About two years ago, the management of the social network Odnoklassniki came up with the idea of creating an online store within its system. And recently this project came into being. The social network Odnoklassniki, together with the Mail.Ru Products system, presented to the public a beta version of a new service, the name of which they did not dare experiment with. The service is named, albeit banally, but simply and clearly - “Shops”.
Online trading within Odnoklassniki
How to create your own store on Odnoklassniki?
The second condition is your own group. An entrepreneur must be an administrator of his own group. In the group account management, he will be able to find the coveted “Create a store” function, and then fill out all the forms necessary to create it.
Third condition: the seller must have the status of a business entity - be a private entrepreneur or represent the interests of a legal entity.
That's essentially all. Next, you need to fill out the store window with goods, information about them, the “Contacts” and “Delivery and Payment” sections. Once the showcase is filled with goods and information, you can safely proceed to opening the store.
Product images and information about them are added manually. If an online store is already registered in the [email protected] online service, its contents can be copied from there to the Odnoklassniki social network store.
Everything is good in theory, but what about in practice?
Unfortunately, today direct sales on social networks cannot yet be called successful. At least something bright and good example cannot be cited either on the Runet or on the Internet at the global level. Many marketers are convinced that an online store within a social network can become an additional channel for selling goods for small businesses, but it is unlikely that such a channel can guarantee any stability or open up prospects.
Why should people buy goods on a social network, and not, for example, in a regular online store? A feature in favor of trading on Odnoklassniki could be the ability for users to communicate publicly or privately with the seller in the format of free communication on social networks - something that is not available in regular online stores. However, the “Shops” service does not yet have such an opportunity. Perhaps, if the administration of Odnoklassniki takes this point into account, sellers will have a good chance of achieving the desired level of sales through communication directly with their clientele.
Payment for services
The services of the “Shops” service are not free - Odnoklassniki claims 3% of sellers’ turnover.
Previously known cases of trading within a social network
For reference: The idea of an online store within a social network was implemented in 2010 by the VKontakte administration. The service was called “Desires”, with its help VKontakte users added certain goods to “Desires” and then paid for them. Since this service did not achieve much popularity, it was closed.
In 2012, Facebook launched the social commerce project f-commerce - an online store within the network itself. The project is still being mastered, so it is too early to speak about definitive conclusions.
Recently there was a presentation of an excellent and very useful service - shopping on Odnoklassniki. We propose to take a closer look at how this system works and in general it was created together with the goods service from mail.ru.
A little about the project
In fact, it’s not a new thing at all, and was developed this system for implementation in the Odnoklassniki network for more than two years. Why is this good for us as buyers:
– transaction guarantee and in case of any failures – refund;
– availability of documents confirming the quality of the goods;
– quick access to reviews about working with a particular seller.
Purchases directly
But for experienced classmates, it’s actually much more common to buy things in groups. How does the search work? Everything is similar to other social networks; most often, such stores establish special groups, which you either join by invitation, or simply find them on your own. A little less often, purchases are made by adding an account as a friend.
Of course, there are absolutely no guarantees here, which is why shopping on Odnoklassniki It’s much more convenient to do it through online stores. But there are also some disadvantages, for example, the system is still being tested, and therefore malfunctions are possible, in addition, the seller will also have to pay 3% of the order amount as tax.
A little about the process
How to pay for the Network? Do not be alarmed if you are asked to make a full advance payment, the seller is also a person and he needs to pay for the goods (if, say, it comes from abroad), or in this way the seller guarantees that you will pick up your purchase. Therefore, before ordering from Odnoklassniki, carefully check the seller, make sure that you want to buy exactly this product at this price.
- Yandex money;
– webmoney;
– card of any bank in the world;
– cash (if the seller lives in the same city as you).
Next, discuss the timing of delivery. A common occurrence now is that the seller pays for delivery, for example, if the parcel is traveling from China or England. Also, consider your own time, because if you fail to pick up the parcel on time, it will be returned to the sender, and you will earn yourself unnecessary fame as an irresponsible buyer.
How to insure yourself?
What rules must be followed? To begin with, save the payment receipt, do not delete (or better yet, screen) the correspondence; if the outcome is negative, this can become serious evidence in your favor. Many people believe that fraud on the Internet is not punishable, but this is by no means true, the main thing is to have evidence.
Check the sender's name, in which case almost any bank can help you return the money sent. It is very important, try to buy from sellers whose name on the network and the card matches, this is a guarantee of transaction security.
