Do you run your own online shop or are you just about to start your adventure in the e-commerce sector? One thing is certain: in the world of e-commerce, you need to keep up with new trends in order to fit in with consumer expectations and understand their needs even better. Besides, gaining an edge over the competition is not an easy task, and knowing the upcoming changes will certainly help. 
What is the e-commerce industry?
Loosely translated from English, the term e-commerce means electronic commerce, and its most popular form is precisely the online shops we are familiar with. For several years now, we have been observing an extremely dynamic growth of the e-commerce market, and online sales are revolutionising our approach to commerce. First and foremost, setting up your own sales platform allows you to significantly reduce the costs of running your business - you do not have to rent premises and a warehouse or employ many employees. For a start, all we need is good software and technical support and a well thought-out promotional strategy. Of course, to be successful in e-commerce, we need a good, original business idea. Finding the right niche actually takes the most time - just setting up an online shop is no problem. So we need to have a good idea of what is currently in greatest demand in order to tailor our offer to the needs of our audience.
How to succeed in the e-commerce industry?
The popularity of online sales means that competition is growing every month and customers have an ever-widening choice of platforms. If they are not satisfied with their purchase from your shop, they will quickly find a site offering similar products. So how can you increase your chances of success in this sector? We have some tips for you:
- do a thorough market research, check what internet users are most frequently searching for and familiarise yourself with current consumer trends;
- opt for a modern and minimalist design, and ensure that your website displays properly on mobile devices;
- take the time to create a simple but catchy name for your shop and design a logo that makes your customers remember your brand;
- take care of SEO activities and valuable content - you could start a blog, for example;
- Make sure you get the best possible service for your orders while optimising your costs. With Subscriptions for Business, the more parcels you send, the more you save. Take a look at the offer, choose a subscription and contact us."
The e-commerce industry - what changes are coming?
Traffic and business restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus have already forced us to change our shopping habits. From mid-March to early May, most shops (especially in shopping malls) remained closed. In this situation, many customers turned to online shopping, especially as this solution seems much safer in the face of the epidemic. This has obviously resulted in an increase in turnover for the e-commerce industry, despite the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. Also, many stationary shops have increased the share of e-commerce in their business, or even entered this market for the first time. Even when the malls opened on 4 May, they were not as busy as they used to be. Not everything opened - some venues went bust in the interim, food and drink even after opening in the second week of May operated with restrictions, some shops remained closed (more on that below), as did cinemas and gyms. And for many people, going to the mall is a complete experience that includes a variety of distractions (which do not include constant hand disinfection, fighting with plastic gloves and suffocating under a mask). On top of this, the risk of infection has not disappeared after all, which discourages some people from showing up in public. In response to the anticipated reduction in turnover, some companies, such as LPP (owner of Reserved, Cropp and House brands, among others) and EMPiK, decided not to open some shops in shopping malls on 4 May. At the same time, EMPiK has openly admitted that it wants to focus on the online branch of its business, in which it had invested heavily even before the pandemic. All this suggests that, in this situation, part of the trade will permanently move to the virtual world. 
Polish consumers have, in fact, already taken a liking to online shopping. Every year, the rate of online sales increases and many consumers have already become accustomed to ordering goods online (including even groceries). Therefore, traders should:
- analyse shoppers' buying behaviour in more detail;
- modify the shop's assortment to meet expectations;
- give more of a presence on social media - ensure ideal customer service also through popular portals.
It is worth remembering that the e-commerce industry is not just about electronic sales. In the near future, consumers will be even more eager to search for product information and educational materials that support their final purchasing decisions. Brands that focus on providing valuable content and on dialogue with consumers are gaining in importance. Increased website and social media traffic will also allow us to collect more useful data - analysis of which will be the basis for improving our offerings.
In the face of a pandemic, consumer behaviour and purchasing priorities are changing. Everyday items and food have become more important than before. The inevitable economic downturn should make shopping more considered. At the same time, it is important to remember that everything that could has moved online and will be developed there - so there is no better opportunity to try your hand at e-commerce.
In order to achieve good sales results, it is worth betting on high quality product presentation, especially for customers who have previously shopped in stationary shops, where they have had direct contact with the product. Visual elements such as images, videos, animations and clear, interesting content are crucial. An excellent presentation of the offer will not only encourage users to buy, but will also minimise the risk of possible returns.
What else will change in the e-commerce industry? There is a growing emphasis on security, which is becoming an increasingly important value for consumers. Many online shops are introducing a new form of click and collect delivery (order online and collect in shop). Experts predict that the development of the e-commerce sector will accelerate significantly in the near future.
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