@carmelgifts wrote:I have been selling as an individual for a few years in good standing. I have higher limits than I need, good feedback, etc. I don't have the higher volume of sales that I would like. Does having an ebay store contribute to the volume of sales?
Just having a store does not change any exposure for your listings. However having a store does have a lot of tools to help you get more exposure, but it only works if you learn to use them.
So a few things to think about. If you get a store,
- will you list more items and more frequently?
- Will you be able to handle replenishing items at a quicker pace?
- Do you have storage to handle the extra items you will be listing?
- Do you have enough or can you store enough packing material to handle the extra business?
One of the biggest changes I recall is that I was not organized enough to handle the extra order in a single days time frame. Do you have enough time to fill all the orders? Think about what the average time is to fill an order for you. All items take different time frame to complete but you should be able to come up with a general average.
Lets say 15 minutes average per order to
- receive the notification about an order and verify with paypal you got a payment
- pull the item and package it for shipment
- print packing slips and shipping labels
- finish the packing of the item and placing it in your out going area
- leaving feedback or sending a message or note to buyer
If you time frame is in this area then that means you can fill 4 orders an hour maximum (if all goes as planned)
Make sure you think about extra shipping supplies on hand, and time to take your packages to your carrier of choice. Organization will also be veryimportant as well. If you sell on several platforms you need to design a system to keep inventory up to date on all marketplaces and adhere to it without delay.
If you are going to take the next step think about some of these points and make sure you are committed to doing this. Is your family going to take a back seat? Where does your social life fit in and can you handle both? Things in your life outside the business need to be considered.
Many will tell you to get the monthly store first and if after a few months you feel you got things working correct, then consider the bigger discount with a yearly subscription.
Good Luck Selling!