Distance business has long ceased to be an unusual phenomenon. Proof of this is the numerous online stores, where anyone can make a purchase without leaving their home. Saving time and money are definitely benefits of online shopping. From this article you will learn how to independently organize a business selling clothes online, find potential buyers and successfully develop your business.
How to start selling clothes online?
Anyone can start their own online. Often this does not even require large investments. Enough to have free time, constant access to the Internet and the desire to earn money.
For example, many housewives who are in maternity leave for child care, is attracted by the sale of children's clothing via the Internet. Potential buyers are fellow mothers who are looking for unusual and inexpensive things for their children. Having organized their business online, women are in no hurry to return to their usual routine work and continue to develop their profitable business even after maternity leave.
In order to start your online business, it is absolutely not necessary to make wholesale purchases and be afraid that the product will not be in demand. Selling clothes online allows you to act as an organizer of joint purchases. In other words, people will order the product they are interested in from you, make an advance payment, and you will buy it from the supplier and earn your percentage for the work done. Today, many individual entrepreneurs work according to this scheme, for whom it is much more comfortable to work at home on a computer than to trade on the market.
Deciding on the assortment
Let's say you decide to start selling clothes online. First of all, you need to decide on the assortment. The main criterion for successful online sales is the demand and relevance of things in the region where you live. Perhaps there are no beautiful evening and cocktail dresses in your city, or it is completely impossible to find high-quality children's shoes. It is important to carry out comparative analysis available retail clothing stores, read forums and find out the opinions of friends about what they would be most willing to buy from you.
An important factor is the average per capita income in the region where you are going to organize your online trading. Inflated prices can turn off potential buyers, and clothes that are too cheap can raise doubts about their quality. Try to focus on those products for which you will have as little competition as possible.
How to find a clothing supplier?
The wide variety of clothing suppliers can be confusing for a new online retailer. Today you can order clothes both in the CIS countries and far beyond the borders of the Commonwealth. The most profitable suppliers are, of course, Chinese clothing manufacturers. The leaders among resources offering online sales are AliExpress and TaoBao. However, if the latter site is aimed at native speakers Chinese language, then users from all over the world can make purchases on AliExpress.
The advantage of Chinese suppliers is high-quality, inexpensive clothing. Through the Internet you can order quite exclusive things from China that cannot be found in any retail store in Russia.
The main rule for wholesale purchases on such a site is the rating of the selected seller. Make a transaction only after making sure of his integrity and the quality of the goods. You can check this by looking at reviews from customers who have already placed orders with this supplier.
The AliExpress resource protects the rights of both parties, as evidenced by a well-thought-out payment system. After selecting the desired product, the customer pays the full amount of its cost, after which the seller sends the product by mail. The money deposited into the system will be transferred to the seller’s account only after the customer receives his product and confirms its quality and safety during shipment. Otherwise, the buyer has the right to ask for a discount or a full refund. The system guarantees that any parcel will arrive safely, including clothes purchased through the store. The Internet in this case greatly simplifies the transaction process.
How to find potential buyers?
Once you have decided on a clothing supplier, you need to start searching for potential buyers who will be interested and profitable in your product. You can try to open your own online store, but this will require financial investments (creating a website, design development, promotion in search engines, finding a hired administrator, etc.) Therefore, the most rational way for a beginner to find buyers is a group or community on social networks.
You can create such a group absolutely free by advertising your services and posting an assortment of custom-made clothes. At first, friends and acquaintances can act as potential buyers. Gradually, people will start to learn about your online clothing selling community and will tell their friends about it. The principle of so-called “word of mouth marketing” works flawlessly to this day.
However, if financial resources allow, then you can entrust the promotion of the community to professionals who will invite potential buyers based on the principle of targeting. In other words, there will be people in your group who will actually start placing orders. Remember that buying clothes online should be as comfortable as possible for your potential buyers.
Payment methods for orders
For the convenience of transactions, you need to offer customers various ways payment for orders:
- Transfer to a bank card or remittance to a bank account.
- Payment with electronic currency (WebMoney, Qiwi, YandexMoney).
- Postal order or cash on delivery.
- Payment in cash upon receipt of goods.
In addition, in order to insure yourself against the buyer’s refusal to order, you can introduce a prepayment system, which can range from 30 to 50% of the total cost of the goods. This item may even include making payment transactions much easier and more convenient, which significantly saves customers time and money.
Delivery of the order to the buyer
Proper organization of order delivery to the buyer will not only have a good impact on the reputation of the online store, but will also significantly reduce the time it takes to complete the transaction. You can arrange delivery in the following ways:
- Deliver the order to the buyer's home yourself.
- Deliver the goods at a pre-agreed location on neutral territory.
