Without a doubt, businesses of every description have been hit by the ever-challenging COVID-19. And just like small to medium sized businesses, wholesale has also received a detrimental blow due to the quarantine restrictions. Keeping business-to-business companies afloat in uncertain times where there is no assurance as to when shoppers will be back is also proven to be a challenge.
As the economy continues to suffer, the digital world thrives. With the help of the internet, many companies have found a window to promote their products and services without requiring physical contact, thus maintaining the safety of both their workers and customers. At a glance, you would think that this only benefits retail businesses, but take a look again and you’ll see that even B2B (business-to-business) companies are flourishing!
However, those businesses that have minimal to zero digital knowledge may find themselves in a rut, which is truly understandable. With that being said, we have compiled a shortlist of steps that you can follow whether it’s your wholesale business’ first time going digital or if you just want to be safe in the future.
Take advantage of Social Media.
With the number of people spending time indoors, it is not surprising that social media platforms are reporting an increase in their user numbers this year.
Marketing your business in social media may be easier than you think once your online store has been set up. With social media, you have the freedom to choose whether you would like to market your business organically or put out some money for paid ads. More often than not, you will find your target market in any of the platforms you will choose.
[SEE: Why businesses need Facebook Marketing]
Look into selling on E-commerce platforms.
Online shoppers are more active now than ever. E-commerce sites like Shopee and Lazada have reported a surge in sellers when the pandemic hit. This isn’t surprising as many have faced unemployment that resulted in creating their own small businesses as a way to gain income.
However, as easy as it is to sell on e-commerce sites, you also have to take into consideration the number of competitors you will have. That is why it’s also important to have a functioning website for your business, where interested customers can browse without the distraction of other stores.
[More about How to Start an Ecommerce Business in the Philippines]
Build your online store.
Ask yourself how you want to receive orders. You will need to create your own website or use a third-party store option. When starting up for the first time, it’s best to get help from someone who knows all the technicalities and other difficult aspects of setting up a website that you most probably have no idea how to do, just to be sure. DIY-ing this kind of thing may actually lead to a more difficult route.
A service such as Wholesale Web Store development from Klaiya is also an option that you may want to consider, as it offers hassle-free set up of your website complete with integrated payment options, product management capabilities, and more. It works like an app, but offers many other reliable features!
With your own website store, you get to customize, edit membership prices, and have 100% control over your business. Many successful businesses started just like this and continued to grow, so go and see for yourself the benefits you can get with your own website today!
[ALSO SEE: Get 50% OFF for a limited time only on Web Development Services]
Succeeding in the new normal may prove to be a bit of a challenge, and transforming your business’ capability to cater to the digital age during the COVID-19 crisis is undoubtedly difficult, simply because there is no right model for it. Building your wholesale business online is tricky, but with the right tools and strategy, enabling your business digitally may lead you to gradually see higher value in the future.
