Ecommerce

[Basil francis]

Is there a discussion thread specifically around ecommerce on this site...my search was unsuccessful.

 

[Thor]

What questions do you have?

 

[Basil francis]

lots really...thought I'd join a forum where most of them would have been addressed at some point in time...why re-invent the wheel...having fun building one using WordPress...a nice new learning curve and past time to keep busy, be of service to others again and if I make a few pennies to supplement the pension from unforeseen early retirement...that would be an additional extra.

My biggest challenge is logistics...being an ex-librarian all of the above is new to me...the cost of couriering the stuff seems to have temporarily put paid to my plans...need all the advice I can get from someone out there who surely must have been in the same boat...thanks for asking

 

[Thor]

Just sell your product via Takealot.

No point in building your own railway network when Makro and Takealot exists.

Use their distribution footprint to sell your product.

 

[Basil francis]

Hahaha...nice speak...JA I have stubbornly been ignoring those options...just didn't like the idea of leaving my service quality deliverables to others...guess I have to go with the flow...thanks so much...back to the drawing board

 

[Hamster]

Lots of options, no need to sell your soul to satan just yet:

Smart shipping & order management | Bob Go

Streamline your delivery process with Bob Go. Compare rates, save time and money, and manage all your couriers on one easy platform.

www.uafrica.com

Pargo – Click & Collect Delivery

pargo.co.za

 

[Basil francis]

Lots of options, no need to sell your soul to satan just yet:

Smart shipping & order management | Bob Go

Streamline your delivery process with Bob Go. Compare rates, save time and money, and manage all your couriers on one easy platform.

www.uafrica.com

Pargo – Click & Collect Delivery

pargo.co.za

you expressed one hell of a truth...would rather not collaborate with these shady characters...they rebranded and legitimised slavery and make billions on the backs of desperate unemployed people...they wield such power that even their clients and customers are not immune to their shenanigans...will change their terms and conditions on a dime with complete disregard for the untold ruined businesses and human misery the create in its wake...

its a case of damned if I do and damned if I don't... have to make some hard choices...and knowing myself it would probably be the hard route

Anyway, I kind of liked the Pargo option...especially the possibilities of their app...will have to review my product offerings...look at higher-end items and customised stuff that can absorb a flat rate and minimize profit margins to maintain affordability...thank you for your assistance

 

[IanM]

In terms of platforms, if you want your own online shop, I've worked with two in the past...

Shopify is probably the easiest for most people. Setup of the site is easy to understand and there's lots of nice themes for your site (free or paid). Note that you pay a monthly fee of around R400, plus commission on all successful sales.

Woocommerce is free-to-use as a plugin for Wordpress. There are free and paid themes to use. Depending on the complexity of the site, setup and customisation can vary greatly in complexity and detail, as well as cost for plugins you want to use on the site.

You'll need a SSL certificate to secure your site as well. If I remember correctly, some basic ones are free with domain registration or hosting packages.

Not sure if you've done so already, but also get a Payfast account to receive payments.

EDIT: Note, I'm no expert in coding or advanced web design. Learned what I know from research, Youtube and testing out on my own sites in the past.

 

[Basil francis]

Thank you so much. U zoned in, to the crossroads, I am presently at. Use an established platform like Shopify or Takelot as the God of thunder recommends or go it alone. While the first seems a more sensible choice given my lack of experience...I am at a stage in my life where I am tired of playing by other peoples rules. Had enough of that working in the public sector. want to cherish my new found independence.

The wife caught me seemingly looking a bit apprehensive and said...hey baz you started this project to keep busy, have fun with the challenges of building a website and becoming an ethical online entrepreneur to provision the common man like ourselves with affordable products...that did it!

Thanks for the info and great advice...I am also learning that way as well...pity I didn't meet you earlier on when I struggled quite a bit. anyway with this stuff you always run into trouble, so glad to know you around. I do have the SSL certificate and after mucking around I just purchased Elementor pro. Will start fiddling with it shortly.

Thank you for suggesting Payfast...it does have multiple payment methods and integrates with my Woocommerce site as you mentioned...great, saves me time doing additional research...will definitely use. Thanks a million.

 

[Basil francis]

I found the article on this site to be an informative read....https://www.thesmallbusinesssite.co.za/category/sales-marketing/your-website/