While you can make money selling garden furniture all year round, the next few months do tend to see a spike as everyone prepares to host BBQs and garden parties. If you create handmade garden furniture and you have recently started an independent business, or you would like to do so, selling your products exclusively online might be more beneficial. This is because the overheads tend to be much lower than if you were to lease a retail space, and as so many consumers shop online, having a presence on the internet is a must anyway. If this sounds appealing to you, here are some tips to help you start selling online and create a good home-based business.
Create a Professional Website
Once you have done your business plan and all of the other important admin, the next step is to build your company website. It must be professional and all the links to both internal and external pages need to be working before you go live. You should also make sure that your website has secure eCommerce tools in place so that your customers can make their purchases with ease. When it comes to written content for your product descriptions and other information about your business, ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors, as this can look sloppy and unprofessional. Photos and video content also need to be of high quality so your customers can see your products clearly, and that these items look attractive.
Setting Up a Workspace at Home
If you are going to be making garden furniture from scratch, you’ll need a suitable workspace to do this. If you can work from home in a previously vacant garage or shed that is big enough to be a workshop this is great but if not, you will need to find somewhere local you can use. Leasing a suitable workshop space will increase your outgoings and you will need to factor this into your overall budget. You’ll also need to make sure that you have the right tools and materials, such as heat guns, grinders, plastic welding guns, and other essentials to build and finish your garden furniture items.
Distribution Strategies
Another thing you will need to figure out is how you will distribute your products to customers once a purchase has been made. As garden furniture are large items, you will need to consider offering a delivery service, even if you hire some delivery drivers to do this for you. Alternatively, look up reputable courier services that can accommodate packages of this size and use their services until your company grows enough to have a fleet of trucks and drivers for deliveries.
Devise a Digital Marketing Strategy
Digital marketing strategies are a must in the modern era, but they are even more essential if you are running an online-based business. Using SEO tactics, using social media, chasing marketing leads, and so on, are all important to attracting more traffic to your website and turning those visits into sales. If you’re not sure where to start with your digital marketing strategy, hire a professional agency to help you get the best results for your company.
If you want to start selling your homemade garden furniture online and create a thriving business, consider some of these basic tips to help you get set up.
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