriented vibe, resembling a bustling yard sale more than a typical online store.
Shoppers often seek specific items based on proximity, making local connections, and immediacy, key factors influencing their purchase decisions.
Despite its distinct nature, Facebook Marketplace has proven to be a fertile ground for sellers, particularly for categories like refurbished furniture, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, and decorative items.
The ease of listing items and the seamless promotion process further sweeten the deal for retailers considering this option, especially if they aim to cater to their immediate community.
Here are a few compelling reasons to explore Facebook Marketplace as a selling platform:
- User-Friendly: The platform simplifies the selling process, allowing you to list an item within minutes. Just snap a photo, jot down a description, and set your price.
- Cost-Effective: Facebook Marketplace does not charge users for listings, regardless of the number of items they sell. This cost-effectiveness is a boon for sellers.
- Open Communication: Facebook facilitates effortless communication between buyers and sellers, fostering transparency and trust throughout the transaction.
In essence, Facebook Marketplace offers an accessible, cost-effective, and community-driven approach to online selling. It’s an excellent choice for sellers seeking local connections and quick, hassle-free listings.
READ MORE: Top Pros and Cons of Selling on Amazon for Small Businesses
Conclusion: Sell Products Online on the Best Platforms
As you explore these options further, remember there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your choice should align with your unique business goals, target audience, and product offerings. Stay tuned for part two of our series, where we will delve into additional platforms that can help you thrive in the dynamic world of online commerce.
The digital marketplace presents great opportunities for small businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Embrace these opportunities, adapt to changing times, and take your place in the thriving world of online retail. Your next customer may be a click away.
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