The days when brick-and-mortar retailers were the only place where shoppers could buy their rugby merchandise are all but a distant memory now. Last year, an estimated 1.8 billion people worldwide purchased products online amounting to more than 2.5 trillion US dollars collectively, with that number expected to increase year on year.
It’s no wonder, then, that many retailers, particularly those that sell merchandise for sports such as rugby, are now turning to online marketplaces to sell their goods. Be it social media or online stores, selling online has become one of the most effective selling tactics.
Understanding ecommerce stores
Selling via multi channel ecommerce is a perfect way to attract customers and increase sales from all over the world. Outlined below are just a few of the most popular places to sell online in 2019 that you could consider when deciding where you could sell your rugby merchandise to super fans.
- Amazon
Since its launch in 1994, Amazon has gained over 310 million active customers to its platform, establishing itself in sixteen countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, India, and Australia. The site receives nearly 200 million unique visitors every month, making it the go-to place for retailers looking to create an online presence and reach a wide global audience.
Depending on the seller plan you subscribe to, Amazon will either take a per-sale cut on each product (Individual Plan) or charge a monthly membership fee (Professional), the latter being more suited to high volume retailers.
- eBay
When it first appeared online, eBay was principally an auction website where buyers could place bids, and the product would go to the highest bidder. While that feature still exists, an increasing number of sellers are now offering goods at fixed prices, mirroring Amazon’s business model.
The site currently has 1.2 billion live listings, making it one of the largest e-commerce marketplaces in the world and a popular choice with sellers in all 24 operating countries. What’s more, in March of this year, eBay changed its number of free monthly listings for private sellers from 20 to 1,000, with 10% of the sale price going to the company.
Believe it or not, growing numbers are looking towards social media platforms as the best means of selling their products online, and with over an eighth of the world’s population regularly checking Instagram, it has understandably become one of the most popular amongst retailers. Setting up a business account, adding targeted hashtags, creating product links, and running ads are all effective ways of using Instagram to sell goods online.
However, its main advantages come in the form of its visual appeal and the fact that its demographic is made up largely of young people, a key insight for sellers looking to target a younger audience.
- Etsy
Specialising in handmade, crafted and vintage goods, Etsy thrives on its reputation as a niche marketplace for products that cannot be found elsewhere online. There are no monthly subscription fees, and it is free to set up a store. However, there are charges for listing products, as well as at the point of sale. The website currently has more than 30 million active users.