- Ask buyers to pick up goods directly from the seller's home.
- Hire a courier who, for a nominal fee, will deliver the goods to the right place and time.
- Send goods by mail with cash on delivery.
The advantage of online shopping is that you can buy this or that item without leaving your home. That is why it is better to give preference to delivery to the buyer’s home. It will be convenient if delivery is positioned as free, and you include its actual cost in the total cost of the purchase.
Agreement between seller and buyer
A well-drafted service agreement can protect the seller and buyer from possible misunderstandings during the transaction process. And it doesn’t matter whether it will be legal document or a formal verbal agreement. The main thing is that both parties fulfill their obligations.
For example, a mandatory clause of such an agreement may be an advance payment of 50% of the purchase price or a refund if the product turns out to be defective or does not fit in size. The buyer must be sure that he will not lose his money and will receive a quality order that will meet his expectations.
Taxes - to pay or not to pay?
Any entrepreneurial activity in the territory Russian Federation must be legally formalized and registered in tax authority. Contributions to the state treasury will not only save you from possible problems, but will also help create a confident future. After all, having registered as individual entrepreneur, you will make monthly social and pension payments, from which your pension will be formed in the future.
However, if you are not yet confident in the success of your online business, you can try making a few trial orders for friends or relatives. If you see that selling clothes online is bringing positive results, then it makes sense to continue to develop your business by registering it legally. In the last few years, it has become possible to register online businesses in accordance with the tax code of the Russian Federation.
What else can you sell online?
Selling clothes online is not the only way to organize online trading. You can sell anything. The main thing is that the product is in demand and relevant among the residents of your city or region. Thus, unusual women's jewelry and accessories, various devices for the kitchen and home, car accessories and replica watches of famous brands are very popular. People will always be looking for unusual things that can be easily purchased without traveling abroad.
Online business is responsible and hard work. Selling clothes online or any accessories requires a certain amount of time in the early stages. However, with a properly planned business project, the result in the form of a stable income will not be long in coming.
Chinese goods, which allows you to select goods from different categories, make a purchase and delivery by mail. The main feature of the new platform will be the integration of user-generated content (UGC): bloggers will be able to publish video reviews of products, and group owners will be able to create their own catalogs. The authors of videos and catalogs will earn money from selling products.
Odnoklassniki became the first social network in Russia to launch a full-fledged marketplace on its platform. OK continues to develop online services for purchasing goods and receiving services: on the social network you can already buy movie and concert tickets and top up your account mobile phone and transport card. With the launch of the marketplace, OK is taking the next step in this direction, integrating the purchase of goods with the online services of the social network: groups, feed and video platform.
Buyers will be able to review and evaluate products using video reviews from famous bloggers, share information about products with friends on social networks and recommend them to their loved ones. In the near future, owners of groups in Odnoklassniki will also have the opportunity to create catalogs for their communities using the product database, receiving income from sales under the revenue share scheme. For example, the administrator of a group of children's goods will be able to create a separate showcase for his community with things suitable for the theme of the group and make money from their sale.
A special affiliate program will appear for bloggers on Odnoklassniki: for publishing video reviews of products presented in the marketplace, the authors will receive promotion on the social network, and in the future, income from sales also under the revenue share scheme. affiliate program will be open to all authors for a month.
The OK online store operates in the flash sales format, that is, quick sales of the most popular products, and is available on all platforms, including desktop and mobile version, mobile applications OK. The marketplace also has search and advanced navigation by product categories. In the near future, the store will offer personalized recommendations based on user preferences.
Anton Fedchin, head of the social network Odnoklassniki:
With the launch of our own online store, we are developing the direction of e-commerce and taking the next step in the “mixed reality” format: users receive services and real income using only online services. Available for the first time on social networks full cycle purchases: from choosing a product to placing an order and payment. The store will be fully integrated into our social platform. In addition to purchasing products, users will receive new types of content and reasons for communication: they will be able to watch reviews and create them themselves, share reviews of products, create their own showcases and receive income from sales.
All user purchases are fully protected. Payment is made linked to your account in OK by bank card, wherein social network returns money if the product did not arrive or the buyer did not like its quality. Delivery is free throughout Russia and carried out by mail. Moreover, within three hours after the order, the buyer can cancel it. The online store is integrated with the 24-hour OK support service, which helps resolve issues related to purchase, return, delivery, and product quality.
By according to the Internet Commerce Association , Russia continues to see active growth in purchases from abroad: the volume of this segment increased by 34% compared to 2016, with the share of shipments from China accounting for 90% of all retail imports.
