Marketplace or Own E-Commerce Website?
When it comes to selling auto parts online, you have several different options. One option is to list your car parts on marketplaces, such as Amazon or eBay. The second option is to start your own online auto parts store.
So, which variant to choose if you are at the beginning of your online business?
Selling auto parts on a marketplace
Let us look at some benefits and drawbacks of selling auto parts on marketplaces.
Pros
Here are 3 benefits you can get if you sell auto parts on marketplaces.
People go to marketplaces when they have buying intent. If you list your car parts on marketplaces, you can show them to millions of potential customers.
Another advantage of selling car parts on a marketplace is a quick start. It is easier and requires less effort than setting up and maintaining your own website. All you need to do is create your listings and wait for clients to find your products.
You will benefit from the traffic of marketplaces. People trust them and would buy your car parts even if you are new in the business. Of course, reviews and references can increase sales even more.
Cons
It is time to look at the drawbacks of selling car parts on marketplaces.
Customers’ attention is focused on products on marketplaces. It may happen that people do not even remember the name of your company. In fact, many of them will say that they buy from Amazon or eBay.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you do not own customer database. This valuable information is collected and processed by systems of marketplaces. It means that you have a limited ability to target customers in the future or expand into other sales channels.?
Finally, you will have to pay fees for your listings and agree to rules and policies of marketplaces. It limits control over the way you manage your store. In addition, you never know how changes on the marketplace could impact your business.
Selling auto parts on your own E-Commerce website
Creating your own E-Commerce website to sell auto parts is a big step in the right direction to grow your business and boost your sales. Like any solution, it has some benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
What are the key advantages of selling car parts on your own website?
领英推荐
When you have your own website, you will have full control over the way you present your car parts store online. Thus, you can manage the customer experience much better than when you sell auto parts on the marketplace. On top of that, you can always adapt your E-Commerce website to your current business needs.
Data are one of the most relevant factors for business growth. With your own E-Commerce website, you can collect various statistics and databases, analyze them, and increase your sales. You also own your customer data and can use it for targeted marketing and building long-term relationships with your clients.
Having a well-designed E-Commerce website is a sign of a professional and trustworthy company. It makes your current and potential clients feel comfortable about buying auto parts from you.
Cons
As there is no perfect solution, you may find some disadvantages in having your own website.
It takes a bit more time and effort to set up and maintain your E-Commerce website than selling car parts on a marketplace does.
You will also have to invest in marketing and advertising to promote your website and attract people, especially if you are starting from scratch. Generating a customer base takes some time, but once you have loyal clients and new people visiting your website, your auto parts business will start to grow.
When something goes wrong on a marketplace, you can usually contact their support staff and get the problem fixed. When you sell car parts on your own website, you will face problems that you need to overcome yourself.
However, there are ready-to-use solutions which can save your time and efforts. For example, AutoResource, an E-Commerce platform to start your own online auto parts store. It provides you with various tools and functions to launch and manage your auto parts store in the most efficient way.
Conclusion
On the whole, it all depends on what is right for your business and what you want to achieve.
If you are looking for more control over your brand and more opportunities for your business growth, then building your own website?could be a good option for you. The other way is a hybrid approach: sell auto parts both on marketplaces and your own website.
?
What is your opinion about this? Share in the comments, please.