Archive for May, 2012
30
May
YAY! Shout-out To Some Newly Launched 3dcart Stores
YAY! We’re so excited to announce some recently launched 3dcart stores: www.matzu.com, www.redtailusa.com, www.IntimateNightsLingerie.com, www.affluentdistribution.com, www.intimosextoys.com, www.sincitybling.com, and www.airridesyndicate.com
29
May
3dcart Team Heads To The Windy City For 2012 Internet Retailer Conference
On June 6th, the 3dcart team will join the largest and most diverse group of ecommerce experts ever assembled at the 2012 Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition. With tons of workshops, 175 speakers and endless networking, there will be so much to do and so many great eCommerce professionals to meet! The 3dcart team would love to meet any of our merchants & partners at the event so if you are going, drop a comment or send us an email so we can be sure to connect! If you are interested in attending yourself, you still have a few days to sign-up! Click here for more information!
21
May
The Content Marketing Explosion
Even before the area of eCommerce, marketing and sales departments used content marketing to sell their products through customer testimonials, pamphlets, flyers, etc. The written word has always helped businesses educate the buyer and now that all of that information is easily accessible and sharable online, the power of content marketing has exploded! Customers are empowered to research your products and business on their own instead of you having to find them on a street corner & pass information along.
The new power content marketing holds caused marketers to term a new name for the content marketing revolution – “inbound marketing.” Inbound marketing uses content to “making yourself easy to be found and drawing customers to your website by producing content customers value”. In outbound marketing ( like flyers, pamphlets, advertising etc) you are having to go after your customers, hunt them down and interrupt whatever a potential customer is doing to pitch them, essentially outbound efforts bothers customers in hopes that your products appeal to the customer enough for them not to be annoyed. Inbound marketing helps your site be found by pre-qualified interested customer, customers come to you. As Hubspot puts it, “you need to set your website up like a “hub” for your industry that attracts visitors naturally through search engines, the blogosphere, and social media.”
The infographic below shares some interesting statistics about the shift in online marketing from outbound to inbound like 90% of B2B marketers use content marketing! If you need help getting your content, blog, or social media up to par, remember the experts at 3dcart are more than happy to help. Read more on SEO & content services here: http://www.3dcart.com/ecommerce-marketing-services.html
18
May
Joins us for 3dcart’s “Leveraging Facebook Connect In Ecommerce” Webinar
Join 3dcart Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT for our webinar “Leveraging Facebook Connect In Ecommerce.” Every attendee will receive a $50 off coupon for 3dcart’s Facebook Connect plugin and will enter to win a FREE plugin! Space is limited to reserve your spot today by registering below or going to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/467761618 to register!
18
May
3dcart Store Nardo’s Natural Featured On Good Morning America
Congratulations to 3dcart store Nardo’s Natural for being featured on Good Morning America yesterday! Nardo’s Natural was featured along other products that have received investments on the ABC’s show Shark Tank.
Created by four brothers in their kitchen, Nardo’s Natural is a line of organic skin care made with all natural ingredients. Backed by Barbara Corcoran, Nardo’s Natural products are toxin free and 100% natural. When Nardo’s Natural pitched their line to the Sharks, Barbara Corcoran was impressed enough to invest in the startup that at that time only had only $30,000 in sales. But with National TV exposure, Corcoran’s help & 3dcart as their eCommerce platform, they are on track to make $4.8 million in sales in the next two years. Not too shabby guys, not too shabby!
Nardo’s Naturals 3dcart store was designed by Digitaleel.com
Follow Nardo’s Naturals on Twitter: @nardosnatural & like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NardosSkinCare
15
May
How To Capitalize On The Growing Online Retail Industry
There is new great news for online retailers! Research firm eMarketer estimates that apparel and accessories will grow by 20 percent, to $40.9 billion this year, up from $34.2 billion in 2011.
So if you’re an eTailer, you’re in the right industry at the right time. But of course, the growing market opportunity doesn’t necessarily mean your online apparel store will automatically see more sales. But with a little hard ( and smart) work and the right eCommerce provider, your potential success is limitless!
So what are some things you can do to ensure eCommerce success for your retail store?
Create a branded experience.
We are visual creatures, we are persuaded, enticed and sold by visuals everyday. Just think about the importantance of a brick & mortar store’s window displays: They pull you in, entice you and give you a quick understanding of the brand & its inventory. The same should be true of your online store.
Choose a shopping cart that gives you the ability to feature daily deals, upload plenty of product pictures, configure your checkout page for different payment options and customize your website in a way that represents your brand well.With 3dcart, you’ll get easy ways to customize your site design without a lot of programming knowledge. You want the look and feel of your site to reflect your products. Here are some great examples of some 3dcart etailers that woe customers with an enticing, branded beautiful store.
