|
  |
 Online Sales Were Huge...how Did You Do? |
|
|
|
|
 Nov 27 2011, 01:28 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 554
Joined: 1-October 07
From: New Jersey
Member No.: 102
|
QUOTE (martiniguy @ Nov 27 2011, 11:11 AM)  Looks like online selling took a huge leap early this year...this article is worth a read. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/25/b..._n_1113728.htmlThe part of the article I didn't see was the margins these corporations were working with to generate the increase in online purchases. We will have to wait until the post season numbers come in to get a feel for volume vs. profits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 27 2011, 01:36 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 257
Joined: 3-June 08
Member No.: 1,229
|
It was really great here. let the sales keep on going up. October and November were bad!
Happy Holidays
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 27 2011, 03:02 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 212
Joined: 7-August 08
From: Lewisville, TX
Member No.: 1,805
|
Our Black Friday online sales essentially doubled from last year!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 28 2011, 08:47 AM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 1,453
Joined: 10-March 08
From: South Eastern Martini-land
Member No.: 775
|
In previous years, we were able to hold margins at holiday time to within 19% of our normal operating margins - which still left plenty of cushion for profit. The biggest drain was free shipping, which has become the norm - since the bulk of our product was glass, it was heavy and needed substantial packing. Building the "free" into the topline pricing would not have been realistic in most cases, so we accepted a bit less in margin, but it was still healthy.
It will be interesting to see how Cyber Monday shakes out today.
Still have to mention that I am really surprised to see virtually no discussions about business and strategy...versus discussions on "my widget is not aligning with my email fitzer" type of stuff. Holy smokes, its the holiday season...the few weeks to really drive some huge volume.
Again, good luck to all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Nov 28 2011, 04:24 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 15-January 09
Member No.: 3,509
|
QUOTE (martiniguy @ Nov 28 2011, 08:47 AM) In previous years, we were able to hold margins at holiday time to within 19% of our normal operating margins - which still left plenty of cushion for profit. The biggest drain was free shipping, which has become the norm - since the bulk of our product was glass, it was heavy and needed substantial packing. Building the "free" into the topline pricing would not have been realistic in most cases, so we accepted a bit less in margin, but it was still healthy.
It will be interesting to see how Cyber Monday shakes out today.
Still have to mention that I am really surprised to see virtually no discussions about business and strategy...versus discussions on "my widget is not aligning with my email fitzer" type of stuff. Holy smokes, its the holiday season...the few weeks to really drive some huge volume.
Again, good luck to all. BBM - Hey, I'm still waiting on an answer to that!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 28 2011, 05:04 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 554
Joined: 1-October 07
From: New Jersey
Member No.: 102
|
QUOTE (martiniguy @ Nov 28 2011, 08:47 AM) In previous years, we were able to hold margins at holiday time to within 19% of our normal operating margins - which still left plenty of cushion for profit. The biggest drain was free shipping, which has become the norm - since the bulk of our product was glass, it was heavy and needed substantial packing. Building the "free" into the topline pricing would not have been realistic in most cases, so we accepted a bit less in margin, but it was still healthy.
It will be interesting to see how Cyber Monday shakes out today.
Still have to mention that I am really surprised to see virtually no discussions about business and strategy...versus discussions on "my widget is not aligning with my email fitzer" type of stuff. Holy smokes, its the holiday season...the few weeks to really drive some huge volume.
Again, good luck to all. Our business is not directed by seasons or markets. But I agree with wanting to see more of the business advice on increasing sales, content management, vendor relationships etc. I am also involved with the small business forums community chat with NS and this has been my comment there as well. It is great to hear that some businesses have received an improvement in sales. What if anything did you do different? New pricing? Better web site design?, Improved Google placement? and the follow up would be..How did you do that? Best of luck for the remainder of this Black Fri., small business Sat., cyber Mon. season to all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 28 2011, 05:32 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 257
Joined: 3-June 08
Member No.: 1,229
|
QUOTE (mdsource @ Nov 28 2011, 05:04 PM) Our business is not directed by seasons or markets. But I agree with wanting to see more of the business advice on increasing sales, content management, vendor relationships etc. I am also involved with the small business forums community chat with NS and this has been my comment there as well.
It is great to hear that some businesses have received an improvement in sales. What if anything did you do different? New pricing? Better web site design?, Improved Google placement? and the follow up would be..How did you do that?