Educate your customers with effective product details.
Take multiple pictures of your products. But don’t just focus on pictures of your jewelry resting on tables and stands; show the product in action. Use photos of necklaces draped across necks, bracelets hanging luxuriously over wrists, and rings gracing fingers. For more tips, see our extensive list of ideas of presenting more effective product information.
Set your brand apart with product videos.
Making product videos is a great way to effectively convey information, show products in use and create trust with the customer. And with YouTube now being the second most popular search engine in the world, your product videos can even bring you new customers in addition to adding value to your existing ones. For tips of creative product videos that covert online browsers into your new customers see our tips for effective product videos.
Promote your products and brand on comparison sites.
How do you trump a major online retailer? Offer your products at a lower price, of course. A great way to introduce your brand to new customers and drive higher sales is to list your products on comparison shopping sites like BizRate or NexTag. That way, savvy shoppers will find your store and take advantage of lower deals. It’s just another way that some of the best apparel retailers show the world how to sell apparel online.
Research the competition—especially the big boys.
Some online apparel stores get it right, and that’s why they’re on top of the industry. Checking out the design and layout of stores like Nordstrom.com or DavidsBridal.com is a great way to get ideas on how to set up your own store. They get a lot of traffic and tons of sales for a reason, and borrowing successful elements is a great way to get started on the right track as you learn how to sell apparel online.
Protect your margins.
When you are thinking about starting your online apparel store, you will notice there are some popular options with small start-up costs which may seem tempting, but you should always take a look at the benefits. For instance, if you are looking to sell T-shirts, you may consider already established t-shirt brands like CafePress or Zazzle. While these sites offer you the opportunity to promote your products under a popular brand, they also take a massive cut of your sales and leave you with a small percentage of the profits.
In comparison, shopping cart software with 3DCart will only cost you a flat $19.99 monthly fee and gives you the ability to use built-in marketing features. You’ll have to print the shirts on your own, but the revenue potential with 3DCart is much, much higher. No matter who your provider is, sales are hard, so you shouldn’t give your provider a cut of your hard work. When you protect your profit margins, 10 sales have the value of 15 or 20 sales of those who did not.
14
May
Chuck Norris & 3dcart Congratulate Newly Launched Stores
3dcart & our ole’ friend Chuck Norris want to give a shout-out and a big thumbs up to some newly launched 3dcart stores! Way to round-house kick eCommerce in the face www.babyboone.com, www.heftyfitness.com, www.Sanenyah.com, www.golfgym.com, twistedincfilms.3dcartstores.com, www.thetrogvilletradingpost.com, www.daisymaebridal.com, www.NeedCDsNow.com, www.mystcenterprises.com, www.themissingpiecepuzzlecompany.com, vemayca.com, www.jobjackets.com, www.sincitybling.com, bigpond.com, cmjtreasures.com, and www.foxandkitten.com.au!
01
May
3dcart Store Spotlight: Joggermom.com
Joggermom.com is 3dcart gem. Not only is the site’s design adorable, but the woman behind the store is a passionate mompreneur on a mission to get every mom fit & active!
THE PASSION:
“I am a mother of four! We have a now 10 year old son and 8 year old triplets. I started our niche business of jogging strollers after realizing the mom’s in the back of my local stroller fitness classes were the ones that had smaller wheeled strollers. I have ran all of my life on and off. For 5 years I have been sharing my passion about strollers, fitness, running and raising multiples with all that seek advice. I love what I do,” said Joggermom founder & CEO, Kelly Morse.
THE MOMPRENEUR LIFE: ”I started my site to share my knowledge with other parents having troubles finding the right stroller for their active lifestyle. My business was started on-line because at the time I had a child in kindergarten and 3 in part time pre-school. I could not give a store front proper attention. My business gave me just enough business time and just enough Mommy time.”
EMPOWERING OTHERS: “This coming May we are holding our 2nd annual Virtual Joggermom Marathon. Run 26.2 miles in 31 days and be eligible for some great prizes. Last year we had just under 1,000 mom’s from around the country enter. It was a blast! The best part we all participated where we lived….we did not have to drive to an event. I am all about finishing what you start and being a healthy role model for your children.”
ON 3DCART REDESIGN:
“February 22nd, 2012 is when I started using the new cart for the first time. I love the layout, my new slide show, how customers checkout, how a customer can actually track a package…..My site is beautiful. It is everything I could have wanted and have drempt about for the past 2 years!”
FAVORITE 3DCART FEATURE: “Abandoned cart follow up e-mails. I am a one person show. I do not have time to follow up on everyone that abandons their cart. With 3D it helps me to reach people I would not normally be in touch with again”