Best of luck for the remainder of this Black Fri., small business Sat., cyber Mon. season to all! Before Black Friday 1. we created more google adwrods campaigns and activated our mobile ads plus product ads. 2. Redesigned our site 3. Gave great promotions 4. Send out emails prior to our sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 29 2011, 11:47 AM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 405
Joined: 28-August 08
Member No.: 2,212
|
Huge???? Nope - PHENOMENAL!!!!!
Is it the cart? No. Not at all. I would have had the same results on any cart that works. The cart is a tool, just like UPS or FedEx. A bad tool builds bad business but a good tool is just part of the business. Anticipating customers expectations and building processes to consistently meet those needs in combination with tools that work is what brings customers through the doors.
Too busy satisfying customers to say more right now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 29 2011, 02:07 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 472
Joined: 24-October 08
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Member No.: 2,842
|
Okay, I think we have to create another Cyber day, it's crazy that there is only one day a year for the hype! How about we all start advertising CYBER CHRISTMAS and/or Cyber Christmas Eve, Cyber Hanukkah, Cyber Me, or Cyber New Year. I'm serious, can we all put our heads and fingers together to create another phenomenal day or two throughout the year, why not, what's stopping us? (IMG: http://forums.networksolutions.com/style_emoticons/default/beta.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 30 2011, 02:45 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 318
Joined: 14-August 08
Member No.: 1,942
|
dud monday has always been one of lowest days of the month, this year was no exception. The monday before thanksgiving 10X what the so called cyber monday was. not a surprise.
Like most retailers holiday sales will peak mid december. fingers crossed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 23 2011, 11:12 AM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 1,453
Joined: 10-March 08
From: South Eastern Martini-land
Member No.: 775
|
Nearing the end of the season - every report shows online spending to be WAY up. So how did everyone do? Still very amazed to see basically nobody talking about their business...only griping about the flaws in the system. Yikes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 23 2011, 07:40 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 359
Joined: 12-December 08
From: Baltimore
Member No.: 3,301
|
QUOTE (martiniguy @ Dec 23 2011, 11:12 AM) Nearing the end of the season - every report shows online spending to be WAY up. So how did everyone do? Still very amazed to see basically nobody talking about their business...only griping about the flaws in the system. Yikes. Will work for Food BEER Martini's! (IMG: http://forums.networksolutions.com/style_emoticons/default/martiniemoticon.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 23 2011, 10:07 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 1,453
Joined: 10-March 08
From: South Eastern Martini-land
Member No.: 775
|
QUOTE (BobTheBugman @ Dec 23 2011, 07:40 PM) Bob...there are no bugs in Denver to even bother with...so instead of "working" for martinis...kick back, put your feet up and I'll just shake one up for you! :-) (IMG: http://forums.networksolutions.com/style_emoticons/default/martiniemoticon.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 27 2011, 03:02 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 91
Joined: 10-July 08
Member No.: 1,424
|
Having a similar problem with "free" shipping since there is no such thing as free. We ship large items too.
Amazon.com is the culprit for this "free shipping" paradigm. I've read that it decreases their margins quite a bit but that they are counting on high volume to make up for the profit percentage loss.
HOWEVER, I've also read that Amazon's free shipping is NOT sustainable....even for them and their volume.
I would resist providing free shipping on every single order as you will only be playing into the paradigm......which must (and will) be turned around.
Gasoline prices are not going to decrease anytime soon and shipping fees are going to be a mainstay in the long run.
I'm more concerned (currently) about sales tax.....which is being brought up in state and federal legislative branches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 27 2011, 03:30 PM
|
Group: Verified NS Member
Posts: 554
Joined: 1-October 07
From: New Jersey
Member No.: 102
|
QUOTE (rrichker @ Dec 27 2011, 03:02 PM) Having a similar problem with "free" shipping since there is no such thing as free. We ship large items too.
Amazon.com is the culprit for this "free shipping" paradigm. I've read that it decreases their margins quite a bit but that they are counting on high volume to make up for the profit percentage loss.
HOWEVER, I've also read that Amazon's free shipping is NOT sustainable....even for them and their volume.
I would resist providing free shipping on every single order as you will only be playing into the paradigm......which must (and will) be turned around.
Gasoline prices are not going to decrease anytime soon and shipping fees are going to be a mainstay in the long run.
I'm more concerned (currently) about sales tax.....which is being brought up in state and federal legislative branches. Also keep in mind there is a questionable future for the USPS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
